- Australian-English soft rock group formed in 1975 from Melbourne Australia. The group varied in the number of members over the years, ranging from a duo to a eight piece band. The primary membership was the duo of Russell Hitchcock (vocals) and Graham Russell (vocals, rhythm guitar, songwriting).
- Russell and Hitchcock, along with Chrissie Hammond, met in 1975 while performing the musical Jesus Christ Superstar in Australia. They decided to form a music group while the show was in performance in Sydney, with Hammond and Hitchcock on vocals and Russell on guitar. Once the show closed in 1976, Hammond left the group to start another band. She was replaced by Jeremy Paul, who sang and played bass guitar. Three other artists soon joined, and they named themselves Air Supply, making demos to try to get a recording contract. Russell came up with the name of the band from a dream – he envisioned a billboard with flashing lights and the words “Air Supply” in the center.
- By the fall of 1976, they were signed to a record contract, and their self-titled debut album was released in December. It was modestly successful in Australia, with the single Love and Other Bruises reaching #6 on the Australian charts. They got a break in the U.S. when they opened for Rod Stewart during his tour of North America in 1977. Three more albums were released between 1977 and 1979, with little success. Their 1979 album included a song called Lost In Love, which caught the attention of a U.S.-based record company. They were signed to the label, and a remixed version of Lost In Love was released internationally in early 1980. An album by the same name was released in March. It was their breakthrough – Lost In Love reached #3 on the Hot 100, while All Out of Love peaked at #2 and Every Woman In the World reached #5. The album eventually was certified 2x platinum.
- Their follow-up album, The One That You Love, was released in 1981. Here I Am, Sweet Dreams and the title track all charted in the top 5 of the Hot 100, with The One That You Love becoming their only #1 single on the chart. The album reached platinum status. Their soft rock sound with an Australian accent appealed to audiences that loved other soft rockers like Barry Manilow.
- 1982’s Now and Forever album continued their string of hits. The single Even the Nights are Better was a best seller, peaking at #5 on the Hot 100 and topping the Adult Contemporary chart. The following year, a Greatest Hits compilation album was released which included a new single, Making Love Out of Nothing At All. It spent three weeks at #2 on the Hot 100, and the album was certified 5x platinum.
- By the mid-80s, the group was essentially a Hitchcock and Russell duo with other musicians brought in to perform on albums and concerts. Their 1985 album Air Supply lists eight members of the group, but only Hitchcock and Russell were on the cover of the album. It included their last major hit – Just As I Am reached #19 on the Hot 100 and #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart. An album released in 1986 confirmed that Air Supply had lost its appeal, and after a Christmas album was released in 1987, Hitchcock and Russell split up.
- Two years later, they decided to reunited, and in 1991 they released a new album. Three more albums were released in the 90s, and three more were released between 2001 and 2010. A couple songs from their 2010 album managed to chart on the Adult Contemporary chart. They continued to perform concerts, with tours 2008, 2016 and 2019, riding the nostalgia wave of 80s music.
- Air Supply defined soft rock in the early 80s, and their feathered hair and Australian harmonies melted the hearts of many a young lady at the time. Here’s the video to the Meatloaf-penned 80s soft rock power ballad, Making Love Out of Nothing At All.