Two worlds of Aussie rock have collided this morning, as The Smith Street Band unveil the new video clip for ‘Shine’ – one that looks just a little bit familiar.

Not only have they recreated AC/DC’s all-time classic music video for ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)’, but they’ve also enlisted its director Paul Drane, who shot the original version for Countdown all those years ago.

Having worked on videos for Aussie rock icons like Cold Chisel, Skyhooks and Little River Band, he can now add The Smith Street Band to that list of names, with the band rolling through their home of Footscray on the back of a flatbed truck.

Wil Wagner’s sister Lizzie Wagner makes an appearance, joining a choir of Jess Locke, Mel Calia, Laura Quattrocelli, Sara Patrick and Ciume Lochner – while Lachlan McSwain shows up for the bagpipe section.

“There aren’t many more iconic Australian music videos than the one for AC/DC’s ‘It’s a Long Way To The Top’!” Wil says. “The footage of the band driving down Swanston St on the back of a flatbed truck to the delight and bemusement of passing pedestrians is such a nostalgic and wonderful image.

“We’ve talked a lot about recreating that music video and after living in and falling in love with Footscray for the last few years we found the perfect place to do it! But what we didn’t expect was to get to work with the one and only Paul Drane who not only directed the famous AC/DC film clip but has also worked with basically every Aussie band worth their salt!

“So with a lot of help from our friends and the local council we set up our stuff on the back of a truck and drove through Footscray playing our song ‘Shine’. It was a fun, funny and surreal day that was perfectly captured by Paul and his team in this clip!”

‘Shine’ of course appears on the band’s new record More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me, and the clip arrives just as the band have set off on their national tour in Hobart last night.

YouTube VideoPlay

The Smith Street Band tour dates

Thu 25th May – Odeon Theatre, Hobart (LIC. AA)
Fri 26th May – Enmore Theatre, Sydney  (LIC. AA)
Sat 27th May – The Tivoli, Brisbane – SOLD OUT
Sun 28th May – The Tivoli, Brisbane
Fri 2nd June – Forum Theatre, Melbourne
Sat 3rd June – Forum Theatre, Melbourne – SOLD OUT
Fri 9th June – Metro City, Perth
Sat 10th June – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (LIC. AA)

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine