Mark Lizotte, who we know and love as the artist Diesel, is a fierce advocate of community and human connection. 

The six-time ARIA award winner, who arrived in Australia from the United States when he was seven years old, and who remains the only artist to win three consecutive Best Male Artist ARIAs in 1993, ’94 and ’95, believes we need much more connection – and we need it yesterday. 

Speaking with him last week via Zoom, it’s hard to believe that this authentic, enthusiastic, and still vibrantly prolific musician and adopted Australian is sixty years old. 

Thankfully, however, he is. 

For amidst a world of streamed music and increasing generations who barely know what a ‘gig’ is, Diesel still remembers what it was like to create and perform music in a musical ‘golden era’, which celebrated, supported and indeed nurtured Australian artists and their music.  

Artists he is still working hard to secure a future for through his ongoing commitment to songwriting (he is currently working on his 17th album), live performance (in his upcoming solely regional By Request tour), and targeted advocacy. 

The day before our interview, Diesel visited Australian Parliament House to speak on a range of issues aimed at supporting the live music industry at a “…grass roots level.” 

Diesel is quick to say that he returns to Canberra often, as there is a lot of “love in Canberra.”

“Canberra are music lovers, its a known fact,” he adds.

When it comes to the communities created by live music in once predominantly single owner-operators like pubs and other small venues, Diesel laments how much we have strayed from our human desire to be a part of something, together.

“To feel that connection we have experienced since we all stood around a fire. It’s crazy that we have forgotten it,” he says. 

Diesel says he understands that part of venue business models includes “…the pokies”.

However, reminds us that there is “…no community in gambling” and encourages venue operators to remember the ‘other’ thing that not only used to bring people in the door but had them repeatedly coming back – “Music!” 

Thankfully, he adds that somehow, we always return to connection with others, because “…we are human.” 

True to his word, this quintessential Australian music legend has found a way to help us remember what it feels like to be truly present in a musical experience with both him and others.

Uniquely, Diesel’s By Request tour places the setlist firmly in the hands of the audience, where fans are invited to submit the songs they want to hear before each performance, including cover songs.

And Diesel does his best to perform them.

Drawing from a catalogue that spans more than four decades, the result is an intimate, unpredictable and deeply personal evening where every show takes on a life of its own.

Beginning on 4 September at The Playhouse, Civic Theatre in Newcastle, the spring run will weave through regional centres including Singleton, Queanbeyan, Griffith, Milton, Bega, Daylesford, Echuca, Bendigo, Ballarat and Cowes before wrapping up in Bathurst on 28 November.

Along with the acclaim the tour earned during its first chapter earlier this year, it is an experience that appears to be surpassing even Diesel’s own expectations. 

When guests select the songs they want to hear, they are also encouraged to leave a note as to why. This is the part that really impacts Diesel. 

“I love reading why particular songs are important to people,” he says. 

“Things like when their car broke down and they only had one cassette and listened to a certain song over and over,” he says. 

There was one note, however, that just “…blew my socks off,” Diesel says.

And that was from Felicity.

You can watch Diesel share with Bernie why Felicity’s story is so meaningful to him here:

Listening to Diesel, it’s not hard to feel what keeps him going.

Again, Diesel reiterates. it’s the connection

“It’s a really cathartic thing to be able to play music in front of people,” he says.

“I get to let a lot of stuff out. I get to have like a therapy session on stage and connect with people and there’s a connection with every song that I play.

“Sharing it with other people, it’s a rare thing that I get to do, and I don’t take it for granted at all.”

I did not think for one second that he did.

If you are lucky enough to be within cooee of a By Request show this spring, word is that you’ll feel like you are sitting on Diesel’s couch with a group of friends listening to stories, enjoying your favourite songs, finger snapping, reminiscing, clapping and singing along.

Yes, for one night, you are part of Diesel’s community.

And who knows, you might just remember how good it feels to belong to one.

By Request is at the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre on 25 September. Tickets (and song requests!) via dieselmusic.com.au