Currently touring Australia, The Struts are one of those bands that drop you right into the days of proper glam-rock. Grabbing you by the hand and not letting you go, the band boast soaring vocal ranges, sensational beats, and onstage style that is rarely matched elsewhere.
Between pairing up with Kesha in their song ‘Body Talks’ and covering the famous ‘Dancing In The Street’ by David Bowie and Mick Jagger, to endlessly touring multiple continents while working on new music, The Struts are a band that you’d be hard-pressed to imitate, especially with their impressive talent.
Taking influence from those bands we all love like Queen, The Rolling Stones, and The Libertines, The Struts truly embody rock and roll, and continuously show their audiences what it would’ve been like to be at a classic show from the ‘70s and ‘80s. With such a rare genre being the front and centre of their focus, it’s no wonder they are selling out gigs around the globe.
With one show down, and a few more to go, we sat down with frontman Luke Spiller, and guitarist Adam Slack to find out the details of what makes The Struts such an unparalleled act.
Check out ‘Pegasus Seiya’ by The Struts:
You were here earlier this year supporting Greta Van Fleet, and doing a few additional shows after part of their tour was cancelled. How are you anticipating this second go of Australia, especially with it being a headlining tour?
Luke Spiller: I think it’s great! I mean, the first experience we had here was exceptional. I think making the most of a difficult situation is pretty much what this band does best [laughs].
In doing so, we sort of walked away with some really great memories and some genuine connections — whether that’s with fans or the label. So, it’s kind of just good to be back re-introducing ourselves and catching up with old buddies, and stuff.
You guys partnered with Plus 1 for this Australian tour, which donates $1 from each ticket sold to charity. How did you guys go about choosing Beyond Blue to receive the benefits?
Luke: The whole point in being was, like, now that we’re getting to that point where we’re doing shows and doing a lot of them, and we sort of hear on a day-to-day basis how much of a difference we make in some people’s lives whether they are telling us at shows, giving us letter, or online.
So, we just wanted to start giving something back. But, in terms of the choice, I think that Jed [Elliot, bass] had something to do with that.
Adam Slack: You know, we’ve been to hospitals before, and stuff like that, and it’s just good to get behind stuff like that because then if we can give anything to help someone, then why not?
Luke: It’s better than not doing it. I think we’ve all been affected, at some point, either by something we’ve experienced personally or knowing someone who’s been effected by mental health problems.
Especially now, it’s something that’s entering a lot of people’s conversation, where it hadn’t for years previous, especially for men. So, it’s kind of good to get behind something like that, and help as much as we can.
Check out The Struts’ ‘Body Talks (feat. Kesha)’:
When you guys first formed back in 2012, what did you envision? Have you reached your goals, or are there some that are still waiting to be achieved?
Luke: On a lot of levels, we’ve set out and achieved a lot of those things we wanted. Even just the little things like getting signed — that’s the easy bit [laughs]. I think staying true to a vision and developing to the point that we kind of envisioned ourselves and each other has become a reality, especially in the last year, or so. Like, I’ve noticed that Adam’s become quite the guitar hero.
Adam: Aw, thank you, [laughs].
Luke: And, the whole band as well, because the band was kind of built on shaky foundations. We went through a really difficult time, and it was kind of like — I wouldn’t say, ‘thrown together’ — but we had to sort something out quickly.
For argument’s sake, I mean, had we been allowed more time, I’m not even sure the lineup would be what it is, but fate had it that this was the way it was meant to be, and I think the way that the band has gelled together is pretty incredible. Staying true to our music, and getting it out there — that’s definitely been achieved.
Adam: Calling it a job has been the main thing for me. Like, being able to live my life playing music, and being able to travel has been amazing. I mean, we were in Australia early this year, and America, and Japan just recently, and to be able to go to all these places and play music…it’s just an honour to play to all these crowds.
Like, we touched on this earlier, but affecting people lives — people come to a meet-and-greet and they cry saying that they’d had such a hard time, but our music’s helped them through it. You hear about that stuff from other bands, and you think, “is that actually true?” but, when you see it first hand, you just go, “wow!”
It’s amazing. I mean, yeah, we want to be the biggest band in the world, and, yeah, we want to have the biggest record, and we’ll get there, but in the meantime, I think we definitely have checked off loads of the things we set out to do.
Check out The Struts’ ‘Could Have Been Me’:
You guys have stated numerous times that you take influences from artists like Queen, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and the likes. Do you ever feel like you were born to the wrong decade? Or, do you relish in the fact that you’re playing a major role in keeping the genre of glam rock alive?
Luke: I really enjoy the fact that there is a huge lack of glam rock — less competition [laughs]. I mean, I love doing what we do, but if it came to the point where loads of people were trying to do it, I’d probably encourage us to do something else, or go down a different avenue.
