Reliving 40 Years of Motion with Models

Melbourne rockers, Models, are set to bring their 40 Years of Motion Tour to Perth this month, celebrating the 40th anniversary of their breakthrough hit, I Hear Motion. After selling out venues in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland last year, the tour was extended to include an additional six encore shows, including WA shows at Port Beach Brewery on Friday, April 26, and Rosemount Hotel on Saturday, April 27, with tickets on sale now. ALEIGHSHA GLEW caught up with bassist Mark Ferrie to find out how Models have enjoyed returning to classic rock venues on the tour and what Perth fans can look forward to when they hit the stage.

How does it feel to be extending the 40 Years of Motion Tour?

It’s great. It’s kind of extending itself, really. The gigs have all gone beyond expectations, and we are happy to keep playing for people if they want to keep coming to see us.

The original tour dates in October and November last year didn’t include Perth. Why did you decide to include two Perth dates for the extended tour?

We haven’t really done our own gigs in Perth for quite some time. In most recent times, we have been on A Day on the Green type events. We’re finding that playing gigs in classic rock venues is our natural game. I think that’s why it keeps rolling along at the moment.

That’s awesome. Why did you and the band choose to celebrate the single I Hear Motion turning 40 as a tour?

That was pretty much the kind of breakthrough song for the band. It’s a little bit of a defining moment for the band. I’ve got to say, I was not a part of the line-up that recorded that song, but I have played it so many times now. I was in the band prior to that, and then I’ve been playing in the band since about 2000.

So far on the tour, what’s been the biggest highlight that you’ve had?

It’s a little hard to pick out any particular thing. We are back playing rock rooms instead of festival stages. The last 10 years or so, we have mostly been playing big stages and events when we’re invited along to those. This is us back playing our natural game. This version of the band is one of the earlier line-ups. We did a lot of playing in our youth—Sean Kelly, Andrew Duffield and myself. Back in the day, we were playing four or five nights a week, week in and week out.

How do you see the differences between doing something like a festival show versus doing a rock venue?

We just have more time at a rock venue, and it’s a bit more personal.

And what line-up are we going to be able to see at these WA shows?

Apart from the two other members I mentioned, Sean, who’s been in the band since day one, and Andrew Duffield, who plays keyboards and has been in the band on and off like myself over different formative stages, we also have a new boy in the band, the drummer Ash Davies, who’s been playing with the band for the last seven or eight years. He’s actually a Perth local but has been living in Melbourne for some time now. I’m sure he’ll enjoy playing back in his old hometown.