KEVIN BORICH EXPRESS

Kevin Borich was born in 1948 in Huapai northwest of Auckland on New Zealand's North Island, he attended secondary school at Rutherford High School in Te Atatu, a suburb of Auckland. In 1961, at the age of 12, Borich recorded a private single on Astor Records with two sisters, Judi Donaldson and Sue Donaldson (later as New Zealand duo, The Chicks). As a guitarist, Borich formed The Mergers in late 1963 with fellow students, Brett Neilsen on drums and Trevor Wilson on bass guitar. Initially they performed overs of The Shadows material as an instrumental band after school and on weekends. Kevin 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. In June 1965 they recorded their debut single, "Little Girl", and later that year added Bruce Howard on keyboards.

 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". By 1968 they were based in Sydney and recorded their concept album, 'The Happy Prince', in 1969 on EMI. 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".

It had been written by Borich, who had established a reputation as "Australia's guitar hero supremo" and regularly performed "All Along the Watchtower" using Jimi Hendrix' interpretation of the Bob Dylan song to close The La De Das' live set. 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. 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.

After The La De Das, Borich toured with John Paul Young & the Allstars for some months before forming a new band Kevin Borich Express in early 1976 by Borich on lead guitar, lead vocals and occasional flute with Harry Brus on bass guitar (ex-Amazons, Blackfeather) and Barry Harvey on drums (ex-Wild Cherries, Chain). 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 (ex-Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs) on drums.

Subsequent line-ups were typically for a three piece with a succession of bass guitarist and drummers. They released their debut single, "I'm Goin' Somewhere" in October using Fiansco, and John Annas on drums (ex-Wendy Saddington Band), following in March 1977 was their debut album, 'Celebration!' with Annas, and Tim Partridge on bass guitar (ex-Mighty Kong, The Johnny Rocco Band). The album was favoured by critics and peaked in the top 30 on the Australian albums' charts. In early 1977, Borich supported the tour by UK rock guitarist, Jeff Beck; this was followed in October by supporting the Rockarena tour with Santana, Fleetwood Mac and Little River Band - Borich was invited on-stage to jam with Carlos Santana.

In May 1978, the band toured USA in support of Australian heavy rockers, AC/DC, with Annas, Paul Christie on bass guitar and keyboard player Tim Shafer (ex-Gary Wright Band). 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!', 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'. A European tour by Kevin Borich Express resulted in a compilation album being released in Germany. After the tour, John Watson (ex-Heavy Division) replaced Annas on drums and the band recorded, 'Angel's Hand' in November 1979. 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. Kerry Jacobsen (ex-Dragon) replaced Watson on drums for '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 (ex-Mondo Rock) on bass guitar, drums and backing vocals, Harvey James (ex-Sherbet) on guitar and Graham Bidstrup (The Angels) on drums. Initially a side-project, The Party Boys, had top 10 success with singles, "He's Gonna Step on You Again" (#1, 1987), "Hold Your Head Up" (#7, 1987) and albums, 'Live at Several 21sts' (#9, 1983), 'The Party Boys' (#1, 1987).

Consequently, Kevin Borich Express output and touring was reduced during the 1980s. In 1989, Borich left The Party Boys and appeared in Jimmy Barnes band for the 1990 Two Fires tour. Borich won 'Best Guitarist' at the 1977 and 1978 Australian Rock Music Awards. Borich continues to perform at Australian and international events in 2011 wooing audience with his flawless shows featuring longtime friend Harry Brus on Bass and his son Lucius Borich on Drums.

This lineup released a double CD & DVD under the banner Borich X Borich Live At The Basement. KB 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. He released, 'Live at the Big Kahuna' in 1995. A studio album was released in 1998, 'Heart Starter', appeared with Lucius Borich of COG on drums and Ben Rosen on bass guitar touring to promote it. KB won the Heritage Award at the 1999 Australian Blues Music Festival and was inducted into the Australian Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 2003. Tim Partridge died in 2020.

Members

Kevin Borich (guitar, vocals, flute), Harry Brus (bass), Reuben San Fiansco (bass), Tim Partridge (bass), Tim Ayers (bass), Bob Jackson (bass), Paul Christie (bass), Lindsay Osbourne (bass), Michael Deep (bass), Steve Balbi (bass), Tim Schafer (keyboards), Andy Cohen (keyboards, sax), Barry Harvey (drums), Gil Matthews (drums), John Annas (drums), John Watson (drums), Kerry Jacobsen (drums), Adrian Cannon (drums)

SINGLES 

''I'm Goin' Somewhere / Scene From Star Crossed Lovers'' 1976 Image
Goin' Down Town / Goin' Down Town - Long Version'' 1977 Image
''Mon Ami / Goin' Down Town'' 1977 Image
''No Turning Back / I Can't Wait'' 1978 Mercury
''Silver Dime / Caught In The Middle'' 1979 Mercury
''My Mama Is A Jazzer / Social Disease'' 1979 Mercury
''One More Dream / Angel's Hand'' 1980 Mushroom
''Shy Boys Shy Girls / Gone Fishing'' 1981 Mushroom
''Getting So Excited / Theme X'' 1982 Mushroom

ALBUMS 
'Celebration!' (#28) 1977 Image

'Lonely One' (#51) 1977 Image
'No Turning Back' (#48) 1979 Mercury

'Live!' 1979 Avenue Records
'The Blues Had a Baby' [with Dutch Tilders) (#96) 1980 Eureka
'Angels Hand' (#92) 1980 Mushroom

'Shy Boys Shy Girls' 1982 Mushroom
'Live at the Big Kahuna' 1995 KB
'One Night Jamm Live' 1999 Kevin Borich
'Heartstarter' 2000 Kevin Borich
'One Night Jamm Live' 1999 Kevin Borich 
'Nomad' 2004 KB 
'Live at the Basement' 2009 SG Productions
'Duets' (#66) 2023 Kevin Borich 

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Borich