Models – one of Australia’s most-loved bands – have announced today that they’ll be extending their 40 Years of Motion Tour, celebrating the 40th anniversary of their breakthrough hit, ‘I Hear Motion’.
With full houses across their October and November dates in Vic, SA, NSW and QLD, the opportunity to keep playing live was far too enticing for the band to resist! They will now play 6 encore shows, including the legendary Bridge Hotel in Rozelle (Sydney), 3 more shows in Victoria, and 2 in WA.
‘I Hear Motion’, the opening track on the band’s third album, The Pleasure of Your Company, became Models’ first Top 40 hit when it was released in 1983.
It was the beginning of a remarkable ride for the Melbourne band. Soon after, they went on tour with David Bowie. Later, they played for Prince Charles and Princess Diana, hit the US Top 40, were featured in The Andy Warhol Diaries, and inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
‘I Hear Motion’ started life as an instrumental piece called ‘Gag Bag’, written by Models keyboard player Andrew Duffield. The late great James Freud said it “instantly had the special magic you look for in a song”.
“Andrew is a genius. He brings this real twist to the music. He’ll come up with an idea and go, ‘That’s the obvious thing to play here.’ Then he’ll wrack his brain trying to find something that’s completely the opposite.”
Sean Kelly and James Freud helped to turn ‘Gag Bag’ into ‘I Hear Motion’.
“Essentially, the song is about hopes, dreams and opportunity,” Sean says.
When the single was released, Countdown magazine raved about its “seductive rhythms that defy you to remain unmoved”.
Writing about the album, The Age said: “The Pleasure of Your Company is without doubt one of the finest Australian record releases this year.” While the Sydney Sun called Models: “The band of the moment. Two years in the making and one huge hit album later, the Models are the stuff of real stars.”
The Pleasure of Your Company – produced by Nick Launay – was later featured in The 100 Best Australian Albums, with the authors admiring “the brilliant high-wire walk between art and commerce that they did so perfectly”.
Models are that rare breed of bands – one that has successfully straddled critical acclaim, cult appeal and commercial success.
“Alongside The Boys Next Door/The Birthday Party, Models were one of the first Melbourne bands to rise out of the ashes of that city’s hothouse punk/new wave explosion of the late 1970s with a clear vision and wider appeal,” says Ian McFarlane, author of The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop.
A masterpiece of composition, ‘I Hear Motion’ was the start of Models’ extraordinary chart run, which included eight Top 40 hits. The song was later featured in Yahoo Serious’ hit movie Young Einstein and in 2021 its timeless appeal was apparent when it appeared in the ABC TV series The Newsreader.
Four decades after it was released, ‘I Hear Motion’ still thrills, sounding fresh and inventive. Models never go out of style.
Just count it out/ Shout in your sleep/ You say the word/ I hear motion
Models – 40 Years of Motion Tour – NEW DATES FOR 2024
February 16 – Bridge Hotel, Rozelle NSW
February 18 – Archies Creek Hotel, Archies Creek Vic
February 24 – Bundy Hall, Bundalaguah Vic
March 2 – Shotkickers, Thornbury Vic
April 26 – Port Beach Brewery, Fremantle WA
April 27 – Rosemount Hotel, North Perth WA
Tickets on sale now from www.modelsband.com
