david lowy yacht

It's time to drop the 'rich man's plaything' snark - The Dead Daisies just wanna rock

Now bolstered by the songs and shriek of new frontman Glenn Hughes, The Dead Daisies are a supergroup to take seriously

David Lowy, Dead Daisies rhythm guitarist and de facto leader, takes a deep breath and prepares to address the elephant in the room. 

“Look,” he says, “we didn’t start out like a bunch of teenagers, each of us pitching in a hundred dollars of our savings. One of the first gigs we did was opening for ZZ Top .”

We have not come to cast aspersions on The Dead Daisies. The Australian-American-British supergroup are rapidly becoming one of the most exciting bands in modern rock. Their newly released fifth album Holy Ground is a roaring return that finds incoming frontman and chief songwriter Glenn Hughes somewhere near the top of his game. 

“This new album is all about what’s going on between birth and death,” the well-travelled bassist/vocalist explains. “Fear, faith, denial, celebration and happiness. All those ‘feeling’ words, y’know?” 

We’ll get to that. But here’s the thing. Even now, eight years after the band’s formation, a vocal minority of snarkier rock fans still insist that the Dead Daisies have a plastic heart. 

The conspiracy theory goes something like this. As the eldest son of Westfield Corporation co-founder and Australia’s real-estate king Frank Lowy – not to mention being a formidable businessman in his own right – 66-year-old David Lowy has ridden the executive shuttle to headliner status. 

While other new bands tramp the boards of every rat hole in town, he has been able to open a bottomless attaché case and pay top dollar to a conveyor belt of name sidemen, from Guns N’ Roses keyboard player Dizzy Reed to sometime Mötley Crüe singer John Corabi. The most waspish accusation of all is that for Lowy the Dead Daisies are just a rich man’s hobby; if it wasn’t this, it’d probably be space tourism or racehorses. 

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Lowy gives a good-natured sigh. He’s heard all this before. And the truth is, the moment you hear the immensely likeable guitarist’s defence, the scepticism starts to wither. It’s not just that his mobile buzzes periodically with the Back In Black riff. It’s also the growing sense that he’s a rock’n’roll lifer, in this world up to his neck. 

“For me it always comes back to growing up in Australia,” he begins. “Even before AC/DC it was The Easybeats. 

“It’s been a very long journey. I’ve lived my life in reverse. I loved piano as a kid, played bass guitar in a garage band as a teenager. But then I went to university and into the family business. After doing that for twenty-plus years I thought: ‘Jeez, I always loved music.’ I really wanted to start playing again.”

Critics take note: The Dead Daisies are not Lowy’s first project, nor did he leap straight into the superleague. 

“I’ve played in cover bands, carried my own gear,” he reminds us. “We once did a gig for a big industry group. It was early in my music career, and I saw for the first time how badly musicians get treated. As far as they were concerned, they didn’t know who I was, because when I’m dressed as a musician I’m a musician. They didn’t connect me to my business career. We couldn’t eat in the main room, we had to eat in the kitchen, they gave us terrible food, they were just downright rude to us. And I thought: ‘Jeez, this is interesting.’ It was an education.” 

When it’s suggested to him that another great rock’n’roll businessman, Gene Simmons , wouldn’t have stood for that, Lowy smiles: “Well,” he says, “Gene would have me for breakfast as a businessman.” 

There was an uptick in 2005, when Lowy joined with Aussie rock icon Doc Neeson in the underrated Red Phoenix. But when Neeson (who sadly died in 2014 from a brain tumour) stepped back from the rock scene, and the financial crash of 2008 threatened Lowy’s business interests, it seemed that the boardroom had claimed him back. “But I always wanted to get back to the music. Then our manager introduced me to Jon Stevens, who took the place of Michael Hutchence in INXS. We hit it off, put ourselves in a room for a week, and out came twenty-five songs. We didn’t even have a band.” 

Lowy and Stevens recorded the Daisies’ 2013 self-titled debut album with a cast of respected-if-obscure session musicians. But a cameo by Slash on Lock ‘N’ Load suggested the band had loftier ambitions. And so it proved. 

Today, Lowy paints the band’s high-profile acquisitions as a domino rally of happy coincidences. He was introduced to GN’R guitarist Richard Fortus when the band toured Australia. “And through Richard I met everybody else. He said: ‘Well, do you want keyboards? Let’s bring in Dizzy…’” 

All those players are long-gone now, although Lowy stresses that each one’s exit was entirely amicable, the players simply returning to their mothership bands. 

The arrival of Hughes feels different. A bona fide rock A-lister, he confers instant legitimacy and brings a raft of undeniable songs to a line-up completed by ex- Whitesnake guitarist Doug Aldrich and former Journey drummer Deen Castronovo. 

Still, those same doubters may wonder what’s in it for Hughes – does he believe in this band, or is it yet another stop-over for a career journeyman?

“I want to work with people I like at this point in my life,” Hughes says, regarding his motives. “I needed another vehicle that I hadn’t tapped into. Something different. In the last few years it’s been serious hustle for me. I don’t want to slow down. Because I see a lot of my friends do that, and they’ve kind of lost their hunger to do it. 

“I was doing the Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple tour for almost three years,” he continues. “It was early 2019. I got a call from the management of The Dead Daisies, asking if I would take a meeting with David in Hollywood. We spoke about what he wanted to do. They were obviously eyeing me for my songwriting and vocals. I’d seen them on the radar, but I hadn’t heard a lot of material. 

"So then I obviously had to get my thinking cap on and listen. To me they sounded more eighties than seventies, and they wanted me to take it back a bit. I had to ask myself: ‘Am I ready to do something other than solo?’ I thought about it. We got together in New York in May 2019, had some fun. Then we started pre-production at Sunset Sound. That was a week of ‘Can we do this?’ And we realised that we could.” 

Cynics might expect that Lowy is paying you well. Is that a factor? 

“No, I don’t do anything for money,” Hughes insists. “I’ve never done that. Money never comes into the question. Nah. Not at all. You know me well enough to know it’s about music. That’s the primary purpose for me. It’s sobriety and music.” 

How about that accusation that The Dead Daisies are a rich man’s plaything? 

“On paper it might look that way. That was the thing that queried me. Yes, David’s got a nice jet. We fly around the world on that jet. It’s great for me, I’m getting older now. But trust me when I tell you that David is so on-point when he’s in the room with us. He is all rock, rock, rock. And ‘Let’s rock some more.’ 

"He’s got his business gig, as you know. We won’t talk too much about that. You can Google it. But seriously, you gotta believe me here, I don’t sense a guy with money here, dabbling. I sense a guy that wants to rock. He’s a great guitar player. He has no fear. He always wants to learn. I admire people like that. I’ll always be a student of music, until they throw the dirt on me."

If there is any remaining sniff of scepticism, Holy Ground will stamp it out. The Daisies’ four studio albums to date have been more than decent, but this fifth is a quantum leap forward, the kind of music that would be impossible to make if you didn’t mean it with every fibre. There’s nothing wafty about juggernaut tracks like Come Alive and Bustle And Flow , with Hughes more than justifying his fee, whatever that might be. 

“I wanted to write big choruses and big grooves,” he says. “But then Far Away was written when I got out my acoustic guitar. I thought: ‘We’re missing a slow song, and here comes a seven-minute Glenn epic.’ It’s a song that speaks to me, because it’s about me coming home, finding myself, the prodigal son kind of thing.” 

What other themes came up for you? 

