Rudely Interrupted Overcome Disabilities

12/01/08 11:53am

by Steve McLean (CHARTattack)

Melbourne, Australia's Rudely Interrupted have the distinction of being the first independent band invited to perform at United Nations headquarters in New York City. But that's not all that makes the group unique. Five of the six members share a range of physical and intellectual disabilities.

Lead singer/guitarist Rory was born without eyes and has Asperger's syndrome, an acute form of autism that has hampered The Vines frontman Craig Nicholls. Synthesizer player Marcus is deaf and also has Asperger's syndrome. Drummer Josh has many physical and autistic differences. Bassist Sam has Down syndrome. Tambourinist Constance is legally blind and has Down syndrome. Guitarist, backing vocalist and band manager Rohan Brooks — who previously toured North America with Sloan and Jet as a member of The Anyones (who were forced to call themselves The Everyones in the U.S.) — jokes that he was "just crazy enough to form the band."

Brooks met Rory (who has recorded with The Sleepy Jackson) at a friend's barbecue, while he encountered the other group members at a disability service he works at. He started the band as a form of music therapy, but found that it was too good to leave in a rehearsal room. The group name came from Rory, who feels his Asperger's often rudely interrupts his life.

Brooks describes Rudely Interrupted's music as "Joy Division having a Gary Numan party while eating pitch perfect cookies." They've released a four-song EP that spawned the single "Don't Break My Heart," which has received major airplay in their homeland. The group were also invited to play Australian music festivals with Feist and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and have appeared on a number of television shows down under. But success hasn't come easily, according to Brooks.

"It took us three months to even play a note together. We have all had tantrums and stormed out of rehearsals at some stage, although we can now put a song together in around six hours of working out all the parts. It's a creative place, so we try to keep it fun, but working hard is not always fun."

Rudely Interrupted still haven't earned enough to buy a van, and touring with a party of at least 10 people makes hitting the road very expensive.

"We also require food on our riders, not beer, and that seems to be difficult for most venues," adds Brooks.

The Australian Mission to the U.N. is supporting Rudely Interrupted's trip to New York City, which will include a private Wednesday afternoon performance for U.N. delegates at the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium to mark International Day For People With Disabilities.

"It's astonishing what opportunities have and will hopefully continue to come from such a prestigious show," says Brooks.

"We aim for the very top and see how far we can get. So I suppose anything is possible when you set the bar high. We are starting to record an album's worth of tunes next year and are in the makings of a rockumentary film about RI on the road, so the future is looking very bright for all the guys."

Rudely Interrupted will also play two public shows in New York City and a Dec. 9 gig at Toronto's Sneaky Dee's with The Rural Alberta Advantage and Still Life Still. They'll then fly to the U.K. for three concerts before heading home to Australia.