Airbourne formed as a hard rock band (initially styled as Airborne) in late 2001 in the Victorian city of Warrnambool by Joel O'Keeffe (born 1982 or 1983) on lead vocals and lead guitar and his younger brother Ryan (born 1985 or 1986) on drums. Joel had played guitar since the age of 11 and Ryan got his first drum kit four years later also at the age of 11. At 17 years old, Joel provided guitar for his father Dennis's vocal performance in January 2000, with his mother Anne on bodhran and vocals, and uncle Colin on tin whistle and vocals.
