DZ Deathrays Set To Rock The Gov Tomorrow Nite…
In celebration of the decade anniversary of their album Black Rat, DZ Deathrays announce their embarkation on a national tour which hits The Gov tomorrow night. With over fourteen million streams, international critical acclaim and the ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album, Black Rat cast DZ Deathrays into the stratosphere. Revered for its blend of garage rock and dance punk, the genre defining record cemented Shane Parsons and Simon Ridley’s names in the national sphere as well as leaders in the recognition and successful export of Australian talent worldwide.
Their innovation captivated fans and industry alike, relentlessly touring fifteen countries in just two years. Now a modern classic, their marriage of infectious hooks as in hits Gina Works at Hearts, Reflective Skull and Ocean Exploder, combined with high-octane live show performances cemented DZ’s reputation as an electrifying addition to the Australian rock canon. The band answer a few questions about the tenth anniversary of Black Rat and playing The Gov tomorrow night.
How has the tour gone so far and what’s been your favourite show so far?
The tour has been one of the best Australian tours we have done in a long time. It’s been great to play a completely different set list than usual. I think the best show may have been Melbourne so far…. it wasn’t the craziest but there was a lot of passion in the room!
Are you saving your best for last here in Adelaide?
Of course, that’s why we let Adelaide be the final show of the tour!
Ten years of Black Rat, can you believe how the time has whizzed by?
Yes and no, we did a ten year anniversary tour when the band hit that milestone and that felt like a major achievement but since black rat we have made four albums and on to our next release at the moment. We have filled that time with a lot of work, it’s nice to go back sometimes and revisit what gave the band a spark all those years ago.
How was it re-learning some of these songs from the album for the tour?
Very fun! I’m glad I tabbed out all the guitar parts all those years ago, they came in really handy. It’s been good to go back and work out how to play these songs as a four-piece, we are playing them as close to the recording with some added heaviness.
Have you been surprised by any reactions to certain songs from Black Rats on tour?
Yeah it’s been cool to see songs like Nightwalking, which we have never played live until this tour receive such a good reaction. It was always a favourite of mine but we never added it to the live set.
Apart from the tour do you do anything as a band to celebrate this anniversary?
We did a special edition ‘white rat’ vinyl, it sold out pretty quick and there’s a couple we held on to for some of the shows.
What highlights from the time that Black Rats was released stand out for you?
Too many to list, since that record came out we toured a lot all over the world. That’s always my highlight, getting to travel to another country and perform in front of a new crowd.
Was there any thoughts about remastering the album or is it best leaving it as is?
I don’t think so, the master on that record is pretty slamming even by today’s standards.
Any plans for new music this year?
Yep, working on the mixes at the moment for some new material. Hoping to drop a track later this year.
What’s next for DZ Deathrays?
We have the rest of this tour, then head to Falls Creek for a show in the ski fields and then we head overseas to Europe and the UK to take this Black Rat on the road there. The UK was a big part of this album a decade ago so we thought it would be fitting to bring this show to them.
Interview By Rob Lyon
Catch DZ Deathrays at The Gov on Saturday 13 July, tickets HERE…
