DESPITE being one in what seems to be quite a line-up of phone interviewers, Aussie singer Daryl Braithwaite sounds welcoming and in good spirits from his Melbourne home.

He may have passed his '80s and '90s heyday as lead singer of Sherbet and a solo career that boasted hits such as The Horses, but it sounds as though life could not be better for the 64-year-old.

"It (touring and performing) is enjoyable  I still love it and am passionate about it," he says.

"I'm sure I used to be nervous, but not so much any more. It's confidence... that feeling that I can do it. It just seems to flow out now.''

He also admits, while he has an enduring love for performing, he finds it "a little easier" than being a fitter and turner, a trade in which he was an apprentice for five years in his younger days  right on the cusp of that time when you make that all-important career choice.

Nevertheless, he says, "I gave it a good go".

But Daryl is quick to say it's not all that easy. For example, despite having written songs, to him it is more something that is part of the job.

"I've written a few but I'm a bit slack when it comes to writing," he admits.

"Writing is the hardest part for me."

And he acknowledges his luck when it comes to a successful music career, as there's probably "one in a thousand it can happen to".

"But," he says, "I didn't really set out for success when it came to singing."

Daryl says it was actually his dabbling in theatre that turned out to be a good learning curve in discipline  something for which the music industry is well known.

"That (theatre production Tommy in '74) was lots of fun," he says. "I was a youngster just starting out and it was very impressive and very enjoyable. Overall, you really appreciate how disciplined they are  you can't muck around."

However, a cheeky streak is revealed when he gleefully admits part of the kick of playing at the Australian Open on a few occasions (which he was preparing for once again) has not just been the event.

"We get into trouble at the tennis," he laughs.

"They stopped us after a few songs after player complaints. They said we were too loud!"

Despite a couple of decades of performing, Daryl says there are still a few places remaining where he would like to play.

"Gigs across the Nullabor Plain would be great," he says. "When you look at all these places on the map, there are great places to play."

His commitment to performing is clear as he chats about the Gallipoli Cruise 2015: 100th Anniversary cruise.

"You won't believe this  I was approached to do that two years or more ago," he laughs.

"It was so far off! I said, 'as long as you put in a clause that says as long as I'm alive and not sick'."

The cruise, which leaves Fremantle to spend the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli there in 2015, features other entertainers like Kate Ceberano, Bert Newton and John Williamson.

With that type of commitment, you can be sure to see Daryl this weekend on the Reef Hotel Casino's Vertigo stage.

"It's great  gigs at Vertigo are fantastic, you get people from all walks of life and tourists from all over," he says.

"I've played three or four times in Cairns. It's an exciting night."

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