April 18, 2025 • 34 mins
Join Cheryl Lee - That Radio Chick on STILL ROCKIN' IT for news, reviews, music and interviews with some of our favourite Australian musicians.
Kevin Borich's musical odyssey began with an olive oil can and a rusty trumpet on the back steps of his childhood home in New Zealand. Sixty years and over twenty albums later, the 78-year-old guitar virtuoso shows no signs of slowing down. "The R word is nowhere near," he laughs, describing a recent performance where fans went "nuts" down front, singing along to every lyric.
This legendary Australian musician is preparing for a historic one-night-only performance in Adelaide alongside fellow rock icons John Swan and Dave Gleeson. The collaboration stems from Borich and Swan's time together in the Party Boys and their recent work on Borich's acclaimed "Duets" album, which also featured collaborations with Joe Walsh, Ian Moss, Tim Rogers, and other music luminaries.
Throughout our conversation, Kevin shares extraordinary stories from a career that's intersected with rock royalty. Carlos Santana calling him onstage before 60,000 fans. Richie Blackmore of Deep Purple showing up at his gig after hearing him play. Jamming with Bo Diddley, an early influence who shaped his rhythmic sensibilities. These moments paint the picture of an artist whose talent has earned the respect of the very musicians who inspired him.
From his beginnings with the La-De-Da's to performing at landmark Australian events like the 1972 Sunbury Festival and New Year's Eve celebrations at the Sydney Opera House, Kevin has consistently delivered authentic, passionate rock music. His recent successes—including his "Legacy" album topping AMRAP charts for three months—demonstrate an artist still exploring his creative potential.
What comes through most clearly is his unwavering love for performance and connection with audiences. Even as he acknowledges challenges like the rising cost of living affecting live music attendance, his enthusiasm for the upcoming Adelaide show is palpable. He's "getting oiled up" for rehearsals, ready to deliver another unforgettable night of Australian rock history in the making.
Don't miss this rare opportunity to witness Kevin Borich, John Swan, and Dave Gleeson sharing the stage for one extraordinary performance that promises to showcase the enduring power of Australian rock music at its finest.
What has Kevin Borich been up to lately? Let's find out!!
Get out when you can, support local music and I'll see you down the front!!
Visit: ThatRadioChick.com.au
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Cheryl Lee (00:02):
That Radio Chick Cheryl Lee here.
Welcome to the Still RockingPodcast where we'll have music
news, reviews and interviewswith some of our favourite
Australian musicians and artists.
Kevin Borich is about to makehistory, appearing with two
other Aussie legends for oneshow only in Adelaide.
(00:23):
Just hop on a plane, come onover.
You can stay at mine.
He'll be here performing withJohn Swanney Swan and Dave
Gleeso Gleeson.
I would say, strap yourself in.
That's going to be one hell ofa night.
Kevin has released over 20albums in his 60-year career,
(00:45):
performed at some of the biggestevents in the country and
shared stages and liveperformances with a list to be
envied by any Australian artist.
So strap in as we have a chat,find out all the gossip from
founding member of the, LardyDars, member of Australia's
(01:05):
legendary band, the Party Boysand, of course, Kevin Borich
Express.
To catch up on podcasts fromother favourite artists, simply
go to thatradiochick.
com.
au.
Hi, how are you?
Nice to see you again.
Kevin Borich (01:23):
Nice to see you.
I love your ears.
Cheryl Lee (01:25):
Oh, I've literally walked in the door from the
Support Act South Australiafundraiser.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Easter fundraiser.
Cheryl Lee (01:32):
I suppose I could take my ears off now.
Kevin Borich (01:34):
No, no, no, no, no , no.
Very good, I'm jealous, Ihaven't got mine on.
Cheryl Lee (01:39):
Let's get started, shall we?
I'd like to welcome back intothe zoom room today kevin borich
, 76 years young.
It's actually 78 and there's nomention of the r word.
Kevin Borich (01:57):
You're still absolutely going strong we just
came back from melbourne,actually, um, a couple of nights
ago.
We arrived home and the lastshow was at an afternoon show on
a Sunday called Way Out West atNewport and some bowls club
that they put on once a monthand it was just such a raging
thing with people down the frontgoing nuts.
They know my lyrics and I washaving so much fun.
(02:20):
The R word was nowhere near.
Nowhere near it.
I mean the idea.
If you're still healthy andstill can perform, you know why
stop, why stop until somethinghappens, or you know you start
going.
Well, that wasn't good enough.
You know putting the mocker onyourself.
I think the way my fans are, Idon't think they'd mind if I
(02:41):
started falling over, as long asI got back up.
Cheryl Lee (02:45):
As long as you got back up again.
Kevin Borich (02:46):
Yeah, and get into it again.
You know.
Cheryl Lee (02:49):
We've got some news You're coming to our town with
some great mates soon.
But perhaps we can just take alittle step backwards before we
get into that.
Because what I'd like to know,kevin, is when did you realise
that music was it for you, thatwas your passion, that was your
career?
Is it in your DNA?
Are you from a musical family?
Kevin Borich (03:09):
Well, my parents were migrants.
They were working so hard theydidn't have time to do anything
like that and they moved outinto the country, away from the
Croatian group.
You know that was in Auckland inNew Zealand, and I never found
out that Dad could play thetambriza I think it was like one
of those little Greek thingsand he had studied the violin a
(03:29):
bit.
But they didn't mention that atall.
I don't know, it was just aphotograph of me sitting on the
back stairs of our old house,which was a bit like a stage,
with an olive oil can and astick in my hand and a little
trumpet that I'd found a rustytrumpet and I'm banging.
So that was kind of like myfirst performance to the grass
(03:52):
out the front you know Packedaudience and that was before I
saw movies like Rock Around theClock and stuff.
That was very early, I don'tknow.
I've been writing my book and Ialways remember the sound of
the grader that was for theapples right, and all the
machines that were going on andnoises going on had rhythms and
(04:15):
even mum packing the apples hada like a.
Cheryl Lee (04:18):
A soundtrack going on to your life.
