article written by Glenn A. Baker in The Heralds Sydney Magazine July 2004

Glenn A. Baker - 3 times winner of the BBC Rock Brain of the Universe competition, travel writer, regular television panelist, music journalist - story Rock of Ages - “I found this assignment not only a labour of love but also a welcome opportunity to catch up with a bunch of old buddies….As a brave young concert promoter in the 70’s I actually presented Kevin Borich’s La De Das at Paddington Town Hall….”

… Kevin Borich is still every inch the slashing, stylish axeman who has come to take you higher. Without a hint of parody, he struts the stage at major festivals in lace shirt, snakeskin pants and cocky stance, gleefully unleashing the credible, fluid licks that have accorded him the status of a legend. Borich, the iconic rock/blues guitarist who livened up the national Long Way To The Top tour with fiery renditions of his 1971 hit Gonna See My Baby Tonight, has a theory that music “keeps you young”. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Borich makes few concessions to the passage of time – although the mantra is now sex, fresh air and rock’n’roll. Borich readily admits he wasn’t thinking of a 45 year career when he made his first recording at the age of 12 (with two girls next door) in Huapai, near Auckland. Nor when his garage band the La De Das blitzed the New Zealand pop charts in the mid ‘60s and then cut Australasia’s first rock opera, The Happy Prince,….Things took another turn for the better when a pared down version of the band became a hard rocking sensation in the early 70’s, packing out shows across Australia. By the 80’s he had five hit albums as the Kevin Borich Express and some more with those darlings of the northern beaches, the Party Boys, and collected a loyal audience that’s never really left him. “There was a song on my last CD called Saved By The Blues, about how the blues is never going to go away” he says. “I guess I’m not either. I’m very grateful I am still doing this because a lot of people I’ve worked with gave up. Playing, for me, is a joy. If I don’t go out for a few weeks I get an itch.” On hand to scratch that creative itch are his children: 32-year-old son Lucius is a drummer who has played with Juice, Hanging Tree (with Doug Parkinson’s son Daniel) and now Cog. His daughter Jemma designs his album covers, while another daughter, Kobe, is studying theatre in London. With three younger children from his second marriage, the Borich music dynasty now seems assured. Although a new record deal is unlikely, Borich has become a crafty webmaster, using the internet to reach his audience directly. “The net has become the big shop in the sky for artists like me,” he says. “It’s helped us to stay out there”. Kevin Borich released his first solo album, Celebration, in March 1977. A new CD, Nomad, due out later this month, is available from www.kevinborich.com Glenn A. Baker

photos~ Russell Shakespeare

'Kevin Borich from La De Das to Legend' Kevin Borich is a magnificent musician ... and has always been. A guitarist's guitarist with a solid grounding in the blues who dispenses licks with a fiery passion. A generation of sixties and seventies air guitarists grew up with the Borich treatment of All Along The Watchtower and the affection for this man who becomes as one with his guitar has never left them. Over his long career there has been an inspiring honesty and dedication about Kevin; he's remained true to his understanding of rock's founding principles and his commitment to live performance. When he plugs in he roars and nobody in the room is left unaffected. Though a Kiwi Kevin is a mainstay of Oz Rock and it would be hard to imagine it without him. I think he was born to play. GLENN A. BAKER

