BAND FILE No.2 SPATS

Rip It Up, Issue 16, 1 October 1978, Page 16

BAND FILE N 0.2 SPATS

History Formed August 1977 when Fane got all these jokers together to play his songs. First gig (with Bruno Lawrence and Julie Needham) at the Olympic Hotel, Naenae, as Les Hots. For obscure reasons, Spats’ took over as the official nomenclature, about the time the band went on the road inthe Blerta bus. Untold pubs, clubs, snubs and grubs later, the line-up changed to what it is now. Joined up with lan Watkin s Old Steam Wireless Factory in August 1978, to do Robman’s Roadshow with Limbs. Records A few demos that no Big Gun has had the perspicacity to spend Big Bucks on. Look out for the bootleg Live at Kawerau. Management Old Steam Wireless Factory, Box 56-106, Auckland. Ph. 771-249.

Tony Backhouse Guitar and vocals. Born May 23, 1947. Education Five years at Victoria University. Musical Career Learned classical guitar. Went through usual sixties folk and blues scenes. Sacked from Original Sin. Played bass guitar and piano in Mammal for four years. Learned to play guitar with Tapestry, then Kneedeep, formed Hired Help and then lured into Spats by Fane. Written music for radio plays, TV, films and commercials. Other Jobs Cleaner, Wharfie, music programmer, cleaner, proof reader, cleaner . . . Favourites Albums Best Of - James Brown, The Last Record Album - Little Feat, Young Americans - David Bowie, Kind of Blue - Miles Davis. Single “Sister from Texas”— Aretha Franklin. Guitarists Larry Carlton and Steven Apirana. Singers Lowell George, Natalie Cole and James Brown. Musicians Jeff Beck, Bill Payne and Mark Horni brook.

Equipment Fender Stratocaster, Fender Bassman 100, 2 JBLs, untold useless pedals, 27 useless leads, pair of spats and a pale blue dinner jacket from L.A. tuxedo centre.

Patrick “Paddo” Blealdey Double bass. Born November 1, 1953. Education St Brigids Convent, Johnsonville. Musical Career Studied for diploma of music at the Blerta conservatory under the professorship of David Charles Lawrence L.S.R.M. Other Jobs Babysitting and hanging out the washing. Favourites Albums Ah Hun - Charlie Mingus, Jack Johnson - Miles Davis, Bth Street Nites - Back Door. Single “Albatross”— Fleetwood Mac. Double Bassist Richard Davis. Singer Mahia Blackmore Musician Bernie McGann and Stewart Crooks. Equipment Rockit Amp (haven’t tried it yet), Kl4O, German Double Bass, Schaller magnetic pick-up for loud music, Polytone contact pickup for acoustic sound and plastic nose.

Pater Decent Piano Born February 10, 1954. Education Wellington College, Victoria University. Musical Career Learned classical piano (8 years), studied music at University (2 years), tootling on piano (4 years), early 1977 played in boogie bands with Andy Anderson• the last

version of which Fane joined and thus begat Les Hots and Spats. Other Jobs Postman, dreamer and codger. Favourites Albums Striking It Rich - Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks, Kind of Blue - Miles Davis, Can't Buy a Thrill, Aja - Steely Dan. Singles “Heroes and Villains" — Beach Boys; “Set Me Free”— The Kinks. Pianists Bud Powell, Bill Payne and Bill Evans. Singers Donald Fagan and John Lennon. Musicians Patrick Bleakley, Bruno Lawrence, Django, Andrew Delahunty and Frank Zappa. Equipment Yamaha CP7O electric piano, Fender twin reverb amp with built in Barcus Berry hot dot box, rubber latex gorilla mask and one pair size 8 spats.

Fane Flaws Guitar and vocals. Born May 25, 1951. Education Wellington College, Polytechnic School of Design and Blerta. Musical Career Wayne and the other guys, The Dukanes, Blerta for 3 years, Andy Anderson’s Express (3 weeks) and sixteen months of Beautiful Music and Dangerous Rhythms’. Other Jobs Freelance illustration phone 775-235. Favourites Albums Bird & Diz Live at Birdland, Reuben and the Jets - Frank Zappa, White Album - Beatles, Parisienne Swing - Hot Club de France, Blues and Roots - Charlie Mingus. Singles “Eagle Rock Daddy Cool and “Sittin in the Rain’— Underdogs. Guitarists Django and Jimi Hendrix. Singers Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin and Captain Beefheart. Musicians Lester Young, Mark Horrybrooke, Bud Powell and Sonny Rollins. Equipment Gibson Les Paul deluxe, Marshall 50 and McKenzies Kazoo.

Michael Knapp Drums and cymbals. Born August 24, 1956. Education Christchurch, Auckland and Hamilton Schools. Musical Career Airwaves 1 & 2. Other jobs Post Office Favourites Albums Any Stones or Beatles. Single “Saw Her Standing There”— John Lennon and Elton John Band. Drummer Bruno Lawrence Singers Mick Jagger and Mary Knapp. Musicians Keith Richards, Dave Maybe and Phil (tail. Equipment Gretsch drum and Paiste cymbals.

Annette Morrison vocals Born December 5, 1959. Education St Oran’s, Lower Hutt Musical Career Short periods of piano, guitar, recorder and violin training. Upper Hutt Operatic Society. Other jobs Usherette and candle seller. Favourites Albums Second Childhood - Phoebe Snow, In the Pocket - James Taylor, any Beethoven, This Is the Life - Blerta and Little Criminals - Randy Newman. Singles “Dance All Around the World Blerta and “Disco on My Radio’T’Money”— Neville Purvis.

Singers Beaver, Rick Bryant, lan Watkin and Charles Naylor. Musicians Randy Newman, Terry Grayford and Neil Hannan. Equipment Cowbell, tambourine, maraccas and vocal chords.