Kevin Borich (04:21):
Yeah, and so the rhythms of things, I guess, got
into me.
That's why I was hitting theolive oil can.
Cheryl Lee (04:28):
Was the La-De-Da's your first band.
Kevin Borich (04:31):
Yeah, that came out of high school.
I found the original drummer,brett Nielsen, and Trevor Wilson
, the bass player, and I hadn'thad anyone to play with being
out in the sticks, you know,that's where I found out what
it's like to play with people.
I had a jam with Mr Barton once, who was giving me six of the
best for having the wronghairstyle or something.
Well, I hadn't all been naughty, I don't know, and um anyway,
(04:53):
he was playing piano accordion,I was playing guitar, so he
seemed to think I was all rightwhen he was doing that after you
La De Da's, was there ever anyquestion of a plan B?
When I got at 30, I'd probablygo back to the orchard.
Cheryl Lee (05:07):
Get a real job and a haircut, yeah that's right.
Kevin Borich (05:11):
At high school, I got pulled out the front in the
first assembly and he was going.
Now, this is how you don't haveyour hair.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
You are listening to Still Rockin' it.
The podcast with Cheryl Lee.
Cheryl Lee (05:24):
Let's have one of Kevin's early songs, shall we?
How about Gone Downtown?
It's one of the first songs Ireckon I remember hearing of
Kevin's.
It appeared on the 1977 albumCelebration and also the 1979
Kevin Boric Express live album.
While I was Googling theorigins of the song, I just
(05:46):
found out what going downtown issupposed to mean.
Call me naive, but I did notrealize that.
But having said that, can'talways trust Wikipedia.
I mean they do have his ageincorrectly listed, so I don't
know.
You make up your mind and we'reback to speak some more to
Kevin shortly.
I'm going downtown.
(06:15):
You had great success with youralbum Totem, that's 11 years ago
now.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Time flies when you have fun.
Cheryl Lee (06:22):
And in 2022, which is, I think, the last time we
spoke, Kevin you did Legacynumber one on the AMRAP charts
for three whole months.
Congratulations.
Kevin Borich (06:35):
Yeah, that was my pick of songs over a period of
time that were on vinyl and CDback in that point and
remastered it and we still playa lot of the songs these days,
you know.
And so it's a great thing forpeople to get, because it's got
that span of time and it's threeCDs.
One CD has got all the rockstuff.
The second CD is a chill-outkind of.
(06:56):
It's got a few Latin songs,some reggae, a bit mellower, and
some ballads, yeah, and thethird one's like live stuff.
So it's a good one to take awayif you want to find out what I
do.
Cheryl Lee (07:07):
And then, of course, in 23, you released your duets
album I think we spoke aboutthat as well which is a
celebration of a lifetime ofmusic with friends.
I absolutely love that.
Kevin Borich (07:20):
Yeah, it's beautiful.
I mean, all the people on itaren't close friends, but we've
been ships in the night as youplay or you're at a festival and
you say g'day.
And of course I've always beena Sydney guy and most of those
people were Melbourne people,you know on that CD.
But I'm so knocked out andgrateful how they gave up the
time and wanted to do it with me.
Cheryl Lee (07:41):
It's a great album.
I play it on the radio all thetime.
Oh lovely, thank you, and thelisteners just love it as well.
You said that you've sharedstages hung out misbehaved and
now recorded with some of thegreatest musicians of all time.
And you have, you've got afabulous list of mates there,
(08:02):
Joe Walsh Leo.
Sayer Ian.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Moss, Tim Rogers Russell morris.
Cheryl Lee (08:06):
The list goes on and on and on but it is mr john
swan that you are coming to ourtown and performing with him and
another, rascal dave gleason,very shortly.
How did you get roped intothese guys?
Kevin Borich (08:23):
ah, well, swan, he was on on the the CD and he
helped me write the song.
It was a gospel song and wewere in the Party Boys together.
So we were pretty close duringthat.
We always teamed up togetherwhen that was going on, so we
always remained friends, and sohe's got his album coming out
soon, and he's put that samesong on that too, so that's
(08:45):
great.
And he's doing a duet thing kindof as well.
And so he just said you knowwhy don't you come down?
And you know I'll put a show onwith Dave Gleeson.
And I thought it would cost youa bit because of the travel and
all that, but he assured methat it was going to be great
and I just wanted to actuallycome and do it.
Cheryl Lee (09:03):
Well, it was fabulous last time with Gleaso
and Swanee, but this time you'llbe joining them as well, and
also some guys from the 27 ClubCarla Lippis and Dusty Stevenson
.
They are fabulous, so it'sgoing to be a great line-up have
you played?
With either of those guysbefore Dave Gleeson got up once
(09:24):
in the party boards be a greatline-up.
Kevin Borich (09:26):
Have you played with either of those guys before
?
Dave Gleeson got up once in theparty boys when we were doing
something to do with ACDC, soI've been on stage with him for
probably a couple of songs.
And Mr Pippin on the guitar.
He's got up and jammed with me.
He's great, but the rest of theband I wouldn't have a clue.
I might see them in my sightand go oh yeah, I remember.
So I'm coming into somethingit's going to be exciting.
Cheryl Lee (09:47):
I always say in South Australia we punch way
above our weight with regards totalent and I think you guys are
doing some an absolutelyamazing finale at the end when
you all get on stage together.
Kevin Borich (09:59):
Yeah, that'll be happening.
I've got a section we haven'treally finalised exactly, but my
vision of it is sort of.
Somebody said well, you know, Iwant you to be a special guest
thing.
So I thought we'll probablycome on and if they're going to
do two sets, I might come andstart the second set.
I'm not sure, we'll see, butanyway I'll be doing probably
four or five songs of mine.
I'll get John up to do thegospel one with me.
(10:22):
I've been doing it live becausemy work's three-piece and it's
got organ and stuff in it,because it's gospel, you know.
So the band's going to have akeyboard player.
That's why I want to do it,because we'll have the backing
for it, you know.
Cheryl Lee (10:34):
Scoop, first time you played it live.
You heard it first here.
