What’s Australian Story: Parkway Drive Tonight Monday 10 October on ABC TV

The biggest Australian band you’ve probably never heard of is Parkway Drive.

In a garage on Parkway Drive in Byron Bay, the friends from school and surfers first met. After 20 years, they are still Australia’s biggest heavy metal act.

The band has headlined the biggest metal festivals in the world, playing to crowds of 80,000 to 100,000 fans, and all of their albums have achieved Gold status.

Parkway Drive don’t fit the stereotype of a typical metal band. They are reflective, soft-spoken, and remarkably honest.

Winston, Jeff, Luke, Ben, and Jia are aware of the reasons why they are not well-known in Australia.

“I don’t know if most households want to be yelled at by this man!”

laughs lead singer Winston McCall.

The band was built on fun and friendship but as Parkway Drive became more successful, and the work became more intense, creative differences, unequal workloads, and pay disputes began tearing them apart.

“It’s a tired old story, how money breaks up friendships and bands and stuff,”

says bassist Jia O’Connor.

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In April this year, after finishing the recording of their new album, the band was on the verge of breaking up.  Instead, they cancelled their US tour and went into therapy, inviting Australian Story into one of their sessions.

“It doesn’t seem to go hand in hand, counselling and an aggressive metal show, but why can’t you be a sensitive, aware human that likes letting their energy out as well?”

says manager and rhythm guitarist Luke Kilpatrick.

In therapy, the five band members finally confronted their longstanding resentments and insecurities, along with a toxic dynamic that was there from the start.

Can counselling save not only the band, but their friendship as well?

Producer: Amos Roberts.

Airdate: Monday 17 October 2022 qt 8.00pm on ABC TV.