Choirboys

Any mention of Australian pub rock is incomplete without a nod to Choirboys—true stalwarts of Australia’s gritty rock scene and champions of the country’s working-class musical heart. From their birth on the sun-drenched Northern Beaches of Sydney in 1978 to touring nationally over 40 years later, Choirboys have become more than a band. They’re a rite of passage for generations of Aussie rock fans.
Led by frontman Mark Gable, alongside original members Lindsay Tebbutt (drums) and Ian Hulme (bass), and later joined by Brett Williams (guitar), Choirboys cut their teeth in a time when live music poured out of pubs like beer from a tap. It was loud, it was raw, it was unfiltered—and Choirboys were right in the thick of it. “We had no idea what we were doing or where it would end up taking us,” Gable recalls. “They didn’t call it Pub Rock in those days, but we were there in the beginning—and we’re still here now.”
Their 1987 anthem “Run to Paradise” isn’t just a hit—it’s a national treasure. A song that perfectly captures the sound and spirit of Australia in the 80s, it catapulted the band to stardom. It hit the Top 10 on the Australian charts, and even cracked the U.S. Billboard charts—an achievement few Aussie rock acts can claim.
The hits didn’t stop there. Songs like “Boys Will Be Boys”, “Never Gonna Die”, and “Struggle Town” became fixtures on pub jukeboxes and festival stages alike. Backed by three Top 30 albums and a recording deal with legendary label Albert Productions (home to AC/DC, The Angels, and Rose Tattoo), Choirboys were embedded in the very DNA of Australian rock.
Over four decades on, Choirboys continue to deliver what fans crave most: an unforgettable live experience. A Choirboys show is more than a setlist—it's a high-octane celebration of real rock music, charged with humour, banter, and that unmistakable Aussie edge. As TheClothesLine.com.au aptly described, “Gable is still belting out an incredible rock vocal… Choirboys presented earnest and comical entertainment with discernible values steeped in Aussie rock and roll.”
In 2023, Choirboys took their story to the stage—literally—with the launch of Run to Paradise: Great Australian Rock N Roll Stories. More than just a concert, this immersive production is part rock gig, part behind-the-scenes confessional. It’s a raw, hilarious, and jaw-dropping journey through the golden era of Australian pub rock, told by the band that lived it.
Fuelled by the stories that have long echoed through the halls of rock history, the show dives deep into the untold tales of backstage madness, wild nights, and the kind of insanity only a rock band could survive. “It’s hearsay, it’s memory, it’s what we lived, what we were told,” Gable says. “A lot of it is just plain stupid… but that was the magic. There were no rules.”
Set to a soundtrack of the era’s most legendary tracks—from AC/DC, The Angels, Dragon, Screaming Jets, Deep Purple, Divinyls, and more—plus all the Choirboys’ greatest hits, Run to Paradise is the ultimate tribute to the chaos, humour, and heartbeat of Australian rock. As they continue to tour and inspire new generations of rock fans, one thing remains crystal clear: You just don’t get much more Rock ‘n’ Roll than Choirboys.