Kevin Borich (10:37):
Yeah, yeah, well, I wrote it on the piano.
So when you're trying to playsongs that you've written on
piano and guitar, it's quitedifficult because you're using
different bass notes on yourleft hand and your right hand
and to do them you've got you'vegot to work out some strange
chords that can actually soundsomething like it
Cheryl Lee (10:57):
Let's play that song now, shall we?
There is a road from kevinborich's duets album featuring
John Swan, soon to appear onJohn Swan's album of duets also.
Back to speak to today's guestsin the Zoom room again shortly.
Kevin Borich (14:53):
Really proud of Nick O'Donnell who was my
producer and did a fantastic job.
I've got a studio downstairshere and we did most of the
backing here, but we'd go out todifferent places, as you just
described, and get the guests toput the vocal on.
Joe came in early.
We just sent it to him becausehe's got his own studio, he
knows what to do.
It was amazing.
Susie DiMarchi she wasrecording with the Baby Animals
(15:16):
and probably in one of theirbreaks she put her vocal on it.
So you know.
And then Joe Walsh we had tosend it, you know, because the
last time I saw Joe I went tosee them.
I was invited to go and seethem play.
As they came through here inBrisbane and as we were leaving
his dressing room he said hey,man, if you even want me to play
on anything, just send it to me, you know.
So that bell went off and Iwent oh, I've got to do one with
(15:37):
him and his song called theFires and he plays and sings on
it.
It's great.
Cheryl Lee (15:41):
You said that you know.
Originally, all the songs thatyou wrote sort of sounded like
Kevin Borich songs, but when yougot each of the artists to put
their voices to it, it suddenlytransformed into their songs.
Kevin Borich (15:58):
Yeah, well, that was the great thing about
watching people put vocals on.
You get to know something, youget to know a song, and then
they do a few takes and you cansee them doing a little bit here
, adding some harmonies or justthe way their phrase and the
sound of their voice.
You know the songs were callingout for the names, you know.
You know it's like one songcalled Straight From the Heart.
(16:19):
It's a sort of a blues ballador R&B kind of ballad that wants
a really great voice and IanMoss it was just yelling out to
me get Ian to do it.
So I was listening to the songsand going what do you want?
Cheryl Lee (16:35):
Being a South Australian, of course, and my
era, we grew up.
You had to love Cold Chisel, soI'm an absolute Ian Moss fan,
and the two of you together,great Love it.
Kevin Borich (16:48):
I remember playing in a pub on the skirts of LA
not far from the water, I don'tknow what it was called.
A guy came up and says thisyoung fellow, he's a great
singer, he wants to get up inthe sink.
And I said, yeah, sure, okay,great, because he sounded like
he knew what he was talkingabout and who shouldn't it be
but Jimmy Barnes, before heactually joined.
Yeah, yeah.
So he got up and we did Rock MeBaby and I thought, when I'm
(17:12):
playing behind him, I think thisguy can go places.
Cheryl Lee (17:15):
Yeah, you were right .
You were a founding member ofthe Lady Dars in the 60s in New
Zealand with great hits.
Gonna Sing my Baby Tonight.
What made you cross the ditchand come to Australia, Kevin?
Kevin Borich (17:30):
Simple there's more people in Sydney than the
whole of New Zealand.
Yeah, so in our business thenumbers of people are so
important.
You know, you go to a biggercountry that's got more people.
Well, you've got more avenuesto play.
You've got more places to go.
New Zealand you need two weeksand you're done.
There's only four major citiesor whatever you know.
Cheryl Lee (17:50):
So A numbers game.
Kevin Borich (17:52):
Yeah, and of course in those days the world
was a really big place.
So going to Australia was oohwow.
You know.
Now you go to America or Europeor England or somewhere to try
and, you know, stake a claim.
You know that's how we cameover.
Of course you've got to come,you know, come here and then you
run out of money so you go homeand do a welcoming home tour
You've already done the farewelltour three weeks before and
(18:15):
then you do a few of those untilyou get a foothold.
And that's what we did.
Cheryl Lee (18:19):
Would you say, australia is your home now.
Kevin Borich (18:22):
Yeah, well, I'm actually in Aussie now.
Yeah, I can vote.
Cheryl Lee (18:25):
Nationalised.
Kevin Borich (18:26):
Yeah, yeah At all.
I suppose about eight, tenmonths now.
Right, yeah, reasonable Welcomeaboard.
Cheryl Lee (18:34):
I didn't realise this.
You've released over 20 albums,kevin, you have been busy.
Kevin Borich (18:40):
I recorded when I was 12 because the poultry farm
next door had girls called theDonaldson twins and they became
the chicks.
They called them the chicksbecause I had a poultry farm.
They had a few hits laid downthe track but the mother heard
me through the hedge playing theguitar and she said, oh, you
should come over and have a jamwith the girls.
So she heard us and she thought, oh, that sounds really good.
(19:04):
So she booked us in to recordin Auckland and mum and dad were
too busy picking apples andtraining or whatever it was they
were doing at the time, anyway.
So yeah, it was cut to acetateand when I was here years ago I
found it when mum had to moveand I took it to the restoration
place in Canberra and they putit to CD and that was before you
could do those things at home,so and they took a few of the
(19:27):
pops and noises out of the thing.
So, yeah and uh, and we juststood around one mic and sung
about eight songs, one after theother amazing and 20 albums
later
Cheryl Lee (19:46):
Joe Walsh remembered for his time with the American
band the Eagles and going outwith Stevie Nicks for three
years in the 80s.
Here he is now with our guesttoday, kevin Boric, the Fires
from Kevin's duets album, andwe'll be back to speak some more
to him straight after these.
(24:00):
Many great artists have had thepleasure of playing with you,
Kevin.
You've shared stages and liveperformances with Carlos Santana
Elton.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
John ACDC.
Status Quo.
Rene G eyer Joe Walsh Leo.
Cheryl Lee (24:12):
Sayer, peter Brandon the list goes on and on.
Jeff Beck, jimmy Barnes, richieBlackmore they've all been
lucky enough to play with you.
You've had great rock and rolllife.