“Back when I was out there in the darkness, I wrote fictional stuff. But when I got sober I started to write about the inner stuff. I’m not frightened to express myself. There’s a lot of stuff on this album about letting go. I can’t fix the guy I used to be. But it’s about karmic learning and being in the moment. These songs were written four months before the pandemic hit. But you’ll listen to some of the lyrics and go: ‘Did Hughes know anything about this?” 

COVID has certainly disrupted the Daisies’ schedule; the album has been kicked down the road a few times. Now, though, with Hughes on board and vaccines being rolled out, the conditions might be right for the Dead Daisies to bloom. Has the man with rock’n’roll’s lengthiest résumé finally found a home? 

“I hope so,” Hughes says. “I’ve given myself to the band. I want to make music.” 

“How this band fits together is the key,” Lowy stresses. “A good football team will beat a bunch of superstar players any day of the week. It’s how the people relate with each other, read each other, complement each other. It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up when you’re in the studio with Glenn and he’s on fire. It’s a privilege to make music with these guys – and I can’t wait to get out there and play.” 

Not just a hobby, then? 

“Right,” says Lowy. “This is anything but a hobby. Talk to any of the guys I play with; this is a passion. There’s plenty of guys around like me. I don’t hide from the fact I’m a businessman, I’ve got resources. But if it was that easy, more people would be doing it. If this was just a hobby, I don’t think we’d have been able to achieve what we have.”

Holy Ground is out now via SPV/Steamhammer .

Henry Yates has been a freelance journalist since 2002 and written about music for titles including The Guardian, The Telegraph, NME, Classic Rock, Guitarist, Total Guitar and Metal Hammer . He is the author of Walter Trout's official biography, Rescued From Reality , a music pundit on Times Radio and BBC TV, and an interviewer who has spoken to Brian May, Jimmy Page, Ozzy Osbourne, Ronnie Wood, Dave Grohl, Marilyn Manson, Kiefer Sutherland and many more. 

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Influenced by 70’s and early 80’s rock, The Dead Daisies sound is soulful and accessible – equal parts of Aerosmith, Bad Company and Foreigner: muscular vocals, bluesy riffs, big choruses, powerful melodies and strong hooks. With stellar musicianship and pulverizing live shows, fans across the globe are discovering the band that is bringing back Rockl!! This is their story. Fasten your seatbelts…

The Dead Daisies, formed in 2013 by guitarist David Lowy, are a musical collective created by a rotating line-up that has featured some of the best Rock musicians on the planet.

The Band’s DNA includes an amazing collective of players that includes David Lowy (Mink/Red Phoenix), Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake/Dio), John Corabi (Motley Crue/The Scream), Michael Devin (Whitesnake) , Tommy Clufetos (Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath), Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple/Black Country Communion), Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy/Whitesnake), Richard Fortus (Guns N’ Roses/The Psychedelic Furs), Dizzy Reed (Guns N’ Roses/Hookers and Blow), Darryl Jones (The Rolling Stones), Charley Drayton (The X-pensive Winos/The Cult), John Tempesta (The Cult/Rob Zombie), Deen Castronovo (Journey/Bad English), Jon Stevens (Noiseworks/INXS), Alex Carapetis (Julian Casablancas + The Voidz/Nine Inch Nails), Bernard Fowler (The Rolling Stones) and Frank Ferrer (Guns N’ Roses/The Psychedelic Furs).

2013… In early 2013 The Dead Daisies were invited to open for ZZ Top in Australia. Word about their dynamic live show spread quickly and the band soon joined legendary American rockers Aerosmith on their first Australasian tour in 23 years. In August & September the band were introduced to the US market headlining one of the side stages as part of the massive 25-date Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival which toured throughout the US & Canada alongside Alice In Chains & Jane’s Addiction.

The Daisies then headed to the UK and played 18 dates across the country with Black Star Riders kicking it off with their first ever UK headlining show at The Underworld in Camden to rave reviews.

The band’s first single “Lock ‘N’ Load” featuring Slash, from their self-titled debut album was an international hit and stormed the US & UK radio airwaves hitting Number 1 on Planet Rock Radio with Classic Rock Magazine listing it as one of the top 20 songs of the year. The bands’ second single “Washington” went to #18 on the Rock Radio Chart (MediaBase) in the US and received airplay on Triple M in Australia. They closed out 2013 playing two shows in Israel, with a SOLD OUT epic headline show at The Barby in Tel Aviv.

2014… February saw the band return to Australia playing a number of dates in support of their debut album and growing their hometown crowd. In July the band headed to the US where they played 9 shows across the country as Special Guest to Lynyrd Skynyrd & Bad Company. The month of August saw The Daisies playing the US with Def Leppard & KISS where they impressed even the die-hard KISS fans.

On August 5th, The Dead Daisies released their brand-new EP called “Face I Love”. An innovative Facebook app was launched along with the single giving fans the opportunity to participate by having their faces appear on the EP cover, in the promotional video & posters. The single hit the top 25 on the Rock radio chart (MediaBase) in the US.

In October the band released their next single “Angel In Your Eyes” before heading for their first live performances on the high seas, joining KISS on the KISS Kruise IV around the Bahamas. November & December then saw The Dead Daises in Australia headlining shows in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Sydney, as well as a much-anticipated performance in Perth. The band also played dates with the legendary Jimmy Barnes on the New Zealand leg of his tour.

2015… The next year proved to be another landmark phase for the band. After months of planning, the band kicked off the year with an historic visit to Cuba. Within months of trade restrictions being relaxed by the Obama administration, the band played sold out shows, visited music schools and played with local Cuban musicians. The line-up featured long standing collective members Richard Fortus, Dizzy Reed, Darryl Jones, David Lowy, and Marco Mendoza. They were joined by singers John Corabi (Mötley Crüe/The Scream) and Bernard Fowler (The Rolling Stones) for the first time. The trip was historic, monumental and left a lasting impression with the Cuban people and the band with the world media covering the trip extensively.

The Cuban tour was the inspiration for the second album titled ‘Revolución’ which was released from June, in Europe, the US and Australia. The album would be the first to feature new singer John Corabi.

In June, The Dead Daisies returned to Europe on the KISS 40th Anniversary Tour. First time collective member Tommy Clufetos (Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne) joined on drums. Along the way, they collected a pile of fans as they exploded on-stage with monster sets at the largest festivals in Europe including Download (UK), Rockavaria (Germany), Graspop Metal Meeting (Belgium) and more. The band then headed back to the US at the end of July for three weeks on the road supporting Whitesnake on their Purple World Tour. Australian Daisies fans finally saw the band fronted by John Corabi when they performed with KISS across Australia during October. This was followed a few days later with a return to the KISS Kruise (V), which sailed from Miami to Jamaica.

To close up 2015, The Dead Daisies played their most extensive tour of Europe ever visiting places like Russia, Finland, Sweden and Macedonia among others for the first time while guesting with Whitesnake. In addition, the band performed their first headline show in Paris to a sold-out ecstatic crowd who turned out in force two weeks after the tragic events at the Bataclan venue. The band then returned to the UK to play a series of sold out club shows, which featured a main stage performance at Planet Rock Stock Festival in Wales. After a near sold out tour in the UK the band headed to Israel for a second time where they played sold out shows in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to close a year that had been huge for The Dead Daisies.

2016… The next chapter in The Daisies story not only saw the writing and recording of a new album to follow up the highly acclaimed ‘Revolución’, it also saw the addition of one of the rock world’s most prolific guitarists, Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake/Dio) to the line-up, taking over lead guitar duties from Richard Fortus who departed along with Dizzy Reed to return to Guns N’ Roses.

