Iconic rock band Dragon is celebrating their 40th anniversary with a tour of New Zealand. The Daily Post entertainment reporter Kristin Macfarlane talks to original band member Todd Hunter about the tour.
Rotorua's Dragon fans are set to be introduced to a new sound - a new, modernised Dragon sound.
The seventies rock icons Dragon are set to start a national tour next week marking 40 years since they formed and they'll be heading to Rotorua as part of it, bringing their classic sounds as well as some new styles too.
The Daily Post spoke to original band member and bass player Todd Hunter, who is looking forward to getting in front of their New Zealand fans again and interacting with them.
The anniversary tour starts in Palmerston North on October 16 and will perform 14 shows from Invercargill to Kerikeri, including a show in Rotorua.
Dragon have become an iconic rock band following their successes. They formed in the 1970s and can boast a long list of hit songs such as April Sun in Cuba, Are You Old Enough?, Still in Love With You, Rain, Young Years and Dreams of Ordinary Men.
They sold more than one million records in the mid-70s before disbanding in 1979 and reforming in 1982 and breaking up again in 1997.
Although Dragon are on tour all the time doing gigs, Hunter said he was excited to get a national tour under way again and visit towns and venues they hadn't been to in years. He said they hadn't performed in Rotorua since the 80s and he was looking forward to coming back and performing for fans.
One of the things he was most looking forward to was the crowd interaction when they perform in New Zealand.
"The New Zealand, Kiwi crowd sing incredibly in tune," he said.
Rotorua residents attending next month's concert at the Civic Theatre will get to hear all the Dragon classics while also be introduced to some new, 21st Century Dragon sound.
"We'll play everything that everybody knows and a few new ones."
"It's definitely Dragon but it's 21st Century."
He said every decade, Dragon performed to completely different crowds.
Hunter said after so many years apart, he thought it was time to do a new national tour and celebrate their 40th anniversary and "mark the occasion".
"It seemed like the songs neded to be sung again."
"It all just came along easily."
Hunter is encouraging Rotorua residents to head along to the concert and is promising audience members "a lot of energy" and a good time.
"We're really looking forward to getting there. Come and say hi after the show."
"You'll feel great at the end of it."
Tickets for the Dragon concert are available from Ticketmaster. The show will be held at the Civic Theatre on November 1 between 7.30pm and 11pm.
OCTOBER:
TUES 16 PALMERSTON NORTH THE REGENT ON BROADWAY
WED 17 WELLINGTON THE OPERA HOUSE
THURS 18 NEW PLYMOUTH THE MAYFAIR
FRI 19 OWHANGO OWHANGO HOTEL
SAT 20 MOUNT MAUNGANUI BREWERS FIELD
SUN 21 GISBORNE FEAST GISBORNE
WED 24 INVERCARGILL CIVIC THEATRE
THURS 25 DUNEDIN SAMMY'S
FRI 26 CHRISTCHURCH THE BEDFORD
SUN 28 NELSON SCHOOL OF MUSIC
TUES 30 NAPIER MUNICIPAL THEATRE
WED 31 HAMILTON FOUNDERS THEATRE
NOVEMBER:
THURS 1 ROTORUA CIVIC THEATRE
FRI 2 AUCKLAND POWERSTATION