Kevin Borich (24:22):
Yeah, well, the big one was Carlos, called me on
stage when I got grabbed by theroadie.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
He wants you out there.
Kevin Borich (24:28):
So they dragged me over to the other side and the
next minute I'm standing thereon stage.
I didn't actually play withElton John on stage.
I supported him, same with JeffBeck.
Ronnie Wood.
I went to his place I knewsomebody who knew him and he got
on the drums downstairs in hisstudio and I was playing guitar
and Harry Bruce playing bass.
I was there too and actuallystayed at Renee's place.
(24:49):
So, yeah, it's been greatbecause I've just been at the
right time, right place.
Richie Blackmore he was playingwith Deep Purple.
He heard me play before theywent on.
I said to his roadie well, theroadie said to me who was on
before and I said, oh, it was myband.
He said, well, richie thoughtit was great.
I said, well, we're playingtomorrow night.
He'd come and told him where itwas and he turned up and played
Awesome, it was great.
(25:10):
So, all different ways.
Bo Diddley I was sitting.
I saw Bo Diddley when I was akid, you know.
Yeah, he was doing that rhythmand the girls and the
tambourines and stuff.
And I got to jam with him inMelbourne because Michael
Gnissny was there and he saidwhy don't you get up and play
with him?
I said, why don't you get upand play with him?
I said I can't just walk upthere and then he comes back and
goes.
I've organised it for you.
(25:31):
So I got up and had a greatplay with him.
Joe Wolf came round and slepton the couch after rehearsal and
that's when we were in Bondi.
We're up north now, up on thehills in the Sunshine Coast
Hinterland, just out the window.
Here trees everywhere.
This is going to be somethinggreat, really great.
I'm looking forward to it Goingto get oiled up with the sort
(25:53):
of the tracks we're going to dodownstairs.
I'll be getting down there andhaving a rehearsal and blowing
the walls apart and gettingoiled up for it, because we'd
love to see a great crowd there.
Cheryl Lee (26:03):
All going well.
If we can wangle it, I'minterviewing you three for the
telly at one of your rehearsals.
Oh, fantastic Fingers crossed,if it can be wangled.
I interviewed John and Davelast time when they rehearsed,
so hopefully all the planets arealigned and I'll interview you
guys.
Kevin Borich (26:22):
Is that TV or radio?
Cheryl Lee (26:24):
We have got a TV show called Rider TV every week
on Channel 44 here and Channel31 Melbourne.
So I'll see you then and thenI'll see you down the front at
the gig at the Gov.
Kevin Borich (26:37):
Great, will you have the ears on, or what?
Cheryl Lee (26:40):
I can, yeah, and my bunnies yeah.
Kevin Borich (26:42):
I can see them.
Don't say no or you'll knockyourself out.
Cheryl Lee (26:46):
We had a great day, a very successful day.
We had a sellout lunch made alot of money for Support Act had
an absolute you know cracker ofa time.
If you're ever in Adelaide onthe third Thursday of any month,
you've got an open invitationto come to our Support.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Act fundraising lunch .
Cheryl Lee (27:07):
We have 12 a year, third Thursday every month, Come
on down, you'll be more thanwelcome.
Kevin Borich (27:12):
I hope to get down there at some stage.
It's been pretty tough out live, to be truthful, because of the
cost of living.
I think that's affected a fewthings, so it's a bit harder for
people, you know, with thatgoing on.
Cheryl Lee (27:23):
Yeah, absolutely.
But you know, we just love thefact that we can get back out
and we can see live music again.
But I didn't realise how muchyou missed it until you couldn't
go.
Kevin Borich (27:36):
Well, that was when COVID was going yeah, and
that's when Duet's album wasdone.
You know you start going nuts.
What am I on earth for?
You know you can't go out andplay.
So we used the time and it cameup great.
Cheryl Lee (27:52):
Kevin spoke earlier about being in the Party Boys
with John Swan.
Here's a song that Kevin wrote,Follow your Heart.
And here he is with the PartyBoys from the greatest hits, Mrs
Rarities and B-Sides album.
And then we're back to sayfarewell to Kevin, for now
Follow your heart let me go away, sides album.
(28:15):
and then we're back to sayfarewell to kevin, for now I was
just going to touch quickly,before we go on, some of the
fabulous and massive shows thatyou've played.
Like the 72 sunbury.
Can you remember what was thatyou've played?
Like the 72 Sunbury.
Can you remember what was thatlike?
Kevin Borich (28:34):
It was just like when you see the Woodstock
movies.
Now, yeah, people in the pond,you know, naked.
Cheryl Lee (28:46):
Naked long hair, you know bosoms bosoms everywhere.
Kevin Borich (28:48):
Those were the days.
Yeah, in the 70s too, you didthe Rock Arena tours with
Fleetwood Mac and Santana andLittle River Band.
Yeah, that was the one inMelbourne in front of the 60,000
when Carlos got me up, andthere was also one for that in
Sydney, so there was only two, Ithink, yeah, so that was sea of
faces everywhere.
Cheryl Lee (29:06):
That would have been amazing.
A couple of New Year's Evecelebrations at the Opera House
too.
Yeah, yeah, a couple of NewYear's Eve celebrations at the
Opera House too.
Kevin Borich (29:13):
Yeah, michael Chugg was managing me at that
stage and that's why we got that.
You know it's all not what, youknow who you know You've got to
know something, but you knowyou also have those connections.
It's great and that was one ofthe early, very early, the first
time it had been worldwide sentout.
You know TV-wise.
Cheryl Lee (29:30):
Would have been such a highlight.
Kevin Borich (29:32):
Yeah, the 80s, that was.
Cheryl Lee (29:33):
Well, thank you for getting all those guys together
on that duets album.
As I say, it gets a lot ofairplay on my four shows.
Kevin Borich (29:45):
I'm very happy because there's people like you
who get the word out to people.
Without you guys, we're just inthe lounge room.
You know what I mean?
Yeah.
Cheryl Lee (29:48):
Thank you again for chatting to me today.
Kevin Borich (29:51):
Fantastic.
