Testing their metal

Motorhead, Phil Rudd, Def Leppard.

Just three big names that are bound to catch the attention of heavy metal music fans everywhere – especially those of a certain vintage.

And Anton Jelicich, 41, has worked with them all.

He’s even partied a bit with Rudd, drummer for veteran rock’n’rollers AC/DC who retired to Tauranga for a few years in the late 80s and early 90s before reuniting with his old bandmates.

Jelicich was with the band Adrenalin and Rudd was recording the group’s album in his studio at Katikati.

"We joined him on the beach there one New Year’s Eve," the father of two says. "He’s a great guy – really down to earth."

Jelicich played his first gig at 15 and has been lead guitarist in a number of top bands including Stonehenge and Roadrunner.

Now he’s one of a stellar lineup in the relatively new all-west Jealous Itch.

The group, including black t-shirt brigade veterans Mark Meyrick, Brent Fox, Sean Taylor and Grant Stensness, had only been together for a few weeks when they opened for the touring British act Def Leppard in November.

It was a big break for a bunch of rockers who are getting on a bit in years.

But Jelicich, who also played on the same bill as Motorhead a few years back, says age is a definite advantage.

"There are some fantastic young bands out there for sure," he says. "But when you’re working with guys who’ve been playing for 20 years you certainly notice the difference."

A few miles on the clock also brings with it extra responsibilities.

Jelicich is general manager of New Zealand Seafoods and a family man.

It’s a juggling act but he’s lucky, he says, to have his wife Leigh behind him all the way.

He was playing Thin Lizzy cover tunes around the clubs and pubs when the pair met about 10 years ago.

They had the first of their two girls in 2002 and married soon after.

Jelicich, tired of rehearsals and smoke filled bars, thought he was at the end of his musical career and decided to pack it in.

But six years later he got tinkering with some new digital recording gear and felt a renewed surge of interest.

He set up a studio in his garage and was soon laying down tracks with his friends.

Jealous Itch was born amid a wave of collective enthusiasm, spurred on by the Def Leppard coup.

The future, Jelicich, says, looks exciting.

"I’ll keep going just as long as I’m still enjoying myself," he says. That’s the key to life – enjoy it.