The Sidemen front and centre
Once a businessman, Steve Banks has done a U-turn and returned to his previous life as a muso. Steve Banks and The Sidemen are ready for an awesome show at Lennox Head next week and Seven caught up with Steve on the weekend.
What’s going on here Steve?
The whole ‘sidemen’ concept came together some years ago now. I recorded an album with Jeff Burstin from The Black Sorrows along with other session musos based in Melbourne. That relationship blossomed…
I moved to the Northern Rivers about eight years ago, I was able to bring Jeff and Bruce up from Melbourne but needed a rhythm section locally.
I came across a plethora of amazing musical talent. We are talking players that have been on the world stage like Grant Gerarthy (John Butler Trio), Rick Fenn (10cc), Al Park (Cliff Richard’s Musical Director for 20 years), Bruce Haymes (Paul Kelly), and others including Mike Mills (Alex Lloyd, Christine Arnu), and Geoff Wright (JJ Cale, Max Merrit). They all talked about themselves as if they were sidemen.
We played once and the chemistry was definitely there. I came up with the idea for the show, which was to shine a light on and celebrate the amazing achievements of these ‘sidemen’ of rock and roll – most of whom you wouldn’t recognise if you fell over ‘em.
With such a mix, what do you play?
The set list comes from this stable of bands along with a few tunes we’ve written as The Sidemen. The set list is kick-ass. It’s a true soundtrack of our lives and the audience has really embraced it with our shows so far.
We can only assemble a few times a year owing to touring commitments.
So I hear you are channelling Stuart Wagstaff?
Yes. I liken my job as the frontman of The Sidemen (no middle man) to Stuart Wagstaff, as the narrator á la The Rocky Horror Show – in our show, we interview each player on stage between songs and show images of them on the screen behind as much younger and very groovy up-and-comers. It’s a hoot. As the narrator I get to sing too, along with two amazing female vocalists Vanessa Baker and Aimee Stuart – songbirds of some repute to say the least.
Why do we need to know the sidemen (and women) of the music industry?
When you think that people don’t buy CDs anymore, the only way you can make money is by touring and selling merchandise. Unless you’re in the top 1 per cent, like Taylor Swift, you’re just not earning.
The thing that’s killed it, of course, is the streaming of songs and people don’t pay for music anymore.
My little vendetta is I want to try and get some of the power back in the hands of the musicians again, so that they can actually live – so that’s what I’m all about. I’m lucky in what I’ve done in my life. And for me, this is an absolute ballbuster. I just want to shine the light on these wonderful musicians.
it all sounds great, but, are you having enough fun?
Oh, definitely. I mean, there’s a part of it that is difficult – it’s like herding cats, but I’m a musician myself, so I know. But I’m pretty organised because of my business life. When we do it and you get on stage, you forget about all the admin. You just get on stage and enjoy it. You know, so that’s a yes!
