Rock N' Roll...

The story behind the rise of the Australian band Airbourne who were frequentl ycompared to AC/DC. Podcast on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rock-n-roll-true-stories-podcast/id1876614383 My second YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@RockNRollTrueStories2 Airbourne’s story is one of the wildest success stories in modern hard rock. In this video, we trace the rise of the Australian rock ’n’ roll band from tiny pubs in Warrnambool, Victoria, to international tours, major record deals, festival stages, video-game soundtracks, and a career built on refusing to compromise. Formed by brothers Joel and Ryan O’Keeffe, Airbourne began with one simple mission: write loud riffs, play them live, and keep doing it until people had no choice but to pay attention. Before the massive crowds, before Runnin’ Wild, and before the comparisons to AC/DC became impossible to avoid, Airbourne were playing nearly empty rooms and dealing with criticism for their long hair, volume, and refusal to follow a conventional path. The band eventually relocated to Melbourne, released the independent Ready to Rock EP, and caught the attention of Capitol Records. But just as Airbourne appeared to be getting their big break, record-label restructuring threatened to derail everything. Instead of disappearing, the band found a new path through Roadrunner Records and released their debut album, Runnin’ Wild, in 2007. The record helped turn Airbourne into an international force and introduced millions of listeners to their full-throttle brand of Australian hard rock. We also look at the band’s connection to Motörhead legend Lemmy Kilmister, who appeared in the video for “Runnin’ Wild.” Airbourne toured with Motörhead, built a friendship with Lemmy, and received validation from one of the most uncompromising figures in rock history. Then there is the live show. Joel O’Keeffe became famous for climbing lighting rigs, balconies, speaker stacks, and anything else he could reach with a guitar in hand. In 2016, during a performance in Kamloops, British Columbia, Joel fell from the stage during “Runnin’ Wild,” suffering cracked ribs and torn ligaments in his foot. Rather than ending the show, he returned to the stage and finished the song sitting on a stool. This video also explores Airbourne’s surprising reach through video games. Their songs appeared in EA Sports titles including Madden NFL 08, NHL 08, NHL 09, and NASCAR 09, while “Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast” made its way into Guitar Hero World Tour. Their music also appeared in games such as Need for Speed: ProStreet and Skate, helping introduce their songs to audiences well beyond traditional rock radio. But the biggest question remains: are Airbourne simply AC/DC copycats? The influence is obvious. The riffs, rhythms, vocal delivery, and Australian pub-rock attitude all invite comparison. But Airbourne have never denied their influences—and their story is about much more than sounding like another band. It is about survival, relentless touring, chaotic live performances, and total commitment to a style of rock ’n’ roll that they believe should be loud, physical, dangerous, and fun. If you enjoy rock documentaries, heavy metal history, AC/DC, Motörhead, Australian rock, band controversies, and stories about how musicians made it against the odds, subscribe for more. Have a video request or a topic you'd like to see us cover? Comment below or send in your idea: https://bit.ly/3stnXlN CONNECT ON SOCIAL TIKOK:https://www.tiktok.com/@rocknrolltruestory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rnrtruestories/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RNRTrueStories Twitter: https://twitter.com/rocktruestories Blog: www.rockandrolltruestories.com #acdc #airbourne These videos are for entertainment purposes only. DISCLAIMER https://rockandrolltruestories.com/youtube-disclaimer/