It is funny how fate can sometimes take a hand in the musical journey of artists. In 2009 Duke Wilde was asked to help promote a gig at Pomona in Queensland. 'I can't help promote it' he said 'but my band will play at it.' The Duke Wilde Band was duly booked and featured on the poster. One small problem, there was no Duke Wilde Band....
Having been the singer and main songwriter for the eponymous Flamin' Locos, Duke Wilde had toured Australia and America and graced many a festival stage. But when the band split he moved from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast and took a hiatus from playing. Now he was in a stew, a gig booked but no band to play.
At this stage he did what all great artists do, with a view that 'the show must go on', he got on the phone and started making calls around local musicians and friends, picking up on any leads that might connect him with talent and tracking them down.On a tip he was put in touch with local songwriter Nick Aitken. Nick had recently featured in the final of Telstra Road to Tamworth, and had just come back from Nashville and a songwriting session with legendary producer Mark Moffat.
The two performers found that they had much in common and started working together, and through this collaboration the Duke Wilde Band began to take shape. Nick's mate Linc Phelps came on board as 'the bass player with film star looks', fresh from a scholarship at the Academy Of Country Music, and with a drummer
added the gig in Pomona was completed. Songwriting and band practise took up much of the remainder of 2009 as the band prepared to go to Tamworth for January 2010. But once more there was a problem - the drummer was unable to make the dates. Again Duke got on the phone and hooked into his network of friends and musicians. The tip this time was Jason Bray, a drummer of undoubted quality, power and dedication. Originally from Sydney Jason was a seasoned professional on the touring circuit, and it was the addition of this rocking rhythm section that took the band to the next level and gave them the belief that they
were really on to something.
It has been an exciting 2010 for the Duke Wilde Band. Starting off with winning the Coca-Cola Battle Of The Bands at Tamworth in January, the band continued to write and perform. They entered their song 'Country Town' in the Q Song Awards and were delighted to win Best Country Song. They were then signed to the newly formed Australian Institute of Country Music Records label in August and began recording their debut album with Nashville Musician Hall of Fame legend Louie Shelton on the Gold Coast. This album was completed and mastered in Nashville by Hank Williams. They then had the honour of playing on the main stage at the Gympie Muster in front of thousands, wowing them with their energy, musicianship and harmonies. Catch them live and you will be taken on a tour of classic country, the blues, rockabilly and pure rock music.
With an album released to rave reviews in Tamworth this year The Duke Wilde Band are going from strength to strength Festival spots are now flowing in and radio play on their debut single “The Band Plays” is extensive across the whole of Australia. With the video for the single on CMC it won't be long before the predictions of many in the media comes true.
“The most exciting new band in Australian country music”- Country Update
“Making the future of Australian country music an exciting place to be” - Capital News
“Watch the hits flow”- Cameron Syrett, Cool Country Radio 2KA- National Country Broadcaster 2010
“Why Don't We Hear Old Waylon Anymore- (I) presumed it was already a hit song.”- Cheryl Byrnes
