ABOUT KEVIN BORICH'S DUETS ALBUM
Kevin Borich of The La De Das released DUETS album in 2023 and is touring Australia in 2024 with The Kevin Borich Express.
After the success of my last album ‘Totem’ in 2014, Stephen Green convinced me it was high time to celebrate what has been a long career. And so, our plan was hatched.
In 2022, I recorded a greatest hits album with my producer Nick O’Donnell, aptly titled ‘Legacy’. ‘Legacy’ held the number one position on the AMRAP radio charts for 3 months. Now in 2023, we’re proud to release ‘Duets’, a celebration of a lifetime of music with friends!
I’ve shared stages, hung out, misbehaved and now recorded with some of the greatest musicians of all time. I’m so extremely grateful to each of these amazing artists and friends from around the world for their contributions and precious time spent making the record.
‘Duets’ features Joe Walsh (The Eagles and The James Gang), Leo Sayer, Ian Moss (Cold Chisel), Tim Rogers (You Am I), Russell Morris, Suze DeMarchi (Baby Animals), Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi), Angry Anderson (Rose Tattoo), Joe Camilleri (Black Sorrows), Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool/Mondo Rock), Angela Fabian and John Swan (Swanee/Party Boys).
Capturing not only their amazing voices, the tracks see Joe Walsh and Ian Moss star with their guitars, Joe Camilleri sing with his sax and Ross Wilson charm with his harp.
There were also the friends we so hoped we could have included on the record, Renee Geyer and Doug Parkinson, who will be sadly missed. ‘Duets’ has been a real labour of love. Recorded over the last several years, we’ve encountered many obstacles and challenges, and hundreds of late nights—though we revel in the vampire hours. Primarily recorded in my home studio as well as hotel suites, lounge rooms, theatre stages, backstage green rooms...you name it we did it! We wrestled, we cajoled, and we made a cracking album we are so extremely proud of.
Looking back over making the record, the thing that stands out most for me is that when we originally tracked each song with my vocals alone, they sounded like “Kevin Borich songs”. And now, with each guest’s wonderfully strong artistic identity and unique voice, they’ve effortlessly transformed each song into THEIR song. This is the reason why each of these artists have had such amazing careers: their unique, undeniable, completely recognisable voices and personalities. I admire them all.
I would also like to thank my amazing band members Jon Carson (drums) and Chris Gilbert (Bass) for their wonderful support, talent and friendship.
I hope you enjoy listening to ‘Duets’ as much as we enjoyed making it
A BIT OF KB HISTORY (THE HIGHLIGHTS)
Kevin Borich of The La De Das In the 60’s. Kevin was the founding member of New Zealand’s hit band ‘The La De Da’s’ and did the ditch jump to OZ charting with his hit ‘Gonna See My Baby Tonight’ and top 30 album ‘Celebration’ wit his Kevin Borich Express. Kevin was a founding member of Australia’s legendary band ‘The Party Boys’ with the number one hit ‘He’s Gonna Step On You’. Kevin has released over 20 albums with major labels and independently, performing countless thousands of live shows during his 50+ year career.
Kevin has performed with and shared stages in live performance with Carlos Santana, Elton John,, AC/DC, Taj Mahal, Status Quo, Renee Geyer, Living Colour, Joe Walsh, Leo Sayer, Peter Frampton, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Bo Diddley, John Mayall, Jimmy Barnes and Ritchie Blackmore.
Kevin Borich Express has been Kevin's music vehicle throughout the 70's, 80's 90's, 20's and through until now as he tours his DUETS album across Australia in 2024.
Kevin Borich Express has been Kevin's music vehicle throughout the 70's, 80's 90's, 20's and through until now as he tours his DUETS album across Australia in 2024.
Chur Kevin Borich
BEFORE THE DUETS ALBUM
KEVIN BORICH
Standing The Test Of Time
They bought him a guitar
Where do you start when you’re telling the Kevin Borich story? Is it that time he shared the stage with Carlos Santana? Or when Joe Walsh from the Eagles crashed on his couch? Or Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore jumped up on stage and jammed with him?
Or maybe we start this story at the beginning– on an orchard just outside of Auckland in New Zealand, where young Kevin would mime along to the hits of the day, playing air guitar on a tennis racquet. “Mum and dad were like, "Do we get him some balls or a guitar?’
First Recording - Astor Records Aged 12
Soon after, Judy and Sue Donaldson, on the neighbouring poultry farm, heard him playing. Kevin was 12; the girls were younger, but soon they found themselves in a recording studio in Auckland. “The girls could sing perfect harmonies and we just stood around the one microphone and it was cut to an acetate.” That disc remains one of Borich’s prized possessions.
Judy and Sue later had a string of hits in New Zealand as The Chicks, while Borich founded The Mergers...
The Mergers almost became
The Criminals but for a mothers intervention.
The La De Das where born.
Starting out as The Mergers in the rural Huapai district, near New Zealand's Auckland, the name failed to reflect the toughness of the youth bands music. After much deliberation the young rockers decided on The Criminals. Phillip Key's mother was not impressed and after a rehearsal one night, she jokingly suggested they call themselves "something nice, like the la-de-das ...". The band loved it and the name stuck.
One of Kevin Borich's biggest moments was in 1977 when he jammed with Carlos Santana before 60,000 at the Rock Arena mega-shows in Sydney and Melbourne.
Santana would say of the Kiwi, "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."
If Licks Could Kill...
Carlos Santana / Kevin Borich 1977 Calder Raceway
Messaged on the walls of the famous Star Hotel in Newcastle NSW - `if licks could kill, Kevin Borich would be doing hard time".
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