Australian heavy metal band HEAVEN proudly announces an official endorsement partnership with Olympus Guitars Australia, uniting Heaven’s legacy with the handcrafted excellence of master luthier Joannis “Johnny” Prapas.
Founding bassist Laurie Marlow has joined the Olympus Guitars family as a Full Endorsement Artist, marking the beginning of a collaboration grounded in authenticity, premium craftsmanship, and the shared belief that music and artistry begin with family values. Laurie’s Olympus instrument is currently under construction.
LAURIE MARLOW ON THE PARTNERSHIP
“Meeting Johnny from Olympus Guitars felt like catching up with family. We talked about life, music, and values over coffee, and it became clear we shared the same vision. Johnny is a true master luthier — he’s built instruments for Alice Cooper, Billy Gibbons, Orianthi and many more — and his guitars are absolutely spectacular. We sealed our partnership with a handshake and a commitment to family above all.”
ABOUT OLYMPUS GUITARS AUSTRALIA
Olympus Guitars Australia operates from Botany, NSW under the direction of master luthier Johnny Prapas, whose roots trace back to the foot of Mt. Olympus in Greece. Born into a family of traditional lumberjacks, Prapas developed an early ability to recognise and select exceptional tone woods — a skill that forms the foundation of every Olympus instrument.
Olympus Guitars is known for its use of naturally aged timbers such as Greek olive, black chestnut of Olympus, walnut of Olympus, and pine of Olympus. These woods are matched with carefully selected premium components sourced globally, resulting in instruments renowned for tone, resonance, and individuality.
Olympus Guitars has built instruments for Alice Cooper, Billy F. Gibbons (ZZ Top), Eric Gales, Austin Hanks, Miguel Montalban, Lisa Perry, Arlen Roth, members of the Victor Wooten camp, Doug Seven, and many more.
https://www.olympusguitars.com.au/
ABOUT HEAVEN
Australian hard rock veterans Heaven are officially back, having played an exclusive East Coast tour during October and November this year. Formed in Sydney in 1980 after evolving from Adelaide band Fat Lip, Heaven became one of Australia’s heaviest live acts and later signed with former AC/DC manager Michael Browning. Their sound shifted from raw, hard rock to a more polished, Judas Priest-influenced style.
The band gained major traction after touring Australia with Iron Maiden and then breaking into the U.S. scene, sharing stages with Mötley Crüe, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and KISS. Their single Rock School received MTV airplay and featured contributions from Ronnie James Dio, Lita Ford and Glenn Hughes. Frontman Allan Fryer remained in the U.S. for several years, keeping the Heaven name alive, while guitarist Bradford Kelly designed the acclaimed Jackson “Kelly” model.
Despite lineup changes over the decades, Heaven’s spirit endured, with modern remixes-like Country Boy’s rework of Fantasy-introducing their catalogue to new audiences. The 2025 comeback lineup features original members Laurie Marlow and John Haese, joined by Peter Millwood, Mick O’Shea and Steve “Stav” Down.
A UNIFIED VISION
The partnership between Heaven and Olympus Guitars represents a natural alignment:
• Heaven’s legacy in Australian heavy metal
• Olympus Guitars’ deep roots in Greek craftsmanship and mythology
• A shared commitment to family, authenticity, and hand-built artistry
Together, they carry forward a collaboration forged in tradition and driven by the future.
Heaven’s Scheduled Events
Australia
December 13th 2025 Sydney, Australia
February 13th 2026 Geelong, Australia
February 14th 2026 Melbourne, Australia
March 13th 2026 Sydney, Australia
2026 Japan Tour
March 28th 2026 Tokyo, Japan
March 29th 2026 Tokyo, Japan
April 2nd 2026 Kobe, Japan
April 3rd 2026 Osaka, Japan
April 4th 2026 Kyoto, Japan
Australia
June 11th 2026 Gold Coast, Australia
June 13th 2026 Sunshine Coast, Australia
June 14th 2026 Brisbane, Australia
July TBA 2026 Rock Mini Festival Sydney, Australia
Website: https://heavenband.com.au/
