Throwback: Happy 70th Birthday, Steve Kilbey!

September is a busy month in music history. 

• The Bee Gees‘ Barry Gibb celebrated his 77th birthday on September 1 
• Gloria Estefan celebrated her 66th birthday on September 1
• Soundgarden‘s Kim Thayil celebrated his 64th birthday on September 4
• Freddie Mercury, one of the greatest vocalists and entertainers in rock history was born 78 years ago on September 5
• Pink Floyd‘s co-founder and creative force Roger Waters celebrated his 81st birthday on September 6
• The legendary, King of Soul, Otis Redding was born 83 years ago on September 9
• Dave Stewart celebrated his 72nd birthday on September 9
• Big Daddy Kane, one of the most entertaining and talented emcees in hip-hop history celebrated his 56th birthday on September 10
• The legendary Roy Ayers celebrated his 84th birthday on September 10 
• Aerosmith‘s Joe Perry celebrated his 74th birthday on September 10
• The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft celebrated his 52nd birthday on September 10
• Ludacris celebrated his 47th birthday on September 10
• The legendary Barry White, the Original King of Quiet Storm Soul was born 80 years ago on September 12
• Rush‘s Neal Peart, one the greatest rock drummers ever was born 72 years ago on September 12

Founded back in 1980, the Sydney-based ARIA Hall of Fame inductees The Church — currently founding member Steve Kilbey (vocals, bass, guitar); longtime collaborator and producer Tim Powles (drums), who joined the band in 1994 and has contributed to 17 albums; Ian Haug (guitar), a former member of Aussie rock outfit Powderfinger, who joined the band in 2013; multi-instrumentalist Jeffery Cain, a former member of Remy Zero and touring member of the band, who joined the band full-time after Peter Koppes left the band in early 2020; and their newest member, Ashley Naylor (guitar), a long-time member of Paul Kelly’s touring band and one of Australia’s most respected guitarists — was initially associated with their hometown’s New Wave, neo-psychedelic and indie rock scenes. 

Over the course of the next couple of decades, the acclaimed Aussie outfit became increasingly associated with dream pop and post-rock: Featuring shimmering soundscapes, their material took on slower tempos while built around their now, long-held reputation for an uncompromising approach to both their songwriting and sound. 

I’ve been a fan of The Church for quite some time and have covered them endlessly on this site. The band’s founding member and frontman Steve Kilbey celebrates his 70th birthday today.

Happy birthday, Steve! May there be many, many, many more!