We thought it was about time we introduced ourselves!
While the ILYOS door is a revolving one - we have a stack of special guest contributors and artists popping by to share their stories with us - we do have a core team of passionate writers and music biz professionals who keep the flame burning - so, let's introduce you!
Allison Hodge
Age... The same age as ACDC's Back In Black album!
Fave genre/era of music... Pretty much all of them! From 50s rock and 60s soul, through to 70s classic rock and 90s heavy rock, mid-90s electronic and early-90s hip-hop, oh and 80s pop. To quote The Lunachicks, I'm a "jerk of all trades", master of none.
3 bands I love... Rage Against The Machine, Fleetwood Mac (when Stevie joined), Royal Blood.
About me... Currently the editor of ILYOS, I have worked in or around the music industry for about 14 years. I started off in the live music side of things as a promoter, then an agent and have been lucky enough to work in London as well as travel all over the USA and Europe for work. Stints at indie & major labels working with both developing new artists and global superstars. Most importantly, I'm obsessed with my dogs, two mini-dachshunds named Harley and Ruby.
Career highlight... There's been a few! Meeting icons like Cher, Robert Plant and Cyndi Lauper made me pinch myself. Interviewing great artists like Jim Kerr (Simple Minds) and Scott Ian (Anthrax) at my time at TotalRock Radio. I had a really fun time as the opening act (DJ) for Joan Jett at the legendary 100 Club in London, and playing with my own band at New York's iconic CBGB's. But... I think the thing I am most proud of is being part of the team that put together the She Who Rocks tour in 2015 with 90s Aussie rock legends the Baby Animals and The Superjesus, which sold out 10 shows and started a movement in Australia that put female artists at the forefront. After that, I worked with Suze DeMarchi again on a charity campaign called Rock The House which took 150 volunteers to Indonesia with Habitat For Humanity to build homes for impoverished families - an incredible give-back programme which spawned deep friendships between all involved.
5 musos I'd invite to a dinner party... David Bowie, David Byrne, Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks, Adele.
Dave Laing
Age... The same age as the Beatles' Revolver album!
Fave genre/era of music... Rock’n’roll
3 bands I love... The Real Kids, The Flamin’ Groovies, Radio Birdman
About me... 30 years at record companies, mostly indies (including a couple of my own), now in the touring biz. Written for numerous local and o/s fanzines over the years, as well as liner notes for labels like Festival, Raven and Aztec.
Personal highlight... My two brilliant kids!
5 musos I’d invite to a dinner party... Ron & Scott Asheton from the Stooges, Lemmy, Joey Ramone and Elvis (who could select the menu). Unfortunately, none of these chaps are still with us so I’ll have to wait.
Dave 'Higgo' Higgins
Age... The same age as Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti album!
Fave genre/era of music...I'm a HUGE rock fan (literally and figuratively). 70s rock through to now, and I love heavy metal.
3 bands I love... Queen is my number 1 band, all-time favourite, hands down, no discussion needed. Metallica will always be close to my heart, my formative years wouldn't be the same without them. The Superjesus definitely make the top 3, just superb Aussie rock.
About me... I've been a radio announcer for 20 years (in July 2019 actually). Fox FM in Melbourne, 2Day FM in Sydney, Triple M (networked around the country) NXFM in Newcastle, it's been a helluva ride. I started Distortion whilst at Triple M; a hard rock and heavy metal show that ran nationally. I've written for Hysteria Magazine, Heavy Magazine, I Like Your Old Stuff and Maniacs. I also created and run Amped Festival at Cherry Bar in Melbourne now entering its 3rd year. Currently at Gold FM in Melbourne.
Career highlight... Too many to mention, although an interview I did with P!nk many years ago stays firmly front of mind, what an absolute champion she is. Big love for her. Interview with Metallica is definitely a highlight too, and flying to LA to interview Nirvana.
5 musos I’d invite to a dinner party... Freddie Mercury, Dave Grohl, P!nk, Eric Clapton, Randy Blythe.
Scott McLennan
Age... the same age as David Bowie’s “Heroes” album!
Fave genre/era of music... 1980s for pop, 1990s for rock.
3 bands I love... Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, U2 (yes, despite not making a truly great album for more than 25 years, I still hold a candle for them)
About me... Close to two decades of music journalism, interviewing artists including Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Smashing Pumpkins, Mike Patton, Blur, Muse, The Strokes and plenty of other less memorable characters.
Career highlight... Speaking with music idols about their songs and motivations never gets old. Neither does getting a hug from Taylor Swift.
5 musos I’d invite to a dinner party... Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, John Lydon.
Rachael Botur
Age… The same as Iron Maiden's Killers album!
Fave genre/era of music… Rock, the 90s
3 bands I love… Mastodon, The Decemberists, Alice In Chains
About me… I started off as a kid working in music store (which I LOVED! Listening to everything, talking to passionate music fans, spending my whole paycheck on crazy imports from bands I’d never heard of but that were somehow related to an artist I loved. So much discovery), went on to work at head office, then started in Sales at Warner Music over 10 years ago, then moved on to marketing in all sorts of forms.
Career highlight… I’m pretty proud of my music degree, even if I’ve not really used it as such. And meeting Fleetwood Mac, Mastodon, and Phil Collins are up there.
5 muso’s I’d invite to a dinner party… Billie Joe Armstrong, Stevie Nicks, Chino Moreno, Mike Patton, Dave Grohl
Kara Jayne
Age... The same age as The Smiths' The Queen Is Dead album!
Fave genre/era of music... 80s new wave and 90s grunge.
3 bands I love... The Pixies, Joy Division, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
About me... At 17, to my parents' utter dismay, I moved to Sydney (from Brisbane) to play bass in a band called The Follow, started by my best friend the year after his brief stint on Popstars. Under the guidance of INXS manager Chris Murphy, we recorded our first record (Empty Orchestra, 2002) with Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo and joined them on their Australian tour.
We moved to LA to record our second album (Here Comes The War, 2006) with Nick Launay - producer of everything awesome, from Nick Cave, INXS, Silverchair and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs - then returned to Australia in 2009 for The Pixies Doolittle 20th Anniversary Tour - to this day, one of the highlights of my life. 2010 was a good year, we toured Australia with Nine Inch Nails, Marylin Manson, Linkin Park, Them Crooked Vultures, 30 Seconds To Mars, Buckcherry and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. After recording our third album (All In The Mind, 2014) and touring some more, we decided to take an extended hiatus to focus on new ventures.
I've learned so much from everyone I've met along the way, writing about it seemed the obvious next step!
Career highlight... Being invited to play bass with Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the Sydney Opera House in his orchestral 41 Strings project, incorporating electric guitars and a rock rhythm section with the Sydney Orchestra.
5 musos I’d invite to a dinner party... Alison Mosshart, Peter Hayes, Patti Smith, Damon Albarn, Courtney Love.
