Ageing well: The Church plays its hits in chronological order at GPAC this month.
Erin Pearson
PRODUCING successful music is like walking a tightrope, according to Marty Willson-Piper.
The guitarist and lead singer of seminal Australian band The Church said the trick was finding the balance between doing what the group liked and what fans would “continue to love”.
Willson-Piper spoke the Independent as The Church struck out on tour to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
He conceded the band was ageing but believed its members had also grown smarter.
“Like anything, all the vitality of youth you once had gets replaced with experience and a plethora of achievements.
“The Church has never been a band that’s catered for demand because we want people to come and see us, not a top-10 hit.
“If you like us, great. If you don’t, well that’s your own poison.”
Willson-Piper, Steve Kilbey and Peter Koppes founded The Church in Sydney in 1980. After finding fame with hits Under the Milky Way and Donnie Darko, The Church is touring its back catalogue around the country.
“I think The Church realised there was a chemistry right from the beginning, although it was never an easy ride,” Willson-Piper said.
“After 24 years we began to get to know each other. We all have things in common but we’ve always lived our own loves.
“Great groups are made up of individuals who don’t agree with everything each other says or does.”
Willson-Piper contrasted the “deal with the devil” of being in a band with his own “beautiful family”.
“There is some kind of great human, natural effect that your children have on your intellect as parents after they’ve been brought into the world,” he laughed.
“I’m not quite sure what it is but I exist to tell my girls how wonderful they are.
“Everything my daughters do I think is absolutely amazing.”
A self-described ideas man, Willson-Piper said keeping busy had kept him “out of trouble”.
“I know it’s a very ‘70s thing to say but everyone needs a hobby,” he laughed.
Willson-Piper said Geelong fans could expect an intimate, raw and exciting performance from the band.
The Church would play songs from each album in chronological order as part of an acoustic program, he said.
Patrons would leave with a full-colour paper “spiel” on the band’s history and four unreleased tracks.
“If ever you’re going to come and see The Church, this intimate setting at GPAC is a really good one,” Willson-Piper said.
“If I was a fan I would be like ‘Wow, man’.
“I like going to Geelong for some reason – it’s green and leafy.”
The Church will perform at Geelong Performing Arts Centre on December 17.