some things the press have had to say........... AUSTRALIAN BLUES / ROCK LEGEND Kevin Borich. KB has been at the pinnacle of the Rock, R&B and Blues music scene since he came to Oz from NZ with the La De Das in the mid 60's. From that time he has maintained a reputation for high energy performances and musical excellence. Kevin has played/ recorded or jammed with Renee Geyer, Carlos Santana, Bo Didley, Ritchie Blackmore, Ron Wood, John Mayall and Taj Mahal. He was a founding member of the Party Boys who undertook tours with Joe Walsh, and is truly a guitar playing legend. BORICH, Kevin (g) -`WHO'S WHO OF AUSTRALIAN ROCK' Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara,Paul McHenry Borich has established himself as a major guitarist in Australia, maintaining a hectic touring schedule and gaining high praise from all sources. If Borich was American, he would be treated the same way as Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan and have a major record deal...................> If licks could kill......the incredible Kevin Borich One of Kevins Borich's biggest moments was in 1979 when he jammed with Carlos Santana before 80,000 at the Rock Arena megashows in Sydney and Melbourne. Santana would say of the Australian, "He's amazing. He sounds so much like Jimi Hendrix yet has an individual style. He presents his music honestly and is one of the best guitarists I've heard." More to the point was a message scribbled on the walls of the famous Newcastle Star Hotel - "if licks could kill, Kevin Borich would be doing hard time". For close on thirty years, Borich has been thrilling audiences with his dynamic brand of blistering boogie. Hailed by rock and blues audiences alike, Borich is one of the few artists that successfully straddles the two genres, loved and revered in both as a wicked songwriter, performer and guitarist. With sheer guitar - driven ecstasy loaded with passion and raunch, Kevin Borich will take you on a musical epic from the deepest blues to the potent force that made him one of our hottest rockers and a phenomenal ax-man. - Hilton Hotel Brisbane ROCKIN BLUES WITH A FUNKY SOUND Those who witnessed Kevin Borich when he blasted thru town earlier this year would agree that the musician has lost none of the blues rock touch that saw him pick up many awards and accolades in the ‘70s as this country’s best guitar player. His dazzling fretboard skills have also seen musicians such as Carlos Santana and Ritchie (Deep Purple)Blackmore, Bo Diddley, and John Mayall happily invite him on to stage to jam. - Robert Dunstan`Rip it Up' Adelaide Towering over the local guitar-playing scene, Kevin Borich is rated one of the finest blues-based players in the world, a very special talent with an ever-present edge of excitement. - The Basement Sydney Kevin Borich is a vital part of the Live Music Heritage in Australia. It is one thing to listen to an artist on cd, you HAVE to see KB perform live. It is a must!! - Deb Morrice `RAVE' Brisbane There are a lot of personal highlights for me ....I remember when like every other young man I was playing air guitar, and one of the things I played air guitar to was Kevin Borich doing “All Along The Watchtower” who I think did it even better than Hendrix. He’s been part of our musical lives for a long time. He came over the Tasman in the La De Das and he’s been rocking ever since. We love him, he’s Kevin Borich! Glenn A. Baker - Gimme Ted Benefit Concert

IT'S not often an artist continues to make albums and perform live after more than 30 years in the business but Kevin Borich is one of the few exceptions. The renowned guitarist has played with some of the most talented musicians in the world, including Santana, and was a support act for Elton John and Status Quo. But Borich is not just a support act or special guest. He has had an impressive career in his own right, stemming from his beginnings with New Zealand band La-De-Das. The La-De-Das recorded more than 20 albums and survived the transition from the '60s to the '70s. They eventually split, leaving Borich as a solo artist. He then formed a three-piece band called The Kevin Borich Express, featuring John Annas on drums and Harry Brus on bass, two of the most respected musicians in Australia. Not only has Kevin Borich endured the changes in society but his music has remained fresh. Borich uses an old 1930s National Steel Acoustic guitar to add variety to the show. Borich has not only made good music, he has set the standard for other guitarists. After the Rockarena in 1977 at Calder Park Raceway, during which Santana invited Borich onstage to jam, Santana said Borich was one of the best guitarists he had ever played with. His latest album Heart Starter again showcases Borich's talent that Santana spoke of. The Newcastle Post - TE - Sarah Allport December 29, 2001

