Air Supply marks 50 years with multi-city PH tour in 2026

December 21 ------ Air Supply, the soft-rock duo behind some of radio’s most enduring love songs, will return to the Philippines in January 2026 as part of their 50th Anniversary World Tour. The group has scheduled shows in Pasig City, Iloilo (Jan. 11), Calamba (Jan. 24), Cagayan de Oro (Jan. 25) and Cebu (Jan. 27).

The tour marks a rare milestone in pop music longevity, something the duo said they do not take lightly. Graham Russell reflected on their five decades together by saying the band still treats each performance as a gift. “We’re happy to have this career, you know, and we don’t take it for granted. Every day is a new day, and we try to do the best we can at every moment,” he said during an online interview with members of the Philippine media.

Russell and partner Russell Hitchcock first teamed up in the mid-70s without expecting the journey to last. “When we first started, we thought maybe we’d be good for a couple of years in Australia. But obviously, you know, this is 50 years later,” Hitchcock explained.

The Philippines has long been a solid fan base for Air Supply, a fact the group always acknowledges.

Russell expressed admiration for the country’s enthusiasm, saying, “We’re very grateful for the support from all over the world, especially the Philippines. Our fans there are so loyal and crazy. And they’re great singers too.” “The Filipino audiences are amazingly open-hearted. They appreciate us being there. You took us to your heart as early as 1980. It never stopped,” he added.

During interviews connected to the anniversary tour, the duo emphasized that the foundation of their staying power remains unchanged. Hitchcock said the band’s success continues to rest on the quality of their material, explaining, “It’s the songs. That’s where it starts and ends. We sing 130 shows a year. So it never gets stale.” The pair said their trademark harmonies formed naturally from the beginning, and their voices fit together without effort.

Meanwhile, Air Supply is also using its anniversary year to push forward several new projects. Hitchcock said the band is proud to be releasing new material after more than a decade. “We haven’t really released any new music for 15 years. We have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame coming up. We got to play Carnegie Hall this year and the Hollywood Bowl,” Hitchcock shared.

Russell added that these achievements represent long-held ambitions. “On the celebration of our 50th anniversary together, wonderful things are happening. We’ve realized some ambitions that we had from the start,” Hitchcock said. “We will also have the biopic that’s going to start filming next year. We have a Broadway show that’s going on in London next year,” Hitchcock updated. Rather than feeling pressure to compete with newer acts, Hitchcock said they’ve watched young fans rediscover their music. “Everything is cyclical. We’re now getting a new generation of young fans from 15 to 20s... They’re embracing our music once again.”

Source: manilatimes.net