John Corabi and Friends, London Underworld 2026, review and photos by Dawn Osborne

Apparently John Corabi and friends had thought Glasgow was closer to London than it is and it’s an early start today of 6.45pm as on a Saturday there is an early curfew due to the night club. As such the band only just made the show and didn’t have time for a shower before! However, had they not told us we wouldn’t have known. With all members of the band being tour veterans, the show was the high quality that everyone expected. With Michael Devin (from Whitesnake), Paul Taylor (from Winger and Tom Keifer), Jeremy Asbrock (from the Ace Frehley and Gene Simmons bands), Troy Lucketta (from Tesla) and Marti Frederiksen (from the Steven Tyler band) it is indeed a line up full of pros.

Opener The Great Alone were a bit of a surprise as they were symphonic/modern metal. They were a good example of their genre and their singer had a great voice. It was the wrong audience for them really. Everyone going to a Corabi gig is into 70s Rock ‘n’ Roll and Hard Rock as best. As such, despite giving it everything they had, they got somewhat of a polite response in return. In recognition of effort the crowd gave them a big cheer after their final photo which made the band smile and was a good moment.

What was notable, was that the audience were familiar with the singles made available already from Corabi’s solo album out in April, and so ‘New Day’ the upbeat title track got a great response. All in all about half the set was the new album and given that most people won’t have heard anything other than the two singles, the other being ‘When We Were Young’. Corabi looked very pleased that everything went down so well. It must have been gratifying after a difficult day on the road.

Corabi is a consummate frontman and chats easily to the crowd and introduces his band early on. Ever the one liner champion he reacts to an enthusiastic female member of her audience by saying “I haven’t heard a woman scream since 1987, thank you!”.

It’s Valentine’s Day and the set includes the old Union song ‘Love (I Don’t Need It Anymore) and The Dead Daisies song ‘Love That’ll Never Be’ although it’s fairly true to say they probably would have been in the set anyway, both being flagship songs.

‘Do Your Own Thing’ was off the hook with these masterful musicians channelling Deep Purple not least thanks to Taylor’s Lord-like keys.

In an acoustic interlude with Corabi on his own he played ‘Good To be Here Again’. Having such a character full raspy voice means it is shown off to perfection with such a pared back format.

Towards the climax of the set we got the Crue song ‘Hooligan’s Holiday’. (Devin is appropriately wearing his Hook City Hooligans t-shirt a reference to his time with Coverdale whose studio is called ‘Hook City’.) Rather than a metal version it’s more of a jam.

Since Corabi is master of the cover song, ‘Midnight Moses’ finishes the main set, by which time everyone is singing every word.

 

They come back onstage for The Scream’s ‘Man In The Moon’. It must have been good as it seemed like a short set. Someone with such an extensive musical CV can only really touch the sides of course.

Quality musicians and quality songs – the band might have had a trying day – but all was well that ends well. Tickets have been hard to sell in London lately, but Corabi pulled a decent and appreciative crowd. One female fan who waited for him afterwards posted her selfie with him saying “the second love of my life”. Rock star adoration for a rock star filled evening. London is spoiled for good Rock shows, but no one in the crowd took this all-star band for granted. Corabi said he’d like to come back soon. His devoted will be waiting!

Dawn Osborne