It all started in 1996 when 78 Saab competed in the very rock & roll event the Australian National Campus Band Competition. The boys, give or take a coupla lineup changes haven't slowed down, until now.
It's official, the Canberrans that have called Sydney their home since 1997 have called it a day. Where did the name come from? Ben Nash (vocalist and guitarist) explained once in an interview, " I used to own a 1978 Saab which I bought off my grandparents for around a thousand bucks when I was at university. Anyway, we entered a band competition and we had about three hours to come up with a name. 78 Saab got thrown in the ring and for better or worse we've stuck with that name."
The Saab went on to record and release 4 albums and have worked with Australian music industry "it boys" Winterman and Goldstein management and their recording label Ivy League Records. Their fourth and now final record " Good Fortune" was released in 2010 by Other Tongues. Over 300 gigs later (that's an average of 20 shows per year for 15 years) it's all over. Sad, very sad. But also good for the 78 Saab boys and their future musical endeavours, which will remain top shelf I'm sure.
Celebrate the end of an era with 78 Saab as they say goodbye to ya'll at their spiritual home The Annandale Hotel on December 1st 2012. Tickets for this historic event are on sale here.
Here they are the way they were with No Illusions from the album "Crossed Lines".