Thank you, Cheryl.
Cheryl Lee (29:52):
I'll let you go for now.
I'll go and get my bunny earsoff.
Kevin Borich (29:56):
Yeah, I might feel very different without them.
Cheryl Lee (29:59):
I don't know I might keep them.
What do you reckon?
Kevin Borich (30:02):
They're not chocolate, are they?
Cheryl Lee (30:03):
No, I made these, you know, because I'm crafty
like that.
That that's very clever.
I know right, I'mmulti-talented.
It's lovely to speak to you,Kevin.
I'll see you in the flesh nextmonth.
Kevin Borich (30:16):
Beautiful, thank you.
Cheryl Lee (30:17):
Bye for now.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Bye, for now.
Cheryl Lee (30:26):
So I have to decide which song we're going to go out
with, and there's so manyfabulous collaborations on this
duets album.
You know.
Do I play Ella Hooper, AngryAnderson, my favorite, Mossy,
Ross Wilson, Angela Fabian, LeoSay, I don't know.
I think I'm gonna chooseWrapped in Rock with the Baby
(30:48):
Animals front woman, SuzeDiMarchi.
That Radio Chick Cheryl Lee here.
Welcome to the Still RockingPodcast where we'll have music
news, reviews and interviewswith some of our favourite
Australian musicians and artists.
Kevin Borich is about to makehistory, appearing with two
other Aussie legends for oneshow only in Adelaide.
(00:23):
Just hop on a plane, come onover.
You can stay at mine.
He'll be here performing withJohn Swanney Swan and Dave
Gleeso Gleeson.
I would say, strap yourself in.
That's going to be one hell ofa night.
Kevin has released over 20albums in his 60-year career,
(00:45):
performed at some of the biggestevents in the country and
shared stages and liveperformances with a list to be
envied by any Australian artist.
So strap in as we have a chat,find out all the gossip from
founding member of the, LardyDars, member of Australia's
(01:05):
legendary band, the Party Boysand, of course, Kevin Borich
Express.
To catch up on podcasts fromother favourite artists, simply
go to thatradiochick.
com.
au.
Hi, how are you?
Nice to see you again.
Kevin Borich (01:23):
Nice to see you.
I love your ears.
Cheryl Lee (01:25):
Oh, I've literally walked in the door from the
Support Act South Australiafundraiser.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Easter fundraiser.
Cheryl Lee (01:32):
I suppose I could take my ears off now.
Kevin Borich (01:34):
No, no, no, no, no , no.
Very good, I'm jealous, Ihaven't got mine on.
Cheryl Lee (01:39):
Let's get started, shall we?
I'd like to welcome back intothe zoom room today kevin borich
, 76 years young.
It's actually 78 and there's nomention of the r word.
Kevin Borich (01:57):
You're still absolutely going strong we just
came back from melbourne,actually, um, a couple of nights
ago.
We arrived home and the lastshow was at an afternoon show on
a Sunday called Way Out West atNewport and some bowls club
that they put on once a monthand it was just such a raging
thing with people down the frontgoing nuts.
They know my lyrics and I washaving so much fun.
(02:20):
The R word was nowhere near.
Nowhere near it.
I mean the idea.
If you're still healthy andstill can perform, you know why
stop, why stop until somethinghappens, or you know you start
going.
Well, that wasn't good enough.
You know putting the mocker onyourself.
I think the way my fans are, Idon't think they'd mind if I
(02:41):
started falling over, as long asI got back up.
Cheryl Lee (02:45):
As long as you got back up again.
Kevin Borich (02:46):
Yeah, and get into it again.
You know.
Cheryl Lee (02:49):
We've got some news You're coming to our town with
some great mates soon.
But perhaps we can just take alittle step backwards before we
get into that.
Because what I'd like to know,kevin, is when did you realise
that music was it for you, thatwas your passion, that was your
career?
Is it in your DNA?
Are you from a musical family?
Kevin Borich (03:09):
Well, my parents were migrants.
They were working so hard theydidn't have time to do anything
like that and they moved outinto the country, away from the
Croatian group.
You know that was in Auckland inNew Zealand, and I never found
out that Dad could play thetambriza I think it was like one
of those little Greek thingsand he had studied the violin a
(03:29):
bit.
But they didn't mention that atall.
I don't know, it was just aphotograph of me sitting on the
back stairs of our old house,which was a bit like a stage,
with an olive oil can and astick in my hand and a little
trumpet that I'd found a rustytrumpet and I'm banging.
So that was kind of like myfirst performance to the grass
(03:52):
out the front you know Packedaudience and that was before I
saw movies like Rock Around theClock and stuff.
That was very early, I don'tknow.
I've been writing my book and Ialways remember the sound of
the grader that was for theapples right, and all the
machines that were going on andnoises going on had rhythms and
(04:15):
even mum packing the apples hada like a.
Cheryl Lee (04:18):
A soundtrack going on to your life.
Kevin Borich (04:21):
Yeah, and so the rhythms of things, I guess, got
into me.
That's why I was hitting theolive oil can.
Cheryl Lee (04:28):
Was the La-De-Da's your first band.
Kevin Borich (04:31):
Yeah, that came out of high school.
I found the original drummer,brett Nielsen, and Trevor Wilson
, the bass player, and I hadn'thad anyone to play with being
out in the sticks, you know,that's where I found out what
it's like to play with people.
I had a jam with Mr Barton once, who was giving me six of the
best for having the wronghairstyle or something.
Well, I hadn't all been naughty, I don't know, and um anyway,
(04:53):
he was playing piano accordion,I was playing guitar, so he
seemed to think I was all rightwhen he was doing that after you
La De Da's, was there ever anyquestion of a plan B?
When I got at 30, I'd probablygo back to the orchard.
Cheryl Lee (05:07):
Get a real job and a haircut, yeah that's right.
Kevin Borich (05:11):
At high school, I got pulled out the front in the
first assembly and he was going.
Now, this is how you don't haveyour hair.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
You are listening to Still Rockin' it.
The podcast with Cheryl Lee.
