What has The Angels’ Sam Brewster been up to lately? OR Introducing the new ukulele player to the band?!?

Join Cheryl Lee - That Radio Chick on STILL ROCKIN' IT for news, reviews, music and interviews with some of our favourite Australian musicians.

Ever wondered what it's like to be part of a legendary rock band that was founded five decades ago? Get ready to be inspired as we chat with Sam Brewster, bassist for The Angels, and explore the heartbeat of their latest album, "Ninety Nine," after a decade-long wait. 

Sam opens up about the band's dynamic shifts, including Nick Norton's evolution from drummer to charismatic frontman, and the exciting journey ahead with their monumental "50 Not Out Tour".

This episode also offers a glimpse into the rich musical tapestry of the Brewster family, with anecdotes tracing back to Sam’s symphony orchestra-playing grandfather and great-grandfather. Plus, Sam shares heartwarming stories about his life as a new dad and the budding musical talent already evident in his young son.

Tune in for an eclectic mix of musical influences as Sam balances the jazz brilliance of Miles Davis and John Coltrane with the contemporary vibes of Jeff Buckley and Beck—perfect for soothing his new baby boy. 

We also touch on the band's laid-back approach to their performance rider and the nostalgic creation of their new album cover, a throwback to 80s red phone boxes. 

From fond memories of ACDC’s "Thunderstruck" to reflections on The Angels' storied career, this episode is packed with heartfelt stories, personal updates, and exciting news from one of Australia's enduring rock legends. Don’t miss it!

What has Sam Brewster been up to lately?  Let's find out!!

Get out when you can, support local music and I'll see you down the front!!

Visit: ThatRadioChick.com.au

Transcript

Cheryl Lee: 0:00

That Radio Cheek Cheryl Lee here. Welcome to the Still Rockin" it podcast where we'll have music news, reviews and interviews with some of our favourite Australian musicians and artists. This is it, folks. A brand new Angels album is on the way, a remarkable new record that sits comfortably in the legendary band's classic catalogue 99,. The Angels' first studio album in 10 years, coincides with the 50 Not Out Tour celebrating the band's 50th anniversary. As the book the 100 Best Australian Albums declared, the Angels can lay claim to being Australia's longest-lasting band. We're talking to brand new dad of one month and rock star Sam Brewster. To catch up on podcasts from other favourite artists, simply go to that radiochickcomau. How you going anyway? Long time no speech, yeah no doing well, thanks what have you been?

Sam Brewster: 0:57

up to today, we did the Channel 9 morning show Nice and then, yeah, just lunch with my wife and yeah, gym later.

Cheryl Lee: 1:06

Well, this is much more important than Channel 9. Yeah, I rushed home from work. You know to do this in my lunch hour. I didn't actually wear this Angels T-shirt to the office. Why not? Yeah, why not? But I did put it on for the occasion. We've got a lot to talk about. You guys got a lot going on, a lot happening, haven't you?

Sam Brewster: 1:27

Yeah.

Cheryl Lee: 1:27

You've got a big tour coming up and I was just going to ask you about the family. Do they miss you while you're away?

Sam Brewster: 1:35

Yeah, but this tour's a bit easier than the last one. The last one was five weeks away. I think I was home about two days in that five weeks, but this one's just weekends. Back to being a weekend warrior.

Cheryl Lee: 1:50

The new album 99, This is the first recording with our Nick Norton out the front. Yeah.

Sam Brewster: 1:54

I mean he's, yeah, I guess technically him as front man. He has been on other tracks while Gleaso was still in the band tracks that he'd written and, you know, sang on recordings for. But then, yeah, live it would have been. Gleaso was still in the band tracks that he'd written and, you know, sang on recordings for, but then, yeah, live it would have been Gleaso singing. So, yeah, I guess, yeah, this is his first one as frontman. Yeah.

Cheryl Lee: 2:10

What a good one to be on. Rick has your Uncle Rick has said that Nick is a freak musician and an amazing lyricist, so you had him hidden behind those drums for 12 years.

Sam Brewster: 2:23

Yeah, 12,. Yeah, yeah, I guess you know that was the role that, yeah, they needed him to play and, yeah, because he is such a gifted and versatile musician, he was able to fill that role really well. And then, yeah, when we needed another role filled, it was like, oh yeah, well, Norton can do that.

Cheryl Lee: 2:42

It was like a no-brainer.

Sam Brewster: 2:44

Yeah, you know, even when Dave was in the band he was writing a lot of the songs too, so it kind of made sense. You know, before he joined the Angels, I used to watch him with his own band, GangAwry. As well as that he had a solo project, just Nick Norton.

