When Dragon’s classic line-up — Marc and Todd Hunter, Robert Taylor, Paul Hewson and Kerry Jacobson — reunited in 1982, it was meant to be a short-term fix to tidy up loose ends from the decade before. Instead, a surprise hit sent the band soaring back up the Australian charts and into a full-blown second act. This weekend, Dragon bring that storied legacy to the Hunter, playing Nelson Bay Diggers on Friday 14 August and Belmont 16s on Saturday 15 August.
The turning point came in 1983 at the then-new Rhinoceros Studios in East Sydney. While the band were recording a batch of fresh material, Polygram A&R executive Michael Crawley famously overheard Dragon performing Rain from the hallway. Legend has it he burst into the control room demanding to know who the band were and how he could sign the song on the spot. Newly arrived from the UK, Crawley was unaware of Dragon’s chaotic reputation — and that moment would help usher the band into one of the most successful periods of their career.
The resulting album, Body And The Beat, became a platinum-selling juggernaut, dominating Australian charts through the mid-1980s and cementing what many fans regard as Dragon’s “glory years”. It would also mark the final recorded appearance with the band for Hewson, Jacobson and Taylor, closing out a hugely productive chapter in Dragon’s history.
Now, Dragon are back on the road to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Body And The Beat with a special two-set live show. Fans can expect to hear the album performed in full, followed by a second set packed with the band’s top ten hits as voted by Dragon’s Facebook community.
You can hear our full interview with Todd Hunter below.
Who: Dragon
What: Body And The Beat 30th Anniversary Tour
When & Where: Nelson Bay Diggers – Friday 14 August; Belmont 16s – Saturday 15 August
Tickets: https://www.proticket.com.au/Search/dragon
You can hear our interview below.