photos scanned at 300dpi

	Russell Shakespeare
Jemma Borich	Jemma Borich

by Greg Phillips - Autumn 1999                    Kevin Borich : Australian Rhythm & Blues My old, perhaps outdated Oxford school dictionary defines success as the attainment of one's object; prosperous result; person or thing that turns out well. While newer dictionaries are certain to contain more eloquent explanations of success, for me the dusty blue tome puts Kevin Borich's music career squarely into perspective. Sure he's not rich, nor does he belong to a major record company anymore but the fact that he's survived three decades in an industry as tough as the music business, kept his marbles, his chops and still has a loyal, eager following hanging out for the next KB Express to steam-roll through their town means that things have turned out alright. Of course survival hasn't come automatically, it's taken many years of performing endless high energy blues-rock shows around Australia building a following, and also having to adapt to new situations as they present themselves. By recording and distributing his own Cds, to his own audience, KB has been able to continue to do what he does best. His extensive fan database allows him to communicate direct with his audience informing them of whatever new project is in the wind. "The pros of not belonging to a major label are that you don't get told what to do. You produce what you like. You go straight to people who come to see you play and you make more money per unit. You've got a relationship with your audience. One of the cons I guess is that you don't get big publicity or much help. You have to lug the stuff around yourself and act like a bit of a side show, you know... 'roll up, roll up'." One regular KB initiative which has been hugely successful is a gig on a boat on Sydney Harbour which attracts hundreds of Borich disciples. The next one is planned for (0419 484 200 for info!). Another avenue of promotion which never existed a couple of decades ago is the corporate function. Borich has enjoyed travelling to the other side of the world to please home sick Australian business people. "Actually the corporate gig is a great one. I did a great one with the Party Boys in China, one in Shanghai and one in Hong Kong. But they think I'm too wild. I tell them I'm older than them." The longevity of Kevin's career owes a lot to the fact that his music is blues based. Many other bands from the seventies or eighties could never (or shouldn't ) contemplate revival as much of the music was intrinsically linked to the fashion culture of the day. Borich however is able to hold his head high when he looks back through his catalogue. "I'm quite proud of it. We are getting our back catalogue together. We're remastering stuff. There are a few cringey ones that won't make it. Jennifer, who minds the office tells me about the people who call and it's amazing how many are really into it and it makes you feel good." Borich has been pretty happy with his tools of trade for some time now. The Fender Strat, Gibson Firebird (for the slide tunes) through a Marshall or Fender twin have been reliable friends. He's aware of the technological in-roads being made with amps and effects but unfortunately never gets to try new things out. "There's enough out there isn't there! It would be nice to be able to go into a shop and try them all out, but you never try them out properly until you use them at a gig. I haven't really tried a lot of the new amps. It would be good to though. It's a matter of being at the right place at the right time when they've got them all there to compare them. There is some really incredible stuff being made. The vintage thing's gone berserk." Borich is not adverse to computer technology either having owned an Atari at a stage when they were a relatively new music tool. "Unfortunately the power supply burnt. But the musos really got into them didn't they, I suppose because of the SMPTE thing. I wrote all these things, these piano bits and I thought aren't I great, aren't I a great piano player when you speed me up. But it's very personal and I was always looking for the guys to have a bit of fun. A few things I wrote by accident, just mistakes that grew." Borich's latest independant release is Heartstarter , which features the same familiar passionate and powerful playing on 13 new tracks. One track in particular, Saved By The Blues , is destined to become a KB standard. "I'm proud of that one. That was a sound-check thing, a chord progression. I hadn't used a major 7th in a blues pattern before. So I'm happy to have done that. The reason for the song was hard. I married the idea of being rescued by the blues as far as how the rock scene died and the blues scene sort of picked us up. Before we were rock artists and I'd be playing a bit of blues in there, Red Rooster and a few other things. But it wasn't a blues band and there weren't any blues festivals, it was all rock. So the blues scene has stayed and the rock scene has died so we're essentially saved by the blues. Then its also a personal thing as well. It's turned out great. Because it's in major 7th there's a slant on the guitar lines that you can play that I hadn't been involved with before, not being a Schooled musician. Different patterns and notes that I'm used to." Do you wish you had been a schooled musician and learnt properly because many people would say you're a great player anyway? "Yeh, but you've always got this thing inside you that you don't really know what the hell's goin on! (Laughs). It's all magic. It would be nice to be able to dissect it. I'm pretty happy with the way things have gone. I've got friends who have got kids learning guitar and they are really learning how to read and can do just about anything. A friend's kid has got the lot, he's got the feel, he can read and write. He wrote one of my songs out and I thought, hey, let's get together and do a whole book." Kevin is currently in the process of moving further north and is keen to finish building his new studio. He learned a lot from the recording of Heartstarter and will further refine his newly found studio nouse on future KB projects. For his live shows he's been flicking through the back catalogue and dusting down some long forgotten classics. I suggested that 'The Place' off the La De Das 'Rock'n Roll Sandwich' album deserved a more regular workout. "That's a big one that people ask for and we have done it, but not lately. I was actually going to do it for the Live Kahuna CD because of people asking and we did do it, but we didn't do it good enough. It was the only track I left off. I wanted it to be really good and it wasn't quite makin' it. But I'll have another go."

 

Here at The Basement Studio, we're always delighted when
our close personal friend and "Rock God Around Town"
Kevin Borich drops by to play some serious guitar for us.
thebasement.com.au

MULRAY INTERVIEW COMING SOON IN REAL AUDIO !!!!!!