Cheryl Lee (05:24):
Let's have one of Kevin's early songs, shall we?
How about Gone Downtown?
It's one of the first songs Ireckon I remember hearing of
Kevin's.
It appeared on the 1977 albumCelebration and also the 1979
Kevin Boric Express live album.
While I was Googling theorigins of the song, I just
(05:46):
found out what going downtown issupposed to mean.
Call me naive, but I did notrealize that.
But having said that, can'talways trust Wikipedia.
I mean they do have his ageincorrectly listed, so I don't
know.
You make up your mind and we'reback to speak some more to
Kevin shortly.
I'm going downtown.
(06:15):
You had great success with youralbum Totem, that's 11 years ago
now.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Time flies when you have fun.
Cheryl Lee (06:22):
And in 2022, which is, I think, the last time we
spoke, Kevin you did Legacynumber one on the AMRAP charts
for three whole months.
Congratulations.
Kevin Borich (06:35):
Yeah, that was my pick of songs over a period of
time that were on vinyl and CDback in that point and
remastered it and we still playa lot of the songs these days,
you know.
And so it's a great thing forpeople to get, because it's got
that span of time and it's threeCDs.
One CD has got all the rockstuff.
The second CD is a chill-outkind of.
(06:56):
It's got a few Latin songs,some reggae, a bit mellower, and
some ballads, yeah, and thethird one's like live stuff.
So it's a good one to take awayif you want to find out what I
do.
Cheryl Lee (07:07):
And then, of course, in 23, you released your duets
album I think we spoke aboutthat as well which is a
celebration of a lifetime ofmusic with friends.
I absolutely love that.
Kevin Borich (07:20):
Yeah, it's beautiful.
I mean, all the people on itaren't close friends, but we've
been ships in the night as youplay or you're at a festival and
you say g'day.
And of course I've always beena Sydney guy and most of those
people were Melbourne people,you know on that CD.
But I'm so knocked out andgrateful how they gave up the
time and wanted to do it with me.
Cheryl Lee (07:41):
It's a great album.
I play it on the radio all thetime.
Oh lovely, thank you, and thelisteners just love it as well.
You said that you've sharedstages hung out misbehaved and
now recorded with some of thegreatest musicians of all time.
And you have, you've got afabulous list of mates there,
(08:02):
Joe Walsh Leo.
Sayer Ian.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Moss, Tim Rogers Russell morris.
Cheryl Lee (08:06):
The list goes on and on and on but it is mr john
swan that you are coming to ourtown and performing with him and
another, rascal dave gleason,very shortly.
How did you get roped intothese guys?
Kevin Borich (08:23):
ah, well, swan, he was on on the the CD and he
helped me write the song.
It was a gospel song and wewere in the Party Boys together.
So we were pretty close duringthat.
We always teamed up togetherwhen that was going on, so we
always remained friends, and sohe's got his album coming out
soon, and he's put that samesong on that too, so that's
(08:45):
great.
And he's doing a duet thing kindof as well.
And so he just said you knowwhy don't you come down?
And you know I'll put a show onwith Dave Gleeson.
And I thought it would cost youa bit because of the travel and
all that, but he assured methat it was going to be great
and I just wanted to actuallycome and do it.
Cheryl Lee (09:03):
Well, it was fabulous last time with Gleaso
and Swanee, but this time you'llbe joining them as well, and
also some guys from the 27 ClubCarla Lippis and Dusty Stevenson
.
They are fabulous, so it'sgoing to be a great line-up have
you played?
With either of those guysbefore Dave Gleeson got up once
(09:24):
in the party boards be a greatline-up.
Kevin Borich (09:26):
Have you played with either of those guys before
?
Dave Gleeson got up once in theparty boys when we were doing
something to do with ACDC, soI've been on stage with him for
probably a couple of songs.
And Mr Pippin on the guitar.
He's got up and jammed with me.
He's great, but the rest of theband I wouldn't have a clue.
I might see them in my sightand go oh yeah, I remember.
So I'm coming into somethingit's going to be exciting.
Cheryl Lee (09:47):
I always say in South Australia we punch way
above our weight with regards totalent and I think you guys are
doing some an absolutelyamazing finale at the end when
you all get on stage together.
Kevin Borich (09:59):
Yeah, that'll be happening.
I've got a section we haven'treally finalised exactly, but my
vision of it is sort of.
Somebody said well, you know, Iwant you to be a special guest
thing.
So I thought we'll probablycome on and if they're going to
do two sets, I might come andstart the second set.
I'm not sure, we'll see, butanyway I'll be doing probably
four or five songs of mine.
I'll get John up to do thegospel one with me.
(10:22):
I've been doing it live becausemy work's three-piece and it's
got organ and stuff in it,because it's gospel, you know.
So the band's going to have akeyboard player.
That's why I want to do it,because we'll have the backing
for it, you know.
Cheryl Lee (10:34):
Scoop, first time you played it live.
You heard it first here.
Kevin Borich (10:37):
Yeah, yeah, well, I wrote it on the piano.
So when you're trying to playsongs that you've written on
piano and guitar, it's quitedifficult because you're using
different bass notes on yourleft hand and your right hand
and to do them you've got you'vegot to work out some strange
chords that can actually soundsomething like it
Cheryl Lee (10:57):
Let's play that song now, shall we?
There is a road from kevinborich's duets album featuring
John Swan, soon to appear onJohn Swan's album of duets also.
Back to speak to today's guestsin the Zoom room again shortly.
Kevin Borich (14:53):
Really proud of Nick O'Donnell who was my
producer and did a fantastic job.
I've got a studio downstairshere and we did most of the
backing here, but we'd go out todifferent places, as you just
described, and get the guests toput the vocal on.
Joe came in early.
We just sent it to him becausehe's got his own studio, he
knows what to do.
It was amazing.
Susie DiMarchi she wasrecording with the Baby Animals
(15:16):
and probably in one of theirbreaks she put her vocal on it.
So you know.
And then Joe Walsh we had tosend it, you know, because the
last time I saw Joe I went tosee them.
I was invited to go and seethem play.