Cheryl Lee: 3:02

So I'd always seen him perform as a singer and frontman guitar player. Yeah, before we go forward and talk about the new record and the tour, maybe we'll just go back a tiny bit and remind everybody why we love the Angels so much and why they need to get onto the Google-o-meter and pre-order the album and order their tickets. Some people may not realise that the Brewsters family is an Adelaide institution in music. Not only your Dad, J ohn and Uncle, Rick Brewster, and now you, your brother Tom, and even Harry. Harry contributes this time, doesn't he yeah, Harry wrote the music to Little Lies.

Sam Brewster: 3:40

Yeah, yeah, Harry's music. And then Norton put the song to it.

Cheryl Lee: 3:45

Really a family affair, but it goes back a further generation, doesn't it? Remind me about your grandad and his involvement in the symphony orchestra.

Sam Brewster: 3:54

Yeah, so he was the cellist, the principal cellist, for the ASO, and his father was in the first ever ASO. So my great-grandfather and he was, yeah, conductor and pianist in the first one.

Cheryl Lee: 4:07

Amazing. So it must have been a real thrill for John and Rick when you guys played with the symphony orchestra.

Sam Brewster: 4:16

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, that was a big moment for them. Yeah, and me, how's your little one going? Yeah, good, I've got two now.

Cheryl Lee: 4:23

Two! Good on you. How old are they?

Sam Brewster: 4:26

One is three and a half and the other is a month.

Cheryl Lee: 4:29

Oh, really, Are you getting any sleep?

Sam Brewster: 4:33

Sam, not a lot, not a whole lot. Yeah, I actually get more sleep on the road, which is ironic.

Cheryl Lee: 4:38

I was going to say you're going to have to go on some sort of gruelling musical tour to get some rest, that's right, yeah. Congratulations, oh, thank you. Little three-and-a-half-year-old showing any signs of following in the generational family business as yet?

Sam Brewster: 4:56

Moments of it. Yeah, he likes his little ukulele and we watch ACDC together and do the Angus Duck Walk together.

Cheryl Lee: 5:05

I love that.

Sam Brewster: 5:06

He loves a Live at Donington one. I don't know if you're familiar with it, but it's one of the greatest concerts recording concerts of all time.

Cheryl Lee: 5:12

I'm glad you're teaching him. You know Aussie Music 101. Absolutely yeah, good dad.

Cheryl Lee: 5:25

I'm going to play for you now ACDC's Thunderstruck First song, played at the Live at Donington concert back in 1991. And I'd like you to imagine Sam Brewster and his gorgeous three-year-old playing guitar and duck walking like Angus Young to this track. How gorgeous. Back to speak more with Sam shortly.

Cheryl Lee: 5:59

Going back again for a little while. I don't even think you maybe even comprehend how amazing this is to be involved in such a musical legacy in not just Adelaide, the whole of Australia, because you guys started in 1974. I say you guys, you weren't born, no, I wasn't. But they started as the Moonshine Jug and String Band and it was when Rick put down the washboard and picked up the electric guitar. I think, out at the Mobbery Hotel, that Australian music was never the same again. Jimmy Barnes declared the Angels are a band that changed Australian music forever. They're celebrating 50 as well. You're celebrating 50. You should have done a tour together called 100, not Out.

Sam Brewster: 6:47

Yeah, that's a good concept. Yeah, pitch it to promoters and see what happens.

Cheryl Lee: 6:51

I'll get my people to speak to their people, to speak to your people. Their first big gig was supporting Cheech and Chong. You probably don't even know who they are, do you? I do?

Sam Brewster: 7:00

yeah.

Cheryl Lee: 7:00

Do you yeah?

Sam Brewster: 7:01

yeah, yeah, I know, that story Better not watch.

Cheryl Lee: 7:04

C heech and Chong with the little one.

Sam Brewster: 7:05

yet no, probably not.

Cheryl Lee: 7:08

Not for a while. I was sick of ACDC. Yeah, stick to Akadaka.

Sam Brewster: 7:11

Exactly At least. It's all double entendres.

Cheryl Lee: 7:13

Now that was at Thebby. And then they played at Sunbury, toured with Chuck Berry they actually supported Akadaka on their South Australian tour played with Ike and Tina Turner, toured with Meatloaf and David Bowie. And this is all before you came along and Ross Wilson said Face to Face was a breakthrough album in the evolution of Australian music. That's a very good compliment from Ross. Tell us all about this new album. Sounds great. I've had a listen, yep, and it's a good one. The title track Did you write that with Nick Norton?

