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He bursts out of Perth in 1987 with the band Johnny Diesel and the Injectors. Their self-titled debut, recorded in Memphis with producer Terry Manning and release in March '89, spawns the hits Don't Need Love, Soul Revival, Cry in Shame and Looking For Love, and wins the band ARIA's for Best New Talent and Best Selling Album Of The Year (more than 280,000 sold).
After a mini-album, Live in London, "Johnny" pulls the pin on the Injectors, resurfacing as Diesel with the single Love Junk in July 1991. The album, "Hepfidelity" follows in '92 containing hit singles Come To Me, Tip Of My Tongue, Man Alive and One More Time, and sells more than 200,000 copies. Diesel wins Best Album and Best Male Artist at the '92 ARIA's.
"The Lobbyist", a mix of new songs, re-working of some Hepfidelity tracks and a couple of covers, is released in August '93. It hits number one on the Australian charts, and Diesel again wins the ARIA for Best Male Artist.
In '94 "Solid State Rhyme" featuring All Come Together, Fifteen Feet of Snow and Get It On is another multi-platinum smash.
Diesel then records "Short Cool Ones", an album of blues covers and one original (Diesel's Other Man), with Chris Wilson. After some production and writing work on Vika and Linda's "Princess Tabu" album, Diesel disappears....
Diesel and his family relocated to New York in '96. "I just needed to wipe the whole floor. I didn't want to be around familiar things. I went to New York with nothing; I didn't even have one song. Going to New York gave me another chance to go back to the beginning. I realised that's the best bit. I almost feel a bit guilty about getting to do it all over again. It's a great feeling when people discover you".
Mark signed to Mammoth (Joe Henry, Juliana Hatfeild and the American home to Frente) in June '98. His next album "Soul Lost Companion" is a revelation. Diesel went to America with nothing and returns with his best album to date. Collaborating with Neil Finn was the highlight of the writing process, culminating in the dark, hypnotic "Burning Water".
As for the title of the album, Mark says, "I like the word Ścompanion'. Music has definitely been a great companion for me."
From June 2001 Diesel has decided to record his next album and base his family home in the country he loves most, Australia, launching with a national tour of the Hard Rock Cafe's in Melbourne, Sydney and Surfers Paradise celebrationing their 30th year anniversary.
Diesel enthuses "The Hard Rock Cafe's have always been a great supporter of mine and I am pleased to be returning to Australia as part of their international 30th anniversary celebrations. I am thrilled at the opportunity to record my next album back home and can't wait to get out on the road for some great gigs".
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