Inflight

Inflight is a Melbourne-based Australian Christian band, established in 1999 in Warrnambool, Victoria. Band members O'Reilly (singer, songwriter and guitarist), Benjamin Norman (bassist), Ryan McLerie (lead guitarist) and Benni Knop (drummer).
History
O'Reilly and Norman played together in another band called Empty Tomb (1995-1999) before starting Inflight. They also began a podcasting radio network in April 2005, UCA Radio.
Inflight's first performance was at the Warrnambool Baptist youth group on 4 March 2000. This was followed by a gig in Geelong, then a short tour with USA bands All Star United and Wishful Thinking in April 2000. Inflight's first year included the release of an EP, Volume 3, which included "No Superman", "Cereal", and "Made My Day". The following year, Inflight recorded a "live" unplugged concert in Queensland during the Australian Gospel Music Festival QLD, which became a feature broadcast on the 62-station ABC local radio network around Australia.
During 2001, Inflight performed at Songfest in Ballarat, the Forest Edge Festival, Youth Alive in Horsham, Australian Gospel Music Festival, Warrnambool Church of Christ, Mill Park COC, and Hearthton Christian College. During Inflight's first USA tour in late 2002, they released their first full-length album, Entertainment.
Inflight's shows have been seen by tens of thousands of people while touring several times through the USA, New Zealand, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. Highlights include two independent USA tours, performances at New Zealand's largest music festival which boasts over 20,000 attendees, playing Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne in front of 14,000 people, and headlining at ETSA Stadium Adelaide entertaining 5,000 people. The band has just returned from its second headlining tour of Western Australia, performing to over 7,000 WA youth.
Inflight's new album, So This is Love, reflects five years of global songwriting and touring. The album is a combination of rock, pop and reflective ballads. So This is Love was produced by O'Reilly and Norman, and was engineered and mixed by multi-ARIA award nominated producer and engineer Peter 'Reggie' Bowman. The album has been a Top 20 best seller Independent Australasian Christian album for 6 months (2005/2006). The first radio single, "Number One", remained in the Top 20 most played Australasian Christian Artists for a few months (TRAA). The band was nominated for Best New Gospel Artist and Best Rock Gospel Song ("Number One") at the Australian Gospel Music Awards, held at the end of 2005.
Inflight is involved in the Hurricane Healing project that will donate money towards The Salvation Army (USA) National Headquarters to provide relief efforts and ongoing support to the victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. A donation from each download of "Number One" goes to the Salvation Army. O'Reilly explains that "Hurricane Healing is so much more than just giving money to those stricken by natural disasters. It is the beginning of the whole world re-learning the ability to give as much as they can to one another... a giving that knows no religion, no creed, no race and no colour. Let this be the beginning of a giving that never ends, and from it may we see the whole world blessed for the better." Norman states, "In such tragic events, we must find mercy to help victims through a time of hopelessness. Inflight is more than honoured to donate and help the Salvation Army bring hope to the Hurricane victims."
In February 2006, Inflight signed a worldwide digital distribution deal with Blue Pie. The deal has made Inflight's music available worldwide through iTunes, MSN, Bigpond, Coke and other major digital retailers around the world.
After Samuel Gazis (Drummer) leaving the band in 2006, 2 years later Samuel performed with Inflight once again in April 2008 at Lifezone Event at Berwick Church of Christ.
Albums
*Volume 3 EP (2000) - Produced, engineered and mixed by Peter 'Reggie' Bowman. Recorded at Thunderbox Studio, Melbourne. Mastered by Oscar Gaona at Studio 301, Sydney. Art direction and design by Benjamin Norman. Recorded in March 2000.
*Entertainment (2003) - Produced by David O'Reilly. Co-produced by Benjamin Norman. Engineered, mixed and mastered by Peter 'Reggie' Bowman. Recorded at Popcity Studio, Melbourne & Thunderbox Studio, Melbourne. Art direction and design by Benjamin Norman. Photographs by Darren J. Paine. Hairdressing and styling by Katie O'Reilly. Styling by Angela Norman.
