Cessy Newmon
With enduring sounds that tug at heartstrings, duo AIR SUPPLY (with fans fondly known as Airheads) will be live at the Florida Theatre April 11th, 2025. This is one month before the May 13th celebration of the 50th anniversary of the partnership between singer-songwriter/guitarist Graham Russell and lead vocalist Russell Hitchcock at Carnegie Hall.
Graham Russell graciously shared some of his downtime from his ranch in Utah this morning to talk about the AIR SUPPLY 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR and their partnership spanning the years.
Cessy: I’ve read a lot about how you and Russell met in Australia doing a production of Jesus Christ Superstar. How did each of you come to be part of a Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber production in Australia?
Graham: I saw an ad, but I didn’t really think I had the voice for it. A female friend of mine who was somewhat of a mystic said I should try and that if I did, it would change my life! Russell was also cast, and we wound up as partner apostles. We both had a lot in common. Our birthdays are four days apart, we both saw the Beatles when we were 14, and we both wanted to be in a band. I just wanted to write songs, and Russell just wanted to sing – and he has that incredible voice – so it really was a match made in heaven.
[If you read some of the many articles or listen to interviews with these gentlemen, there is a lot of mysticism that follows their partnership. Even the band name, Air Supply is credited to a dream Graham had of a billboard with that name.]
Cessy: Do you ever write together?
Graham: No, Russell does not write. I do sometimes collaborate with other artists, but I like the freedom of writing on my own.
Cessy: You do 120-130 shows a year, so you’re both traveling over a third of the time. That is not easy even for youngsters.
Graham: Performing live is our most treasured medium. We’ve kind of gotten used to it. You might call us road warriors! I also get a lot of work done writing on planes.
Cessy: You’re British, Russell is Australian. Why did you choose the United States as your home base?
Graham: Back in ’84 we were hosting Solid Gold almost every other week, so we were in the United States a lot. There was the added incentive that we both met American ladies who we later married.
Cessy: Do your families sometimes travel with you?
Graham: Not as much as they used to anymore. Russell’s wife still travels with him more often.
Cessy: Your careers span 45’s, LP’s, cd’s to ep’s. Do you have a favorite medium or era?
Graham: Yes, we really like the ’80’s and vinyl. When you get a cd or ep, you miss all of the wonderful cover information and artwork. In fact, our new album will be coming out in vinyl, and we have a famous artist doing the cover work.
Cessy: How often do you release a new album?
Graham: This will be our first new album in 15 years. It’s taken two years to record because of our travel schedules. We need to be able to block off two-week increments to go up to Canada to record.
Cessy: You have a biopic movie coming out. How much input did you have?
Graham: We had several meetings with Stu Beattie, who wrote all of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. He really grilled us. I told him that I didn’t know if this would be entertaining [enough of a story]. He told me, “Don’t worry, I know what the story is.”
Cessy: To come full circle, do you see a biopic musical being made?
Graham: Funny you should ask that! There will be a second reading in May, which Russell and I will be at. It’s just about ready to workshop. It seems like with the album, the movie, and the stage show, everything is coming to fruition in our 50th year.
Cessy: Do you ever see yourselves retiring?
Graham: That is not on our radar. We will stop playing when the people stop coming. We’re both fortunate to be in good health, and we take care of ourselves in between. Russell speaks very little between shows these days, and even when he does, it’s almost a whisper.
Cessy: What is the show runtime? Is there an intermission?
Graham: The show runs about one hour and fifty minutes. There is no intermission unless the venue requires one. We actually prefer it that way. There is an arc to the story with a few surprises, and we don’t want it interrupted!
Cessy: Out of curiosity, I know that you’re left handed. But you didn’t switch the strings on your guitar. Are you self-taught?
Graham: I am self-taught. Because I didn’t switch the strings, I play everything backwards, so I have a sound like no one else. And when I pick up the 12-string, it really resonates.
Graham Russell is a very down-to-earth, charming gentleman. He modestly does not consider himself to be a singer, yet without his ability to harmonize, the songs would not be the same. He may be a softer singer than Russell Hitchcock, but as everything else in this partnership, they blend perfectly.
Air Supply has been to Jacksonville many times, and they really love the Florida Theatre, right down to the old creaky elevator. Filling you with love and music, the AIR SUPPLY 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR will be downtown at the historic Florida Theatre located at 128 E Forsyth Street, Jacksonville, Florida, for only the one performance. For tickets and information, please go to floridatheatre.com or call (904) 355-2787.
Cessy Newmon
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