You Am I

Tim Rogers and Josh Pyke are among a stellar line-up of Aussie artists who plan to tackle the Beatle’s White Album.

The frontman for You Am I and Sydney soloist, Pyke, will be joined by The Living End’s Chris Cheney and Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson at a series of concerts later this year.

“The White Album gives me the fear. It’s denim and silk. Flickers of beauty washed out by blinding anxiety. I had a babysitter who’d play Revolution No.9 as I was just about to go to sleep. It made a mess o’ me and I love it deeply,” Rogers said.

The four artists will be backed by 17 players including guitars, strings, horns and two drummers, musically directed by Stewart D’Arietta.

The concerts will be performed in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.

Commenting on the Beatles’ sound, Cheney said: “I always loved the sound of The Beatles when they let loose and sounded tough, and to me The White Album has a perfect balance of rock’n’roll abandonment with the incredible songwriting skills they’re so revered for.”

For Pyke, the Beatles were the first band to make an impact on him thanks to his parent’s record collection.

“The harmonies, the deceptively simple songs, and the amazingly creative production are all elements that I still draw upon in my music today,” he said.

For Jamieson, growing up without The Beatles is difficult for him to imagine.

“From the nursery rhyme Yellow Submarine to the songbooks we got in primary school with Help From My Friends, they have been omnipresent in my life,” he said.

“They have provided a soundtrack to so many moments, I mean, my wife walked down the aisle to I Will, for Christ’s sake.”

The White Album songs will be performed in track order, starting with Back in the USSR and closing with Good Night, with state of the art sound.

See below for gig details. Tickets on sale Friday 22 May.

Tuesday 4 August, Hamer Hall, Melbourne
www.theartscentre.com.au
Thursday 6 August, Brisbane QPAC
www.qtix.com.au
Friday 7 & Saturday 8 August, Sydney Opera House
www.sydneyoperahouse.com

Tags | Grinspoon, Josh Pyke, Living End, Tim Rogers, White Album