American-born guitarist and vocalist Johnny Diesel, born Mark Lizotte, assembled Johnny Diesel and the Injectors during his residence in Perth, Australia. The band quickly rose to prominence as one of the nation’s leading pub rock outfits in the late 1980s. Their catalog featured roots-oriented numbers such as “Come To Me”, “Tip of My Tongue”, “Man Alive” and “Never Miss Your Water”. Captured in Memphis, Tennessee, the group’s self-titled debut album appeared in March 1999 and collected ARIA awards—Australia’s equivalent of the Grammys—for “best new talent” and “best selling album of the year”.
Born to a saxophone player, Diesel absorbed the extensive R&B holdings in his father’s library. After sharpening his abilities with the Innocent Bystanders, he launched Johnny Diesel and the Injectors in June 1986. The ensemble moved to Sydney the following September, where Diesel arranged ongoing support slots with Australian bluesman Jimmy Barnes; he performed solo to open the concerts before rejoining his band to back Barnes.
Once Johnny Diesel and the Injectors dissolved, Diesel sustained his momentum. His first solo outing, the 1992 release Hep Fidelity, ascended to the top of the Australian pop charts and secured ARIA honors for “best new artist” and “best male artist”.
Blues remained a central force in Diesel’s work. Even as he issued pop-focused records such as 1994’s Solid State Rhythm, his peak arrived with the blues project Short Cool Ones, cut alongside Melbourne-based harmonica player Chris Wilson.
After returning to the United States, Diesel issued the homecoming set Lost Soul Companion under his birth name Mark Lizzotte in October 1997.
