Live Review: Dragon

When people think of classic Australian '70s/'80s rock, you're likely to hear a few names pop up: Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, INXS, Crowded House, AC/DC and Dragon. It was back in 1972 that Todd Hunter, Ray Goodwin, Neil Reynolds and Graeme Collins formed Dragon in Auckland. Arguably the most famous member joined in 1974 and that man was Marc Hunter. Dragon's first taste of the Australian market came when they toured with Status Quo in 1975, and after a number of controversies that involved members dying or leaving, the band breaking up and, finally, the loss of Marc Hunter to cancer, it was always going to be interesting to see if the reformed band's 2014 Trilogy Tour would be successful.

The Dragon fans, 400-strong, that lined the seating, dancefloor, outside and stage area of The Gov even before the band took to the stage, were testament that the band's legacy still lives on strong. A massive roar erupted as lead singer Mark Williams ventured out onto the stage, and spoke with a sense of pride that immediately captured attention.

He thanked them for their ongoing support over the years and explained their current tour involved three sections. The Young Years (1973 to 1979), The Glory Years (1982 to 1998) and the Phoenix Years (2006 onward).

Dragon started their set with The Phoenix Years, which was met by the crowd with an eager enthusiasm. Unbeknownst to most of the crowd, Williams had his guitar set to the wrong key, which he explained at the end of the song, leaving the stage to retune his guitar. This allowed guitarist Bruce Reid to take over the vocals for a song. As they played through their set, they drew the crowd in further and further. As they progressed on through the next eras of their show the crowd became more enthused as the more recognisable songs were played.

So, after 40 years it's clear that Dragon have stood the test of time. Their classic mix of Australian rock and tenacity has helped the band to overcome the obstacles placed in their way. Here's hoping for many more years of great music from a classic band.