THEY are all between 10 and 13 years of age and they know how to play Metallica – perfectly. Not just play it but perform it and rock it.
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Bendigo band Detention is made up of 13-year-old lead guitarist Eddie Warren, his 10-year-old brother Perry on bass, Matthew Taylor, 12, on keyboards and rhythm guitar, 12-year-old drummer Andy Muller and 12-year-old lead singer Kody Austin.
The band formed when Eddie felt he wasn’t getting what he wanted out of his guitar practice.
“I decided practicing guitar wasn’t worth it because it wasn’t doing anything. So I called in my friends to make a band,” Eddie said.
“Over time it formed together and we got better and better.”
Detention are playing paid gigs all over Bendigo and most recently rocked out at a gig at MusicMan Megastore.
“We love the energy from the crowd and seeing everyone happy and dancing,” he said.
The band’s favourite bands range between modern-day rockers and classic old-school sounds.
Andy and Matthew list Fall Out Boy as their favourite band while 10-year-old Perry listens to Def Leppard and AC/DC.
“They were the two first bands I ever heard of,” Perry said. “I listen to their songs and just love them. Mum and dad were in bands in their 20s.”
The band plays a number of challenging songs.
Drummer Andy lists the extended version Sweet Child of Mine as his most challenging song while lead singer Kody’s is Yankee Rose by David Lee Roth. Solid Rock by Goanna is tricky for Matthew on keyboards. It is also Perry’s most challenging and favourite song to play.
As the youngest in the band Perry said he didn’t have much of a choice in instruments.
“When Ed wanted the band he got Kody and Matt and mum asked if I wanted to be in the band,” he said.
“I asked if I got a choice in what I have, she said ‘nope’ and for my next birthday I got a bass guitar.”
Brother Eddie was impressed with Perry’s musical skills.
“It was remarkable because Perry started on keyboards but went to guitar then bass really quickly. It was unreal.”
See a video of Detention playing Metallica on the Bendigo Advertiser website.
The band's next gig is on April 11 at the opening The Venue (formerly The Pub).