Airbourne – Runnin' Wild

"It's all our uncle's fault. He has the best record collection you can imagine. Every hard rock classic from the '70s and early `80s is in there. We listened to all that stuff up and down. For years."

Brothers Joel and Ryan O'Keeffe's eyes light up as they rave about a genre that, for many rock fans, is at the other end of a time tunnel. But the Australian up-and-comers from Melbourne are serious. Completely serious. The oily mats. The puddles of sweat and beer. The simple foot stomping riffs that would impress even Angus Young. The hooks that are about the few, but really important things in rock'n'roll. Everything.

Joel was already playing his first hard rock riffs at elementary school age, his four years younger brother took over the drums as soon as his feet reached the pedal machine. And in times of emocore and prog metal, Joel (24) and Ryan (21) still swear by Uncle's record cabinet: "We worship bands like AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, Motörhead and The Angels. Our influences come from an era that roughly ends, not begins, with the formation of Metallica," Joel says. "Airbourne is also explained in a few words," grins the elder O'Keeffe. "Straight ahead Aussie pub rock. We can't do anything else - but we do it especially well."

Airbourne are probably only really at home on stage. In Australian support shows for Mötley Crue and the Rolling Stones, Airbourne were able to prove how much juice they have in them, even in big arenas. And after just one European show at Cologne's Underground, Joel's 'Beerwalk' on wet beer bars is already a bit of a legend on the old continent as well. The sound on Airbourne's debut "Runnin' Wild" was provided by Bob Marlette and Andy Wallace, who have already gold-plated albums by Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Tony Iommi and Bruce Springsteen, Guns N' Roses and The Cult, respectively.

For many, a time tunnel will indeed open up when Airbourne take the stage and get to the heart of the simple truths of rock'n'roll - for others, it may be the first time.