R. HORSE QUIT

Rip It Up, Issue 14, 1 August 1978, Page 4

R. HORSE QUIT

Anyone who has seen them in action over the past six months wouldn’t say that they were flogging a dead horse ... or even dare to suggest that they should be put out to pasture. In fact Rockinghorse have reached a musical peak, which is ironical since they have decided to call it a day. R. Horse are one of the most successful, and longest established rock bands in New Zealand. They formed five years ago with ex-Formyula singer Carl Evenson and the only founder members remaining are keyboardist Wayne Mason and bass player Clinton Brown. Guitarist Kevin Bayley joined 3V2 years ago. They write some great songs. Rockinghorse have had highs and lows. When Carl left, about a year ago they went down musically and in morale but with the arrival of zany singer Barry Saunders, they rose to the occasion and have been playing 100 miles an hour ever since. Only a few months ago Steve Garden joined the band as drummer and he’s driven them to an even tighter, more driving sound. Rockinghorse haven’t had all the breaks that they deserve in this country. To a great extent it has been a matter of not being in the right place at the right time. They had come to a crossroad, and under the management of Danny Ryan, had reached the point where an album for overseas release was on the cards. And that involved overseas travel and promotion.

That’s when some of the band dug their heels in after five years slog up and down the country Clinton felt that the travelling life wasn't for him. And the rest of the band were adamant that they went together or not at all. So they stalled came to an abrupt halt and fell apart. Nobody has any immediate plans . . . Wayne will keep writing and hopes to get an album together and Steve has some gigs with Auckland band Bamboo. Clint and Danny will work on getting their club The Last Resort together.