Kiwis Hit Australia Big-Time

Rip It Up, Issue 5, 1 October 1977, Page 2

Kiwis Hit Australia Big-Time

A number of New Zealand bands are striking success in Australia at this moment, so here we’ve assembled everything we could find happening with expatriate kiwis in Ocker land. Mother Goose have signed to Australia’s Mushroom label and their first album, Stuffed, is soon to be released. Originating from Dunedin, Mother Goose made some impact on the New Zealand rock scene in late ’75 and early ’76 before moving to Australia in October of last year. They started working in Queensland and then moved down to Melbourne where they caught the eye of the Mushroom people. Their theatrical stage act has, of course, won them comparison with Split Enz, and caused several commemtators to call the sanity of the average New Zealander into doubt. No matter, it has enabled the band to make an instant impact on Australian audiences, and the album and single, "Baked Beans" are predicted to sell well.

Dragon, with one Australian recorded album behind them and two sucessful singles, are rapidly becoming one of Australia’s top acts. They get their picture in the Australian Woman’s Weekly, no less. Now they’ve been signed to the Portrait label which guarantees them international release alongside such other Portrait acts as Burton Cummings, Joan Baez and Heart. Meanwhile, ex-Dragon guitarist Ray Goodwin features in a band signed to the Mushroom label who go by the name of Punkz. They’ve already recorded a couple of singles underthe direction of ex-Easybeats, Vanda and Young. Split Enz are also off to conquer Australia on their most extensive tour of that country to date. They play 15 dates there before moving on to Bri-

tain for a 21 date tour. They return to NZ in December and over January and February will probably record their fourth album in Wellington.

Collision, featuring Dalvanius and The Fascinations, havejust completed an Australian tour supporting Tina Turner. Collision moved to Australia in February this year and have already signed a 5 year recording deal with Festival, Australia. A single was released to coincide with the tour and both Dalvanius and Collision have been involved with session work with Aussie artists. Mark Williams and Alan Galbraith have also moved across the Tasman and will now be based in Melbourne. Their original intention to establish Mark in Australia while maintaining their base in New Zealand proved to be unrealistic and, with the expiry of Mark’s contract with EMI, he’s signed to CBS, Australia. Their intention is to form a backing band for Mark and to work in Australia before recording there. Alan Galbraith will relinquish Mark’s management but will remain as record producer via his new job as staff producer and A & R man for CBS. There’s a possibility Mark Williams will do a New Zealand tour early next year. Other emigrants doing well in Australia are Peter Cuddihy and Andrew Kay. Both are ex-members of Auckand bands Human Instinct, Street Talk and Vox - Pop, and now Andrew (keyboards) and Peter (bass) have joined Australian star guitarist, Phil Manning, in the Manning-Keays band. The band has already completed a single and they’re working on an album to be produced by David Hitchcock who did the honours on Genesis’ Foxtrot album among others. Thereafter the band hit the road with work around Australia.