THE DEAD DAISIES - BIRMINGHAM O2 INSTITUTE, 21 NOVEMBER 2018

BY SHARI BLACK VELVET

With their fourth studio album released in April and despite a UK tour back then to coincide, The Dead Daisies have set foot on our soil again because, well, the UK loves them.

After a set from the Stourbridge classic NWOBHMers Diamond Head, The Dead Daisies – John Corabi, Marco Mendoza, David Lowy, Doug Aldrich and Deen Castronovo – soon get things moving. “Are you ready to get crazy with us?” John Corabi asks before the rousing ‘Make Some Noise’. We most definitely are – and for two hours straight, Birmingham is treated to some of the most kick-ass rock of our time. These long-term, well-established and known musicians have all paid their dues and reaped the rewards. They all know what the audience wants and they definitely deliver it. Their 23-song setlist includes a mixture of their four albums, which includes both their own music and various covers.

New drummer Deen (who took over from Brian Tichy) gets his share of the spotlight during an acoustic section of the show, which sees the five members sat on stools and lights dimmed. He sings Rod Stewart’s ‘Maggie May’ and does a damn fine job, almost sounding like a replica of Rod. We are most impressed. Later on, the band share their take on The Rolling Stones’ ‘Bitch’ – giving it a more current rock vibe, while still retaining its classic funk. And when each member of the band is introduced, we get a snippet of a few more well known covers, such as Alice Cooper’s ‘School’s Out’, Joan Jett’s ‘I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll’ and AC/DC’s ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’.

Guitarist Doug Aldrich is captivating to watch, pulling the coolest rock stances while engulfing the crowd with sparkling solos and riffs. At one point he even throws himself on the floor, and rolls over so his feet are dangling over the stage and he’s sat in the centre to take the spotlight for some floral fretwork. Marco Mendoza has his own microphone headset on, so he can sing while playing his bass without being chained to a mic stand. And of course, David Lowy, who is the main founder of the band, similarly contributes with his proficient guitar work.

‘Resurrected’, the opening track from their latest release, is to “all those people that write you off”. Some of these guys have their own experiences of being resurrected and they are definitely now even stronger than ever. Other songs in the set such as ‘Rise Up’ and ‘Song And A Prayer’ show that, despite being serious subject matter, they are perfect songs to rock out to. Ending with ‘Helter Skelter’ is the icing on the cake, a cover that never gets old, with the band showing their love for the Beatles, and British music in general. And while they love British rock, us British rockers most definitely adore The Dead Daisies even more.