Through four decades, Rick and John Brewster, The Angels guitarists, co-founders and its most prolific songwriters, have seen lineups change and the band’s musical styles rearrange, but through it all they’ve maintained the pure Australian rock guitar sound that’s driven The Angels most legendary songs.
With Dave Gleeson (from The Screaming Jets) upfront, The Angels have been storming rock stages right around the country. They’ve even notched up a festival in Japan. Two years of blowing away new and old Angels fans at sold out show after sold out show. All the hard work has paid off. The Angels with Dave Gleeson are now widely known as the best live rock band in Australia today.
The Angels have headlined sold-out music festivals and released a new album, Take It To The Streets, which debuted at No. 7 on the ARIA Australian Albums chart. They’ve seen new songs like Waiting For The Sun become FM radio hits, they’ve released their first live album in 24 years, ‘The Angels: Live At QPAC’ and they’ve published a book of stunning live photos taken by professionals and fans during their 2011 Waiting For The Sun tour.
“We’re having an absolute ball,” says John, “and everyone in the audience can feel it. This kind of energy is always infectious.”
While many Australian bands have abandoned the grind of life on the road required to take their shows to regional and country towns, for The Angels it’s never been about anything else. You make your music, says John Brewster, and then you take it out there and you play it to the people.
“We’re wandering troubadours,” says John, “always have been. That’s part of this thing we’ve always done. My brother Rick and I are still driving the same highways we’ve been travelling for 38 years. We’ve always been happy to play live to more of this country than most bands ever do".
In May 2023, founding members John and Rick Brewster announced an exciting new era for the band. Closing in on The Angels’ 50th anniversary, they unveiled a new lead singer, with Nick Norton replacing Dave Gleeson, who stepped aside after fronting the band for 12 years. The fans were already very familiar with Nick – he’d been the band’s drummer since 2011.
“Nick is an incredible musician and a great singer and songwriter,” John Brewster said. “He obviously knows the songs like the back of his hand and the fans already know and love him, so he’s the perfect fit.”
As well as his vocal prowess, Nick adds a third guitar to The Angels’ famous wall of sound. “Nick’s a fantastic guitarist and what he brings to the mix is very exciting,” Rick Brewster said. Replacing Nick on drums is John’s son Tom, meaning the band now has two sets of Brewster Brothers – John and Rick on guitar, and Sam (who joined in 2013) on bass, and Tom on drums.
