September 28, 2006
By GIlda Van Schalkwyk
When it comes to music, you'd probably associate a gyroscope more with a gyrating Shakira than a rock band. But when you're 16-year-old upstarts with aspirations of "making it big" in the music industry, any name probably sounds cool.
Rob Nassif and friend Zoran Trivic got together one day and decided to make music.
"I was not a musician. I was interested in music at school and played the trombone in the school band. But I could barely play a drum beat and it was Zoran who actually taught me a few things.
"Then, in 1997, we started practising and playing at several parties. Daniel Sanders and Brad Campbell got on board soon after and Gyroscope was born."
That was the simple genesis of a rock band that has had extensive tours as well as success in their home country and abroad.
A highlights of their career was touring alongside US bands Dashboard Confessional and Blink 182.
Their sophomore album, Are You Involved?, was recorded in the US after they sent their demos to rock music producer Mark Trombino. Trombino has worked with bands like Jimmy Eat World and Blink 182. Fortunately for the band, he loved their sound and it was all systems go.
Nassif was born in SA, lived in Alberton, Joburg before emigrating to Australia when he was 7 years old
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Though his family has since returned to this country, the blond drummer says he's found his home in "down under" and plans on staying there.
"We are a band that got started with the bare basics; it was a very organic beginning. So it is very rewarding to get this far.
"We are very in tune with each other and try not to take ourselves too seriously as it comes in the way of letting out what is really inside of us."
The band was at the South West Music Festival in Texas where they were spotted by Sheer Sound's talent scout, Danny de Wet.
"Danny approached us saying he was interested in putting a tour together if we were interested in coming to SA. I've been to SA a good few times since leaving, so I was excited about coming back.
"The rest of the guys have never been, but I'm sure the visit will have a strong, positive influence on them once they immerse themselves in the South African way of life."
Gyroscope will be at Woodstock, Hartbeespoort Dam, tomorrow, at the Oppiaarde Festival in Potchefstroom on Saturday, Awesome Africa in Durban on Sunday, Mercury Live in Cape Town on October 4, at Mystic Boer in Stellenbosch on October 5, Foundry Fly Lounge in Pretoria on October 6 and Roxy Rhythm Bar in Joburg on October 7.
  
 
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