Kevin Borich

Kevin Nicholas Borich[2] (born 27 October 1948, Huapai, North Island, New Zealand)[1][3][4] is a New Zealand-born Australian guitarist and singer-songwriter.

[5] He was the mainstay of the La De Da's, the leader of Kevin Borich Express, and a founding member of the Party Boys, as well as a session musician for numerous acts.

[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 the Australian singles chart.

[7] He performed at some of Australia's biggest rock events including the 1972 Sunbury Pop Festival and the late 1970s Rockarena tours with 60,000 people, featuring Fleetwood Mac, Santana and The Little River Band.

[5] He played in two New Year's Eve celebrations at the Sydney Opera House with 70,000 people as well as support shows for international acts including Elton John, Status Quo, Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy.

[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][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 as the La De Da's in 1964 in Auckland, New Zealand.

[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 Da's' live set.

[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.

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.

[5] After the tour, John Watson (Heavy Division) replaced Annas on drums and the band recorded Angel's Hand in November 1979.

[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.