The band signed an exclusive, global distribution deal with SPV Records in 2016 and recorded their new studio album ‘Make Some Noise’ with mega-producer Marti Frederiksen (Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Buckcherry) in Nashville with a worldwide release on August 5th.

2016 was a pivotal year for The Dead Daisies, not only with the release of a third album that was praised throughout rock media worldwide but the debut both in the studio and live for Doug Aldrich. Transferring the power of the new album onto a live stage proved to be an easy transition for the band. They kicked off their 2016 live appearances performing as “Special Guest” at Musikmesse Frankfurt on the Center Stage, followed by a guest slot with the Hollywood Vampires featuring Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Johnny Depp in Germany. Straight off the back of these dates followed the biggest European festivals and SOLD OUT club dates across UK and Germany to critical acclaim. August through September saw the band join up with friends KISS on their ‘Freedom to Rock’ shows and also saw the band headline prestigious venues the Whisky-A-Go-Go in LA and the Webster Hall in New York.

In an approach to continually cover new ground, the band took various detours in the US. One of these included performing at the inaugural Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with a powerful performance at the Full Throttle Saloon. To top it off, they played at the NFL home of the Arizona Cardinals on game day where the team used a personalized version of ‘Make Some Noise’ every time they make a touchdown!

For the first time since the band’s inception, The Dead Daisies headed to the Asian continent with Japan being the first stop, where they made an appearance at Loud Park Festival in October. They played to a packed-out arena with a very enthusiastic crowd. This was followed by a series of shows for the USO playing for the US military in South Korea, something that the band have been keen to do for a long time. When the timing and logistics worked out, The Dead Daisies were only too happy to take the opportunity to play for the service men and woman and show their personal appreciation. After spending time at sea on the KISS Kruise VI sailing around Mexico and the Cayman Islands, the band crossed the Atlantic to start an extensive tour of the UK and Europe with co-headliners ‘The Answer’. The tour proved to be an unbelievable success with dates selling out well in advance.

2017… The year continued on an upward trajectory with more “firsts” including a highly acclaimed live album, ‘Live & Louder’ which hit stores on May 19 and set the tone for the year to come. The Live & Louder World Tour wowed crowds at such high-profile festivals as Download, Sweden Rock, Rock Hard Festival, Hellfest and Graspop as well as a string of sold-out headline shows in packed venues all the way from Germany to Hungary. The band’s triumphant return to Japan saw them headline capacity crowds in Tokyo and Osaka; only months after their inaugural performance in the previous November.

Barely having strummed the last chord, the band took off across the sea for their first ever concerts in Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Mexico – huge club shows packed to the rafters with diehard fans. Next up, the band entered the stage at Woodstock Festival Poland with nothing less than a full-blown, 60 – piece orchestra behind them. It truly was an awe-inspiring spectacle in front of over a quarter of a million.

To conclude this massive undertaking, the band returned to the US for ‘The Dirty Dozen’ tour. They teamed up with 12 of the country’s biggest Harley-Davidson dealers for the revved-up ‘Rock N Ride’ promotion, which saw the band make their high-octane comeback to the Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis, storm through major cities including New York, Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles and Las Vegas in August, and then finishing up with The Easyriders Rodeo and the National H.O.G. Rally at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee WI on Labor Day Weekend.

With the launch of the official, all-American music video for ‘We’re An American Band’ just ahead of the US tour, the band scored over a million views in just under two weeks – not to mention the video for ‘Long Way To Go’ blowing up the 1.5 million views mark just days earlier.

Wrapping up 2017, The Dead Daisies set up camp at the famous Jungle Room rehearsal space in the heart of New York City to write their new album together again, teaming up with legendary producer Marti Frederiksen. Returning to his studio in Nashville, the band spent the remainder of the year recording their new masterpiece, which set the Rock world ablaze in 2018…

2018… With the masses hungering for new material, ‘Rise Up’, the first single off the new album was unleashed on March 9. Sporting arenas across Europe had been playing the song with the fans “rising up” to support their favourite teams! “Rise Up” exploded on the airwaves with the song being added to some of the biggest and most prestigious rock playlists around the world. The band landed a real coup when both “Rise Up” and the album teaser track “Resurrected” landed on the Planet Rock UK A-List simultaneously!

In late March the band rehearsed the new material at the renowned SIR studios in New York City before releasing their highly anticipated, brand new album entitled ‘Burn It Down’ on April 6.

Right after, The Dead Daisies embarked on yet another massive World Tour kicking off with Sold-Out shows in venues across the UK, followed by the band playing to packed houses in Europe in April & May, all powered by their new brand partner, Crystal Head Vodka. Crystal Head Vodka is a great match for the band, having the iconic skull-shaped bottle created by comedian and actor Dan Aykroyd & designer John Alexander.

While “Rise Up” rose up steadily through the ranks, eventually hitting the Top 40 US Charts, they released their new single “Dead And Gone” on June 22, hit the Top 40 on the Radio Charts in the US and the video clip reaching nearly 1 million views! The corresponding video combines classic performance elements intertwined with appearances from the Undead, which were created, filmed and edited by legendary horror visionary Tony Valenzuela (Black Box TV, Villisca). June ended with the band making their long-awaited return to Japan.

In July the band played gigantic festival shows at the renowned Rock Fest Barcelona and Rock & Blues Custom Show UK. In addition, The Dead Daisies played dates in Europe with German Rock band The Scorpions & Guns N’ Roses in Estonia in front of 78,000 people.

It was at these shows The Dead Daisies introduced a range of fan experiences under the name of DaisyLand. These innovative opportunities included signings, exclusive acoustic & electric shows, meet & greets, inviting guests to special events, competitions, exclusive merchandising and evolve as the band continues to build and cherish the special bond with their supporters. A great example of how this new concept worked extraordinarily well was on the last US/Canada tour where the band performed at the Guitar Center stores throughout the US, music stores in Canada and Bartels Harley- Davidson in LA.

Not backing down in the least, the unstoppable rock juggernaut that is The Dead Daisies hit the US for a series of dates throughout August and September. To promote the tour, the band introduced “Rock N Ride”, a promotion with select Harley-Davidson dealerships in conjunction with Dee Snider’s “The House of Hair” – the prize, an Iron 883 Harley Davidson motorcycle! Freedom Harley-Davidson being the dealer supplying one very excited fan from Ottawa Canada. An Excellent Adventure competition initially launched across the summer touring schedule and was won by Astrid from The Netherlands – who was over the moon to travel to London, meet the band and experience An Excellent Adventure. On October 12 ‘Can’t Take It With You’, released and aired on Planet Rock and cracked No. 1 position, and the band set sail on the high seas on the epic KISS Kruise VIII for Halloween. Nominations for Hard Rock Hell the ‘Global Heroes’ Award and Great News Stories ‘Best Band 2018’ in November along with the single ‘Burn It Down’ getting a haircut, these Rock pros returned to dry land for their WinterLand Tour. Headline, Sold Out dates in O2 Academy venues in the UK and festival appearances at Hard Rock Hell, Monstersfest, WinterStorm lead into Planet Rockstock and fifteen dates finishing up on December 16.

The end of year accolades of Top 5 ‘Best Band 2018’ – Great Music Stories and No. 10 Ultimate Classic Rock – Best Album 2018, cemented a great year! The band have actively engaged with Spotify, and as a result their songs were streamed over 3 million times. 2018 was another an amazing year!

2019… Straight out of the gates in the New Year an exciting project was launched – Welcome To Daisyland, a horror anthology series. Songs from the Burn It Down album are featured in the new series and include ‘Burn It Down’, ‘Judgement Day’ and ‘Dead And Gone’. A new acoustic version of Dead And Gone was released as a digital single when the first episode aired on Valentine’s Day, February 14.