That’s what The Struts is about. We are the real alternative, if that makes any sense, and once we become part of the majority, then I think The Struts sort of loses its ‘je ne sais quoi’. Born in the wrong era? Not really. I mean, admittedly, there’s very little at the moment that I can really enjoy as much as some of the music that was made before our time — maybe that’s a sonic thing.
I was thinking about this quite a while ago… I just think it’s the humanistic elements to that music that resonates with me, anyway, that I just can’t get with stuff that’s been done in the last twenty years, unless it’s done in a certain way.
You guys have toured with many bands that you seem to idolise — what has been your favourite memory along the way? Have you been starstruck at any rate?
Luke: I was only a little bit starstruck with The [Rolling] Stones, really. When you’re in the same room with Keith [Richards] and Mick [Jagger], it’s hard to think of them as just people, but they’re more than that, really, especially when they all played such a big part in the soundtrack of your life. That’s what makes people emotional. I was like, “okay, now I know why people freak out.”
You’re doing something and creating something that means so much to people. Also, just getting to see them play from a really nice view is, honestly, I know this sounds cheesy, but as a fan, that was the best thing. Of course, it’s nice to shake their hand, and say hello, but to see them in action, man.
Adam: It’s kind of weird, though, ‘cause we met Mick the first time we watched the soundcheck, and he, kind of, locked eyes, and walked over. I don’t even remember what I said, but it was kind of, “oh my god!” I remember when Dave Grohl came to the 9:30 Club in D.C. and we had no idea he was coming, and it was five minutes until stage time, and then there was a knock on the door and I opened it, and he was like, “hi, I’m Dave.”
And I think my response was just, completely unintelligible, [laughs] and that was pretty crazy. But it’s like he’s already your best mate…he’s just such a lovely guy, so the star-struck thing kind of wore off, at least.
Check out The Struts’ cover of ‘Dancing In The Street’:
You guys recently released your rendition of the well-known ‘Dancing In The Street’. What was the experience like?
Adam: Well, it was more like the Van Halen version. Dodge car company wanted us to do a rendition of it in the version of Van Halen, and we hadn’t even heard that version before. So we listened to it, and then we did it and kind of forgot about it. And then, we ended up getting the car commercial and then we were all, “oh, shit!” So then we started playing it live, and then did a video. Luke sang it with a lot more soul.
Luke: I could not sing like David Lee Roth in that [laughs]. I was listening to his melodies, and was like, “he’s murdering this song”. There was a small discussion of, like, “well, if Dodge are asking for this version, then should we stick with David Lee Roth’s melody?” And, I was like, “nope, we’re not going to fucking put this out there if I’m singing like that,” [laughs].
Your fashion sense is clearly an integral part of The Struts and you always seem on-point…but, have there been any major fashion mishaps on stage?
Adam: Well, I remember we played this show in San Francisco, and there was this riser on stage, and at one point in the set, Jed and I are supposed to get up on that. We had just got the new outfits, and my trousers were really tight because they were custom made, so I couldn’t really bend my knees. I was trying to get up on this riser, but I couldn’t bring my leg up, so I ended up having to put my guitar down, and climb up, and it was pretty embarrassing [laughs].
Luke: The one I had was that I got these capes with giant sleeves and tassels. I remember when we introduced the piano into the set, and I was starting to have to play it, I didn’t really think about what outfit I should wear while playing the piano. I learnt the hard way. It was like one of the first couple of shows, and I went down to sit at the piano, and the fucking sleeves are just going everywhere and I’m tying to play the chords, and my hands are sweating and slipping, and the fabric is going everywhere, and yeah [laughs].
Adam: We haven’t quite had a Lenny Kravitz moment where trousers split while going commando, or anything, yet, [laughs]. However, with the outfits, one time we decided to go with baby blue, but when it gets really hot and sweaty, the sweat marks go onto my trousers, so I end up with a really wet bum, and sometimes I just can’t turn around because everyone’s going to see my bum.
Luke: I had the exact same thing with an orange jumpsuit, and I sweat, like, insane amounts, and by the fourth song of a show, I remember our guitar tech laughing at me, and he was like, “mate, your arse…” And I looked, and it was like bright orange trousers with a massive wet mark all the way down my crotch and all the way up my bum-crack, and it was just glamorous [laughs].
Last one for you — what is on the horizon for The Struts? When will Australia get to see you again?
Luke: We’re recording some new music in November, going into December, which should be really cool. We’re definitely going to have something out in the first quarter of next year, I reckon. I mean, we should-do, anyway, it’s about time. And, God, when are we coming back to Australia? [sighs] We’ll probably come again next year…we probably will. I highly doubt that we won’t.
Adam: I mean, why not? Everyone has all been so good, and have taken to us, and like the music. So, yeah, we’d love to!
Check out ‘Primadonna Like Me’ by The Struts:
The Struts Young & Dangerous Australian tour 2019
(Remaining Dates)
Friday, August 23rd
Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday, August 24th
Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tuesday, August 27th
The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets on sale now through Live Nation
