WEEK 1
It’s a long way to the Top…If you want to Rock n’ Roll! That’s exactly what The Dead Daisies did all over Australia while supporting KISS in October 2015.
Even before the thrills in the night started happening on tour, Richard Fortus had his own Detroit Rock City moment on his motorbike ending up with an unplanned ER stay, so in stepped Baby Animals guitar maestro Dave Leslie to fire out the lead guitar each night on this tour. The band members regrouped in Sydney for rehearsals and after some intense sessions with the backbone of the band featuring Marco, Brian, Dizzy, David Lowy and John Corabi, Leslie found his niche within the group dynamic. With the bands second album ‘Revolución’ embedded well into the hearts and minds of rock fans around the globe and especially the Australian audience, they undertook perhaps their most thrilling adventure to date; a high energy, sold out arena tour of Australian and New Zealand with KISS!
Pre-tour, the band made an appearance on Channel 7’s Morning Show in Sydney where they performed a rendition of ‘Empty Heart’, (the duet recorded with Aussie superstar Jimmy Barnes), featuring Marco Mendoza on vocal duties for Jimmy’s part. Since the release of the new album Revolución in Australia, there was unbelievable support given to the band. The track ‘Empty Heart’, especially appealed to the Australian audience. Key taste makers nationwide showed huge support for the song with across the board play list ads, interviews and reviews.
Marco Mendoza described his experience of touring with KISS as:
“Simply put, their shows sound and look better than ever.
They know how to take care of their fans, always bringing
something new to every show, and I personally want to
thank them again and again for inviting us along!”
WEEK 2
Playing to their biggest audiences to date in Australia and New Zealand, the band lit up the arena stages of Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane and finally Auckland. A set jam-packed with killer rock tunes off their ‘Revolución’ album and adding timeless classics like Deep Purples ‘Hush’ and the Beatles ‘Helter Skelter’, the crowds could not get enough.
Beyond just bringing rock to Perth, the band found themselves with the added task of bringing some spirit to a mourning city after the local’s West Coast Eagles AFL team suffered a brutal Grand Cup Final loss. John Corabi ROCKED the Perth Arena lifting the morale of the locals with his charismatic, energy fuelled performance!
After a day resting and enjoying the sights of South Australia’s city of churches Adelaide, the band finally hit the stage for the second night of their guest slot on the KISS 40th Anniversary Australian tour.
With a set packed full of great tracks from the newly released ‘Revolución’ record mixed in with some truly classic rock covers, once again, the KISS crowd showed how much they loved The Dead Daisies. The South Australian audience were treated to an explosive gig, and the master of ceremonies John Corabi led the band in his own true dramatic fashion from the start to the closing chords of ‘Helter Skelter’.
It’s been an absolute blast! I finally got to visit Perth,
Newcastle and Auckland. I’ve never been to these cities
before so that was a treat! – John Corabi
The first of two nights at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena went as expected, utterly awesome!! Over the past couple of years, the band have always found a special affection with the Melbourne fans. On the Thursday they came out in force to support their band along with a few thousand KISS fans who joined the Daisies faithful as the whole Arena sung along to ‘Mexico’ in unison. After a 45 minute set led by Corabi playing his first show in Melbourne, the band left the stage to a rapturous reception from the whole arena. The Friday night in Melbourne saw more of the same great music, outstanding musicianship and thousands of Aussie music fans. Walking on stage to their Zeppelin/Sabbath intro as the chords started pumping for ‘Midnight Moses’, the unmistakable riff originally created by Scottish band The Sensational Alex Harvey Band is played by Lowy, Mendoza and Leslie while John Corabi gets straight into his role as the leader of the pack.
Playing with KISS is TOTALLY AWESOME!
Put simply, their sound and show is better
than ever! – Marco Mendoza
Many support acts can find another band’s fans a very tough audience, but since 2014 The Dead Daisies were a natural fit for KISS lovers all around the world. Melbourne was no exception as the crowd sang along to both new classics from the band like ‘Lock N’ Load’ as well as old classics like ‘Hush’ and ‘Helter Skelter’. After two exhausting but enjoyable nights, the band were ready to head for Sydney.
WEEK 3
With Sydney being his home town, this show was particularly special to David Lowy as they opened their arena performance with front man Corabi belting out their rock groove, striking an instant chord with the Daisies faithful. However, it was classics like ‘Hush’ which really united both the Daisies and KISS fans as the whole arena sung out the famous lyrics. After the set, there was a massive queue for the band signing. The merch desk sold out of CD’s. It’s safe to say Sydney fell in love with the band.
On Oct 11, Fraser Harley-Davidson Motorcycles hosted a ‘secret location event’ for the band, transforming their show room into a fully-fledged rock n’ roll venue. Fans who won the opportunity to attend the event were given the location only days before show time, they arrived, mostly all on their Harley-Davidson’s ready to rock with the Daisies in this super intimate, money can’t buy experience. It was extremely special for both fans and the band.
John Corabi reporting that he: “Had a BLAST!
It was a close intimate show with our biggest
supporters. But, being a HUGE fan of
Harley-Davidson motorcycles I got to hang and
check out a lot of the bikes. The audience was
AMAZING, and it was all for a great cause, plus
I think I found the bike I want… Harley Street Bob!”
During the show, both Marco Mendoza and John Corabi jumped off stage and performed amongst the crowd which made for great picture and videography opportunities. The set showcased many Daisies favourites including; ‘Mexico’, ‘Lock n’ Load’, ‘With You and I’ and also a rare performance of Dizzy Reed leading the vocals on classic ‘Knocking on Heavens Door’.
After the dynamic shows in Newcastle and Brisbane, the curtain finally came down on the Australian/New Zealand tour in Auckland. A set filled with energy, kicking off with usual starter ‘Midnight Moses’ to get things going and interspersed with Daisies favourites like ‘Mexico’, it didn’t take long for New Zealand to open its arms for The Dead Daisies in its latest form fronted by John Corabi. This tour proved once again, what a dynamic unit the band can be and how like a chameleon it can change its appearance to adapt to any given situation, having pulled in Dave Leslie at the last minute to replace Richard Fortus.
When asked about their favourite memories
of the Australian/New Zealand tour, John Corabi
reflected that “Every minute has been awesome!
How can it not be? We’re touring with KISS on their
40th Anniversary Tour Down Under!”