Maintaining the bands presence on Spotify, a series of acoustic tracks were released over the first half of the year. Classic songs including The Who’s ‘My Generation’, Led Zeppelin’s, ‘Ramble On’, ‘Maggie May’ originally by Rod Stewart followed by ‘We’re An American Band’ made famous by Grand Funk Railroad. These tracks were recorded at Planet Rock Radio back in November 2016. Acoustic versions of ‘Song and a Prayer’ and ‘Fortunate Son’ recorded in Frankfurt in 2016 for an American Airlines promotion, were released in May. The band’s debut album made its’ way onto vinyl for the very first time in June due to popular demand. Continuing the trend of retrospective songs, the second half of the year saw The Beatles classic ‘Helter Skelter’ recorded live in Frankfurt out on all digital platforms. This was closely followed by the remix of ‘Make Some Noise’ with Berlin based EDM duo twocolors, renamed ‘Make It Louder. Creedance Clearwater Revivals’ time-honoured track ‘Fortunate Son’ went out as the single to ‘Locked And Loaded’ and exceeded 1 million streams on Spotify. Locked And Loaded – The covers album was released on August 23.

Late August saw the band go in to Sunset Sound Studios in L.A. to start writing and recording with new vocalist and bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple/Black Country Communion). Planet Rock debuted new track ‘Righteous Days’ resulting in the song being available for streaming on Spotify from October 4.

In early November the band headed to the south of France to La Fabrique studios for ten days to start pre-production on the new album and launched The Deadly Daisys for all their friends. As the end of the year came to a close, the band returned to the La Fabrique studio to put vocals and guitars on the album.

2020… 2020 started with the final touches added to the album in LA with Ben Grosse at the helm, with the mixing process beginning late January. The first single to break the silence from the forthcoming album ‘Holy Ground’ was ‘Unspoken’ in April. Accompanied by an amazing lyric video reaching over 600K+ plays on You Tube and streamed over 497K+ on Spotify continues to rise along with adds to radio station playlists around the globe. ‘Unspoken’ was closely followed by a Remix by electronic/music duo Dance With The Dead cracking the EDM world.

On June 6th the band played four stripped back songs in a virtual sense from their own homes as part of the ‘Taste of Syracuse’ virtual Festival. July 17 saw the release of The Lockdown Sessions EP with four stripped back semi-acoustic tracks, ‘Unspoken’, ‘Fortunate Son’ with Deen on lead vocals, ‘Righteous Days’ and an amazing version of the Humble Pie classic, ’30 Days In The Hole’ with Glenn and Doug.

September 25th saw the release of ‘Bustle and Flow’ the 2nd single to hit the digital airwaves. The track climbed up the US Classic Rock and Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator charts into the Top 20. A spellbinding animated video set the scene, reaching 365,000+ plays on YouTube in the first few weeks.

‘Holy Ground’ the third single from the upcoming album came out on December 4th and climbed the charts. The official hard-hitting band video opens through the eyes of a raven, with a backdrop of graveyards, moon and swirling mist creating the atmosphere perfectly.

2021… The new album ‘Holy Ground’ was released in January 2021. Reaction from fans, critics and reviewers have been colossal, making it by far the most acclaimed album to date in the bands career. ‘Chosen and Justified’, the fourth single from Holy Ground was released on March 5th to immediate airplay around the planet!

The band launched their own radio show called ‘LIVE FROM DAISYLAND’ in partnership with MONSTERS OF ROCK RADIO, one of the world’s leading digital rock radio stations on April 21st, airing every Wednesday at 3PM.

On May 7th, a free to play mobile game ‘Daisys Revenge’ was launched taking the graphics and narrative from the bands chart topping music video ‘Bustle And Flow’ and set to a soundtrack of rock music from the Daisies new album ‘Holy Ground’.

Returning to the lineup, powerhouse drummer Tommy Clufetos, who played on the fifth single ‘Like No Other’ 2021 released on May 7th hitting the Top 20 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator Chart and Top 10 on the Foundations Secondary Market Rock Chart. He joined the band on their Get Out Of The House US dates in June/July 2021.

A very short film with footage from the Get Out Tour for ’Like No Other’ aired from August 4th and a crowd favourite from the tour, ‘My Fate’ (radio edit) was launched on August 6th. ‘Saving Grace’ (Radio Edit) was released on September 17th, a band favourite from the album ‘Holy Ground’.

The Daisies headed out on tour in the US in September and October for the ‘Like No Other’ tour, before they headed to the UK in October/November for the first time in nearly three years, with Glenn returning to his roots in Birmingham and seven more shows from Wales to London and Cardiff.

2022… The first half of 2022 saw the band writing and recording a new album with Producer Ben Grosse in LA and releasing four live singles over the following months from their Like No Other US, England/Wales Tour. ‘Rise Up’ Live, ‘Bustle And Flow’ Live, ‘Long Way To Go’ Live and ‘Burn’ Live the crown on the ‘Live From Daisyland’ EP.

‘Radiance’, the first single from the upcoming album was released on May 27th with a meta-cinematic (video), prior to hitting Europe on their EU Summer Tour from Germany to Sweden. The 2nd single ‘Shine On’ fired on July 8th during the European Tour. ‘Hypnotize Yourself’ the 3rd single was released on August 5th as they completed their EU Summer Tour. September 2nd saw the release of ‘Face Your Fear’ the 4th single.

In the fall the band headed out on their US Tour playing from the east to the west coast finishing in Seattle. This was closely followed by the release of ‘RADIANCE’ – the album which shone bright on September 30th hitting global charts, airplay of all ten tracks and rave reviews.

‘Born To Fly’ took flight in November with an adrenaline-fueled video based around David’s love of flying! December brought a massive year to a close with their UK & IE Winter Tour.

2023… Celebrating A Decade Of Rock, The Dead Daisies released a ‘Best Of’ album in August showcasing some of the band’s favourite tracks from over the decade. John Corabi returned to the fold for the 2023 Tour with bassist Michael Devin (of Whitesnake fame) joining the band for the first time. The Daisies toured the USA, Canada, Japan and two European tours in November and December taking in several Festivals and headline shows to close the year off on an epic high.

2024…. 2024 kicked off with the band in Muscle Shoals and Nashville writing and recording with Marti Frederiksen. The new single “Light ‘Em Up” was released on May 10th with the album of the same name out September 6th. The band announced the “Light ‘Em Up” Tour, after which they played the US to amazing reviews following by the UK and Europe with more to come. The 2nd single “I’m Gonna Ride” hit the streets on August 2nd.

Watch THE DEAD DAISIES' Music Video For Cover Of HUMBLE PIE's '30 Days In The Hole'

THE DEAD DAISIES — the hard rock "collective" founded by Australian musician and businessman David Lowy — has released the official music video for its cover version of the HUMBLE PIE classic "30 Days In The Hole" . The track is taken from THE DEAD DAISIES ' new digital EP, "The Lockdown Sessions" , which was made avaialble on July 17 via Steamhammer / SPV . The effort contains four acoustic tracks, all of them exclusive to this EP.

Says the band: "Darker nights, isolation and a world full of uncertainties have all been great inspiration for our latest video featuring the haunting version of '30 Days In The Hole' , stripped back and done with a guitar and voice featuring Glenn [ Hughes ] and Doug [ Aldrich ]. The cover of the HUMBLE PIE classic in its very bare and raw form highlights both Glenn 's unique and powerful voice as well Doug 's distinctive playing technique. Watch this amazing atmospheric video which reflects the words and feelings of the performance perfectly."

