Riviera Hotel - Las Vegas
February 1999

---- Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas ----
Romance filled the AIR of the Riviera Hotel & Casino’s new Riviera Pavilion on Valentine’s Weekend, February 12 & 13, with two big concerts performed by legendary singing group Air Supply.

It’s April of 1975, in Melbourne, Australia and two young men meet for the very first time. Englishman Graham Russell, and Australian, Russell Hitchcock, met as cast members in the stage production of "Jesus Christ Superstar." Working closely together, a friendship began to evolve, a friendship that would prosper over the next 23 years. Their similar passion for music led Graham to share the songs he had written with Russell. As the friendship grew, so did their incredible love for music. The quest to follow their dreams had begun and the rest, as they say, is musical history. They found that their talents were accepted by small crowds, which began multiplying by the numbers.

Graham Russell recalls, "I joined ‘Superstar’ in 1975, as an Apostle and met Russell the first day. He knew this show was the path to his goals. Russell and I made demos of original songs and began playing in clubs and everywhere we could sing. When ‘Superstar’ announced it was closing after 18 months, Russell and I already had a single in Australia under the name I had in a dream which I saw on a giant billboard in lights. It was ‘Air Supply.’ The first single, ‘Love and Other Bruises’ was a giant hit that became a classic."

In 1976, Rod Stewart was touring Australia and asked Air Supply to open for him in Australia and then in the US. The band toured, but nothing happened. Back in Australia in 1978, they recorded two more songs, ‘Lost In Love’ and ‘All Out Of Love.’ Clive Davis heard ‘Lost In Love’ and signed them to Arista. It reached #3. The next six songs would reach the top Five. ‘The One That You Love’ reached #1. Air Supply then tored the world from 1980 on and has not stopped since.

Touring extensively every year, their hit albums include The Earth Is, The Vanishing Race, Love And Other Bruises, The Whole Thing Started, Life Support, Now And Forever, Greatest Hits, Hearts In Motion, The Christmas Album, News From Nowhere, The Book Of Love and others.

Fans will be interested to know that both Russell and Graham take turns recording lead vocals for all songs. Then they listen to both versions side by side and let the song decide which vocal remains. Hitchcock comments, "It’s obvious. You know right away what is best for a given tune, whether I should sing lead, or Graham or a combination." This approach, forgoing individual ego for the good of a song, speaks volumes about the enduring friendship and musical partnership between these men. Their mutual respect and trust is woven into the fabric of the band and this is the way it has always been.

The Air Supply history is well known. How the tow met, began singing together, the incredible string of hits, the gold and platinum albums, the world tours – it’s all a part of the Air Supply legend.

Graham and Russell sum it all up by saying,

"The past 23 years have been an incredible experience for us. Our beginning in Australia, our first experiences in the United States, Asia, North and South America and throughout the world, have fulfilled us at every show, by your smiles and tears of joy. We could never thank you enough for your support."
---- Courtesy of Las Vegas Today magazine -----

Click here for pictures from the Riviera concerts.

If you are having trouble accessing the photo album on the next page, click on these direct links to see concert photos from the Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas!