Band File no.1 CITIZEN BAND

Rip It Up, Issue 15, 1 September 1978, Page 15

Band File no.l CITIZEN BAND

History Mike Chunn returned from UK and approached Geoff about forming a band. Geoff suggested CBs (Chunn Bros.) but Big Brother had a flash and it became Citizen Band. The group was based around the songwriting of Geoff Chunn and Warren Sly with Eccles on drums. The first performance at a Ray Columbus Showcase was a certified crapout. Greg Clark joined and they debuted at the Island of Real in September 1977. Warren did not perform live but helped out on recordings. Concentrated live work started in 1978 with a spate of outdoor festivals. Records Singles Morning Citizen”; “I Feel Good” / “My Pohutakawa” and “The Ladder Song" / “Martin A Spaceman" (September release). Debut Album Citizen Band (September release). Producer Glyn Tucker Jr. Fan Club c/o Christine, PO Box 15329, New Lynn, Auckland 7. » Management Citizen Management PO Box 3924, Auckland. Agent Airedale Artists, PO Box 6537, Auckland 1. Record Company Mandrill Records, Distributed by Polydor.

Geoff Chunn Guitar and vocals. Born October 25, 1953 Education Hutton Street kindey, school in Otahuhu. Sacred Heart, Auckland. Musical Career Started on drums at school playing with Mike and Tim Finn. Then took up guitar and songwriting. Played in acoustic group called Rosewood with Kevin Wildman and Graham Gash from Waves. Split Ends drummer for 18 months and two singles. Then solo work and a drumming stint with Dragon. Other Jobs screen printing Favourites Albums Pretty Blue - Wes Montgomery, Sergeant Peppers - The Beatles Single “Hello Goodbye” / “I Am The Walrus" The Beatles Guitarist Wes Montgomery Singers Kevin Wildman, Neil Finn Musician Warren Sly Equipment Madill Electric Guitar, Gibson Acoustic, Fender Twin Amp and Paul Crowther Fuzz Box

Mike Chunn Bass Guitar Born June 8 1952 Education St. . Joseph's Convent, Otahuhu. Sacred Heart College. Auckland University. Musical Career Farted round with Geoff and Tim Finn at school. At University played in Moses (a noisy three piece), with Wally Wilkinson on guitar. Helped out . Space Waltz and Rosewood in 1974 during Enz limbo

period. Joined Split Enz in late ’72 and left in early '77. Other jobs Management Services (Fisher & Paykel), Maths Teacher (St. Peter’s College). Favourites Album Revolver - The Beatles, Songs For a Tailor - Jack Bruce, Bandstand - Family. Single “Day Tripper” The Beatles Bass Guitarist John Wetton (Family) Singers Tim Finn, Kevin Wildman Musician Graeme Gash Equipment Peavey 200 watt amp, Fender 4x12” cabinet, Peter Madill bass guitar with custom preamp by Paul Crowther

Gregory Clark guitar and vocals Born January 19, 1953 Education St Mary’s Convent and Marcellin College, Auckland Musical Career Learnt piano for 6 years, then guitar and started playing in bands. Recent ones being Stewart and the Belmonts, Space Waltz and Vox Pop. Other jobs nothing interesting Favourites Albums Sleeping Gypsy - Michael Franks, Layla - Derek & the Dominoes, Pretzel Logic - Steely Dan. Single “Penny Lane” The Beatles Guitarist Eric Clapton Singers Donald Fagen, Lowell George Musician Donald Fagen Equipment Fender Stratocaster, Fender twin reverb amp, Paul Crowther fuzz box.

Brent Eccles Drums

Born September 9, 1954 Education S.C., A U St Kentigern College, Auckland ' Musical Career First band hardly got started. Helped start Stewart and the Belmonts with Peter Cuddihy and Alastair Riddell rehearsed original material and entered Studio One as Space Waltz. Band played on EMI album Space Waltz by Alastair Riddell. Space Waltz plunged into oblivion. Joined Streettalk and later Vox Pop. Then home to Citizen Band. FavojiritM|BßqpHpSnoMßE Albums Sheet Music —lO cc, Can’t Buy a Thrill - Steely Dan Singles “I’m Not In Love”, “Clockwork Creep" —lO cc Drummers Maurice Greer, Ainsley Dunbar, Kevin Godley Singers Maurice Greer, Hammond Gamble Musician Jeff Baxter p mentJBBBBPQBGp|BBGNH| Hayman showman kit, Gretch kit, three Roto toms, Ludwig timbales, Zildjian and Paiste xymbalsBBMBBKMflBjBBBB!^H«l

Sheer Lux Get Smart Zwines Though I doubt if there was ever any truth in it, that old line about punks only knowing three chords is just laughable when you’re confronted with a tight powerful outfit like Sheer Lux. Their solid programme of gigging has arguably established them as Auckland's premier New Wave band. They'll be hard to overtake if the night I saw them at Zwines, the punks' home ground, was anything to go by. The band gave little away to anyone in terms of consistent tightness and measured energy. Bassist Roland Killeen and drummer Graym Schnell always had the rhythm firmly under control. Jim Jurecivich on guitar slipped in some sharp lead when not powering through the chords. Recently added vocalist Mai ably handled the front-man’s role and his delivery was strong and confident. \S: 'y' As for the material there has been a trend away from the punk standards. Though the Pistols, Clash and Ramones were still featured there was more from Ultravox, Bowie and Tom Petty. This newer material was still given the New Wave.treatment so it was faster and louder than the original form (Tom Petty might have to listen twice to recognise his own stuff). A good dance band they are.

The question is will they only progress as far as becoming an excellent dance band. As yet the act lacks that quality which will stamp them as something special. The same problem does not present itself for Get Smart Previously tipped in these very pages as a band to watch, they continued to establish themselves as an exciting live act. At times a little lacking in tightness and evenness of pacing, they compensated by energetic performance. There may be a cause and effect relationship in there because leaping about the way this band does it’s easy to miss a beat.

At *he fore was vocalist Nick Hanson. Full credit to a man who can sing while rolling backwards over the edge of the stage. For his part guitarist Ben Free had the power play well sorted out. The rhythm partnership of Jules Maloney on bass and Julian Hanson on drums provided solid drive for the material which was mostly taken, in true punk style, at top speed. Alongside their cover versions were a few original numbers. These showed promise especially as first efforts. With more practise and regular gigging these boys should capitalise on their live excitement and then the competition had better watch out. Dominic Anthony