Back in 1978, a group of twenty-something mates from Sydney’s Northern Beaches formed a band called Choirboys. Surrounded by the wild, hedonistic chaos of the ’70s youth culture, they soaked it all in—every misstep, every party, every outrageous moment. That life would ultimately give birth to their defining anthem: Run to Paradise.
Fuelled by the stories that have long echoed through the halls of rock history—Run to Paradise became more than a hit; it became the opening line in a book of untold stories. Now, more than 40 years later, the band is ready to open that book and spill everything.
Part concert, part story, Run to Paradise is a raw, hilarious, and jaw-dropping journey through the golden era of Australian pub rock. Told in their own words, the Choirboys share the stories you were never meant to hear—wild nights, backstage madness, and the kind of insanity only a rock band could survive… all, as these Oz pub-rock icons recall it.
“They didn’t call it Pub Rock back then,” says frontman Mark Gable, “but we were there at the start—and somehow, we’re still here. It’s hearsay, it’s memory, it’s what we lived, what we were told. And a lot of it is just plain stupid… but that was the magic. There were no rules.”
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.
“We had no idea what we were doing or where it would end up taking us,” Gable recalls.
Run to Paradise catapulted the band to stardom. It hit the Top 10 on the Australian charts, and even cracked the US 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.
In 2023, Choirboys took their story to the stage—literally—with the launch of Run to Paradise: Great Australian Rock N Roll Stories.
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.
Run to Paradise: Great Australian Rock N Roll Stories will hit The J Theatre on Thursday 26 February.
Phone 5329 6560 or visit www.thej.com.au
