While still in his teens, American born guitarist/singer Mark Lizotte was snatched from his bar band in Perth and launched on to the Australian charts as the leader of Johnny Diesel and the Injectors. A career was born and now some 30 years later Diesel is still rocking Saturday nights around the nation.
Johnny Diesel and the Injectors moved from Perth to establish themselves in Sydney in 1987. They quickly became known for Diesel’s extraordinary versatility on the guitar and his rich, soulful voice. The debut album shipped platinum and entered the charts at #2. It was the biggest-selling album of 1989.
Hepfidelity, Diesel’s first album under his own name in 1992 was a mega-platinum smash and earned him ARIAs for Best Album and Best Male Talent. He is one of only a select few Artists to win a Best Male Talent ARIA three times (along with John Farnham, Alex Lloyd and Gotye).
The next albums – The Lobbyist and Solid State Rhyme confirmed his status as one of Australia’s most significant recording artists.
A non-stop six years that included extensive touring, recording and starting a family was capped in 1996 with the Short Cool Ones project that he cut with blues harp player Chris Wilson.
“We made a run for it,” he says with a laugh. Diesel and his young family relocated to New York where he started from scratch. “I just needed to wipe the slate clean. I didn’t want to be around familiar things. I went to New York with nothing, I didn’t even have one song.”
Diesel scored a residency at the prestigious club Arlene’s Grocery. He was discovered all over again, this time by Mammoth Records, who teamed Diesel with legendary producers Jerry Harrison and Gavin Mackillop for the Lost Soul Companion album.
In 2002, Diesel and family moved back to Australia. He assembled a band and also began gigging as a solo artist.
The nakedness of performing with nothing more than an acoustic guitar helped him to re-examine his own work and take a fresh perspective.
The 2005 album Singled Out put Diesel back on the radio and gave him a hankering to pump up the volume again. It also marked a new phase in Diesel’s career, and time for a new album.
2006’s Coathanger Antennae was recorded in two months with Diesel backed by bassist Richie Vez and drummer Lee Moloney. “I want to make records where I can play with other people and just have fun,” says Diesel.
Back in Australia, and back on a roll, the albums and the tours kept coming – original albums adorned with radio hits followed with Days Like These in 2008 and Let It Fly in 2013 interspersed with his now signature original and masterful renditions of rock, soul and blues classics via the themed albums Saturday Suffering Fools in 2009, Under The Influence in 2011, and the triumphant Americana album in 2016.
Diesel is one of those rare talents who has immense popular appeal and is also a musician’s musician. His guitar playing is always tasteful and inventive. It’s based around the rock and soul that he heard growing up as the son of a saxophonist.
And now for the very first time in that stellar 30 year career comes Diesel 30 – The Greatest Hits, jam-packed with songs known and loved Australia wide, and many that have found homes abroad.
To celebrate its release, Diesel does what he always does – takes it on the road!
“I always wanted to be an electric guitar player, I always wanted to be in front of an amp,” he says. “I can’t wait to light up Saturday nights right across Australia on this very special 30th Anniversary Tour”.
‘Give Me Saturday Night’ is the only new track on the album which Diesel recorded to celebrate its release.
Friday 14 September
The Bridge Hotel | Rozelle, NSW
moshtix.com.au | 1300 438 849
oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545
ticketek.com.au | 132 849
Saturday 15 September
The Bridge Hotel | Rozelle, NSW
moshtix.com.au | 1300 438 849
oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545
ticketek.com.au | 132 849
Friday 21 September
Miranda Hotel | Miranda, NSW
oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545
Saturday 22 September
Pittwater RSL | Pittwater, NSW
pittwaterrsl.com.au | 02 9997 3833
Friday 5 October
Northshore Tavern | Hillarys, WA
ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
Saturday 6 October
Charles Hotel | Perth, WA
ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
Sunday 7 October
Ravenswood Hotel | Ravenswood, WA
ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
Friday 12 October
The Triffid | Brisbane, QLD
oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545
Saturday 13 October
Sol Bar | Maroochydore, QLD
oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545
Thursday 25 October
Corner Hotel | Melbourne, VIC
cornerhotel.com | (03) 9427 7300
Friday 26 October
Chelsea Heights Hotel | Chelsea Heights, VIC
oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545
Saturday 27 October
Burvale Hotel | Nunawading, VIC
oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545
Friday 2 October
The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel | Adelaide, SA
thegov.com.au | (08) 8340 0744
Saturday 3 November
Coopers Alehouse | Wallaroo, SA
coopersalehouse.com.au | (08) 8823 2488
Friday 16 November
The Juniors | Kingsford, NSW
thejuniors.com.au | (02) 9349 7555
Saturday 17 November
Wenty Leagues | Wentworthville, NSW
wentyleagues.com.au | (02) 8868 9200
