Hi Paul Gannell here just thought I would create a page for my old band and pals from Avion hopefully there's some old die hard fans out there that might appreciate it keep comming back as this page will change as I receive more nostalgia and photos as I get them, please let me know if you have any old live band photos or even video's of the Avion singles please drop me a line cheers Paul......
Sydney band Avion (not to be confused with the L.A. act current in the 00’s or the 'Par' variety) came into being during 1981. Randall Waller (vocals/guitar) had already released two solo albums (‘Oasis’ in 1978 and ‘Midnight Fire’ in 1980) before forming the band Lionheart which soon evolved into Avion. Completing the original line-up were Martin Toole (guitar), Evan Murray (keyboards), along with Waller’s brothers Kendall (bass) and John (drums). Avion’s musical style was unabashedly influenced by American Adult Oriented Rock (think Journey/Boston/Night Ranger etc).
A recording contract with RCA led to the release of their eponymous debut album in 1983 (OZ48). RCA obviously thought the group’s sound better suited the North American market because the album was release there before it was at home in Australia. The album didn’t receive much promotion and though the first single from it ‘I Need You’ was a minor hit (OZ61 - reaching as high as 40 in NSW), Avion didn’t break through in a major way. Two more ‘Diamond Eyes’ and ‘Never Let Me Go’ were lifted from the album but neither made the charts. A stand alone single ‘Still The Night’ was released in August 1984 but again didn’t sell well.
Paul Gannell came in to replace Toole on guitar for the band’s second album, 1987’s ‘White Noise’. The album included the earlier single releases ‘We’ve Got Secrets’ and ‘Celebration’ but the celebrations were non existent as none made the charts. The band had remained a solid touring outfit throughout this period though, and it was on a late 1987 tour that keyboardist Evan Murray was killed in a car accident. The loss of Murray and the failure to break through commercially finally led Waller to call an end to Avion’s tenure.
Randall Waller continued a strong involvement in the Australian music scene and for a time played in Sharon O’Neill’s band. He then settled in the U.K. for a time, working as a producer and also playing with Bonnie Tyler’s band. During the 90s he was recruited to the legendary Billy Thorpe’s touring band, and Shania Twain’s touring band.
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Thanks for the addition of me as your friend.Found a video of Waller and you guys,I Need You, on the net and couldn't belive it,FINALLY.I love that song and Midnight Fire.Heard them over 25 years ago and never forgot them.Bless you guys.That was some of the best Christian music around then and I think still is.
I remember seeing Avion at many a pub gig and also the first Black Stump music festival. Awesome days good old anthems of rock. Would love to get a copy of the single "Southern Cross" Cheers Trev
Hi Paul! Thanks for putting up some info about Avion! I'm a long-time fan, and would really appreciate some chords or tabs of "I need you" being put up. I was sitting trying to work out the chords the other day and some of them are mystifying me...
Thought I would tell yo the story of when we played the Jolly Roger in Newcastle,Randall had just bought this fancy new stretchy guitar strap and was showing it off and during the night we came to one of our big endings and watching Randall take a flying leap into the air noticed he went up his guitar went down so and when the two meet in the middle the guitar was traveling at quite a rate and wacked him on the mellon the next few songs I was watching him sing with blood pouring out of his head and his new strap getting covered in blood. Being the trooper he was continued till the break and luckily there was a nurse in the crowd that patched up his war wound.... Max Out