Sam Brewster: 7:47

With Norton. Yeah, yeah, so it's my music and he wrote the song to it. Yeah.

Cheryl Lee: 7:51

Did you write a lot of the songs on the album?

Sam Brewster: 7:54

I've got two or three on there. I think, yeah, two or three.

Cheryl Lee: 7:57

Where did you guys record that?

Sam Brewster: 7:59

Oh, actually it's a few different places. The drums and bass are Mixmasters in the Adelaide Hills. Guitars were done separately. Rick did his guitar at home and the lead the solo. The rest of the guitars are me and I just recorded them here and then sent them back to them. And that's the great thing about digital recording these days, like you can track in your own space and then send it back to the studio If you've got the equipment to do it. Yeah, you don't need to physically go back to the studio. So that's what we did with that. And then Nick, I think the vocal for that was at Ricky Ray's studio. So Ricky Ray is the guy that's mixed and mastered the album and probably the bulk of it is recorded at his studio, Lighthill.

Cheryl Lee: 8:38

You mentioned Mix Masters. I don't know if you remember, but I watched you guys record La Grange.

Sam Brewster: 8:45

I do remember that yeah.

Cheryl Lee: 8:46

That was a great concept letting some of the fans in to actually watch the recording. We thought that was amazing. We should do that again. Yeah, maybe we will. Like you say, recording has changed. You don't all have to get into the studio with all of your instruments at the same time anymore. Like you said, it's sort of made in components and popped together.

Sam Brewster: 9:09

Yeah, I mean ideally, I guess, if you can get it down all at once, it's great. But yeah, a lot of the time it's standard time constraints. That was how this album was done, like we didn't actually have a lot of time to finish it. Once I think it was Rick that decided all right, we'll get it out in time for the next tour. So it was a bit like okay, we had to really kind of pull our socks up and get to work on it, you know.

Cheryl Lee: 9:31

Get your skates on.

Sam Brewster: 9:32

Yeah, we didn't have the luxury of being able to book studio time and wait till then one of the guitar tracks, I can't remember which song it is, but John tracked it at Red Hot Summer at Seppelsfield in the backstage tent. You know, we just set up a computer and a guitar and the recording interface and I think he literally tracked it while, like another band, was on stage, you know, just with his headphones and that's what you hear on the records.

Cheryl Lee: 9:56

That's incredible. We have the technology. Yeah. Yeah, You're probably too young to get that reference. That's from the $6 million man.

Sam Brewster: 10:03

Oh, okay, right, yeah, no, I actually don't know that one.

Cheryl Lee: 10:06

No, you're too young. . Yes, we have the technology. Let's hear that song now, the first single from the album 99. Go for Broke. Back to speak to Sam some more after this.

Speaker 3: 10:25

She's breaking up. She's breaking up Steve Austin, astronaut, a man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology, we have the capability to make the world's first bionic man, Steve Austin will be that man.

Cheryl Lee: 10:57

So how long do you reckon it took you from?

Sam Brewster: 10:59

way to go. The songs were in the works probably from about 2016, 2017. But you know, covid happened. Had that not have happened, we would have had it out earlier. Those two years yeah, it was almost three, yeah, two years I guess that we had off yeah, there wasn't any opportunity to actually get together and record, because I mean obviously like, yeah, you can patch things in, like we were just talking about, but the drums you can't really do that with. You need to be in a studio for that, for all the microphones and everything. Yeah, basically start. Probably some of the songs, anyway, have been kind of kicking around since then.

Cheryl Lee: 11:32

Really, Even though it doesn't take that long to actually make the individual recordings and put it all together, years really of planning and writing goes into it before that process starts.

Sam Brewster: 11:45

Yeah, I guess it's different for every album and for every band but yeah, for us for this record, that's how it works. Yeah, other albums have been more kind of like done over a period of weeks of recording or like this has just kind of been fitting around gigs and literally around gigs and gigs, at gigs, yeah, so it's kind of exciting doing it that way. I mean hotel rooms as well. I think I tracked one of them in Perth. We got Norton to track another one in Brisbane. You know, just in our hotel rooms no one would know you're going down. Like it's all just through headphones so it doesn't disturb anyone next door or yeah, you're not keeping the whole hotel awake all night, the new album is called 99.

Cheryl Lee: 12:28

It's released on June 28th. You can pre-order it though, so get onto your Angels website to pre-order.

Sam Brewster: 12:33

Angels. com. au.

Cheryl Lee: 12:35

And the first single is out 99,. Go For Broke. The 50 Not Out national tour kicks off the same day. You're going everywhere, man. When are you in Adelaide? July 13th Yep, Saturday 13th of July, and you're at the Hindley Street Musical. Have you, guys, played there yet?

