Tusky sharing their passion
AFTER just minutes with Bundaberg band Tusky, it is clear what keeps the versatile pub band together as they play at venues across the region.
Each member has a clear sense of humour and jokes about inadequacies fly, as they speak about their shared passion.
Despite the jokes, it's clear the group is made up of three very talented musicians who have a love of being on stage.
Named after Tusky Creek on the Bundaberg-Lowmead Rd, the band came together with a twist of fate about four years ago when the band's original bass player walked into a Bundaberg music store looking for a band in need of a bassist.
He found Richard Gorter, who would become the lead guitarist, and after a jam right there in the shop.
"We were a bit blown away by how much music we had in common," Gorter said.
Gorter then set up a jam session with drummer Karel Fehr, who he had played with before, and six hours later the band was formed.
Since the band started, it has undergone one line-up change after their original bassist moved to Melbourne.
IT specialist Jay Furnish replaced the original bass player and bought to the group his 1960s and 1970s style of bass playing.
Gorter said the band prides itself on having a wide range of covers it can play with almost 450 different songs in their catalogue.
But the huge variety is only part of what keeps the band together.
"Humour - that's what makes a band much better - it's almost as important as skills," Fehr said.
Gorter also tried to divide duties equally.
"I think we all realise that we have skills but there is no member who is out there more than the others," he said.
