Air Supply
Due To Drop In March, The Nottingham, England Native’s First-Ever Solo CD, ‘The Future’,Wraps Romantic Lyrics In Unique Rhythmic, Electronica and Acoustic Settings
Starting on Valentine’s Day At Harrah’s Casino in Kansas City, Russell Will Be Opening
All Air Supply Dates With A Three Song Acoustic Set Featuring Songs From The Album
When Graham Russell was nine years old, he ventured for the first time into a forest, located just at the edge of his hometown of Nottingham, England, that has captured the Western World’s imagination for over seven centuries.
Finding
himself lost in the dark, dense and spooky Sherwood Forest—the real live
home of the great Robin Hood legend—he says, “its magic became a part of me.
I somehow felt I had returned home.”
Now, many years, countless hit records and thousands of concerts around the
world later, Russell—better known to still-rabid romantic pop music fans as
one half of Air Supply, with songwriting and performing partner Russell
Hitchcock—is bringing that magic to glorious and exciting musical life with
his ambitious new rock opera The Heart Of The Rose.
With forty pop and rock flavored songs penned by Russell and a book written
by the composer, his wife Jodi Russell and noted British historical writer
Graham Phillips (author of the 1988 bestseller Robin Hood: The True Story),
the musical presents the real story behind the powerful Robin Hood myths
that have hijacked it in our renderings of the tale since the 14th century.
The Heart Of The Rose, based on the extensive historical research of
Philips, is the culmination of a 20-year musical journey for Russell, who
started the project at his home studio in 1987 (a few years beyond Air
Supply’s initial heyday) and worked on it in pieces over the years between
the band’s frenetic tour schedule of over 120 global dates per year.
On January 29, Russell previewed ten selections from The Heart Of The Rose
for an elite group of potential investors at the penthouse home of Sandie
Tillotson, owner of Nu Skin, a direct selling company that sells cosmetics,
nutritional supplements and technology services; her penthouse, located in
the Time Warner Building in Columbus Square, offers a 360 degree view of New
York. The evening, which was a highlight of NYC based social events attended
by top Broadway theatre people, included performances of Russell’s songs by
top singers Karla DeVito (Meat Loaf’s first female partner), Tony Harnell
from the Norwegian rock band TNT, Broadway vocalist Stan Brown and Russell
himself. The highly successful event was capped off with cuisine and wine
from Gabriel’s restaurant.
“The response was incredible, and it’s especially gratifying for me because
the show’s been coming for a long time,” says Russell. “Everyone at the
presentation echoed the wow factor of these songs, that the music just grabs
hold of you and is very passionate and moving. The idea behind The Heart Of
The Rose is to convey the true, heroic story of Robin Hood, out of the green
tights we traditionally place him in.”
Russell first had the brainstorm to tell the story in the mid-70s, just as
he was about to appear in the Australian production of Jesus Christ,
Superstar, where he met his future Air Supply partner Russell Hitchcock.
“During the show, I began to realize how a show called Sherwood could be
staged,” he says. “But then, something happened that put Sherwood on hold
for a while. Air Supply became extremely successful, touring, recording,
writing songs and playing all over the world for many years to come."
“Once I had time to dedicate to making the dream of Sherwood a reality, it
took on a life of its own and came together very quickly,” Russell adds. “I
sang most of the roles myself at this stage, but the people that worked on
the project would become immersed in it and take on their own roles. Being
spurred on by Jodi, we took a trip to England to gather more historical
information and completely by chance, met Graham Philips. The three of us
traversed England, this time looking for the ‘real’ Robin Hood. What we
found was a thousand times more interesting than the legend. He led us to a
place that exists in all of us, whose physical embodiment is a Holly tree
beside a mesmerizing pool of water, encircled by ancient stones in the very
heart of England. Hidden from all until the time is right, it was a place
not bound by this dimension, Robin had led us to the Heart of the Rose.”
In addition to this ongoing project, Russell is also excited about the March
release of The Future, his first ever solo CD, which wraps his always
romantic lyrics in unique rhythmic, electronica and acoustic settings very
different from the music of Air Supply. On Valentine’s Day (a highly
appropriate time, considering the way Air Supply’s romantic songs have
transfixed generations of fans) in Kansas City at Harrah’s Casino, he will
begin a “new career” as an opening act for Air Supply. His brief set,
featuring him playing only his acoustic guitar, will include his new songs
“Make You Mine,” “Lace and Leather” and the title track of The Future. His
set will then morph into the main show.
Currently being released on Air Supply’s own A Nice Pear label, The Future
will be launched at radio with its first single, “Let Yourself Go.”
“I’ve always been a fan of other kinds of music like techno and more
acoustic singer-songwriter artists,” says Russell. “This solo album finally
gives me a chance to play in some of the other styles I love. Air Supply
records an album every few years, and there is so much material I have
written that has never been released because I’m writing all the time. The
Future isn’t a completely separate entity entirely, but it shows a different
part of me that Air Supply’s fans haven’t seen yet. I’m excited about
finally having the opportunity to share it with them.”