As they came through here inBrisbane and as we were leaving
his dressing room he said hey,man, if you even want me to play
on anything, just send it to me, you know.
So that bell went off and Iwent oh, I've got to do one with
(15:37):
him and his song called theFires and he plays and sings on
it.
It's great.
Cheryl Lee (15:41):
You said that you know.
Originally, all the songs thatyou wrote sort of sounded like
Kevin Borich songs, but when yougot each of the artists to put
their voices to it, it suddenlytransformed into their songs.
Kevin Borich (15:58):
Yeah, well, that was the great thing about
watching people put vocals on.
You get to know something, youget to know a song, and then
they do a few takes and you cansee them doing a little bit here
, adding some harmonies or justthe way their phrase and the
sound of their voice.
You know the songs were callingout for the names, you know.
You know it's like one songcalled Straight From the Heart.
(16:19):
It's a sort of a blues ballador R&B kind of ballad that wants
a really great voice and IanMoss it was just yelling out to
me get Ian to do it.
So I was listening to the songsand going what do you want?
Cheryl Lee (16:35):
Being a South Australian, of course, and my
era, we grew up.
You had to love Cold Chisel, soI'm an absolute Ian Moss fan,
and the two of you together,great Love it.
Kevin Borich (16:48):
I remember playing in a pub on the skirts of LA
not far from the water, I don'tknow what it was called.
A guy came up and says thisyoung fellow, he's a great
singer, he wants to get up inthe sink.
And I said, yeah, sure, okay,great, because he sounded like
he knew what he was talkingabout and who shouldn't it be
but Jimmy Barnes, before heactually joined.
Yeah, yeah.
So he got up and we did Rock MeBaby and I thought, when I'm
(17:12):
playing behind him, I think thisguy can go places.
Cheryl Lee (17:15):
Yeah, you were right .
You were a founding member ofthe Lady Dars in the 60s in New
Zealand with great hits.
Gonna Sing my Baby Tonight.
What made you cross the ditchand come to Australia, Kevin?
Kevin Borich (17:30):
Simple there's more people in Sydney than the
whole of New Zealand.
Yeah, so in our business thenumbers of people are so
important.
You know, you go to a biggercountry that's got more people.
Well, you've got more avenuesto play.
You've got more places to go.
New Zealand you need two weeksand you're done.
There's only four major citiesor whatever you know.
Cheryl Lee (17:50):
So A numbers game.
Kevin Borich (17:52):
Yeah, and of course in those days the world
was a really big place.
So going to Australia was oohwow.
You know.
Now you go to America or Europeor England or somewhere to try
and, you know, stake a claim.
You know that's how we cameover.
Of course you've got to come,you know, come here and then you
run out of money so you go homeand do a welcoming home tour
You've already done the farewelltour three weeks before and
(18:15):
then you do a few of those untilyou get a foothold.
And that's what we did.
Cheryl Lee (18:19):
Would you say, australia is your home now.
Kevin Borich (18:22):
Yeah, well, I'm actually in Aussie now.
Yeah, I can vote.
Cheryl Lee (18:25):
Nationalised.
Kevin Borich (18:26):
Yeah, yeah At all.
I suppose about eight, tenmonths now.
Right, yeah, reasonable Welcomeaboard.
Cheryl Lee (18:34):
I didn't realise this.
You've released over 20 albums,kevin, you have been busy.
Kevin Borich (18:40):
I recorded when I was 12 because the poultry farm
next door had girls called theDonaldson twins and they became
the chicks.
They called them the chicksbecause I had a poultry farm.
They had a few hits laid downthe track but the mother heard
me through the hedge playing theguitar and she said, oh, you
should come over and have a jamwith the girls.
So she heard us and she thought, oh, that sounds really good.
(19:04):
So she booked us in to recordin Auckland and mum and dad were
too busy picking apples andtraining or whatever it was they
were doing at the time, anyway.
So yeah, it was cut to acetateand when I was here years ago I
found it when mum had to moveand I took it to the restoration
place in Canberra and they putit to CD and that was before you
could do those things at home,so and they took a few of the
(19:27):
pops and noises out of the thing.
So, yeah and uh, and we juststood around one mic and sung
about eight songs, one after theother amazing and 20 albums
later
Cheryl Lee (19:46):
Joe Walsh remembered for his time with the American
band the Eagles and going outwith Stevie Nicks for three
years in the 80s.
Here he is now with our guesttoday, kevin Boric, the Fires
from Kevin's duets album, andwe'll be back to speak some more
to him straight after these.
(24:00):
Many great artists have had thepleasure of playing with you,
Kevin.
You've shared stages and liveperformances with Carlos Santana
Elton.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
John ACDC.
Status Quo.
Rene G eyer Joe Walsh Leo.
Cheryl Lee (24:12):
Sayer, peter Brandon the list goes on and on.
Jeff Beck, jimmy Barnes, richieBlackmore they've all been
lucky enough to play with you.
You've had great rock and rolllife.
Kevin Borich (24:22):
Yeah, well, the big one was Carlos, called me on
stage when I got grabbed by theroadie.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
He wants you out there.
Kevin Borich (24:28):
So they dragged me over to the other side and the
next minute I'm standing thereon stage.
I didn't actually play withElton John on stage.
I supported him, same with JeffBeck.
Ronnie Wood.
I went to his place I knewsomebody who knew him and he got
on the drums downstairs in hisstudio and I was playing guitar
and Harry Bruce playing bass.
I was there too and actuallystayed at Renee's place.
(24:49):
So, yeah, it's been greatbecause I've just been at the
right time, right place.
Richie Blackmore he was playingwith Deep Purple.
He heard me play before theywent on.
I said to his roadie well, theroadie said to me who was on
before and I said, oh, it was myband.
He said, well, richie thoughtit was great.
I said, well, we're playingtomorrow night.
He'd come and told him where itwas and he turned up and played
Awesome, it was great.
(25:10):
So, all different ways.
Bo Diddley I was sitting.
I saw Bo Diddley when I was akid, you know.
Yeah, he was doing that rhythmand the girls and the
tambourines and stuff.
