Englishman Graham Russell and Australian Russell Hitchcock met as cast members in the Melbourne stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar in April of 1975. Amidst the high-energy environment of the theater, the two formed an instant bond. Their similar passion for music led Graham to share the original songs he had been quietly writing with Russell, whose piercing, emotive tenor voice proved to be the perfect vehicle for Graham’s sweeping melodies. With a shared vision and a quest to follow their dreams, a legendary partnership had begun.
From Pubs to the Australian Charts
The road to success was built on grit. Playing at local Australian pubs and cafes for next to nothing, Graham and Russell quickly found that crowds were incredibly receptive to their style of harmony-driven Soft Rock ballads—a gentle, melodic alternative to the hard rock dominant at the time. When the stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar officially ended in 1976, the duo fully committed to their new path. Calling themselves Air Supply, they released a self-titled debut single that met with modest local success.
Devoting their full-time energy to the music business, the pair entered the studio to record their 1977 album, Love and Other Bruises. The title track became a breakthrough hit, soaring to #2 on the Australian charts, while the follow-up single, “Empty Pages,” comfortably reached #18.
The Rod Stewart Turning Point
An incredible invitation soon came for Air Supply to tour Australia, Canada, and the United States as the opening act for rock superstar Rod Stewart. This was the catalyst they needed. Later in 1977, while their momentum was building, they released the album The Whole Thing Started, featuring the track “Do What You Do,” which climbed to #16 on the Australian charts.
To the music industry establishment, Air Supply was a true eye-opener. They had achieved national recognition with virtually no major promotions and no professional industry training—relying purely on raw talent, relatable songwriting, and undeniable vocal chemistry.
Eyeing the Global Stage
The massive exposure the duo received while opening for Rod Stewart on North American soil gave Air Supply their first real taste of international attention. Standing before crowds of tens of thousands, they realized their music had a universal appeal that stretched far beyond the southern hemisphere. After the grueling tour ended and Air Supply returned to Australia, they found themselves at a crossroads. They were no longer content being just a local success story; Graham and Russell’s urgent desire was to get back to the U.S. and conquer the global music charts—a dream that would soon manifest in a string of massive, record-breaking international hits.
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