A 6V6 is a beam-power tetrode vacuum tube. A family of tubes that was first introduced in 1936, it is used in electric guitar amplifiers and, as tubes do, serves to increase the amplitude of the signal. Willie J's 6V6s are a beam-powered tetrode vacuum tube high-energy hard rock'n'roll band. The latest and greatest in a succession of bands for young Willie, the 6V6s came together in Melbourne in 2023 and serve to boost the power output of one of hard rock's finest young singer/guitarists. Melbourne's Willie J Maxwell first received attention in pre-pandemic days as a member of grungers Loser - alongside his brother Tim Maxwell of Apart From This and members of the Smith Street Band and the Bennies - before forming Willie J & the Bad Books in 2022. Combining hard bluesy rock with soul, the Bad Books quickly became a draw on the local Melbourne scene as well as festival faves, with rowdily received appearances at Boogie, Queenscliff and elsewhere. With a number of singles to their credit and some good Rage play for their videos, the band seemed to be on a steep ascent until Willie pulled the plug in early '24. Already indulging his love of certain highly-electric Australian hard rock combo with the incredible Riff Raff, Willie was soon playing other favourites by the likes of Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, Rose Tattoo and the Coloured Balls as well as Humble Pie and Ted Nugent with a new power trio the 6v6s. With the Badbooks no more Willie needed another outlet to make his unique vision for an original hard rock band a reality, and so the 6v6s - featuring Willie on vocals and guitar, Seb Robertson on bass and Cal Leavey on drums - have become the main event. Already powering along with regular shows at venues like Cherry and the Lulie Tavern (and having played Cherryfest), Willie J's 6V6s entered Willie's brother Tim's studio to record their first single in October 2024. "Love on the Loose" is an absolute barnburner that has Willie shifting from Paul Rogers-like sly sweetness to a Bon-like howl as he moves from verse to chorus. The riff is jagged and sort of funky, and when the instrumental break comes in the energy levels go through the roof, so much so that the band thunders right through to the end like an express train, and even when they come back for one more chorus before finishing it sounds like they won't be able to stop. Catch Willie J's in Warrnambool for a special one off show this July as they continue touring non-stop throughout 2026