And I got to jam with him inMelbourne because Michael
Gnissny was there and he saidwhy don't you get up and play
with him?
I said, why don't you get upand play with him?
I said I can't just walk upthere and then he comes back and
goes.
I've organised it for you.
(25:31):
So I got up and had a greatplay with him.
Joe Wolf came round and slepton the couch after rehearsal and
that's when we were in Bondi.
We're up north now, up on thehills in the Sunshine Coast
Hinterland, just out the window.
Here trees everywhere.
This is going to be somethinggreat, really great.
I'm looking forward to it Goingto get oiled up with the sort
(25:53):
of the tracks we're going to dodownstairs.
I'll be getting down there andhaving a rehearsal and blowing
the walls apart and gettingoiled up for it, because we'd
love to see a great crowd there.
Cheryl Lee (26:03):
All going well.
If we can wangle it, I'minterviewing you three for the
telly at one of your rehearsals.
Oh, fantastic Fingers crossed,if it can be wangled.
I interviewed John and Davelast time when they rehearsed,
so hopefully all the planets arealigned and I'll interview you
guys.
Kevin Borich (26:22):
Is that TV or radio?
Cheryl Lee (26:24):
We have got a TV show called Rider TV every week
on Channel 44 here and Channel31 Melbourne.
So I'll see you then and thenI'll see you down the front at
the gig at the Gov.
Kevin Borich (26:37):
Great, will you have the ears on, or what?
Cheryl Lee (26:40):
I can, yeah, and my bunnies yeah.
Kevin Borich (26:42):
I can see them.
Don't say no or you'll knockyourself out.
Cheryl Lee (26:46):
We had a great day, a very successful day.
We had a sellout lunch made alot of money for Support Act had
an absolute you know cracker ofa time.
If you're ever in Adelaide onthe third Thursday of any month,
you've got an open invitationto come to our Support.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Act fundraising lunch .
Cheryl Lee (27:07):
We have 12 a year, third Thursday every month, Come
on down, you'll be more thanwelcome.
Kevin Borich (27:12):
I hope to get down there at some stage.
It's been pretty tough out live, to be truthful, because of the
cost of living.
I think that's affected a fewthings, so it's a bit harder for
people, you know, with thatgoing on.
Cheryl Lee (27:23):
Yeah, absolutely.
But you know, we just love thefact that we can get back out
and we can see live music again.
But I didn't realise how muchyou missed it until you couldn't
go.
Kevin Borich (27:36):
Well, that was when COVID was going yeah, and
that's when Duet's album wasdone.
You know you start going nuts.
What am I on earth for?
You know you can't go out andplay.
So we used the time and it cameup great.
Cheryl Lee (27:52):
Kevin spoke earlier about being in the Party Boys
with John Swan.
Here's a song that Kevin wrote,Follow your Heart.
And here he is with the PartyBoys from the greatest hits, Mrs
Rarities and B-Sides album.
And then we're back to sayfarewell to Kevin, for now
Follow your heart let me go away, sides album.
(28:15):
and then we're back to sayfarewell to kevin, for now I was
just going to touch quickly,before we go on, some of the
fabulous and massive shows thatyou've played.
Like the 72 sunbury.
Can you remember what was thatyou've played?
Like the 72 Sunbury.
Can you remember what was thatlike?
Kevin Borich (28:34):
It was just like when you see the Woodstock
movies.
Now, yeah, people in the pond,you know, naked.
Cheryl Lee (28:46):
Naked long hair, you know bosoms bosoms everywhere.
Kevin Borich (28:48):
Those were the days.
Yeah, in the 70s too, you didthe Rock Arena tours with
Fleetwood Mac and Santana andLittle River Band.
Yeah, that was the one inMelbourne in front of the 60,000
when Carlos got me up, andthere was also one for that in
Sydney, so there was only two, Ithink, yeah, so that was sea of
faces everywhere.
Cheryl Lee (29:06):
That would have been amazing.
A couple of New Year's Evecelebrations at the Opera House
too.
Yeah, yeah, a couple of NewYear's Eve celebrations at the
Opera House too.
Kevin Borich (29:13):
Yeah, michael Chugg was managing me at that
stage and that's why we got that.
You know it's all not what, youknow who you know You've got to
know something, but you knowyou also have those connections.
It's great and that was one ofthe early, very early, the first
time it had been worldwide sentout.
You know TV-wise.
Cheryl Lee (29:30):
Would have been such a highlight.
Kevin Borich (29:32):
Yeah, the 80s, that was.
Cheryl Lee (29:33):
Well, thank you for getting all those guys together
on that duets album.
As I say, it gets a lot ofairplay on my four shows.
Kevin Borich (29:45):
I'm very happy because there's people like you
who get the word out to people.
Without you guys, we're just inthe lounge room.
You know what I mean?
Yeah.
Cheryl Lee (29:48):
Thank you again for chatting to me today.
Kevin Borich (29:51):
Fantastic.
Thank you, Cheryl.
Cheryl Lee (29:52):
I'll let you go for now.
I'll go and get my bunny earsoff.
Kevin Borich (29:56):
Yeah, I might feel very different without them.
Cheryl Lee (29:59):
I don't know I might keep them.
What do you reckon?
Kevin Borich (30:02):
They're not chocolate, are they?
Cheryl Lee (30:03):
No, I made these, you know, because I'm crafty
like that.
That that's very clever.
I know right, I'mmulti-talented.
It's lovely to speak to you,Kevin.
I'll see you in the flesh nextmonth.
Kevin Borich (30:16):
Beautiful, thank you.
Cheryl Lee (30:17):
Bye for now.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Bye, for now.
Cheryl Lee (30:26):
So I have to decide which song we're going to go out
with, and there's so manyfabulous collaborations on this
duets album.
You know.
Do I play Ella Hooper, AngryAnderson, my favorite, Mossy,
Ross Wilson, Angela Fabian, LeoSay, I don't know.
I think I'm gonna chooseWrapped in Rock with the Baby
(30:48):
Animals front woman, SuzeDiMarchi.
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