"The Lockdown Sessions" contains four tracks: "Unspoken" , "Righteous Days" and "30 Days In The Hole" , with these three exclusive unplugged versions also featuring as powerful rock tracks on the upcoming album, "Holy Ground" . The EP rounds out with a stripped back version of "Fortunate Son" , featuring drummer Deen Castronovo on lead vocals.

Lowy said: "As soon as it had become clear that our tour and album release would have to be postponed until 2021, we recorded these acoustic tracks with our fans in mind. 'The Lockdown Sessions' is our way to stay in touch with everyone despite the global restrictions."

"The Lockdown Sessions" unmistakably proves that Glenn Hughes has already added his distinctive sound to THE DEAD DAISIES .

"As we all know, Glenn is a fantastic bassist and vocalist who is rightly referred to as 'The Voice Of Rock,'" Lowy said. "We really enjoyed ourselves with him at the studio and can hardly wait to present the new songs and current lineup live on stage."

"The Lockdown Sessions" track listing:

01. Unspoken (acoustic version) 02. Fortunate Son (live) 03. Righteous Days (acoustic version) 04. 30 Days In The Hole (acoustic version)

"Holy Ground" will be released on January 22, 2021. The album was recorded at La Fabrique Studios in the south of France with producer Ben Grosse . The follow-up to 2018's "Burn It Down" , will be the band's first to feature Hughes ( DEEP PURPLE , BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION ),who joined the group last year as its new bassist and vocalist, replacing John Corabi ( MÖTLEY CRÜE ) and Marco Mendoza ( THIN LIZZY ).

In an interview with "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" at this past January's NAMM convention in Anaheim, California, Hughes spoke about how he came to be involved with THE DEAD DAISIES . He said: "They wanted someone in, and they were asking me about a year ago if I would be interested in doing this. And I've been doing the 'Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple' [shows] for a couple of years, and I thought it would be appropriate for me to take a break from that and do something other than [that]. And I got together with the guys and we had a play. I've known Doug a long time, as you know. And it just fell together beautifully. It's a beautiful piece of music. I can't wait for people to hear it."

Asked what the new DEAD DAISIES material sounds like, Glenn said: "It's classic rock and it's a groovy album. It's got a lot of melodies to it. It's what you can imagine with me joining them — what could have happened and what has happened. It's a very interesting piece of music."

THE DEAD DAISIES 2020 are:

* Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) - Lead Vocals/Bass Guitar * Doug Aldrich (WHITESNAKE, DIO) - Guitar * David Lowy (MINK, RED PHOENIX) - Guitar * Deen Castronovo (JOURNEY, BAD ENGLISH, HARDLINE) – Drums

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Travel Tips to Kabardino-Balkaria: More than Mt. Elbrus!

If you’ve traveled to the North Caucasus before, there is a good chance you’ve already been to Kabardino-Balkaria, and you didn’t even know it!  Kabardino-Balkaria lies in the center of the North Caucasus region, is home to Mt. Elbrus, but more than that is a treasure chest of travel possibilities.  Here is our guide to traveling through the republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, or 9 travel tips to this beautiful land:

1. How do I get there?

Kabardino-Balkaria hosts a large number of both foreign and Russian travelers every year, and has an improving infrastructure able to handle the incoming masses.  Let’s start with the obvious.  You might be a mountain climber or skier coming to enjoy the slopes of Mt. Elbrus.  That means you’re likely arriving on an airplane to Russia.  Here are your travel options:

A. Plane – We advise you fly into the Mineralni Vodi (MRV) airport in the Stavropol Region, which is about 45 minutes from the border of Kabardino-Balkaria.  MRV is the largest airport in the North Caucasus, and has daily direct flights to and from all 3 airpots in Moscow (SVO, DME, and VKO), direct flights from St. Petersburg, and several international flight routes as well, including from Istanbul, Dubai, Greece, Tel Aviv, and Bishkek.  The MRV airport has a growing infrastructure and is the most obvious choice to fly into if going to Elbrus.  From MRV, it’s a 2 hr. drive to Nalchik, and a 3.5 hr. drive to Mt. Elbrus.

That being said, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, Nalchik (NAL), also has a small regional airport with a daily flight to/from Moscow as well as weekly flights to Istanbul. As is to be expected in most smaller, regional airports around Russia, the service standard at a small airport like this will be minimal.  As a result, we recommend you flying in and out of MRV if able.  It’s a 2 hr. drive to Elbrus from Nalchik.  You can also fly into other regional airports which are 2 hrs. from Nalchik, such as OGZ in North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz) or IGT in Ingushetia (Magas).

B.  Car/Public Transport – If you have a car, are using a taxi, or are hitch-hiking your way to Kabardino-Balkaria, the region is accessible by a variety of roads and vehicles.  A major Russian federal highway E50 runs through Pyatigorsk into Kabardino-Balkaria, and can take you towards Mt. Elbrus, Nalchik, and deeper into the North Caucasus.  There are daily mini-buses, or “marshrutkas”, that travel to Nalchik from Pyatigorsk, Vladikavkaz, Grozny, and Magas, if you’re coming from a neighboring republic.  From the main Nalchik bus station, there is a marshrutka that goes to Terskol (i.e. Mt. Elbrus) daily around 12:30 pm; for that matter,  marshrutkas run daily into every valley of this beautiful republic.  For the seasoned international traveler, you can drive from the country of Georgia up the famed “Georgian Military Highway” through the heart of the Caucasus Mountains, cross the border into Russia at the “Verkhni Lars” border stop, and be in Nalchik in about 2.5 hours as well. 

Anyone traveling on their own should download the “Yandex” taxi app, which is Russia’s version of Uber, and has a very user-friendly app with affordable prices.  In smaller villages/towns where Yandex’s service doesn’t reach, just ask a local and they’ll direct you to a friend or relative who can taxi you where you need to go!

C.  Train – Kabardino-Balkaria is also very accessible by the famous cross-country Russian train system if that’s your preferred method of travel.  Almost all trains to the North Caucasus pass through Mineralni Vodi in the Stavropol region to the north, so make sure wherever you are coming from, Mineralni Vodi is one of the stops.  Despite Nalchik having a train station, the city is about 45 minutes from the main railway route that runs diagonal through the North Caucasus, and as a result it’s a bit convoluted to get a train directly to Nalchik.  That being said, the town Prokhladni is a regular stop on trains going to/coming from Baku, Makhachkala, Grozny, Nazran, and Vladikavkaz, so you can always hop off there and find your way by public transport or taxi.

2.  What are the best places to stay?

This list could get exhaustive, fast. 🙂  Let’s first look at an overview of the republic’s geography, followed by hotel recommendations:

A. Nalchik – This is the capital city of Kabardino-Balkaria, with a population of around 250,000.  Nalchik is growing and new, modern hotels are being built regularly.  Here are some of our recommendations:

-Modern and comfortable:  Azimut , Butik Otel

-Budget with less frills:  Hotel Rossia , Korona

You could comfortably spend a week in Nalchik, while doing day trips into Kabardino-Balkaria’s beautiful mountain valleys.

