Influenced: Diesel’s Gateway gig will feature the classics of musicians such as Jimmi Hendrix and Neil Young.
ERIN PEARSON
MULTI-award-winning rocker Diesel is bringing back secret classics from Jimmy Hendrix and Neil Young on his latest whirlwind solo tour.
Diesel, alter ego of Mark Lizotte, has sold in excess of 800,000 records since hitting the Australia’s music charts around 25 years ago.
After first finding fame with Perth’s Johnny Diesel and the Injectors, Lizotte’s career has taken him to all four corners of the globe as part of his band and as a solo artist.
He went on to record with brother-in-law Jimmy Barnes and fellow artists Richard Clapton and Vika and Linda Bull before taking out the ARIA’s best male artist three years running.
Lizotte told the Independent his latest project was an album dedicated to his musical influences and his own classics.
He promised the album, Under the Influence, would be a showstopper.
“With each record it’s a different feeling,” Lizotte said.
“A record creates an environment, an ambience, when you’re playing songs from it. It’s like you’ve got new furniture in the house, things you kind of notice.
“With this album, as I get to each town I’ll be unleashing new stuff.”
Lizotte admitted tackling the likes of Hendrix and Young added “much pressure” but assured fans the songs he chose to record were his own takes on each classic.
“This record’s a very natural progression for me because it’s music that shaped my own career,” he said.
“These are songs I attempted in my bedroom as a teen before I even started playing in bands, so it’s like going back there with a bit more knowledge and ability.
“It’s a nice feeling.”
Lizotte said his biggest challenge was selecting the perfect hits to play on tour.
“I have songs people always want me to play but it’s great to have new stuff people haven’t heard before. The challenge now is trying to squeeze 13 records into one show – it’s hard.
“I can’t complain, it’s a nice problem to have.
“I didn’t pick songs though that people know, the artists-generic songs like Purple Haze or Foxy Lady, I picked ones that are my favourites.
“I think people need to know these songs – they’re all just gold to me.”
Diesel plays Corio’s Gateway Hotel on September 24.
