The day Guy Sebastian knew his life changed at the Modbury Indoor Cricket Centre
On the eve of a major national tour Adelaide’s own Guy Sebastian talks The Voice, indoor cricket and how he knew his life had changed forever ... while playing indoor cricket at Modbury.
In the days before Instagram, Facebook and 24/7 celebrity news the young Guy Sebastian found out he was famous in the strangest of places – the Modbury Indoor Cricket Centre.
It was 2003, and the afro-sporting aspiring singer was on his way to winning the first season of Australian Idol.
“We didn’t have a gauge on what was happening,” Sebastian says.
“We didn’t have that immediate feedback on social media — we had to wait for magazines to come out to read about ourselves. It was a totally different experience.”
So there’s young Guy, a handy all-rounder and grade player, filling in for his mates’ indoor team when everyone starts lining up to have their picture taken with him. It was the first time he twigged that Idol could be life changing. But it got weirder.
“We went to McDonald’s afterwards and I was eating off my own face!” he says.
“The placemats said ‘Go the Fro’ and I’m sitting with my mates that I’d played cricket with for 17 years at the Modbury ICA, eating off my face. It was pretty hard to adjust.”
The Voice judge says singing-show contestants these days have a much better idea of exactly what they’re getting into, but it doesn’t mean it’s not still heartbreaking when they bomb out. And it doesn’t get any easier for Sebastian to tell them it’s time to go home.
“I really struggle,” he says.
“There was one point where I did break down a bit because I had to let Jordy (Marcs) go, and I just thought he was awesome.
“It’s not always just about how good they are, you also have to look at who else you’re taking through. There’s been a purpose to everyone I’ve put through to the finals.
“Jack (Vidgen), for example, he was just a broken man and he needed someone to believe in him. And there a lot of things you don’t know – it’s not like Jack is sitting there airing every single thing that’s ever happened to him. So that was a no-brainer for me taking Jack through.”
Despite the obvious heartache when dreams of success are ended early, Sebastian maintains that The Voice is still an overwhelmingly positive program in a reality TV world that can thrive on negativity.
“Being encouraging is important, because there’s so much out there that’s the opposite to that,” he says of the show that he judges alongside Kelly Rowland, Boy George and Delta Goodrem.
“That’s why I love this show – it’s so nice to be involved in something that doesn’t tear people down.
“Even in defeat there’s dignity. Even if a chair doesn’t turn we still have an opportunity to provide some input and tell them where they can improve. It’s been really nice to be a part of that.”
When Sebastian isn’t judging TV shows he’s indulging his true passion – making music of his own.
Adelaide fans are in for a treat when his new tour, Riding’ With You, kicks off at the Festival Theatre on September 6.
Sebastian says he’s happy that the tour is beginning in his home town.
“To be surrounded by family and mates will be great,” he says.
“And it’ll be nice to start somewhere familiar, somewhere with a lot of calmness connected to it. I’m pumped for this tour.”
Big hits such as Bloodstone, Battle Scars and new smash Before I Go will all get a workout, as will Sebastian’s latest single, Choir.
While Choir might sound upbeat on the first listen, it’s actually a heartfelt tribute to friend and band member Luke Liang who recently lost a long battle with his mental health.
“We had just toured Europe together – just me and Luke – and it was pretty tough to absorb the news that he was gone,” Sebastian says.
“He was just an incredible guy, a freak of a talent who could play any instrument and just such a funny dude. So funny.
“Everything was more fun when Luke was around.
“I wanted to turn my shock into something that was positive and something that was going to be a reminder to us all to look out for each other. I wanted his death to have a purpose, and I wanted to write something joyful because he was a such a joyful person. I’ve never ever had as many messages about a song as I have about this. I’ve literally been inundated by people who’ve told me that this song has helped them.”
See: The Voice Grand Finale, Sunday 7pm Channel 9. Ridin’ With You tour, Festival Theatre, September 6. Tickets adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au