B.  Baksan Valley – This is the most traveled road in Kabardino-Balkaria, the road to Mt. Elbrus.  If you have questions about its safety because of travel warnings, please see our detailed blog here of the drive to erase any doubts or fears.  Needless to say, because of the draw of Mt. Elbrus, there are a huge variety of lodging options at the end of this valley, from 4-star to mid-range to budget to hostel.  Here are just a few we’ll recommend from our experience:

-Modern and comfortable 4-star-ish:  Azau Star , Kristall 139

-Budget with less frills 3-star-ish:   Laguna , Povorot

If you’re a mountain climber with your sites set on the summit of Elbrus, you’ll have to spend at least 3-4 nights at Elbrus’s famous base camp at 13,000 feet.  The “barrel huts” are not easy to book directly with, and we highly recommend you do your climb (and hence, have your bookings handled) through a trusted climbing company.  Here are two shelters at base camp we recommend:

-Modern and comfortable:  Leaprus

-Budget with less frills:  Heart of Elbrus Lodge

If you’re interested in climbing Mt. Elbrus and staying in these barrel huts, click  here  to see our climbing itineraries, pricing, and group dates.

C.  Chegem Valley – Chegem Valley is the adjacent valley to Elbrus’s Baksan Valley, and is famous for its beautiful waterfalls as well as being Russia’s top paragliding location.  The “ Paradrome ” has modest accommodations for those wanting to get to know this beautiful valley for a longer period of time.

D.  Upper Balkaria, or Cherek Valley – This is another beautiful mountain gorge not too far from Nalchik.  There is an authentic lodging complex in Upper Balkaria called Tau-El, with amazing local food for meals as well.

E.  Border Zone lodging – Several of Kabardino-Balkaria’s mountain gorges run into the border zone with neighboring country Georgia, i.e. an area that foreigners cannot enter without a special permit from the local government (often taking 2 months to receive).  There is a famous mountaineering lodge in Bezengi Valley, where several generations of Russian mountain climbers have honed their craft in the Caucasus Mountains.  Perpendicular to Baksan Valley (about 25 minutes from the base of Mt. Elbrus) is Adyr-Suu Valley, where there is a lodge for back-country skiers to stay, while trying their hands (and feet!) on the untouched snow of that valley.  Both these valleys require border permits for foreigners, but are possible to access for the more adventurous!

3.  Top cities to visit?

Most locals would agree that Nalchik is the main city of significance to visit in Kabardino-Balkaria, but let’s be honest, even more would say, “Just go to the mountains!”  Tirnauz is the capital of the Elbrus district, and is an interesting town to spend some time in, with its unique location in the mountains and place in Soviet history as a once-booming mining town.  The main thing to consider in visiting Nalchik and other cities in the lowlands, is the chance to experience Kabardian culture and food.  Whereas the deeper you go into the valleys, the more you’ll encounter Balkar culture and food.

4.  Best local foods to try?

There are 3 types of food that come to mind, when spending time in Kabardino-Balkaria:

A. Khychiny – This is one of the staple national dishes of the Balkar people, and what you’ll inevitably be served if guests of local Balkars.  It’s a thin buttery flat bread, sometimes cooked with fillings of cottage cheese, fresh greens, or potatoes.  It is often slathered in butter, but wow is that some tasty greasy goodness! 🙂

B.  Shashlik – Shashlik is a MUST for any visit anywhere in the North Caucasus!  Most people would agree that it’s the national food of the entire region.  Shashlik is meat shish kabobs; while pork and turkey can be found in some parts of the Caucasus, lamb or chicken are the preferred shashlik meats of choice in Kabardino-Balkaria. 

C.  Soup – No matter where you are in Russia, you’re sure to find a local soup that people love.  Kabardino-Balkaria is no different.  Especially in the winter months in the mountain valleys, there’s nothing better than to come inside from the cold weather and warm your body up to a bowl of hearty Caucasus soup.  Whether Georgian kharcho or local Balkar lakhman, make sure to try your hand at one of these soups with a side of fresh baked bread/lavash!

5.  Top Hole-In-The-Wall restaurants:

Of course, for a republic of this size, we’re bound to leave at least a few great local joints off our list, but here are a few to get you started. ***Note:  Restaurants in the North Caucasus are much better known for their food than their service, so prepare for tasty food, but manage your expectations about service:

-Elbrus – Kogutai Restaurant at Mt. Cheget – While this isn’t a hole-in-the-wall restaurant per se, it’s one of many to choose from in the Cheget tourist village, and we have found them to provide consistently good food and service.  Kogutai has a nice interior, and maybe most important, an English-language menu with good pictures. 🙂  There also is a nice outdoor patio with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains.

-Nalchik #1 – Tameris Restaurant – This is a cafe with a relaxed atmosphere in the capital Nalchik.  Local tour company Elbrus Elevation has taken foreign groups there on multiple occasions and always had good experiences.  Address is ul. Kuliyeva 3. 

-Nalchik #2 – Cafe-Bar Oasis – You have to know where this restaurant is to find it, but once inside, you won’t regret it!  There is a unique cafeteria-style ordering process, that includes several dishes being cooked on the spot once ordered.  You can sample local Kabardian dishes here.  The seating area is very modern and a pleasant atmosphere to have a meal in.  Address is ul. Kuliyeva 2. 

-Upper Balkaria – Tau-El Restaurant – This is the restaurant part of the Tau-El Tourist Complex in Upper Balkaria.  Whether spending the night or just passing through, make sure to stop here for a meal!

6.  Must-See Sites

This republic is so chock full of “must-see” destinations, it’s impossible to narrow the list down.  Here are just a few suggestions to get you started: (***Mt. Elbrus is a no-brainer and we’re assuming that’s on your list)

A. El-Tyubu and Paradrome – This is an amazing area towards the end of Chegem Valley.  Many tourists visit the famous Chegem Waterfalls and don’t drive any further down this gorge, which really is a shame.  El-Tyubu is a picturesque Balkar village with several historical sites to see, including some ancient mausoleums.  The real gem of the area, though, is the Paradrome , which is Russia’s premier paragliding destination.  The combination of the scenic surrounding mountains and constant winds produces almost daily conditions to sail through the beautiful Caucasus sky.  Highly recommend!

B.  Upper Balkaria – Also known as Cherek Valley, the entire drive to the actual village of Upper Balkaria is one big destination.  First, you can spend time at the 3 consecutive “ Blue Lakes ”, one of which is one of Russia’s deepest lakes with an underground spring.  Then, the drive itself becomes an adventure, as you pass by steep rock walls with a huge drop-off on the other side.  If you’re able to walk this part of the road, that is a bonus!  Once you’ve made your way through the valley walls, the region opens up into a beautiful panoramic view.  Many years ago, there were multiple villages in this region, but they’ve since been condensed into one main village.  You can see some of the ancient Balkar towers that their ancestors used to live in as well.

C.  Djili-Suu – Although hard to pronounce and not easy to get to, Djili-Suu is one of those places in the North Caucasus that people rave about that you “have to” visit.  It’s actually on the North side of Mt. Elbrus, and more accessible from the Mineral Waters region (2 hrs. from Kislovodsk).  The base camp for Elbrus climbers summiting the mountain from the North side is at Djili-Suu.  This area is famous in Russia for its numerous natural healing springs, as well as unique climate conditions that make for beneficial, long holidays for seeking a respite from their daily grind.  There are wide swaths of land available for camping, with probably the most unrivaled views of Mt. Elbrus in the North Caucasus.  Make sure to check this out!

7.  Off-the-beaten path destinations

A. King’s Waterfalls (Tsarskie), or Gedmisht – Probably the valley in Kabardino-Balkaria with the least amount of hype is the Malka Valley, which is the northernmost valley and mainly runs through the Kabardian lowlands.  At the point where the villages end, though (Khabas), the asphalt turns into dirt and the hills start to rise, culminating with the incredible King’s Waterfalls, or as one friend put it, Avatar Waterfalls.  These stunning waterfalls are best visited in the early summer, when everything is lush green and the water flow is strong, with many streams of water flowing down the earth’s surface.  The different colors are incredible and it’s hard to look away.  Once you’ve enjoyed the waterfalls, enjoy a meal of shashlik at one of the nearby lunch huts.  Having an off-road vehicle is ideal to visit these falls, but worth the time and effort!

