Sean Kelly is a Model Man

Sean Kelly, founding member and original singer of iconic Aussie band the Models, talks to Citysearch about the band's 30th anniversary, its enduring appeal and what's on the horizon.

Editorial Review

CS: Sean, you're the original Model, how did it all begin?
SK:Well, I knew James Freud at school and then we had a band - Teenage Radio Stars (TRS). I ended up leaving TRS and started the Models because I really wanted to start something new.

CS: What do you mean by new? Who were your influences?
SK: We couldn't help but be influenced with what was happening in the States and the UK, because we'd just spent a better part of a year emulating their punk movements. I think by mid-late 1978, there was already starting to be a bit of a New Wave movement and, as best I can remember, it was all about letting the synthesisers, chords and melody do a bit more talking, rather than just the thrashy, trashy punk stuff. We really just wanted to create some pop music, be it a little subversive, perhaps.

CS: And you naturally stepped up to the mic?
SK: I hadn't really sung upfront with a band at that stage, but it was understood that I was able to sing, so I ended up as the nominal singer.

CS: The singer role flipped from you to James Freud later?
SK: Yeeeeaaah (long pause!). Circumstances were quite weird. I needed a bass player - around '82 - and James was behind the scenes on the Models stuff - he sang back-up vocals on Cut Lunch - and he really wanted to join the band. He played bass for a couple of years before he mounted his takeover bid with Out of Mind Out of Sight, and Barbados (he laughs again).

CS: How did you take the takeover bid?
SK: It was very amicable and, of course, I'm being facetious! I didn't harbour any ill feelings towards James - I'm just not that kind of person and I've always respected him as a musician and writer. If anything, we encouraged him to sing with the band - and he was reluctant to sing because he was just happy to have a gig in a band with a record deal at that stage.

CS: You could have just left, what kept you going?
SK: I think I can truthfully say just a love of music, and a desire to create music that affects people the way music effected me when I was young and naïve and didn't understand music. That's what excites me about working with James again - he's improved as a writer and a musician as well. We feel like we're getting the chance to start again, in a way. But obviously, we're still happy to exploit our past!

CS: The Models have never broken up, but you have gone quiet ...
SK: Thirty years is a long time. I'm the only one that's been there since day one. I remember in the late '80s I noticed James' Record Company put out a press release that we'd split up, which was completely inaccurate. Because we had so many individuals in the group, we've always been able to sustain it in one form or another - and fortunately for me they've always let me be involved. As long as I'm there, we get to claim that continuity.

CS: Your songs - such as I Hear Motion, Out of Mind Out of Sight and Barbados - have such an enduring appeal, why do think that is?
SK: All I can say is at the time we were hell-bent on coming up with something that sounded timeless. When you're writing songs or recording, you've got to think about the big picture. We were hell-bent on coming up with something original - I think we did that.

CS: You're about to do a couple of shows (Sydneyand Melbourne) - are you looking forward to them?
SK: Certainly am! We had a reputation of being a particularly good live band - that's something that not everyone can claim.

CS: I've heard that what you played live wasn't often on the albums?
SK: That's true (he laughs). We were a little uncooperative in the early days. When we recorded our first album we just made things up in the studio and ignored the first couple of years of material - we're certainly a bit more pragmatic these days.

CS: When you say you ignored some material - is it now forever lost?
SK: Not really. Around 2001 or 2002 we had some people compile a 'rareties' album called Models - Melbourne. It was demos and live recordings from that rock period - so they are around!

CS: Is there a new recording coming from the Models?
SK: Warner Brothers co-own all the Models stuff, and they're trying to talk us into recording some new material. The idea is we're going to re-package the band's hits and add a couple of new tunes. We're quite excited about that … we'd love to have a big budget to go off and record a new album, but we're realistic. We're going to be working on a small amount of new stuff, and hopefully that will lead to a glorious new beginning for new music for us.

CS: Hooray!

Kelly Ford, Citysearch, August 2008

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