AIRBOURNE's JOEL O'KEEFFE Talks About BRYAN ADAMS & MUTT LANGE Collab Off New Album

The Metal Voice
10 minutes ago
3 min read

The Metal Voice recently interviewed Airbourne's Singer Guitarist Joel O' Keeffe in regards to the bands up and coming studio album which will be released on Sept 4, 2026 via Spinefarm

Watch Full interview here

https://youtu.be/9l3xwWOVqkU

Excerpts from interview

When asked how many songs did Brian Adams and Mutt Lange co-write on your album?

"There was two songs, 'Rhythm in You' and 'Here She Comes'. We sent them the music and then they sent it back and they changed a few of the arrangements and then, we started getting into the lyrics. They (Adams and Lange) had some really great ideas and it was just kind of how it flowed. Bryan was on the road so we had to go back and forth online, but um he was always checking in straight away and he would say like, "Guys, we can do better, guys. we could do better. When we get him and he would listen to it and say, "Yeah, no, that's it. You've got it. That's it. Put that one to bed now. Let's get on to the next one." He's just a machine. He puts his heart and soul into it. I remember he was on the FaceTime. He just sort of closed his eyes and he said, "I always do my best. I always do my best." And he went into a place and I just never forgot when he did it. It was just really inspiring. It's like he really does care so much and he he didn't have they didn't have to give us their time (Adams and Lange) or their talents or any of this but they did it and they just were just like wow. Like we're just some Aussie rock and roll band you know we're working with the biggest guns in the world here. "

When asked how Bryan Adams was contacted

"Dante our A and R guy and inspirationist and label coach and all of these things that Dante is was. He was also the editor at Kerrang and a bunch of other things. He knew Bryan personally. So he reached out to him and said, "Hey, you know, I got this band doing this record. there Airbourne and Brian's like, "Oh yeah, I know of them, and he said, "Would you like to get involved?" Yeah, you know, that sounds exciting. Send me some music. So, we sent him some music and then and then bang, we're off to the races.It was that quick. "

Australian rockers Airbourne have never been ones to think small. But on their self-titled sixth studio album, they’ve outdone themselves. “We wanted to make an iconic record – an album that is gargantuan,” grins vocalist-guitarist Joel O’Keeffe. “This is blockbuster shit.”

He's not lying. Determined to make an album that drummer Ryan O’Keeffe says “has the best elements of rock’n’roll that we love in one record”, the Melbourne four-piece – completed by bassist Justin Street and guitarist Brett Tyrrell – went over the top with its sound, the quality of the songs, their attention to detail, the festival-ready singalongs and, yes, the size of the budget. “We said, this is it,” nods Ryan. “Let’s make the oracle. And if we’re going to do it, no corner can be cut. Because if you cut a corner, you’re not going to pull it off.”

Reuniting with the powerhouse production team of Brian Howes (who produced 2013’s Black Dog Barking) and engineer Mike Fraser (who worked on 2016’s Breakin’ Outta Hell and 2010’s No Guts. No Glory.), the band knuckled down at Music Farm Studio in “the jungle” outside Byron Bay. The complex boasts the original Neve console from Alberts Studios, on which bands like AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and The Angels recorded their landmark early albums. It’s also home to Malcolm Young’s eight-track Neve, which too was recruited for the sessions. There the four-piece battled venomous snakes, deadly spiders, near cyclonic storms and the foibles of vintage analogue equipment (the band insisted on recording to tape) in their quest to create what Joel says is “the best record we’ve ever made”. (Some additional recording also took place at Melbourne’s Hothouse Studios.)

"Airbourne" track listing:

01. Gutsy

02. Alive After Death (Last Plane Out)

03. Here She Comes

04. Kid In A Candy Store

05. Sky High

06. Who Put The Rhythm In You?

07. Christmas Bonus

08. Last Man Standing

09. Rock 'N' Roll Ya

10. Bogotá

11. Hells Got No Vacancy