B.  One-seater chair lift at Elbrus – As the infrastructure at Mt. Elbrus has modernized, some of the more “authentic” experiences have gone to the way-side.  This is one experience still available, though!  From the 2nd (11,000 ft.) to 3rd level (12,500 ft.) of Mt. Elbrus (whether skiing, going to base camp, or just touring), there is a single-seater chair lift for 100 rubles each way (less than $2).  This is an amazing experience if you have the time.  It’s 8-10 minutes each way, and a surreal experience of the majestic Caucasus mountain range surrounding you, skiers silently passing you by underneath, and in general enjoying the silent expanse of nature all around.  The chair lifts are from the Soviet times and so it feels like something from a different era.  For mountain climbers, the newer group cable car gives better access to most of base camp, but several huts are pretty close to this chair lift, so it still may be a good option for you.

C.  Abandoned Mines above Tirnauz – Tirnauz is about 1 hr. from Mt. Elbrus, and a town everyone drives through to and from the mountain.  Although today it looks old and half-abandoned, it was a booming mining town in the 20th century.  About a 45-minute drive above the city with an off-road vehicle, you can see the remains of the mining operations.  Learning about this history combined with the breath-taking views of the Baksan Valley and even into Georgia, you’ll wonder why more people aren’t visiting this place.  This is a great spot to see eagles soaring in the sky, as well as admire the Soviet city plan of Tirnauz from above.

8.  What do I need border zone passes to visit?

In Russia, any area within 5-10 km of a neighboring country, without a clearly delineated border (i.e. in the mountains) is considered a special border zone, and patrolled by Russian border guards.  This area IS accessible to all Russian citizens with their passports, but is NOT legally accessible to foreign citizens UNLESS you have a special permit from the FSB (Federal Security Bureau).  These permits are accessible, either through a tour operator or local friend, but require you to submit your application 45-60 days in advance.

Areas in Kabardino-Balkaria that are worth a visit if you have a border zone pass:

A.  Bezengi Wall – This is at the end of the Bezengi Valley, and holds a place of lore among Russian mountain climbers.  Many mountain guides go through training in this valley.  Five of the Caucasus Mountain’ range’s highest seven peaks are a part of the Bezengi Wall, so you can imagine the draw it has for climbers. There are great areas for trekking and camping in this area. 

B.  Adyr-Suu Gorge – This remote valley runs perpendicular to Baksan Valley and is about 25 minutes from the base of Mt. Elbrus.  It’s marked at the entrance by a relic of the past, a car lift from Soviet days that auto-cranks your car (and you) about 50 meters up the mountain.  After 45-60 minutes of driving on gravel road, the gorge opens up into a flat valley with a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains.  The Adyr-Suu Alpine Lodge is at the end of this valley and where back-country skiers base out of during the acclimatization phase of their Mt. Elbrus ski tours.  This is truly a place where you can experience untouched powder!

C.  Mt. Cheget (Elbrus) – Cheget is a neighboring mountain to Mt. Elbrus and where many climbers will acclimatize, both at its base and while doing some hikes.  It also is famous in Russia for its free-ride terrain for more experienced skiers.  Standard access to the chair lifts and mountain are available to all (i.e. mountain climbers don’t need to worry about accidentally crossing into the zone), but anyone wanting to summit the peak of Cheget OR visit the beautiful Cheget Lake needs a border permit. 

Foreigners violating the border zone areas is considered a serious offense in Russia; make sure to do your due diligence if wanting to visit one of these areas!  We highly recommend using a local tour operator and always traveling with a local person if visiting one of these areas.

9.  Any cultural “do’s” or “don’t’s” to be aware of

Kabardino-Balkaria is a fascinating republic with a combination of traditional and modern society.  The more you interact with local people, the more you’ll see a mixture of Muslim faith, post-Soviet mentality, and ancient local traditions all wrapped together.   

Kabardians mainly live in the lowlands (Nalchik, Baksan, and lowland villages), while Balkars primarily live in the mountain valleys (Elbrus, Chegem, Upper Balkaria, etc.).  There is a large population of Russians in the region as well.  Foreigners visit every area of the region regularly, and so local people are used to and will welcome your presence.

Come with an open mind to learn about these peoples, their traditions, and their land.  You won’t regret your trip to Kabardino-Balkaria!

***Want to learn more?  Here are several self-published resources from the podcast “ CaucasTalk ” related to Kabardino-Balkaria:

– Travel Tips to Kabardino-Balkaria (audio version of this blog)

– History of Mt. Elbrus (Part 1)

– History of Mt. Elbrus (Part 2)

– Interview with Local Elbrus guide

– Climbing Elbrus: Interview with American guide

– Who are the Kabardians? (Part 1)

– Who are the Kabardians? (Part 2)

– Skiing in the North Caucasus (Elbrus and more)

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Nalchik city, Russia

The capital city of Kabardino-Balkaria republic .

Nalchik - Overview

Nalchik is a resort city located in the south of European Russia, the capital of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, its administrative, cultural, and educational center.

The population of Nalchik is about 239,600 (2022), the area - 67 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 8662, the postal codes - 360000-360904.

Nalchik city flag

Nalchik city coat of arms.

Nalchik city map, Russia

History of nalchik, foundation of nalchik.

The official date of foundation of Nalchik is considered to be 1724 - the time of the foundation of the first settlements on the banks of the mountain river of Nalchik at the foot of the wooded mountains of the Main Caucasian Range, when the auls of Prince Aslanbek Kaitukin moved here from the upper reaches of the Kuma River. From 1724, the auls of the main princes of Kabarda - Aslanbek Kaitukin, Dzhambot Tatarkhanov, Kuchuk Dzhankhotov - were located on the present territory of Nalchik.

The fortress of Nalchik was founded by General Aleksey Yermolov either in 1818 or in 1822, during the Caucasian War (1817-1864). The military settlement at the fortress was founded in 1838. In 1850, its population was 272 people.

In 1871, the military settlement of Nalchik was transformed into a civilian settlement (sloboda). Since that time, the local economy and industry began to develop. In 1884, about 3.5 thousand people lived in Nalchik. There were 13 brick-tile and lime factories, 4 smithies, 4 water mills, 20 inns, more than 50 shops, dozens of taverns and wine cellars.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Nalchik began to turn into a resort. Thanks to the mild climate and the presence of mineral waters, it became very famous. By 1913, the population grew to 18,600 people.

More historical facts…

Nalchik in the 20th century and beyond

Nalchik sloboda received the status of a city by the decision of the Constituent Congress of Soviets of Kabardian Autonomous Oblast in 1921. At the same time, the decisions were made to build a power plant in Nalchik, as well as a mechanical plant with a foundry (later transformed into a hydro-turbine plant) and a timber mill. In 1923-1928, an elevator, a mechanized mill, and the Nalchik confectionery factory were built.

In 1923, the Lenin Educational Town was established (today’s Kabardino-Balkarian State University - one of the largest universities in the North Caucasus) with pedagogical, agricultural and cooperative technical schools. In 1939 the population of Nalchik was 47,970 people.

During the Second World War, Nalchik was occupied by the Germans from October 28, 1942 to January 3, 1943, the city was largely destroyed. About 9 thousand residents died in the battles.

