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 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).
Diesel later 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, where the albums and the tours have kept coming.
Diesel is now on his 30th anniversary tour with a "best of" selection of tracks. He is at Katoomba RSL on Friday, September 27, from 8.30pm. Tickets katoombarsl.com.au.
