SAUGET, IL | The music world needs more bands like The Dead Daisies: pure, simple, back to basics, big riffs, soulful rock ‘n’ roll vocals, and showmanship that over-delivers. This is all brought to you by a rotating group of stellar musicians who help the band create a unique catalog. Former members include John Corabi (Motley Crue, The Scream) Richard Fortus (Guns N’ Roses, Pale Divine) Jon Stevens (INXS), and Deen Castronovo (Journey, Hardline) just to name a few. I’ve seen three incarnations of the Daisies over the years, and I have to say I think they are at their best right now.
Glenn Hughes, aka “the voice of rock,” takes the helm and leads the band into arguably their finest hour. Not only is he a monster bass player, but his vocals are easily on par, if not slightly surpassing that of his former bandmate, the great David Coverdale. Go back and watch the 1974 live performances of Burn and watch this guy steal the show. His presence also tightens the band up as he replaces both singer John Corabi and bassist Marco Mendoza making the Daisies a four-piece. Nothing is left on the table as a quartet; the band is tighter and more focused.
Let’s talk about Doug Aldrich for a minute. Jesus, this guy can fucking shred. If you read interviews with him, he’s a pretty modest dude (the exact opposite to his Whitesnake counterpart Reb Beach), but he dazzles when he plays. There aren’t too many guitarists left who can play like this and make it look so very cool. Founder and rhythm guitarist David Lowy is a perfect complement as Aldrich can cut loose. Lowy gets a bit of grief from those who call the band a rich man’s plaything, and yeah, he’s got a ton of money which helps keep the Daisies running, but in the end, who gives a shit? One listen to Holy Ground should shut them up.
The chemistry between Aldrich and Hughes from previous projects is crystal clear. These guys feed off of one another in a way where they can virtually predict what the other will do. It’s one hell of a rare thing to see in a rock band today and an endangered dynamic. Ozzy and Black Sabbath drummer Tommy Clufetos is a welcome addition to the lineup and a complete madman on drums which he demonstrated by making drum solos cool again.
The set rightfully pulled heavily from the new album Holy Ground with “My Fate” as the standout, followed closely by the title track. Along with a few covers, including a blistering closeout of the Purple classic Burn, the rest of the set was cherry-picked from the Daisies catalog. Brilliant night, brilliant set, and I’m thrilled that I got to see them in my hometown before returning to London. The Like No Other tour continues in the US before hitting the UK later this month with The Quireboys opening. Don’t miss this one, folks.
