Iconic Adelaide band honoured with city laneway
A laneway behind Hindley Street Music Hall has a new name, with a multimedia art project honouring an Adelaide band for the City of Music’s 10th anniversary. See the pictures.
The Angels Lane was officially opened on Monday, featuring two murals, glowing light boxes, and some of the band’s iconic moments projected onto the street to be visible at night.
The Angels are the fifth Adelaide band to receive a laneway named in their honour, joining Sia Furler Lane, Cold Chisel Lane, Paul Kelly Lane and No Fixed Address Lane.
At the official laneway opening, band members from each of its lineups and eras were honoured: Founding members John and Rick Brewster, Graham “Buzz” Bidstrup, bass guitarist Chris Bailey, first drummer Charlie King and family members of the late singer-songwriter Bernard “Doc” Neeson.
Dave Gleason of the Screaming Jets, Angels producer Mark Opitz and tour manager Mark Pope were also in attendance.
Founding band member John Brewster says Adelaide was crucial to the band getting their start.
“We are proud sons of Adelaide,” John says.
“Our journey began with The Moonshine Jug and String Band. We played all the music venues, the universities, even Marcellina’s Pizza, the Pancake Kitchen, Cowley’s Pie Cart and more.
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“We couldn’t be happier for the City of Adelaide to recognise the heritage of The Angels with The Angels Lane.”
The Moonshine Jug and String Band was the earlier iteration of the Angels, which John and his brother Rick Brewster, formed in 1970.
Singer-songwriter Bernard “Doc” Neeson joined the band in 1972, and they renamed the band The Keystone Angels in 1974 before becoming The Angels in 1975.
After adding rhythm members Graham “Buzz” Bidstrup and Chris Bailey, The Angels broke through in 1978 with their second studio album Face to Face, going four times platinum.
Neeson died in 2014 after suffering from a brain tumour.
The band’s hits include ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’ and ‘No Secrets’. They have been cited as an influence by Guns N’ Roses and grunge bands Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
John told the crowd on Monday that “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again”, which is known across the country for its call and response, “wasn’t an immediate hit”.
“It wasn’t an immediate hit but it’s just been named number 12 all-time greatest by Triple J, so obviously it struck a chord with some of our fans,” he says.
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Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith says the laneway is a fitting tribute to one of SA’s most beloved rock bands.
“From packed pubs to festival stages, The Angels helped shape the sound of South Australia and now their legacy has a permanent place in our city’s streets,” she says.
“This honour both acknowledges rock royalty and reinforces Adelaide’s global reputation as a UNESCO City of Music.”
The Adelaide City Council first approved The Angels Lane in 2019, and originally the name was allocated to an unnamed private road off Gawler Place at the North Terrace end.
But building owners didn’t support public artwork and a commemorative plaque, which is a big part of the City of Music laneway project to improve city vibrancy and attract tourists.
The Angels Lane runs between Rosina Street and Morphett Street, behind TAFE SA’s Currie Street campus.
In a partnership with TAFE SA and property owners the Kambitsis Group, the laneway featured stencilled projections beamed from the campus, featuring digital art by local cinematographer Liam Somerville.
Liam, known as CAPITAL WASTE, shot The Angels’ 2022 documentary Kicking Down The Door and says reuniting with the band to put together the laneway feature is “an honour”.
“Our work references the iconic imagery of The Angels, including their theatrical approach to onstage lighting, classic album covers and onstage antics,” Liam says.
Liam says he first sang the expletives that follow “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again” at the top of his lungs at a school camp, and has “the great privilege of leaning so many beautiful war stories and their history and all the adventures the band had been on while creating this enormous impact”.
John said Liam and Joel represented the band’s journey “in such a magnificent way”.
Joining CAPITAL WASTE’s projections are two murals by street artist Joel Van Moore, known as Vans the Omega, commissioned by the Adelaide City Council to span the laneway.
The first large-scale mural is on the side of Hindley Street Music Hall facing Morphett Street, and a second is next to the newly installed Hindley Street public toilets.
