LOCAL rock ‘n’ roll success story Peron Lan is looking forward to catching up with his Derwent Valley family and friends this week when popular Australian band 1927 tours Tasmania. The 44-year-old guitarist has fond memories of the region, and the family farm on Plenty Valley Rd is never far from his thoughts.
Peron told New Norfolk and Derwent Valley News that the call to join 1927 came out of the blue. “I was relaxing on the farm with my parents (Paul and Kay Lan) earlier this year when I received a call from the band’s manager,” he said. “He asked me if I would like to audition because they had a massive tour planned. I was very keen and thought I would give it a go.”
The audition was a resounding success and Peron was soon touring with 1927. “It was a mad rush after the audition because the first gig was just a week away and I had to learn all their songs.” Peron currently lives in Melbourne but he said he visited Tasmania at least twice a year – more so as time went by. “I really like to help out around the farm and just hang out with my parents,” he said.
Peron lived at Moogara for 25 years before moving to Hobart. He attended New Norfolk Primary School and his musical passions were ignited early. “One of my first musical memories was my dad playing Shadows’ tunes on a jazz guitar when I was about nine. That fascinated me and I thought I’d like to have a go.”
Peron’s brother, Paul, also played guitar and they soon joined forces with neighbour Matthew Tennant to form a band that played in and around New Norfolk. Peron’s early musical influences were The Shadows and The Beatles, before he was drawn to heavy rockers Metallica and Slayer’s music while studying at St Virgil’s College and Elizabeth College.
He graduated from the University of Tasmania’s Conservatorium of Music, had state and national success with Tasmanian band, Sir Veto, and taught guitar in Hobart before heading to Melbourne. Peron said the Derwent Valley was a pleasant retreat from Melbourne’s hustle and bustle. “It’s lovely and less hectic,” he said. “I have wonderful memories from my youth, particularly during the summers. We would head down to the Plenty River, pick cherries from the orchard – it was such a wholesome time.”
Peron said he was looking forward to seeing his family when 1927 plays in Hobart this weekend and had organised tickets for them to attend the show. “It’s going to be a bit terrifying seeing them in the audience,” he said. “But it will be great to perform in front of a hometown crowd and I’m sure I will catch up with a lot of people I haven’t seen for a while.”
1927 enjoyed widespread success between 1990 and 1993, including ARIA awards for its debut album, …ish, and the single, That’s When I Think Of You. The band will play at Launceston’s Country Club Showroom on August 26 and at Hobart’s Wrest Point Entertainment Centre on August 27. Click here for ticket details.
JOHN ANDREWARTHA
Main photo: Peron Lan, right, on stage with 1927 earlier this year.
