In this episode of Vinyl Vibes, Jack is joined by Tony Currenti, an early AC/DC session drummer. Tony grew up in Sicily in the '50s and early '60s listening to local Sicilian artists as well as Elvis and The Beatles. In 1967 he and his family immigrated to Australia where his love for the drums would soon flourish. He started playing drums in local bands around the Sydney area. First he played in a church band before forming a band called Inheritance. This group was signed to EMI and would release a single on the label. In 1971 Tony would meet Harry Vanda and George Young for the first time. As a member of Jackie Christian & Flight, Tony would play drums on a Vanda and Young production for the first time on the band's 1974 single "The Last Time I Go to Baltimore". After recording some tracks one night for the group, George Young asked Tony to stay back and record with Young's younger brothers' band AC/DC. 

Over the next few nights Tony would play drums on eight songs with AC/DC for their debut album High Voltage. Seven of these songs would be featured on the album. The final song, not on the album, also called High Voltage would be AC/DC's first top ten single. Tony was asked to join the band twice but had to knock them back both times due to his Italian passport. After AC/DC, he continued to record with Vanda and Young with his drumming being featured on Stevie Wright's "Evie Part 3" and John Paul Young's "Yesterdays Hero". He lost contact with Vanda and Young in 1976 and after three years of playing in various local bands, he would open his own pizza shop in 1979. 

Jack phoned Tony to talk about his early childhood in Sicily, the songs on the radio in Sicily growing up, his journey to Australia in 1967, his early days playing in local Sydney bands such as in Inheritance, how Inheritance came to sign to EMI, his meeting of Harry Vanda and George Young, working with Vanda and Young in the studio with Jackie Christian & Flight, how he came to play with AC/DC, why he chose not to join AC/DC, the recording of High Voltage, his drumming with JPY and Stevie Wright, his pizza shop which he opened in 1979 and his music work today. 

"We finished at a 11 o'clock and George (Young) said 'midnight my two brothers are coming with their band, would you like to hang around to record some songs'?. I had no idea what to expect but at midnight Bon Scott walked into the studio and he was so happy to see me." - Tony Currenti on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about the recording of AC/DC's album High Voltage

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

To hear the full on-demand version of this program, go to https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes

The website for Vinyl Vibes. 

If you like this content, we'd love to hear from you. 

In this episode of <a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes">Vinyl Vibes</a>, Jack is joined by Tony Currenti, an early AC/DC session drummer. Tony grew up in Sicily in the '50s and early '60s listening to local Sicilian artists as well as Elvis and The Beatles. In 1967 he and his family immigrated to Australia where his love for the drums would soon flourish. He started playing drums in local bands around the Sydney area. First he played in a church band before forming a band called Inheritance. This group was signed to EMI and would release a single on the label. In 1971 Tony would meet Harry Vanda and George Young for the first time. As a member of Jackie Christian &amp; Flight, Tony would play drums on a Vanda and Young production for the first time on the band's 1974 single "The Last Time I Go to Baltimore". After recording some tracks one night for the group, George Young asked Tony to stay back and record with Young's younger brothers' band AC/DC. 
Over the next few nights Tony would play drums on eight songs with AC/DC for their debut album High Voltage. Seven of these songs would be featured on the album. The final song, not on the album, also called High Voltage would be AC/DC's first top ten single. Tony was asked to join the band twice but had to knock them back both times due to his Italian passport. After AC/DC, he continued to record with Vanda and Young with his drumming being featured on Stevie Wright's "Evie Part 3" and John Paul Young's "Yesterdays Hero". He lost contact with Vanda and Young in 1976 and after three years of playing in various local bands, he would open his own pizza shop in 1979. 
Jack phoned Tony to talk about his early childhood in Sicily, the songs on the radio in Sicily growing up, his journey to Australia in 1967, his early days playing in local Sydney bands such as in Inheritance, how Inheritance came to sign to EMI, his meeting of Harry Vanda and George Young, working with Vanda and Young in the studio with Jackie Christian &amp; Flight, how he came to play with AC/DC, why he chose not to join AC/DC, the recording of High Voltage, his drumming with JPY and Stevie Wright, his pizza shop which he opened in 1979 and his music work today. 
"We finished at a 11 o'clock and George (Young) said 'midnight my two brothers are coming with their band, would you like to hang around to record some songs'?. I had no idea what to expect but at midnight Bon Scott walked into the studio and he was so happy to see me." - Tony Currenti on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about the recording of AC/DC's album High Voltage
Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins
To hear the full on-demand version of this program, go to <a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes/">https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes</a>
The <a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes">website for Vinyl Vibes</a>. 
If you like this content, we'd love to hear from you.

Jack Hodgins speaks with the people behind the music you love.

Jack Hodgins speaks with the people behind the music you love.

Vinyl Vibes

Jack Hodgens talks to the people who created the music that is the foundation of today's music.

Jack Hodgens talks to the people who created the music that is the foundation of today's music.

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