Sam Brewster: 12:57

Not yet, but I hear it's great. This will be your first time there I have.

Cheryl Lee: 13:00

Yeah, I saw Tim Rogers and Sarah McLeod and Jet. I've seen a few there.

Sam Brewster: 13:05

It is a good venue. Yeah, most people would go, so they have a good time there. So, yeah, looking forward to that one.

Cheryl Lee: 13:15

Going to ask you, Sam in between recording in hotel rooms and dancing Akadaka with the little one, are you still teaching music?

Sam Brewster: 13:21

No, not at the moment. I just have time, particularly in the last year and because I'm the tour manager of the band as well. So, yeah, that keeps me really busy. Yeah, my wife's asked me to stop teaching. You know evenings, as you would be well aware having five children, your evenings are just completely taken up with parenting, and that's when I used to do a lot of teaching. So that's something that has to go.

Cheryl Lee: 13:44

I commend you for that, because you know you can work and work, and work. You know you won't get those years back. So good on you, yeah, and also for helping your wife. Good on you, not helping, I guess, but sharing that responsibility, because you'll never regret the time that you spend with those kids ever.

Sam Brewster: 14:02

Absolutely not. No, it's never a dull moment.

Cheryl Lee: 14:12

First it was John's son, Sam Brewster on bass, kicking ass. Then it was Tom joining the band on drums, taking the place of Nick Norton who went out the front on lead vocals, and then youngest son harry co-wrote this song. The angels legacy is in good hands. Back to speak to sam shortly. I don't know if I asked you this last time, but what are you listening to, s Sam, when you do get a moment to? Apart from you know, A with the little one anything exciting on your playlist.

Sam Brewster: 14:54

I mean, I guess at the moment, not a lot of new stuff, a lot of jazz. Jeff Buckley at the moment. My wife's really into Jeff Buckley right now. So, yeah, that gets a regular play on the new right now. Oh, and the new baby loves that. We've also been listening to Beck. A lot of Beck, like Sea Change. He really likes that the new one. So whenever he needs settling we put that on. I don't know if you know that album, but yeah, it's a great one. So, yeah, a lot of like Miles Davis, J ohn Coltrane, Pat Metheny.

Cheryl Lee: 15:21

Nice. So the new baby is another boy.

Sam Brewster: 15:23

Yep.

Cheryl Lee: 15:24

Aw any more.

Sam Brewster: 15:25

No.

Cheryl Lee: 15:27

Oh, never say never.

Sam Brewster: 15:29

No, definitely never. We're done. Two's enough in this day and age, you know.

Cheryl Lee: 15:34

Oh yeah, that's for sure. Well, that's what we thought. And then we had twins.

Sam Brewster: 15:38

Yep right. And then we had a surprise.

Cheryl Lee: 15:40

Yeah, so you never know what might happen.

Sam Brewster: 15:42

Yeah, you never know.

Cheryl Lee: 15:44

Is there anything maybe apart from Voltaren, not saying some of your band members are getting on, but is there anything that you guys like to have any of the members have to have on the rider?

Sam Brewster: 15:56

On the rider. Yeah, no one's too precious about that sort of stuff, but the older guys like to have a pinot before they go on pinot noir.

Cheryl Lee: 16:05

Does Rick sometimes take that on with him?

Sam Brewster: 16:08

Yeah, I think you know that he does yeah.

Cheryl Lee: 16:09

Yeah, I guess.

Sam Brewster: 16:11

Yeah, nothing too crazy.

Cheryl Lee: 16:13

You don't pull a spinal tap if you don't have the right beer.

Sam Brewster: 16:17

No well, no one in this line-up does anyway.

Cheryl Lee: 16:22

What are you saying?

Sam Brewster: 16:24

I don't know I'll leave that up to interpretation.

Cheryl Lee: 16:26

Yeah, it's really fabulous to chat to you, Sam, and I'm so happy that Nick has hit the ground running. He's found his feet. He actually doesn't just bring his vocal to the band, does he? He has added an additional guitar as well.

Sam Brewster: 16:44

Yep, and which came in handy when John couldn't be there. So, yeah, he definitely plays utility very well in various roles. So, yeah, we're fortunate to have that.

Cheryl Lee: 16:52

That means that you know the band got a new lease of life, established in 74, still rocking in 2024. There is no exit.

Sam Brewster: 17:02

No, I don't think there is. I mean, who knows, Humphrey and Wilbur will probably be in it in years to come.

Cheryl Lee: 17:08

I was going to say you're doing your bit for the succession. Yep, yep, Well done. And what about Tom? Does Tom have a partner or any children or anything yet?

