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 Anybody who is into Australian rock music will either know of Mal Eastick as a gifted blues-rock guitar player, or would have at least heard his playing on a myriad of radio tracks over the years without perhaps knowing that it was his playing they were listening to. First coming to our attention in the eighties in Adelaide's cowboy rock band "Stars", with hits like "Mighty Rock" and "Look After Yourself", Mal has also recorded guitar tracks for Jimmy Barnes (Bodyswerve and For The Working Class Man albums), Hoodoo Gurus (Rhythm guitar on 'Bittersweet'), Brod Smith ('Faded Roses' and 'My Father's Hands' singles) to name a few. In 1995 he released his first solo album "The Southern Line" and is now on the verge of releasing a brand new, yet to be titled Mal Eastick Band album. Rob Walker spoke to Mal about the new album, playing guitar and the trials and tribulations of surviving in the local music business playing blues rock, a style that is not strongly endorsed by mainstream radio.

RW: Tell me about the band and the new album.

ME: Rudy Miranda on drums and Ian Lees on bass have been playing with me for over two and a half years now. John Makey joined us on vocals in '97 and the rhythm to complete a line-up that has great chemistry and friendship. The band has made me so happy that I wanted to try writing together as an experiment and it has worked our wonderfully well. We dropped most of our regular touring out of town last year so that we could concentrate on writing and I’m amazed at how well the ideas flowed. We are seeking the best in tone by recording on high quality older style analog equipment at Paradise Recorders in Woolloomooloo, and I am producing the album myself. My approach will be to get as honest a representation of the band as possible. The songs are blues based, but with an original twist, as I am constantly seeking my own sound. I have a bit of a problem with style titles as I like to play a wide field of grooves from soulful ballads to slow blues to swinging shuffles and ballsy rock riffs too.

Those who wish to categorise can misinterpret us to be too bluesy for a rock gig, or on the other hand, to be not purist enough for a blues gig, whereas our breadth of repertoire, playing skills and dedication enable us to do both very well. So blues rock is the best and most honest broad description I can think of. My ultimate goal is to have no tight boundaries and to be able to play whatever music I am soulfully inspired by.

We are half way through recording and I’m excited with what we have so far. Recording went on hold for a while as Jimmy Barnes asked me to play guitar for him in April and May which was wild. But we’re back now and hope to have the record out by the start of August followed by a national tour through August and September.

RW: Do you think it's difficult for bands in this country to survive playing blues based music?

ME: Yes I do. Music fashions come and go and blues based music is not fashion music and therefore doesn’t get a fair go on mainstream radio. Australian audiences like to hear songs that are familiar, and therein lies the problem. However, we continue to survive, and are one of the biggest drawing acts in our category and we’re pretty proud of that. I've been in the business 25 years as a professional player and it’s always been a financial struggle. Regardless, I love what I do and would rather play quality music for the long term than look at an alternative just to pick up a quick buck. I've produced and financed the album myself, same as The Southern Line. It's tough going, it's putting my life savings into everything I do but we are speaking to some companies about distribution, and I’m always open to discussing a deal. I’m also looking to releasing both albums overseas to increase our market size.

RW: What do you think the chances are like for a young band starting out today, compared to when you started? Has it always been hard to get a deal?

ME: No. Stars scored a deal within six months of forming. But we were young and the record business prefers to sign younger mainstream acts, and that’s understandable as it caters to a bigger ready made sales base. It’s only since I started playing more of a blues based direction that I have had trouble getting a deal, yet the twist is that I believe I’m playing better now than ever before.

Rob Walker