LEE AND HIS LANDCRUISER

Feature story by John Elliot
Australian Country Update

LEE KERNAGHAN IS THE BUSIEST MAN IN COUNTRY MUSIC. SEVEN TOP SELLING ALBUMS AND A NONSTOP TOURING SCHEDULE DOESN'T LEAVE LEE MUCH TIME TO PLAY. HIS FAVOURITE WAY OF UNWINDING IS TO JUMP IN HIS LANDCRUISER AND 'HEAD BUSH'. LEE PUTS PEN TO PAPER TO SHARE HIS LANDCRUISER EXPERIENCE WITH US.

"I can go anywhere in my Landcruiser. Out in the scrub or running around in Sydney, jumping median strips when I have to, creating havoc in the traffic - I feel at home wherever I am.

Behind the wheel of the Landcruiser I seem to get a lot more respect from other motorists. When you put the blinkers on and move from one lane to another, the other motorists tend to let you go, they give way.

I've been out bush quite a bit, off the bitumen and throw it into 4WD. It's a good way to spend your time. There's practically nowhere I can't go in the 'Cruiser. It's just like being in an air conditioned jet - a great way to get around Australia. You can drive 1000 kms on a tank of fuel and still arrive relaxed and refreshed. The Landcruiser has plenty of room in the back for all my gear and a couple of esky's which is great when you are on a long trip. Driving the Cruiser is just the ultimate way to travel, on or off the highway.

I've got to get out of the city to write songs and to clear my head and there's no better place to do that than out in the bush by a river or a creek. Light a fire and put the billy on. Now that I have a Landcruiser I can get to places I haven't been able to get into before. I just throw the swag in the back and away I go.

The Landcruiser has got a great sound system and I put it to good use when I'm recording a new album. When we have finished recording and mixing a song we dub it onto a cassette and all head down to my car, whack the tape in and have a listen. If it sounds good in the Cruiser I know we have a good mix and I think more people will like it.

The other thing I like to do is play around with the order of the songs when we put out a new album. I think the order the songs come up in is important. I just go for a long run in the Landcruiser with the tape blasting. I juggle the order of the songs until I think the flow is right. Heading down the highway with the volume pumping is the only way to get it right."