INXS tribute star Dellacoma Rio opens up about moving to the Sunshine Coast post-pandemic, and the loss of his unborn son. Catch him in Dellacoma at The Presynct on March 22, Villa Noosa on March 23, and in The Australian INXS Show at The J on April 6.

When Victoria implemented its harsh lockdowns in 2020 many musicians lost jobs and had their lives thrown into chaos.

Dellacoma Rio was no exception.

Love in the chaos

Finding wife Stevie sparked hope for Del.

“We met during lockdown in Melbourne. We were at the same park and the kids were playing. We started talking and found out we lived literally around the corner from each other,” Del said.

“We both have two kids the same ages from previous marriages and kept each other sane during the lockdowns, having kiddy playdates which turned into adult play dates. We have a blended family now.”

Living in a tent

Seeking a new life on the Sunshine Coast, Del, Stevie, and their children, made the bold move north.

“We moved here in December, 2020, when they opened the borders. My ex wife wanted to get the kids out of Melbourne so she went to her parents’ holiday home in Noosa.”

While they are now settled in beautiful Eumundi, it was a tumultuous journey getting there.

“I tried my best to get a place on the Coast, but I could not get in. I lived in Gympie for a year, and I lived in a tent in Yandina.”

Del’s parents were always on the move growing up.

“I’ve grew up in Tasmania, the US, Melbourne, and here. My Mum was born in Brisbane. I feel closer to her being here.”

Loss and grief

Last December, Del posted a photo to Instagram with a heartfelt message that announced the death of his son, Ezekiel.

“Sometimes life doesn’t turn out the way you expect,” he wrote.

“The past few months as we’ve been riding the ups and downs leading up to saying goodbye to our youngest son I’ve found it especially difficult to stay present.

“Nothing prepares you for your own child’s funeral… We never know how many sunrises we may get on this earthly plane. Life is a beautifully precious gift.”

It was the couple’s second miscarriage in a year, losing their first at 12 weeks and their second at 27 weeks.

“It was a pretty intense part of the year. There are a lot of people who have gone through something similar.”

He said posting on social media opened the door to fans to share their own experiences.

“I’ve had people from uni, fans, all messaged me and share their story.

“That wasn’t my intention when I shared it online, but in hindsight, it’s one of those things not talked about so much, and it’s good to talk when you are ready.”

Finding ways to cope

“I guess it boils down to the belief that I’ve made it through every other bad day I’ve ever had. My faith in a creator is also instrumental.

“I believe that if we honestly pursue love, with pure intentions, ultimately things will work themselves out.

“When the chips are really down I focus on doing the next right thing, and getting through day by day.”

The early years

Del spent much of his early life singing in an acapella church.

“Mum and dad are both singers they love to sing.

“When I went into year 11, I did a class called Practical Music – once a term theory stuff. I was sitting in a room with a tape deck listening to ‘Hard Day’s Night’, and trying to learn that vocally.

“Three guys were in a rehearsal next to me, with a bass player, guitarist and drummer.

“I got bored one day and said: ‘you don’t have anyone singing, can I sing?’

“That was my first band (aptly named ‘Dellacoma’). We learned a Rolling Stones song, some Black Sabbath, and ‘Shimmer’ by Fuel.”

What’s in a name

Del had already coined the name Dellacoma in year 10.

“In creating a stage name I wanted a monika that meant something to me; but something so unique that people knew exactly who that was.

“Like Slash was just Slash.”

Del, who has Italian heritage, says ‘della’ and ‘coma’ are both prefixes, and putting them together breaks tradition.

“It’s not technically a name but if it was it would mean ‘flowing river of light’ or ‘rain of light’ or ‘mane of hair’.

“The kids call me Del, my wife calls me Del. The whole name. I’ve adopted that.”

“Rio” was added to his name years later, after a job interview in Sydney.

“A woman there said ‘I’m going to call you Del, like (the place) Del Rio. And that was that.”

The INXS show

Del joined The Australian INXS Show in 2018.

His show-stopping performance as Michael Hutchence gives his family a regular income and stability, he says.

Featuring breathtaking original video, the fully-immersive “Wembley-style” show offers an authentic six-piece line-up, delivering an energetic journey through the songs that made INXS a household name for the past four decades.

The band has toured the world including; Dubai, India, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, Singapore, Japan, China, Bora Bora, New Caledonia, Taipei, and South Korea.

They play at The J, Noosa, on April 6.

A modern Dellacoma

Dellacoma often takes a back seat to Del’s performance as the INXS heart-throb, however his solo project is equally brilliant.

From the ashes of different musical pursuits, the new Dellacoma assembled in 2014, and has shared stages with the likes of Def Leppard, Korn, and Linkin Park.

Self-described “high-voltage road warriors” – now consisting of Rob, John, Caleb and Bailey – they have toured the US, UK, and Europe, amassing more than 400 shows.

A new single

Dellacoma launch their latest single “Leave a Light On” at their new favourite Sunshine Coast live music venue, The Presynct, at Nambour.

“We shot the video on the Coast, in alleyways in Nambour and at Conondale.”

The song is about his 2005 divorce.

“I wrote the song when I was quite young; the marriage only lasted a year or so. It never really worked in other bands, but it’s finally made its way to this record.

“It’s crazy to think it was written in 2005, and the last track was written in lockdown in April, 2020.”

Younger brother John Justus also plays in Dellacoma, and they played the song together for the first time last September.

“My brother is 12 years apart. I left home when he was five, so we didn’t grow up together.

“It’s got a lot of old emotions. He was asking me about that process, because he was like 11 when I was going through that.

“I was telling him that so much time has passed and it feels like a lifetime ago. I’ve been a church pastor, an actor in LA… and I’ve sung that song so many times now.

“It brings up emotion, but it’s almost like it happened to a family member. [When I’m singing it] I hurt for the man that I was, like a brother of mine.”

Upcoming shows

• Dellacoma with Chamber Lane: The Presynct, Nambour, March 22.
• Dellacoma with Pity Vincent and Catching Salmon: Villa Noosa, March 23.
• The Australian INXS Show: The J, Noosa, April 6.