| THE FLYERS - A BRIEF HISTORY
The Flyers first appeared on the Adelaide pub scene in
December 1982 matching the songwriting duo of David Blight
and David Small with local music luminaries Mick Jurd,
John Freeman and Frank Lang. Blight and Small had been
working their way thru a maze of local bands (spending
more time in rehearsal than actual gigs) since first getting
together in 1973 and after spending three years in the
experimental acoustic trio Night Flyers, decided it was
time for something a tad more Chicago in tone.
After the early departure of Mick Jurd the band pushed
on for three years developing a gritty blues set peppered
with their own brand of melodic original songs.
During this time the band played three successive residencies
- The Fountain Inn, Mile End Hotel and Tivoli Hotel. Country
touring was a regular feature and the odd support gig
(notably Stevie Ray Vaughan) assured a broader and ever
increasing audience.
Unfortunately the only recording produced in this period
was a limited edition tape compiled from various gigs
and live to air radio shows. This proved to be very popular
at the gigs and sold out quickly.
In April 1986 Blight dissolved the band, the remnants
of which (under the ever watchful eye of the thunderous
Frank Lang) went on to become HOY-HOY!
An occasional run of gigs has seen the band surface from
time to time over the years but it wasn't until the Riley/Blight
band of 1999 brought David Small into the fold that the
wheels were set in motion to re-energise the old Blight/Small
compositions.
Rob Riley has played a big part in spicing up the songs
by adding liberal doses of pedal steel, mandolin and guitar
in a way that only he can and the push/pull, sweet and
sour combination of the Small/Riley guitar team is exquisite.
The bands powerhouse rhythm section now consists of Mick
Rajan on drums and Mick Cooper on bass, both of whom have
also been instrumental in helping to realize the songwriters
initial vision of the how, why and wherefore of each composition.
While not being too keen on pigeonholes The Flyers reservedly
see their music as fitting somewhere in the Blues/Country
area with a dash of rock thrown in for good measure. After
30 odd years the Blight/Small songs have finally "come
home" and are feeling very comfortable (if not downright
smug) in the current growing 'alternate country' climate.
But then … quality never really goes out of style.
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