Rai Thistlethwayte On The Fabulous Caprettos, Collaboration And Being On Tour

Australia’s favourite supergroup is back on tour with a few special guests and surprises as they once again present the best in Australian music – live! Multi Award winner Dave Gleeson (The Screaming Jets/The Angels), supreme guitarist and vocalist Jack Jones (Southern Sons), Rai Thistlethwayte (Thirsty Merc/ Joe Satriani/Sammy Hagar) – with Joe Camilleri (The Black Sorrows) and special guests Russell Morris, Wendy Matthews (on select shows) will be performing their biggest hits together on stage as the Caprettos!

Adding a ‘Fabulous’ to their name, this iconic Australian rock supergroup will perform the greatest hits in Australian rock music history, including their own chart-topping classics, as part of the highly anticipated LIVE IN 25’ tour. Rai Thistlethwayte talks to Hi Fi Way about The Fabulous Caprettos, Thirsty Merc and collaborating with the legendary Sammy Hagar.

It seems like everything’s happening for you at the moment, busy, busy?
Yeah, pretty busy. I’ve got a lot on, but that’s kind of how most years are. I try to fill my time with lots of creative work. It’s nice to have projects going and to be working with great people. I’ve reached a stage in my career where I can pick and choose what I do a bit more, which is great.

The Fabulous Caprettos seem to be growing with each tour, bigger venues, more fans. You must be stoked with how it’s evolving?
I’m really happy with it. I haven’t done a statistical analysis or anything [laughs], but the vibe at gigs definitely suggests that more people are starting to recognise the project. They know the name and expect a strong lineup with some familiar faces and guest appearances. We’ve expanded into new areas, places like Cairns and Tasmania for the first time. That’s a great sign of growing reach, and it’s fantastic to bring live music to more people.

Does the real fun begin when you all get together to rehearse? That camaraderie must be pretty special.
Absolutely. Being in a band is a bit like being in a Lost Boys and Girls Club, it depends on the configuration. But we’ve all worked together before, and there’s a lot of banter. That sometimes even spills onto the stage. There’s this shared understanding that we’re all there to give the audience a great time. Everyone’s put their hard-earned money into the show, so we make sure it’s worth it. Plus, with guests like Wendy Matthews, Russell Morris, and Joe Camilleri joining, the energy is always fresh.

And “Tambourine Dave,” he’s a real character on stage?
He really is. Dave’s got incredible charisma. He’s commanding on stage but also wonderfully off-the-wall. It makes for a lot of laughs and he’s such a well-rounded guy, very intelligent, super aware of what’s happening in the world, which makes his transition to radio a natural one. But at his core, he’s still the Newcastle-Adelaide Hills bloke, and that mix really shines through.

Any dream collaborators you’d love to bring into the Caprettos?
That’s a great question. I haven’t thought about it too much, but if we ever had a little committee meeting—though it would probably just be a casual chat or text thread with the promoter or other guys, we’d have a long list. Tim Rogers, Chris Cheney… so many legends out there. You’d never get to the end of the list.

Is learning each other’s songs ever a challenge?
Definitely, but it’s a good one. Having other artists involved, like Joe and Wendy, adds variety and keeps things interesting. It even inspired me to rework one of my songs and try out new material. Getting a Dropbox full of audio files and digging back into the music forces you to listen in a new way. You start noticing all the production elements, the chord progressions, the structure, it’s actually a real joy. Jason our bass player, is always learning new sets for different artists. He says it keeps him fresh, and I agree. If you’re just doing the same thing for forty years, you’d go bonkers.

Has there been any talk of the Caprettos recording an album? I know there was a single at one point.
We’ve talked about it loosely. Everyone’s busy, Dave with the Screaming Jets, me with Thirsty Merc, and everyone has side projects. But I think it would be silly not to do something at some point. Even if it’s just a keepsake for us, a memento of this time. There’s potential for strong material. It wouldn’t be just a vanity project. If we came up with something that could sit alongside our existing catalogs, I’d be totally up for it.

That sounds promising. It really seems like the Caprettos is more than just a supergroup, it’s a creative outlet.
Totally. It still feels like a fun, creative hobby that I happen to do as work. That’s the dream, right? And I’m lucky to work with such talented, fun people. It’s a great ride.

