The Band

Audiences have been swooning over Kim Willoughby since she sang with her first band, the power-pop post-punk Gurlz. Thereafter her natural charm and stage presence ensured her vocal talents were much in demand by such established New Zealand artists as DD Smash, the Netherworld Dancing Toys, and the Pink Flamingos. A wider audience beckoned and Kim was soon appearing alongside Billy T James on his weekly TV show, and shortly afterwards starred in her first movie – the 1980s cult classic Queen City Rocker (also known as Tearaway).

A few years later a chance meeting with old friends resulted in Kim and four other singers forming the all-girl phenomenon When the Cat’s Away. The “Cats” are still the most successful female live music act in New Zealand entertainment history. Their single “Melting Pot” was THE monster hit of 1989. They toured the country numerous times in the late 1980s, breaking attendance and turnover records, and playing to an audience of 250,000 out of a population of 3.5 million! A reunion tour in 2002 was no less successful, with sold out shows everywhere, culminating in three SRO nights at Auckland’s Aotea Centre. A live album of the tour earned them a platinum disc.

In 2006 Kim realised a long-planned ambition when she opened Kim Willoughby Personal Styling, helping men and women discover their best styles, colours, skincare and lifestyle choices. To celebrate the opening of KWPS Kim recorded a new version of the classic 1960s song “Love Potion Number 9”. You can hear it here.

More recently, Kim has taken up the position of co-host on Hawke’s Bay Classic Hits’ “Martin & Kim’s Classic Breakfast”.

 

Rikki Morris is one of NZ’s most outstanding and accomplished singer/songwriter/ performers. He shot to fame in 1988 with his number one hit single Nobody Else for which he was awarded the RIANZ Songwriter of the Year. In 1990 Rikki won the APRA Silver Scroll with Heartbroke.

His charm, wit and good looks made him a popular choice for presenting various TV shows including 3.45 Live, Alive and Kicking and Get Your Act Together. He has played with the very best and continues to be in-demand on the live and studio scene.

 

Guitar player, co-founder and still a member of Hello Sailor from its inception in 1975. Harry Lyon wrote and co-wrote many songs including Lying In The Sand from the award-winning first album. 

Following Sailor, the American and Australian sojourns, Harry formed Coup D’Etat, contributing two successful singles Permanent Hire and Top 10 Hit, Dr I Like Your Medicine which was awarded the 1981 RIANZ Single of the Year. Harry has also played with The Pink Flamingoes, Hammond Gamble and The Legionnaires for whom he wrote the Top 20 Single You Bring Out The Worst In Me. 

Harry’s song Muscles on Midge Marsden’s Burning Rain album, features in the soundtrack of French film Through The Fire and was a 1991 APRA Silver Scroll finalist.

 

With his first band, Th’ Dudes, Ian Morris wrote and co-wrote several songs which have become New Zealand classics, among them Walking in Light, Right First Time and Bliss. 

Post-Dudes, Ian engineered and produced many of New Zealand’s favourite artists, including Hello Sailor, DD Smash, the Screaming Meemees, the Warratahs, the Hulamen, Naked Spots Dance, Knightshade, and even Toni Williams. In 1987 a tongue-in-cheek blitz on the NZ pop charts as Tex Pistol earned Ian a number one single withThe Game of Love, and a collaboration with brother Rikki a year later resulted in another chart-topper, Nobody Else. 

Ian has been voted RIANZ (Recording Industry Association of New Zealand) Producer of the Year three times and Engineer of the Year twice (and also Most Promising Male Vocalist!).

Ian works out of his own Pacific-flavoured studio igMusic in Napier.

 

Rick Ball is a legendary kiwi rock drummer. He was an integral part of the hugely successful and influencial band Ticket who had a Top 20 single with Country High. 

He is most well-known as a member of Hello Sailor, a band that has made a massive contribution to the NZ music scene. His love of playing music keeps him busy performing with the very best of kiwi talent.

 

 

Tony Waine was founder of NZ band The Narcs. The band was popular in the 80’s with their debut album Great Divide achieving Gold status. The Narcs also earned six RIANZ Awards including Single of the Year for their Top Ten hit Heart and Soul. 

The band worked extensively both in NZ and Australia, recording a total of 4 albums and playing alongside such acts as Midnight Oil, Split Enz, Elton John and Queen. The Narcs were one of the first Kiwi acts apart from Split Enz to have records released worldwide – through CBS.

Tony wrote the Narcs’ single Abandoned By Love which won the 1986 APRA Silver Scroll. He has also recently produced the ‘Best of the Narcs’ album and the double CD ‘Christchurch The Music’ compilation.