Kevin Borich | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | KB |
| Born | Kevin Nicholas Borich (1948-10-27)27 October 1948 (age 77)[1] Huapai, New Zealand |
| Genres | Blues, rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Labels | Astor, Zodiac,Festival,EMI |
| Member of | Kevin Borich Express |
| Formerly of | |
| Website | Official Rock House of Kevin Borich |
Kevin Nicholas Borich[2] (born 27 October 1948)[1][3][4] is aNew Zealand-born Australian guitarist, singer, and songwriter.[5] He was a key member ofthe La De Da's, the founder and frontman of theKevin Borich Express, and a founding member ofthe Party Boys. Borich has also worked extensively as a session musician for numerous Australian artists.[5][6]
Borich wrote "Gonna See My Baby Tonight"[2] for the La De Da's, which became a top 10 hit in 1971 on theAustralian singles chart.[7] He performed at some of Australia's biggest rock events including the 1972Sunbury Pop Festival and the late 1970s Rockarena tours with 60,000 people, featuringFleetwood Mac,Santana andThe Little River Band.[5] He played in two New Year's Eve celebrations at theSydney Opera House with 70,000 people as well as support shows for international acts includingElton John,Status Quo,Jeff Beck andBuddy Guy.[5]
Australian rock music historianIan McFarlane has described Borich as "one of the most celebrated guitar players in the history of Australian rock. He also remains an underrated songwriter, and his live reputation has rarely been reflected in record sales".[5]
His sonLucius Borich joined Kevin Borich Express as a drummer and was later a member of Sydney-basedprogressive rock bandCog.
Borich was born[1] inHuapai north west ofAuckland on New Zealand'sNorth Island. He attended secondary school atRutherford High School inTe Atatū Peninsula, a suburb of Auckland.[8][9] In 1961, at the age of 12, Borich recorded a private single onAstor Records with sisters Judy and Sue Donaldson (later as New Zealand duo The Chicks).[8] As a guitarist, Borich formed The Mergers in late 1963 with fellow students Brett Neilsen on drums and Trevor Wilson on bass guitar.[3][6] Initially they performedcovers ofThe Shadows' material as aninstrumental band after school and on week-ends.[3][8]
With the addition of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Phil Key, The Mergers with Borich on lead guitar/vocals, Neilsen on drums/vocals and Wilson on bass guitar, were eventually renamed asthe La De Da's in 1964 in Auckland, New Zealand.[3][8] In June 1965 they recorded their debut single, "Little Girl", and later that year added Bruce Howard on keyboards.[3][8] From 1966 to 1967 they had five New Zealand top 10 hits, "How is the Air Up There?", "On Top of the World", "Hey Baby", "All Purpose Low" and "Rosalie".[3][8] By 1968 they were based in Sydney and recorded theirconcept album,The Happy Prince, in 1969 onEMI.[3][8]
Line-up changes occurred, with Borich and Key joined by Peter Roberts on bass guitar and Keith Barber on drums by 1971's AustralianKent Music Report top 10 hit single, "Gonna See My Baby Tonight".[7] It had been written by Borich,[2] who had established a reputation as "Australia's guitar hero supremo"[3] and regularly performed "All Along the Watchtower" usingJimi Hendrix' interpretation of theBob Dylan song to close the La De Da's' live set.[3]
In late January 1972, they appeared at the inauguralSunbury Pop Festival and featured on the subsequent double album,Sunbury, released in October by EMI/His Master's Voice.[3][8]
The La De Da's recorded further albums and singles and, despite critical acclaim, had little chart success. Only Borich remained throughout until he disbanded the group in 1975.[3] After the La De Da's, Borich toured withJohn Paul Young & the Allstars for some months before forming a new band.
Kevin Borich Express was formed in early 1976 by Borich on lead guitar, lead vocals and occasional flute with Harry Brus on bass guitar (ex-Blackfeather) and Barry Harvey on drums (Wild Cherries, Chain).[5][6] They recorded a track, "The End of Me", before Brus and Harvey were soon replaced by Reuben San Fiansco on bass guitar and Gil Matthews on drums.[5][6] Subsequent line-ups were typically a three piece with a succession of bass guitarists and drummers.[5] They released their debut single, "Goin' Somewhere", in October using Fiansco, and John Annas on drums (Wendy Saddington Band). Following in March 1977 was their debut album,Celebration! with Annas, and Tim Partridge on bass guitar (Mighty Kong, The Johnny Rocco Band).[5][6] The album was favoured by critics and peaked in the top 30 on theAustralian albums charts.[5][7]
In early 1977, Borich supported the tour by UK rock guitaristJeff Beck. Mid-1977 saw the release of the band's follow-up albumLonely One. This was followed in October by supporting the Rockarena tour withFleetwood Mac,Santana andLittle River Band; Borich was invited on-stage to jam withCarlos Santana.[5] In May 1978, the band toured the US in support of Australian heavy rockersAC/DC, with Annas, Paul Christie on bass guitar andkeyboard player Tim Shafer (Gary Wright Band).[5][7] This line-up recordedNo Turning Back which was released in March 1979.
