After 12 years Dave Gleeson to step aside, legendary band reveals new line up with Nick Norton out front.
No pub jukebox worth its salt would be complete without an A to Z collection of The Angels’ legendary hits.
In fact, I’ll wager that no Saturday night in the pubs around Australia would be complete without a unified chorus of ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?’ sang arm in arm, with glasses raised high.
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Laying claim to being Australia’s longest-lasting band, closing in on their 50th anniversary in 2024, The Angels are embarking on an exciting new era, with the announcement of a brand-new lead singer in Nick Norton as frontman Dave Gleeson announces his departure from the band.
Gleeson is stepping down from the role to focus on his Triple M commitments as well as The Screaming Jets, the band he formed in 1989.
“Since 2011, it has been a blast and an honour to sing for The Angels,” Dave Gleeson says. “Being a part of such a legendary legacy will always be one of my great achievements. To have made music with John and Rick and the late Chris Bailey has been nothing short of awesome.
“To the fans, my heartfelt thanks for accepting me into the fold over the last dozen or so years. With The Screaming Jets on the eve of a new album release, and my national Triple M commitments, it’s time to move on. John, Rick, Sam and Nick will always hold a special place in my rock ’n’ roll journey. Rock on and see youse on the road.”
Dave’s final show as frontman of The Angels will be at the Gympie Music Muster at the end of August, with his final two Symphony of Angels shows taking place in Melbourne on June 23 at Palais Theatre and Adelaide on June 30 at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Norton, the band’s new frontman, is a name very familiar to Angels fans, now stepping out from behind the drum kit to take centre stage. Norton has been a member of the band since 2011.
“Nick is an incredible musician and a great singer and songwriter,” says Angels founding member John Brewster. “He obviously knows the songs like the back of his hand and the fans already know and love him, so he’s the perfect fit. We can’t wait to hit the road.”
Anyone at the recent Brewster Brothers Electric shows, where the band performed Angels rarities with Nick out front, will attest that he’s ready to assume one of the greatest gigs in Australian rock – fronting The Angels, the band responsible for some of the most unforgettable songs in Australian music.
“We remain the very best of friends, and Dave will always be a much-loved part of The Angels family,” John says.
“We are so grateful to Dave for everything he’s done for the band,” adds Rick Brewster. “He’s been our front man for 12 years, sharing hundreds of great gigs and good times. And now, with his increased commitments, we totally understand his need to move on.”
“With the 50th anniversary coming up, this is a very special time for The Angels,” John says. “And it means a lot that the fans already know Nick. Our relationship with the audience means everything to us and we’ll never take that for granted.”
“The time we get to spend onstage makes everything else worthwhile,” Rick adds. “It’s always been about the songs and the power of the guitars.”
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Indeed, it’s a catalogue of classics ingrained in the hearts of every Australian rock fan, including Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again, Take A Long Line, No Secrets, Shadow Boxer, Marseilles, I Ain’t The One, Comin’ Down, Mr Damage, After The Rain, Night Attack, Dogs Are Talking and We Gotta Get Out Of This Place. No wonder the famous American critic David Fricke called The Angels “a guaranteed great time anywhere”.
Replacing Nick on drums is John’s son Tom, meaning The Angels will now have two sets of Brewster Brothers – John and Rick on guitar, and Sam (who joined the band in 2013) on bass, and Tom on drums.
Fans can catch the final Angels performance featuring Dave Gleeson on Friday 23rd June at Palais Theatre, St Kilda. Purchase tickets here.
