Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Saturday 

The story of Stevie Wright is one of rock legend; the familiar cycle of success, excess, regrets and regress. A crucial role in laying the foundations of Australian rock'n'roll with some of the most popular songs of the 1960s (with the Easybeats) and the 1970s (under his own name), through well-documented issues with drug addiction and crime, and a triumphant return through tributes by Long Way To The Top and induction to the ARIA Hall of Fame; Wright's rollercoaster ride of a life has been pulled apart and analysed and criticised and lauded in many quarters, but few know the entire story.

"A lot of people see him as this junkie who messed up but he was really one of the greatest frontmen Australia has ever known," said TV presenter and actor Scott McRae.

"People know the songs, even if they don't know who it is by. The songs are just that good. The story of what he and the Easybeats achieved in that short period of time is amazing."

It's the motivation behind the latest venture from McRae. With a career including stints as TV game show and travel show host, to star of stage musicals and behind the scenes work, McRae's biggest ever undertaking is Stevie: the Life and Music of Stevie Wright and the Easybeats. Writing, producing, acting and starring in the stage musical "rockumentary", McRae is taking the show out on the road again after a hugely successful run in 2012, with new songs, a new set of never-before-seen photos and film from live concerts, and interviews with some of Stevie's rock contemporaries including Angry Anderson, Kevin Borich and Jon English.

"In one line, it's a celebration of the roots of Australian rock," McRae said.

McRae remembers as a child watching Wright as the headliner of the 1979 "Concert of the Decade" on the steps of the Sydney Opera House with 250,000 screaming rock fans. He held Wright, then several years off drugs, up as an "idol," but his next close encounter with Stevie was a less inspiring occasion. While working as a producer with Susie Elelman's short-lived morning TV show, McRae booked Wright as a guest around his appearances at the Adelaide Guitar Festival.

"My guts told me this was a story that had to be told," McRae said.

Fast forward and an entire rockumentary stage musical had been penned.

Featuring live performances of some of Wright's most famous and influential songs - She's So Fine, Women, Hard Road and the epic Evie - interspersed with film and photos from actual performances, and words from some of Australian rock's biggest names, the performance is part musical, part history lesson.

"It's a documentary on stage, McRae said.

"It's not a cover show or tribute show, it's so far removed from that.

"It's Stevie's life, from the 1960s until now."

The Easybeats formed in 1964, and McRae said one of the biggest motivations in bringing the show back for another Australian tour - a tour with more dates being added almost daily - was to mark 50 years of what is considered Australia's finest early rock'n'roll band.

"You hear about the 50th anniversary of the Beatles or the Rolling Stones; but we have our own rock stars to celebrate too," he said.

"We want people to get up, sing and dance, make some noise. That's what the Easybeats would have wanted."

The show runs the gamut from the Easybeats' success across the world, to Wright's drug problems later in life and on to where he is today.

McRae said the story is raw and uncomfortable at times, but little is sugar-coated for viewing pleasure.

"It is warts and all. We basically say 'you [messed] up, buddy'. People are shocked at points but they like having the gaps filled," McRae said.