Diesel (or is that Mark Lizotte?) talks to Citysearch!

Diesel has just released his ninth album and, as he prepares to hit the road, talks to Citysearch about multiple identities, raw energy and jamming with his Gran ...

Editorial Review

CS: You've had a few names over your career, what do I call you?
D: I haven't had that many (he laughs), well, three! Johnny Diesel and the Injectors I had to go along with because it was the name of the band … Then I went solo and just kept Diesel because it seemed like the obvious thing to do. I was Diesel until 2000 when I made one record under my own name (Mark Lizotte), and in 2002 I went back to Diesel!

CS: Why the switch back?
D: It was really the path of least resistance. I was really naïve thinking that people would get the whole Mark Lizotte thing straight away, but the 'power of brand' is an amazing thing - it goes way further than I thought.

CS: Now, to you and your music; is there much of a difference between those names?
D: No, it's all music to me! Obviously the first name [Johnny] is recognisable to me as one record I made with that band and see as a separate thing, but it's all part of my history and I still play those songs. I feel connected to them - they launched my whole career.

CS: And next year marks your 20th year in the business - that's worth a party?
D: Twenty years is something worth making a big deal about - I'd be happy if I got to see everyone. A reunion with the guys in the band would be great.

CS: Twenty years is a long time doing anything, what keeps you going?
D: Well, it's the same 'job' I guess, but I can tell you it's changed a lot over time. I've changed, I know that … You grow and learn things. It's a bit like a fish - a fish has a very short memory and getting on stage is all new every time I do it. There are new faces to see … It's beautiful, because there's nothing more pure that will keep you feeling invigorated than people. If I was just sitting at home churning out music, it would be laborious and I'd have lost the plot by now!

CS: Is there such a things as 'retirement' for musicians?
D: I don't know … getting old isn't like it used to be. It's going to be interesting to see what happens in another fifty years. I don't know whether you want to see crinkly old musos on the stage?

CS: But you'd do it if you could?
D: I want to be playing when I'm 80 because it's therapeutic - it's the best medicine for anything. I think music, whether you're on stage playing it or in the audience receiving it, is very medicinal. My grandmother - into her 80s - was still going to 'old people homes', as she called them, to play. She'd say “I'm going to go and play for the old people” and get on the organ and play all these old songs … she didn't see herself as being old.

CS: Did you used to jam with your Gran?
D: She had this big old Hammond organ - with the foot pedals - and I'd sit on there and stomp away on the pedals. She'd show me what to do and I'd sing along - it was one of those things, those times that you never forget.

CS: From then to now, you've just released your ninth album, Days Like These; how long did you work on the songs?
D: Well, there's only a couple that were floating around in my head - Days Like These, Take My Heart and Ain't Giving Up - but seven out of 10 were written in the studio - like, here's a chord, let's do something with it and BANG! Minimal discussion, we'd just play and see where it took us.

CS: You like it raw and immediate …
D: I think with me that's what I'm about, it makes sense to do it as spontaneous as you can.

CS: I guess the songs are also easy to take to the stage?
D: Yeah, definitely, that's what's happened. Getting out there and playing live feels like an extension of the whole process rather than thinking: “how am I going to do this?” (He laughs).

CS: You're wearing a lot of hats - writer, performer, producer - on the album …
D: Occasionally I feel like, wow, I'm doing way to much, I'm too close to it! It's hard, but it's seamless to me - each process is one facet and while that process is happening I get stuck into that mode, and when the next mode comes over I take off the hat and put the other mode's hat on - I enjoy it! I guess there's something pure about that.

CS: You're about to go on tour  with a two-hour non-stop live show …
D: Yeah, it gives us a chance to air the new album up first, then we'll interact with the audience and let them choose what we play, before playing all the songs that people probably really know.

CS: How is the 'you choose' section going to work?
D: There's going to be a list, so the audience gets to pick off a 'menu'. The obvious things won't be on there because we're going to play those - it'll be a lot of album tracks, so an opportunity for people to hear some 'off the trail' stuff.

CS: What if you were in the audience, which song would you pick?
D: That's a tough one! I've got so many different responses to songs - emotion, energy - they all mean something to me. No, that's tough!

CS: Two-hours is a long time up on stage …
D: It might seem like a long time, but when you're on stage it goes so fast that I don't notice it - I love being up there playing live. It's a chance to really connect.

CS: And you're ready to connect?
D: Yeah, I can't wait. Touring is healthy - it's good to get out!

CS: See you at the gig!
Click here for when and where Diesel is playing near you.

Kelly Ford, Citysearch, September 2008

Click here to find gigs near you.

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