James Young is a man with many strings to his bow. As he tells Tone Deaf, he’s been a lawyer, a journalist, a radio presenter, and he’s even worked in marketing. However, in 2006, Young decided to jettison his career to follow his real passion – live music.
As the owner and booker of Cherry Bar, one of Melbourne and indeed Australia’s most iconic live music venues, Young has been at the forefront of Aussie live music for almost a decade, as well as a passionate advocate for the local live music industry.
“So we say Melbourne is the live music capital of the Southern Hemisphere. What does that really mean? What does that entail? To me this demands leadership. We need to lead the way in protecting and supporting live music and live venues,” he insists.
“And for music fans the rules have changed, if you love live music you have to be more than a spectator you too have to show leadership and be a supporter and a fighter to save and protect live music. The battle-lines have been drawn. It’s a war out there.”
“Whose side are you on? We need you in the front-line of our live music stages, not at home on your bean bag. I have faith in Melbourne. We will survive, we will fight and we will continue to be the rock n roll capital of Australia!”
While some might write off Young’s bellicose attitude as over the top, this is simply the sound of a rock and roll tragic speaking from the heart. “At Cherry we are known as a rock n roll bar and we just have to remember to be rock n roll in everything we do. Don’t chase fads, just stay committed to being rock n roll,” he explains.
Young’s commitment to rock and roll, which he always spells in the vernacular (“rock n roll”), saw the advertising agency chief ditch his career in 2006 in order to join Cherry Bar without any experience booking bands or owning a live music venue.
“I was a fan of Cherry Bar from the early days in 2000, but didn’t become an owner until 2006,” he recounts. “I sold my advertising agency and came into some money, so I decided to buy my favourite bar in the world, just so that I could always get in. Plenty of great bands and great venues back then, as there are today.”
“I’d been a lawyer, a journalist, a radio presenter and program manager and worked in marketing. I had no experience in owning or booking a venue and never expected to have that role. But life’s too short not to do what you love, and live music chose me.”
Clearly, live music made the right decision. Few would be up to the ambassadorial challenges that Young’s position entails, but Young is more than up to the task. “If I didn’t love what I did for a job I would be complaining that I work a 100-hour week,” he says.
“But because I am addicted to live music and enjoy it so much, I don’t feel like I work that much at all. I’ve got the best job in the world. My liver may disagree.” And while his job doesn’t strictly feel like work, this self-appointed Aussie rock ambassador takes his role seriously.
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“I feel a responsibility to put back and keep the live music scene alive and well in Melbourne and Australia by providing a quality live music venue that’s open seven nights a week,” he proclaims. Admittedly, the passion can even border on obsession, if not outright addiction.
“I’d be much healthier if my hobby was stamp collecting or triathlons, but my hobby is live music and if I don’t see it at least twice a week I actually go stir crazy,” says Young. “I came into Cherry ’cause I want what it has to give. I want to keep Cherry Bar alive and I want Yah Yah’s to be the best bar in Australia within four years. This is my vision.”
His key to success? “Party hard and work harder.” So far, it seems to have worked for him. He’s got plenty of fond memories to look back on, including but not limited to, “New York Dolls playing at Cherry. Graveyard playing at Cherry… Tom Morello coming to Cherry five nights running, even during the day!”
Of course, there’s numerous logistical concerns, as well. “I only pick bands I like and am just grateful that other people tend to agree with my choices,” he says. His only other advice? “Be home by 2.30am if you want to get your children to their school soccer games by 7.30am in Berwick.”
While it remains to be seen what will become of the Cherry Bar owner’s vision, Australians can rest safe and sound in the knowledge that Aussie rock and roll has a friend in James Young, who makes a pretty strong candidate for having the best job in Australian music. And what would he be doing if he wasn’t the owner of the Cherry Bar? “Prime Minister.”
If you’re interested in studying music management, visit www.aim.edu.au for more info on exciting new courses.
CHERRYROCK 015
Red Fang,
The Shrine
Beastwars
HITS
Child
Warped
Clowns
My Left Boot
F*ck The Fitzroy Doom Scene
Horsehunter
Dr. Colossus
Los Hombres Del Diablo
The Ugly Kings.
With MC James Young and DJ Mermaid.
Sunday, 10th May 2015
Cherry Bar, Melbourne
Tickets: Cherry Bar
