Kevin Borich

Kevin Borich was born in 1948[1] in Huapai north west of Auckland on New Zealand's North Island. He attended secondary school at Rutherford High School (Te Atatū) in Te Atatū, a suburb of Auckland.[8][9] In 1961, at the age of 12, Borich recorded a private single on Astor Records with sisters Judi 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 performed covers of The Shadows' material as an instrumental band after school and on week-ends.[3][8]

Borich is of Croatian descent.

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 as The La De Das 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 their concept album, The Happy Prince, in 1969 on EMI.[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 Australian Kent 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" using Jimi Hendrix' interpretation of the Bob Dylan song to close The La De Das' live set.[3]

In late January 1972, they appeared at the inaugural Sunbury Pop Festival and featured on the subsequent double album, Sunbury, released in October by EMI/HMV.[3][8]

The La De Das 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 Das, Borich toured with John 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 the Australian albums charts.[5][7]

In early 1977, Borich supported the tour by UK rock guitarist Jeff Beck. Mid-1977 saw the release of the band's follow-up album Lonely One. This was followed in October by supporting the Rockarena tour with Fleetwood Mac, Santana and Little River Band; Borich was invited on-stage to jam with Carlos Santana.[5] In May 1978, the band toured the US in support of Australian heavy rockers AC/DC, with Annas, Paul Christie on bass guitar and keyboard player Tim Shafer (Gary Wright Band).[5][7] This line-up recorded No 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 recorded Live!,[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 on Renée Geyer's album Blues License.[5][7] A European tour by Kevin Borich Express resulted in a compilation album being released in Germany.[5] After the tour, John Watson (Heavy Division) replaced Annas on drums and the band recorded Angel'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 artist Dutch Tilders to record Blues Had a Baby and They Called It Rock'n'Roll in 1981 on RCA Records.[5][6] Kerry Jacobsen (Dragon) replaced Watson on drums for the Shy Boys Shy Girls mini-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 joined The 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 and Graham 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" (#1, 1987) and "Hold Your Head Up" (#7, 1987),[7] and albums Live at Several 21sts (#9, 1983) and The Party Boys (#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 in Jimmy 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 friend Harry 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 of Live at the Big Kahuna in 1995.[5] A studio album was released in 1998, Heart Starter, with Lucius Borich of Cog on drums and Ben Rosen on bass guitar touring to promote it.[5]

At the Gimme 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 albums Nomad and Borich X Borich, recorded live at Circular Quay's The Basement. His latest studio album is Totem.

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]

Australian band TISM, on their 1990 album Hot Dogma, have tracks called "Kevin Borich Expressionism" Parts 1, 2 and 4. On the Collected Recordings 1986-1993 Box Set there is a track called "Kevin Borich Expressionism".

Kevin Borich Express playing at Mountain Rock 3

Borich has been married twice and has six children, the youngest three with his second wife Melissa Borich.[13]

He was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in May 2005 and undertook radiation and chemotherapies.[13][14] The treatments resulted in the loss of his salivary glands and some hearing.[14]

• Kevin Borich official website
• Kevin Borich YouTube channel
• Kevin Borich on Facebook
• La De Das