It was 1973, and drummer Jeff Macleay was in his first year of high school.

“Back then, we’d ring up the local radio stations and ask them to play a song so that we could record it on a tape recorder and learn how to play it,” Macleay said.

“The kids these days have got it so easy.”

Originally called Hot Ice, Macleay’s band linked up with keyboard player John Roy, who attended Wyong High School. After high school the band changed its name to C 2 Air.

Looking around Roy’s professional recording studio at Mannering Park this week, it’s fair to say that C 2 Air and music technology have changed a bit in the ensuing 43 years.

Haircuts, too.

“But we’re still a loud rock band,” Roy smiled.

C 2 Air is back in rehearsal for a comeback gig at Morisset on June 4. It will be the first time the band has played together since 1989.

The chemistry is still there, and so is the tried and tested set lists.

“It’s good to be back playing the songs we started playing in the first place,” says guitarist Graeme McCutcheon, who is now a high school music teacher, and music examiner at the Newcastle Conservatorium.

The band’s new bass player is Paul King, a former student of McCutcheon’s at Morisset High.

C 2 Air made its name playing covers of punchy rock and roll tracks with big vocals, so they’re going back to what they love and do best.

By 1977, the band had a strong local following and had begun to earn a wider profile. They scored support gigs for acts such as Jon English, Hush, Finch and Dragon which earned the band a mention on Donnie Sutherland’s music program Sounds Unlimited.

“We all wanted to be rock stars,” Macleay recalls.

“I remember saying ‘We could be as big as Sherbet’.”

It’s taken Macleay three years to forge the reunion, and already former fans of the band are excited. See for yourself on the ‘C 2 Air Rock Band’ page on Facebook.