Sam Brewster: 17:17

Not yet. Tom works very, very hard. He's a project manager full-time as well as being in the band. Oh, wow, yeah.

Cheryl Lee: 17:25

How does he do that?

Sam Brewster: 17:26

I don't know, I wouldn't want to do it. But yeah, you know, tom's always been like that. He's got a very, very strong work ethic.

Cheryl Lee: 17:33

But there's plenty of time. There's plenty of time, yeah, for the creation of new band members for generations to come. So this one is for Sam's beautiful wife and their new little one, wilbur. Seems to settle him apparently. Jeff Beck, Last Goodbye.

Sam Brewster: 18:11

I think the first 100 copies of the record you'll get a signed edition. I think that's what we worked out and it'll be in a limited edition red colour as well.

Cheryl Lee: 18:21

We do love a little bit of coloured vinyl. Yeah, I mean, we love vinyl anyway. You know just that little crackle before it starts. We love it as a medium, but it just adds something extra when it's a colourful one.

Sam Brewster: 18:36

Yeah for sure. Yeah, I get that. I'm a bit out of the loop with vinyl. It sort of missed me or I missed it it. I was kind of of the CD generation. So I still don't have a record player, but I should probably get one.

Cheryl Lee: 18:50

I've got two. Oh right, there's one behind me there.

Sam Brewster: 18:57

Oh, yeah, okay.

Cheryl Lee: 18:57

Cool. And another one over there, the album cover. I love it, by the way. Oh good, who made the album cover?

Sam Brewster: 19:00

The phone boxes are from a photo at Rick's place back in the 80s when they were getting rid of all those red phone boxes. He paid the guys to drop them at his house when they were replacing them with whatever. I don't know exactly what they replaced them with at that time, but yeah, so that's where that came from. The 99 script is I wrote that, so I designed that one and then the single cover is kind of my concept, you know, because when we were in London I remember you know Rick getting that photo and I thought you know that'd be great. You know that would work, that would tie in with the whole theme. You know a guy like on the phone, dead, you know in the middle of the city. We've got our graphic designer, guy J, to execute it. That's how kind of that came about.

Cheryl Lee: 19:42

Well done. It's come up really well. I really really like it. How many phone boxes has Rick still got a lot of phone boxes.

Sam Brewster: 19:52

He's only got one left. Yeah, and you'll see that on the back cover of the album.

Cheryl Lee: 19:56

What did he do with all the?

Sam Brewster: 19:57

others. He moved to Hobart, so I think he could only bring one of them.

Cheryl Lee: 20:01

So he had to bring his favourite one.

Sam Brewster: 20:03

I guess, yeah, I guess it was the one in the best condition.

Cheryl Lee: 20:07

Yeah, Rick's in Hobart. So that makes it extra tricky to get together the old-fashioned way, doesn't it? It does, yeah, it's great that you have that technology and bring it all together.

Sam Brewster: 20:17

Yeah, we use Zoom like we are now as well to rehearse. Lately we've been doing that just to get some of these new mainly the new single that we're going to play live together.

Cheryl Lee: 20:29

We wish you all the best. The tour starts on Friday, the 28th of June, the same day as the album is officially released. So have a great end of June. You're busy through July and the start of August, and then you'll have to go back home after you've had some nice sleep on the road.

Sam Brewster: 20:46

Yeah, yeah. Well, at least a few nights a week anyway, Maybe two nights a week I'll get a decent sleep and then I'll come back to the three-year-old you know, kicking me all night. Oh bless, Not a great sleeper, but yeah.

Cheryl Lee: 20:56

And you enjoy your new bundle of joy as well, and give my congratulations to your wife.

Sam Brewster: 21:03

Will do.

Cheryl Lee: 21:03

It's lovely speaking to you. I'll let you go for now. I'll see you down the front.

Sam Brewster: 21:07

Awesome. Look forward to it.

Cheryl Lee: 21:08

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Sam Brewster: 21:10

You too, no worries.

Speaker 3: 21:18

At the risk of being really boring and really predictable.

Cheryl Lee: 21:21

Sorry, not sorry, I'm going to go out with Am I Ever Gonna See your Face Again from the Live Line album originally released in 1987, reached number three in Australia, 14 in New Zealand. This live version was released as a single. Well, am I?

Speaker 3: 21:46

Am I ever going to see your face again?

Cheryl Lee: 21:51

You're with Cheryl Lee that radio chick. Thank you so much for joining me on the Still Rocking it podcast. Hope to catch you again next time. Get out when you can support Aussie music and I'll see you down the front.