*So This is Love (2005) - Produced by David O'Reilly & Benjamin Norman. Engineered, mixed and mastered by Peter 'Reggie' Bowman. Recorded at Popcity Studio, Melbourne & Thunderbox Studio, Melbourne. Art direction and design by Benjamin Norman. Photographs by John Norman. Recorded between August 2004 - June 2005.
*Weathered (2008) - Not yet released - Album name only released by Band Management.
Compilations
*Proper Rock, Volume 1 (2007) - featured "Beautiful"
*Hurricane Healing, Volume 3 (2007) - featured "Breathe"
*Hurricane Healing (2006) - featured "Number One"
*Down Under (2006) - featured "Number One"
*Big Day Indie (2006) - featured "Number One"
*Rush Australia (2006) - featured "Beautiful"
*Servant (2005) - featured "Beautiful"
*Down Under (2005) - featured "Hey Ho"
*Australian Gospel Music Festival (2001) - featured "cereal"
Tours and performance highlights
*Youth Alive NSW 2007 - with Switchfoot and Pillar
*Youth Alive Victoria 2007 - Rod Laver Arena
*Youth Alive Victoria 2006 - Rod Laver Arena - 10,000 people
*Tasmania 2006 - Newsboys Support Act
*Youth Alive Victoria 2006 - East Metro - Headlined
*Careforce Victoria 2006 - Headlined
*Youth Alive Victoria 2005 - South East Metro - Headlined
*Moe Community Festival 2005
*Youth Alive Victoria 2005 - Northern Metro - Headlined
*Western Australia 2nd Tour 2005 - Schools and concerts - 7,000 people
*Perth WA Youth Alive - Nth & Sth Metro 2005 - Headlined - 3,500 people
*Crossway Youth Rally Victoria 2005 - Headlined
*Careforce Mount Evelyn Victoria - 2005 - Headlined
*Kalgoorlie Concert WA 2005 - Headlined
*Shockwave 2005 - Perth WA - Headlined - 3,000 people
*Western Australia 1st Tour 2005 - Headlined - 20 performances
*Victorian Baptist Country Youth Rally 2004 - Headlined - 2,500 people
*Victorian Youth Alive, Rod Laver Arena 2004 -14,000 people
*Adelaide - SAYouth Alive 2004 - Headlined 5,000 people
*New Zealand, Parachute Festival 2004, Aussie Artist Showcase - 5,000 people
*Charity Event 2004 for the Drug Foundation - Victoria - Headlined
*Blackstump Festival - 2004
*United 2004 - Youth Alive Victoria - Headlined
*South Australian Tour 2004, 20 performances
*Australian Gospel Music Festival 2004 - Queensland Shockwave - 2004 - Headlined, 3,500 people
*Youthfest - 2004 - Supported Bodyjar
*Soul Survivor Victoria 2004 - Melbourne
*USA 'Bring it Back' Tour 2003, 15 performances - Headlined
*United 2003 - Youth Alive Victoria - Headlined
* Melbourne Region Salvation Army Event 2003 - Headlined
*USA 'Entertainment' Tour 2002 - Headlined
*Sonfest 2002 - Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Delirious, Relient K
*Bacchus Marsh Festival 2003 - Headlined
*Forest Edge - 2003
*ABC 'live' recorded concert - 2001- Queensland
*Sonfest 2001 - Third Day, Newsboys
*All Star United Australian 2001 Tour
Band members
David O'Reilly (Vocals and Guitar) 1999 -
Ben Norman (Bass) 1999 -
Benni Knop (Drums) 2006 -
Ryan McLerie - (Lead Guitar) 2006 -
Past band members
*Samuel E. Gazis - Drums (2001-2006)
*James Adams - Drums (1999-2001)
Sessional band members
*Hadden Finger - Guitar (2008)
*Samuel E. Gazis - Drums (2008)
*Benjamin Conroy - Drums (2006)
*Justin Gall - Lead Guitar (2005 and 2006)
*Brad Geyer - Lead Guitar (2001, 2004 and 2005)
*Matt Marasco - Drums (2004)

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