IT’S SOUTHERN COMFORT
Giant US rockers America say it never gets old playing the Gold Coast and if the fans keep coming, they’ll keep on performing
AFTER years playing the Gold Coast, frontmen of legendary US rock band America say “Coolie” is still their fave place to perform.
Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell are no strangers to the city, playing sell-out crowds for a decade.
But Beckley reveals to ATG most of his favourite shows have been at the southern end, saying “Coolangatta has a very special place” in his heart: “I’m always very fond of the experience we have there, especially Tweed Heads where we used to play gigs for years and years and years. We used to stay at Greenmount Resort many years ago in the ’80s, right there on the point, so that whole area of Coolangatta has a special place in my heart. Tweed Heads as well is a part of that for me. I have very fond memories in both places.”
America, who have six certified gold and platinum albums, are coming to the Glitter Strip on Saturday, November 30, to perform at The Star Gold Coast for a tour to mark 50 years since their first album.
Asked what their secret is to keeping a band together after five decades, Beckley says: “You can’t do 100 shows a year if you don’t have 100 audiences so we are really motivated by them.
“We’re only one half of the bargain so if people invest in us, we want to keep going and make sure we deliver the best shows possible.”
The band was formed in 1970 and produced the hits A Horse With No Name and I Need You on its first album, America. Its big hit Ventura Highway came out in 1972.
Beckley and Bunnell remain members of the band.
The Grammy Award winners have gained more than 1.4 million listeners on Spotify, with eight songs having more than two million streams.
America’s hit song A Horse With No Name has been streamed more than 42 million times.
I’m always very fond of the experience we have in Tweed