Timeless love songs touching new generation

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Air Supply's Russell Hitchcock, left, and Graham Russell are still going strong after nearly three decades, 22 studio albums and an expansive list of hits, including "All Out of Love" and "Here I Am." Rick Schneider Air Supply 8 p.m. today, Blaisdell Arena $65, floor-level seating; $45-$65, floor risers; $55, mid-level loges; $45, upper arena level 526-4400; www.ticketmaster.com The concert is a fund-raiser to help the Dominican Sisters build an elder-care facility.

And they're still going strong, performing in a concert tonight at the Blaisdell Arena.

"Our songs have always been very simple, with lyrics that touch people's hearts," said Australian-born Hitchcock, 54, of the compositions of Graham Russell, 53, his British-born group mate. "The melodies are the thing; they really stick with you. Unforgettable," said Hitchcock.

For the past 28 years, the duo has maintained its idiosyncratic sound amid changing tides and trends in the music business. Aside from a two-year period, when the group didn't record, Air Supply has never been out of the limelight, touring regularly, sharing its sweet, rhapsodic anthems with a devoted audience of baby boomers, though Hitchcock notices a new twinkle of younger fans in concerts these days.

"I think our music stands the test of time," he said. "A great song is a great song."

Air Supply's expansive hit list includes "All Out of Love," "Lost in Love," "Here I Am," "Making Love Out of Nothing at All," "The One That You Love," "Sweet Dreams," "Every Woman in the World," "Even the Nights Are Better," "Two Less Lonely People," "Love is All" and "Eyes of a Child."

Hitchcock recalls his first contact with Russell. "It was backstage of 'Superstar,' and during a break in the show, Graham was playing a song he wrote on guitar in the dressing room; I never met anyway one quite like that," said Hitchcock. "We worked on the song together; I think even back then, we instinctively knew, if we kept at it, we'd get there. We used to do shows at the universities and clubs, an after-hour act, all the time we did 'Superstar' for nearly two years, and by the time the show ended, we had a No. 1 single and an album in Australia."

Russell composes both music and lyrics and often produces Air Supply's albums; they huddle and decide who'll do lead vocals. Russell also is credited with coming up with the act's name, way back when, the idea emerging in 1976 in a dream.

Now, nearly three decades and 22 studio albums (the latest is "Across the Country Sky") under their belt, Hitchcock and Russell challenge anyone who think Air Supply is a "nostalgia" act.

"We've never been one to dwell on the past, we're always updating," said Hitchcock. "And we've never stopped touring.

"In the last five or 10 years, we've seen young kids at our shows; either, their parents are exposing our songs to them, or they've heard our hits in a movie. Certainly, a new generation of fans are enjoying our music," said Hitchcock, speaking from his Los Angeles home.

Russell, he said, lives "in the mountains, in Park City, Utah," and they convene whenever necessary, always for huddling and rehearsing for a new CD. And, of course, whenever they tour.

And work takes them all over the map. Recently, Hong Kong and Fort Wayne, Ind. After Honolulu, Japan.

"That's the nature of the business now," said Hitchcock. "We have to put up with periods of being away from home. You give up some stuff to get other stuff; with traveling becoming constant and more difficult, you simply have to keep in shape to maintain the pace. When you get into this business, if you want success, that's part of the price you pay."

Getting airplay these days, however, is another challenge.

"The changes in the industry, the kind of music being played on the radio, makes it difficult for us to get exposure — except on certain stations (like those playing 'classic rock' or decade-specific)" said Hitchcock. "So we rely on the live shows, and Internet sales."

He doesn't condemn the bold, often blue, nature of hit songs by the likes of rappers such as Eminem, a counterpoint to the melodic (some may say sappy) songs of Air Supply over the years. "I have a great respect for Eminem; I think he's fantastic, though not everybody's cup of tea," said Hitchcock.

Fan contact is what keeps Air Supply soaring, he said. "It's just great to go out and play to the people; and seeing the expressions on their faces, whether it's the first time they're hearing the songs, or the 20th. ..."

Retirement isn't in Hitchcock's vocabulary, at least not yet.

"Oh, no," he said. "But it's funny; I recall seeing The Beatles when I was 15 in Melbourne, and I remember Ringo Starr saying that he expected, by age 30, to own a hairdressing salon; he's now 63 and just played a huge festival in Hong Kong, with two other prominent rock acts, Prince and The Rolling Stones. Graham and I enjoy working together and feel we still have something to offer, so until it gets silly going out there, we'll continue."

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.