On March 8, 1944, the forced deportation of the Balkars began. In total, 37,713 people were sent from the Nalchik railway station to permanent exile to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Officially, the deportation was based on the facts of participation of the Balkars in collaborationist formations that sided with Nazi Germany during the Second World War.

Subsequently, by the highest state bodies of the USSR, and later - of Russia, this deportation was declared illegal, criminal, and an act of genocide. In 1957, a massive return of the Balkars to their homeland began. In 1959, the city’s population was 87,600.

In the 1960s-1970s, Nalchik was developed according to a new general plan corresponding to its status of a resort city. A distinctive feature of the urban development was that between the main streets with multi-storey buildings there were whole quarters of “hidden” private houses, many of which were pre-revolutionary buildings.

In the sanatoriums of Nalchik, about 36,000 people rested and were treated in 1958, 80,000 - in 1968, and 100,000 - in 1971. In the late 1980s, the Nalchik resort reached the peak in its development and presented an almost idyllic picture of the prosperity of a socialist state. In 1989, the population of Nalchik was 234,500 people.

In 1991, Nalchik became the capital of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria within the Russian Federation. Just as in all of Russia, the collapse of the USSR and the severance of industrial ties led to the fact that most of the city’s enterprises were closed. By 1995, the situation worsened even more when refugees from Chechnya were accommodated in local sanatoriums and rest homes. The entire resort area and city park fell into disrepair.

1997 was a turning point for Nalchik - the city began to be actively decorated and landscaped again. In 1999, by the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, the Nalchik resort was assigned the status of a resort of federal significance.

In October 2005, the city was attacked by Islamist militants. 14 civilians and 35 police officers and law enforcement officers were killed, more than 240 people were wounded, including 129 law enforcement officers. The number of militants killed according to various sources ranges from 41 to 97 people.

In 2010, Nalchik was awarded the honorary title “City of Military Glory”.

Pictures of Nalchik

Rainbow in Nalchik

Author: Deni Altmar

The restaurant Sosruko in Nalchik

Author: Vladimir Shelyapin

Nalchik Railway Station

Author: Karolina P.

Nalchik - Features

The Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria is one of the most beautiful and unique places in Russia in terms of natural, historical, and cultural characteristics. Nalchik, the capital of the republic, is located in its center in a picturesque area at the foot of the Main Caucasian Range at an altitude of 512 meters above sea level.

There are several versions of the origin of the city’s name. The most probable is that it got its name from the mountain river of Nalchik, which flows through its territory, and its geographical location in a semicircle of mountains resembles a horseshoe. The name of the city is based on the word “nal” - “horseshoe”, which is used in both the Kabardino-Circassian and Karachai-Balkarian languages. The horseshoe is depicted on the city’s coat of arms along with Mount Elbrus.

The climate of Nalchik is the climate of the foothill zone. The average temperature in July is plus 21 degrees Celsius, in January - minus 2.5 degrees Celsius. The main feature of the local climate is the daily fluctuations in air temperature, especially in summer.

According to the 2010 All-Russian Population Census, the ethnic composition of the population of Nalchik is as follows: Kabardians - 49.25%, Russians - 28.77%, Balkars - 12.16%, Ossetians - 2.04%. The majority of the city’s population are Sunni Muslims.

The federal highway “Caucasus” passes through Nalchik. From the Nalchik railway station, trains leave in the direction of Moscow located about 1,700 km north of it. The airport of Nalchik offers regular flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Minibuses (known as “marshrutka”) form the basis of the city’s public transport.

Nalchik is a fairly large industrial center. The leading branches of industry are non-ferrous metallurgy, light industry, food and pharmaceutical industries. Kabardino-Balkaria and its capital Nalchik are a popular center for tourism, mountaineering and skiing.

Due to the mild natural and climatic conditions, the presence of various mineral waters and therapeutic mud, the balneological resort of Nalchik is on a par with the resorts of the Caucasian Mineral Waters - Kislovodsk, Yessentuki, Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovodsk. About a quarter of the city is a resort area. In the resort part of the city and around it, there are about 40 sanatoriums, rest houses, tourist centers, boarding houses. On a relatively small territory of Nalchik, there are 18 mineral springs of various physical and chemical composition.

The valley of the resort is surrounded by mountains in a semicircle protecting this beautiful place from the winds. A magnificent panorama of the majestic peaks of the Greater Caucasus opens from any point.

Main Attractions of Nalchik

Atazhukinsky Garden - the largest park in the North Caucasus. Named after the Kabardian prince Atazhuko Atazhukin, it was founded in 1847. The total area is about 250 hectares, the length of the main alley - 1.5 kilometers. The park has over 150 species of plants, a river, lakes, an observation deck, sculptures, a pavilion with mineral water, a zoo, cafes and restaurants, a summer concert hall (Green Theater). In 2002, Atazhukinsky Garden was recognized as the best green park in Russia. Shogentsukova Avenue.

Nalchik Hippodrome . From time immemorial, Kabardino-Balkaria has been famous for its thoroughbred horses. Therefore, it is not surprising that one of the main attractions of Nalchik is its hippodrome. The hippodrome was built in the 1930s. In 2006, reconstruction was carried out. Horse races held here are very popular among locals and tourists. Malbakhova Street, 30.

Nalchik Central Mosque (2004) - not only one of the most original architectural objects of the city, but also a unique religious building of Islam. As conceived by the architect Andrey Asanov, not traditional canons were used in the construction of the building, but a modern high-tech style. The height of the mosque is 21 meters, the minarets - 30 meters. Shogentsukova Avenue, 133.

Restaurant “Sosruko” - one of the symbols of Nalchik. In the 1950s, it was decided to build a new restaurant in Nalchik where numerous vacationers could spend their evenings. The winner of the competition was the architect Palagashvili, who proposed to make the building recognizable and unique.

The exterior of the restaurant is stylized as a head dressed in a helmet and a hand with a flaming torch - the hero of the national epic Sosruko, who seems to grow out of a mountain 640 meters high. The helmet has an observation deck, which offers impressive panoramic views.

National Museum of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria . The exposition of the department of nature displays a huge relief map of the republic and samples of minerals extracted in its different parts. Slides and dioramas introduce visitors to the natural monuments, flora and fauna of Kabardino-Balkaria, the uniqueness of which is due to the presence of five climatic zones on the territory of the republic.

The historical part of the exposition tells about the most interesting archaeological finds of Kabardino-Balkaria, about the history of the Kabardians and Balkars (the indigenous inhabitants of the republic) from ancient times to the present day, about their traditions, customs, ethnography, and culture. Gorkogo Street, 62.

Kabardino-Balkarian Museum of Fine Arts named after A.L. Tkachenko . The exhibition halls of this museum showcase works of European, Russian and national artists, sculptors, masters of decorative and applied art created in the 19th-20th centuries. The pride of the museum is the collection of masterpieces created by French watchmakers of the 18th century, antique Japanese, Chinese, European, and Russian porcelain. Lenina Avenue, 35.

Chegem Waterfalls in the Chegem Gorge - a picturesque natural monument, one of the natural tourist attractions of Kabardino-Balkaria and one of the most beautiful places in Russia located about 55 km from Nalchik. Here you can also buy wool products, souvenirs, and other Kabardian and Balkar goods. There are several small cafes with national cuisine.

Nalchik city of Russia photos

Streets of nalchik.

Nalchik - a city surrounded by mountains

Author: Shlykov Kirill

On the street in Nalchik

Author: Valery Podlesny

Apartment house in Nalchik

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