One of Australia’s most endearing and celebrated rock bands, Gyroscope, have just announced national tour dates and a self-produced new EP ‘4YRLV’ (pronounced ‘For Your Love’) – the first taste of music since their double A-side ‘Crooked Thought / DABS’ released in 2017.

With new music and tour dates also comes the announcement that long time member, Rob Nassif, will be sadly departing the band and the ‘4YRLV’ tour will be the drummers last live shows with Gyroscope after more than 20 years. Ahead of the upcoming shows, we caught up with Rob Nassif

HZZ: The EP is out now, how have you found the reception?
RN: Reception has been great online, but I think we’ll get a better idea once the tour begins. It’s always exciting to see how new songs are received by the audience. Certainly, playing 4YRLV in rehearsals has been great fun.

H2Z: Bands tend to record EPs as opposed to full length albums now, do you find any less pressure with only recording for an EP?
RN: Yeah, I think the idea of having to create 10 or 12 songs that you are 100% pumped on is quite daunting, at least it is in Gyro land. We tend to have to write quite a few songs before settling on an album, which is time consuming. At this point in our lives we would rather just write music and release it, so it doesn’t have to be an EP can also be things like AA side singles etc.

H2Z: What song on the EP means the most to you and why?
RN: I don’t have that sort of attachment to any of the songs to be honest. I think my faves are Bloodstreams and I Am The Night. The drums in I Am The Night in particular are really fun to play live.

H2Z: How long was the writing and recording process for the EP?
RN: It’s been on and off for a good 2 years, which is much longer than we’d like but the reality of being a bit older and having family and businesses outside of Gyroscope.

H2Z: You are heading out to do some shows. What can the fans expect from your shows?
RN: Well it’s my final tour with Gyroscope after 23 years in the band. So, I can promise everyone that makes it out that I’ll be putting in a massive effort to make sure I go out with a band and I know the rest of the Gyroscope guys feel that wait too. It’s going to be emotional to be sure.

H2Z: You are also playing the Scene and Heard Festival. Do you have a different approach to a festival set compared to a headlining one?
RN: We tend to strip it back to all of the songs know the best at a festival and really just make sure we give the audience a memorable show. Plenty of sing alongs. Dan our singer tends to get out into the crowd during the show, to make sure everyone gets well and truly fired up. Our headlining set will see us play a larger catalogue of songs, going deeper into our discography.

H2Z: You will also be heading out with Cold Chisel, how exciting is it to play with Aussie rock royalty and what is your favourite Chisel song?
RN: I won’t be on those shows which is a shame, but I know Zoran in the band is a huge Chisel fan and it’s an honour for the guys to playing with Oz Rock royalty like that. It’s also with Birds of Tokyo and Jebediah, so plenty of friends playing that one.

H2Z: Any last words for the fans?
RN: I’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone that has supported Gyroscope over the years. I have loved every moment of drumming for this incredible band and I’m excited to get one final chance to play for our fans across Australia. Make sure you come and say hello if you make it to a show.

GYROSCOPE
4YRLV TOUR

THU 24 OCT | LION ARTS, ADELAIDE SA
Tickets on-sale here
FRI 25 OCT | PELLY BAR, FRANKSTON VIC
Tickets on-sale here
SAT 26 OCT | MAX WATTS, MELBOURNE VIC
Tickets on-sale here
SUN 27 OCT | SCENE & HEARD FESTIVAL, CAIRNS QLD
with Wolfmother, You Am I and Jebediah
Tickets on-sale here
THU 31 OCT | CROWBAR, SYDNEY NSW
Tickets on-sale here
FRI 1 NOV | UC HUB, CANBERRA ACT
Tickets on-sale here
SAT 2 NOV | SCENE & HEARD FESTIVAL, BRISBANE QLD
with The Dandy Warhols, British India, You Am I and Jebediah
Tickets on-sale here
FRI 8 NOV | JACK RABBIT SLIMS, PERTH WA
Tickets on-sale here