John Botica - Between the Shadows

Original Press release by Laughing Outlaw Records - April 2003

Laughing Outlaw Records is proud to release "Between The Shadows", the debut solo album by guitarist/vocalist, John Botica. John Botica began playing guitar at the age of fifteen. Leaving his first band of note, Sydney based heavy rock band Ironheart, in 1986, John formed The Labrats with drummer Brendon Venner and bassist Mark O'Connor, John taking on lead vocals as well as guitar. After a year and a half of performing their unique brand of blistering heavy rocking punk in venues all over Sydney, The Labrats eventually travelled to England where they performed on the London underground circuit up until they disbanded in 1990.

A year later John returned to Australia where he and Venner formed and recorded with yet another three piece called Full Moon Radio. Following the break-up of Full Moon Radio in 1992, John found himself as the lead guitarist for His Majesty, featuring ex-members of AC/DC and The Masters Apprentices. It was with this band that John worked with American songster Tiny Tim, with whom he appeared on three albums. Following a short stint with The Sunshine Crowd, John re-joined and recorded an album with His Majesty (under the new name Good Time Charlie). Following the release of the album "Adults Only" in 1997, Good Time Charlie toured South East Asia twice promoting it.

Following his departure from Good Time Charlie in 2000, John brushed the dust off his vocal chords and formed the first line-up of his band, John Botica's Alibi, and immediately went to work on the production of his debut solo album entitled "Between the Shadows". In a recent interview with globalrockstream.com, John described his solo debut thus: "I think I could best describe it as an album of light and shade, beauty and ugliness. It's got some rapid mood swings in there. Listening back to it I think I was getting some stuff off my chest. It covers a whole range of topics, ranging from corporate greed and domination to the killing of whales for profit, to personal disillusionment and the fighting of ones own demons to the love of travel."

If you dig classic guitar driven rock music, then you'll love John Botica's "Between The Shadows". While John's trademark blistering fretwork features throughout, substantial subtlety is achieved through the skilful use of violin, keyboards and brass. This album resulted from one man's journey through the many twists and turns of life. It's a journey you'll enjoy embarking on too, if you dare!

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Between the Shadows