Versace Boys: We've taken hundreds of trips, this is what we've learnt

Musical duo Versace Boys have clocked up hundreds of trips together. With their debut album out now, they’re revealing their touring secrets. 

Satirical pop-hop duo Versace Boys - aka Will Henderson and Alex Johnson - met in Berlin, re-connected in Byron Bay, and are constantly travelling. 

WILL

Where did you meet Alex?

At a Sticky Fingers concert in Berlin in 2019. I was living there, playing about 50 festivals a year with my bands, and Alex was touring through the area and had a girlfriend from Berlin. We started making music and going to late-night jams in Berlin’s underground.

Where do you live now?

Mullumbimby in the Northern Rivers.

How many trips have you taken together?

Hundreds. We’ve become pretty comfortable with each other’s personal space and sharing double beds.

Versace Boys - Will Henderson and Alex Johnson.

What’s your most memorable trip together?

We played Kuranda Roots Festival this year. It was the middle of our winter in NSW. As soon as we got off the plane in Far North Queensland, the rush of heat and tropical vibes felt like heaven. Next to the festival site was the most incredible emerald-green granite waterfalls that were so clean you could drink from them.

How does Alex pack?

When we first started touring it gave me great joy to watch Alex trying to juggle and drag his gear from place to place. I’ve bought him suitcases so he can almost fit the epic amount of gear he brings. His toiletries bag outshines any ladies’ set-up I’ve ever seen.

What makes him a good travel buddy?

He’s always up for a good time, and gregarious, so it’s always an adventure.

The Versace Boys at Sydney Fringe.

How do your travel personas align?

We’re pretty similar. We’re happy to fly by the seat of our pants in most situations, which hasn’t worked out well in other bands. We also have a similar stamina for raging all night and being able to back it up for multiple shows the next day. We both lay pretty low between shows and take it super-easy. It’s energetically taxing on tour so we need to keep our vibe bank loaded.

How do you take time out from each other on trips?

We love each other’s company so don’t need heaps of time out from each other. Sometimes we invite family and make it more of a chill child-friendly vibe.

Who’s in charge of the itinerary?

I’m the band dad. I have been giving Alex the job of booking the flights lately and it has been eventful but we’re getting there.

What’s on your bucket-list?

Mexico, New Orleans, Cuba and Hawaii.

The Esoteric Festival in Victoria.

ALEX

Where do you live?

Suffolk Park near Byron Bay.

How did you meet?

At a Sticky Fingers concert in Berlin. Soon after, we met up in a park where we wrote our first banger, Gin & Cucumber – our most streamed song so far. Out of fate, we both moved to Mullumbimby and Byron and started as Versace Boys.

What’s your most memorable trip together?

The Melbourne tour was fun. We met a billionaire after the show and went to her James Bond mansion with 12 Porsches in the garage and a secret passageway to an ice-bath space with sauna and steam room. Best after-party ever.

How does Will pack?

Will packs socks, undies, T-shirts, shorts in a backpack, brings a pillow, ear plugs, sleep goggles. Shoes. And Vaseline.

Will Henderson and Alex Johnson - aka the Versace Boys.

What makes him a good travel buddy?

Will is the organiser and brains. We work well together. We can say how it is to each other and still it’s all love.

How do your travel personas align or differ?

Will likes to chat forever. I need silence. We align because we like to make music, eat good food, and party.

How do you take time out from each other?

By doing push-ups, yoga, I go for walks and journal into a blank note on my phone. Will loves to socialise with others to calm himself down. He’s more extroverted and wants connection with others. We love experiencing everything together, I just need a little “me” time.

Versace Boys have released their debut album Get Rich or Cry Trying.

What travel plans do you have in the works?

Adelaide Fringe, and Edinburgh Fringe. We just did three weeks of Cheeky Cabaret at Brunswick Picture House and it was the most fun of our lives.

What’s on your bucket-list?

I would love to do New Zealand, America and Canada.

What have you learnt about Will through travelling?

I’ve been surprised at how people receive us. We are both pretty charismatic blokes and when we are together, it’s like a super-power. We laugh so hard. I’ve learnt through Will that life is meant to be fun with laughter and love. And I’ve learnt Will loves fantasy novels and will bring one with him everywhere we go.

Versace Boys’ debut album Get Rich or Cry Trying is out now. Follow @theversaceboys

Originally published as Versace Boys: We've taken hundreds of trips, this is what we've learnt