‘Nude’ band to play in N.Z.

Press, 14 May 1987, Page 8

‘Nude’ band to play in N.Z.

N7PA QvdnAv

INZPA By

ROBERT LOWE

A Sydney brass band which gained world-wide notoriety by playing nude to raise money for a New Zealand tour will attempt this week to become the first Australian entrant to win a title in New Zealand since World War 11.

The Blacktown City Brass Band, from Sydney’s western suburbs, is the only Australian contestant in the A grade section of the Shell brass band contest which will be held in Auckland from Friday to Sunday. The band’s secretary,

Mrs Noeleen Russell, said yesterday that the nude stunt at Lady Jane Beach in Sydney in January last year was to have been the start of a campaign to raise more than sAust2o,ooo ($25,000) so that the band could compete in New Zealand last year.

However, although the event had a lot of publicity, no-one thought to give out a telephone number or address for donations. As a result, only about sAust2oo ($250) was raised and the planned trip eventually fell through.

“The stunt was done tongue-in-cheek,” Mrs Russell said. • “Some of the boys got together and wondered how they they could raise money for the band.” She said about 11 of the male musicians went out one “freezing cold” day at 7 a.m., stripped, and played to. an audience of "about two regulars” on the beach. The display of unadorned musicianship was captured by television cameras, and photographs of the event appeared in Britain and the United States.