It sounds like you’re gearing up for a massive tour at the end of this year with Thirsty Merc. Thirty one shows, how are you feeling about that?
Yeah, it’s definitely one of the bigger tours we’ve done. We’re hitting some amazing spots, like The Gov in Adelaide, which is always a favorite of ours, and the Astor Theatre in Perth. I’ve been on that stage before with various projects, but not for a long time with Thirsty Merc. We’ve got a great mix of venues this time, some bigger ones, some regional, and even a bit of rural stuff. There are parts of Australia we haven’t played in a while, so that’s exciting. It’s always fun to catch up with the guys and hit the road, and at this stage, it feels a little like slipping on an old pair of jeans. It’s familiar, but always rewarding.

You mentioned the business side of things. Touring is always a balancing act, how do you manage to make it work in today’s climate?
It’s definitely a bit of a juggling act. We’re trying to keep things affordable for everyone, especially with everything going on in the world. Balancing ticket prices, making sure the agents are happy, and that we’re all getting paid fairly, it’s a bit of a logistical puzzle, but it’s all part of the gig. At the end of the day, it’s about making sure people are having a great time at the show, and that we’re still able to do what we love.

The band’s longevity is remarkable. Do you feel like things are getting stronger with time?
Yeah, it’s a bit humbling when you look back. There were some big moments in the mid-2000s, and we had our breakthroughs, but it’s been a slow burn after that. Things like getting our song featured on Bondi Rescue were a great stroke of luck, and we’ve had some lucky breaks along the way, radio play, TV appearances, all that. But honestly, it’s the live gigs that really keep the fire alive. It’s a constant evolution, and while the industry can sometimes try to knock you down, I think I’ve always stayed adamant that I won’t let it take the joy out of making music. My parents instilled the love of music in me, and I just try to keep that enthusiasm going.

With the tour ahead, are you feeling any pressure to release new music or another album?
Definitely. I actually have a lot of material ready to go, I just need to tie up a few loose ends. I’ve got a few sections that are strong and could come together quickly if I just commit to it. I think the next step is getting into the studio with the producer and the guys and starting to flesh it out. We’re hoping to carve out some time at the end of the year to get that started, but it’s tough with everything else going on. You need time off the road to really focus on recording.

Speaking of other projects, you’ve been working with some pretty big names. What’s it like collaborating with Sammy Hagar and other legends?
It’s surreal. Sammy is incredible. The energy he still brings at seventy seven is mind-blowing. The guy is a force and then you’ve got Joe Satriani, who is just an absolute legend, still creating some of the best music out there. I was lucky enough to play some keyboard parts on one of his recent albums, which was an honor. Working with these guys has been a dream come true. Joe is the one who recommended me for the Sammy gig, and that led me to dive into the world of Van Halen and Montrose, there’s no better way to learn how the songs work than to play them yourself. It’s a crazy experience.

Any other projects you’re involved in that you can mention?
Well, there’s definitely some exciting stuff on the horizon. We’re doing a big iHeart festival in Vegas in September, which should be wild, Ed Sheeran is headlining, and there are all kinds of diverse acts. I also have a bit of a future with Sammy, with a residency coming up in Vegas, which is always an adventure. It’s crazy working there, you never really leave the casino vibe, but they look after you so well. I get to play some heavy organ sounds in that gig, which is right up my alley. Jon Lord-style distorted organ, it’s such a fun sound to explore.

On top of that, I’ve been working with Lewis Cole, who is an incredibly talented musician and producer. He’s got a band called Knower, and they make this high-energy mix of jazz, funk, and electronic music. We’ve worked together before, and I’m hoping to do some more with him soon. He’s got this incredible ability to blend genres, and I’d love to get back into that world with him.

Sounds like you’ve got a lot on your plate! But for now, it’s all about Thirsty Merc, right?
Yeah, exactly. Thirsty Merc is my focus right now, especially with the tour coming up. It’s all about the music, the fans, and just enjoying the ride. But of course, you can never stop exploring and working with other creative people—there’s always something new to discover in music.

Interview By Rob Lyon

Catch The Fabulous Caprettos on the following dates, tickets HERE…