Date: 04/12/2008 Melbourne indie-band Rudely Interrupted whose musicians share a range of intellectual and physical disabilities (blindness, deafness, apsergers and Down's Syndrome) became the world's first to play the United Nations in New York to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2008.
'Rudely Interrupted rocks despite disabilities,' ABC's The 7.30 Report
'Aussie band rocks the U.N. for the disabled,' All Things Considered on U.S. National Public Radio
Date: 04/12/2008 Since the band formed in 2006 they've gone from playing community shows on Melbourne’s outskirts to performing alongside Feist and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at Australia's Laneway Festival and now, the UN.
'Rudey Interrupted in Marie Claire'
Date: 04/12/2008 Seizing the opportunity to tour the world armed with a bagful of infectious pop anthems, The Rudies went on to confound and amaze worldwide audiences as well as challenge pre-conceived ideas about what it means to have a disability. During a punishing 18-day touring schedule the band played gigs in New York City, Brooklyn, Toronto in Canada as well as London, Bristol and Manchester in the UK.
'Rockin the UN,' Fox News Red Eye
Date: 04/12/2008 Stellar music reviews quickly followed and for the first time a disability band was accepted by the notoriously fickle and hard to please indie-music community.
'Rudely Interrupted in Canada's Eye Weekly'
Date: 04/12/2008 The world's media took notice and wherever Rudely Interrupted went so did they. While on tour Rudely Interrupted were featured, to name just a few, in The London Times, on CNN as well as the BBC, MTV, Canada's The Hour and MuchMusic where they even met Tom Cruise.
'Rudely Interrupted work their senses overtime,' The London Times
Date: 04/12/2008 Achingly cool pop culture magazine Vice courted the band and invited lead singer Rory to become a columnist.
'Rudely Interrupted,' VICE Magazine
Date: 04/12/2008 Rudely Interrupted were also asked to perform a special gig at Vice’s UK venue in London, The Old Blue Last.
'Rudely Interrupted at The Old Blue Last'
Date: 04/12/2008 The Rudelys even attracted the attention of The Musebox one of America's most influential music agencies who want to book the band for shows on the hard to crack US and Canadian summer festival circuit.
'The Musebox'
Date: 04/12/2008 With an album, film and another tour in 2009 it promises to be a big year for Rudely Interrupted.
'Film trailer: I didn't mean to rudely interrupt you.'
Date: 04/12/2008 On the verge of a major breakthrough the band will help bridge the gap between the music community, the general public and people living with disabilities.
'Rudely Interrupted in Torontoist'
Date: 04/12/2008 "We've seen it happen at our gigs," says Rohan Brooks who formed the band in 2006. "For the first time on the music scene indie-kids were able to enjoy a beer, for instance, with our bass player Sam who has Down's Syndrome and in the course of an evening he single handedley changed the way they thought about disabilities."
'Rudely Interrupted in Time Out New York'
Date: 04/12/2008 Rudely Interrupted's performance had the standing-room-only audience at the United Nations rocking.

“We’re thrilled to have played UN and to be touring the world,” says Rohan. “It's a genuine once in a lifetime opportunity to profile the band and their 'different abilities' on the world stage. We’re stoked to be given this opportunity. It’s awesome!”
'Disabled band soars,' CNN Worldwide

Special thanks to Melbourne's Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation for believing in the band's ability and backing that belief with a generous financial donation to help Rudely Interrupted tour the world.
Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation
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