By mid-year, Partridge had returned with both Christie and Shafer departing, and together with Annas, Borich recordedLive!,[5][7] using the 2JJ mobile studio equipment over performances in Melbourne and Wollongong.Live! contains one of the most incendiary and atmospheric versions of "Little Red Rooster" ever recorded, along with a number of Borich standards.
In July, Kevin Borich Express appeared onRenée Geyer's albumBlues License.[5][7] A European tour by Kevin Borich Express resulted in acompilation album being released in Germany.[5] After the tour, John Watson (Heavy Division) replaced Annas on drums and the band recordedAngel's Hand in November 1979.[5][6] Similar line-up changes continued into the early 1980s with Michael Deep replacing Partridge in April 1980. This line-up collaborated with solo artistDutch Tilders to recordBlues Had a Baby and They Called It Rock'n'Roll in 1981 onRCA Records.[5][6] Kerry Jacobsen (Dragon) replaced Watson on drums for theShy Boys Shy Girlsmini-LP in late 1981. By mid-1982, Annas returned on drums, with Steve Balbi on bass guitar, and Andy Cowan on keyboards.
Later that year, Borich on guitar joinedThe Party Boys which was formed by previous band member Paul Christie (now ex-Mondo Rock) on bass guitar, drums and backing vocals, Harvey James (Sherbet) on guitar andGraham Bidstrup (The Angels) on drums.[5][6][10] Initially a side-project, The Party Boys, had top 10 success with singles "He's Gonna Step on You Again" (No. 1, 1987) and "Hold Your Head Up" (No. 7, 1987),[7] and albumsLive at Several 21sts (No. 9, 1983) andThe Party Boys (No. 1, 1987).[7] Consequently, Kevin Borich Express output and touring was reduced during the 1980s.[5][10] In 1989, Borich left The Party Boys and appeared inJimmy Barnes band for the 1990 Two Fires tour.[5]
Borich won 'Best Guitarist' at the 1977 and 1978 Australian Rock Music Awards.[11]
Borich continues to perform at Australian and international events, in 2011 featuring long time friendHarry Brus on bass and his son Lucius Borich on drums. This lineup released a double CD and DVD under the banner Borich X Borich Live at the Basement. Borich still utilises a spectrum of Australia's best musicians at different times, including John Annas returning on drums with Ian Lees on bass guitar (ex-Moving Pictures), and with two former members John Watson and Harry Brus.[5] He released the CD/DVD package ofLive at the Big Kahuna in 1995.[5] A studio album was released in 1998,Heart Starter, withLucius Borich ofCog on drums and Ben Rosen on bass guitar touring to promote it.[5]
At theGimme Ted benefit concert on 10 March 2001 Borich performed three songs.[12] Over the 15 years since, he has continued to perform the Australian tour circuit and festivals with various line-ups, and released albumsNomad andBorich X Borich, recorded live at Circular Quay's The Basement. His latest studio album isTotem.
Borich won the Heritage Award at the 1999 Australian Blues Music Festival and was inducted into the Australian Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 2003.[11]
In July 2023, Borich released the albumDuets. It was preceded by the single "Keep It to Myself" withTim Rogers.[13]
Borich has been married twice and has six children, the youngest three with his second wife Melissa Borich.[14]
He was diagnosed withNasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in May 2005 and undertook radiation and chemotherapies.[14][15] The treatments resulted in the loss of his salivary glands and some hearing.[15]
Australian bandTISM, on their 1990 albumHot Dogma, have tracks called "Kevin Borich Expressionism" Parts 1, 2 and 4. On theCollected Recordings 1986-1993 box set there is a track called "Kevin Borich Expressionism".
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [16] | ||
| Celebration (as Kevin Borich Express) |
| 28 |
| Lonely One |
| 51 |
| No Turning Back (as Kevin Borich Express) |
| 48 |
| Live (as Kevin Borich Express) |
| — |
| The Blues Had a Baby (as Borich 'n' Tilders) |
| 96 |
| Angel's Hand (as Kevin Borich Express) |
| 92 |
| Shy Boys Shy Girls (as Kevin Borich Express) |
| — |
| The Best of The Kevin Borich Express |
| — |
| Collection |
| — |
| Live at the Big Kahuna |
| — |
| Celebration |
| — |
| Goin' Down Town |
| — |
| Heartstarter (as Kevin Borich Express) |
| — |
| One Night Jamm Live (as Kevin Borich Express) |
| — |
| Nomad |
| — |
| Live at the Basement (with Lucius Borich, Harry Brus) |
| — |
| Duets |
| 66 |
| Kevin Borich Express Live (as Kevin Borich Express) |
| — |
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
