BY MICHELLE HERBISON
MUSICIAN Tim Henwood’s indifference to joining young band Palace of the King quickly vanished when The Superjesus guitarist heard their music for the first time.
Henwood had declined a request to become the band’s singer, instead suggesting he help them find someone.
“Then they sent me the music and I was like, ‘Oh my god, I’m not going to let anyone else be the singer in this band’,” he laughed.
Henwood said he was now loving the raw energy of touring hard with Palace of the King, having played more than 100 shows around the country this year and releasing two EPs.
The younger members of the six-piece blues-rock band were excited about music in a way Henwood was rediscovering after years in the business, with acts to his name including The Androids, Rogue Traders and Chocolate Starfish.
The Airey’s Inlet-based Henwood said Palace of the King’s other members had all met through playing in various rock and roll and blues bands around Melbourne.
“It’s funny how rock music’s become this alternative underground thing that’s not mainstream anymore but that’s the way it is,” he mused.
“You don’t have radio really playing rock music anymore, so it’s just like the ’70s all over again – you just have to go out and do lots of gigs.”
Henwood will perform with both Palace of the King and Chocolate Starfish at Motor City Music Festival in March.
Sad circumstances led to him joining Chocolate Starfish following the death of guitarist and founding member Zoran Romic last year.
“It’s kind of a tribute to him that the band are out there playing his songs,” Henwood said.
The high-energy, stadium-rock band had reformed after about a decade break when cancer struck Romic and he asked Henwood to step in.
“They have such great, kick-ass hard rock riffs with this crazy singer (Adam Thompson) singing hilarious songs and jumping around the stage,” Henwood explained.
“I just try to play it like he played it on the records.”
Motor City Music Festival will “rock Geetroit” at Geelong Showgrounds over three days in March, offering something for everyone with both over-age and family-friendly events.
