http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... /306300002
AC/DC bandmates join for Fort Myers concert
by charles runnells
06/29/2007
Are you ready to rock?
After seven years, so are Brian Johnson and Cliff Williams of AC/DC.
While AC/DC takes a vacation, Johnson and Williams — who live in Sarasota and Fort Myers, respectively — have been writing new rock songs with two other musicians, including Fort Myers drummer Steve Luongo.
The new band debuts many of those songs Saturday at the Classic Rock Cares concert in Fort Myers.
It’s a low-key thing, the band members say. Their first single, “Chain Gang on the Road,” has gotten limited radio play in Fort Myers, New York and elsewhere. But so far, the band doesn’t even have a name.
“At this point, we’re just in it for the fun of it,” says Williams, who plays bass with AC/DC. “We’ll do a few more songs and see what happens.”
Williams, Johnson, Luongo and guitarist Mark Hitt of New York City started writing together this spring. So far, they’ve recorded four or five songs and another two or three songs are ready to go.
Of course, it’s difficult marketing a band without a name, Hitt admits. But they’re not too worried about that right now.
“We don’t need a name,” says Hitt, who’s played with Luongo in the John Entwistle Band and Rat Race Choir. “If anybody wants to know, it’s ‘Johnson, Williams, Luongo and Hitt.’ It sounds like a law firm!”
Johnson was on vacation and couldn’t be reached for comment. But Williams says he and the AC/DC singer have been itching to write new songs recently.
It’s been six years since AC/DC toured, and seven since their last album. “AC/DC has been off the road for awhile now,” Williams says. “So I have a lot of off time at home.”
The Young brothers — the core songwriters for AC/DC — have been writing new material, but there’s no telling when that will crystallize into an album, Williams says.
In the meantime, this keeps him busy and the creative juices flowing.
The band has been laying down tracks at Unity Gain Recording Studio in Fort Myers. Finished songs include “Blood Alley” and the sing-along “Hey, Hey, Who Phoned the Law.”
“The idea was, ‘Let’s write some songs,’” Williams says. “It’s just musicians doing what musicians do.”
John Rozz, program director for K-Rock, says “Chain Gang” hasn’t quite built a buzz yet, but that sometimes takes time. The Fort Myers radio station is playing the song more this week to promote the Classic Rock Cares concert.
It’s a catchy, hard-rocking tune, Rozz says. “It’s sort of like AC/DC. But anything with Brian Johnson on it is going to sound like AC/DC.”
Hitt says it’s been a thrill working with members of the legendary hard-rock band — especially Johnson.
“I’m really excited to be working with that voice,” he says.
In fact, everyone seems excited about the band and the new music they’re making together.
Luongo remembers when the quartet first got together and played their first song, “Try a Little.”
“Everybody sort of looked at each other and said, ‘Wow,’” he says. “It was pretty good. “So I’m incredibly enthusiastic about it.”
par sydney76 » 03 Juil 2007, 18:20 
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