The Androidss: 'Auckland Tonight'

  • Russell Brown,

    A whole band full of the kind of people your mother warned you about.

    From Dropa Kulcha in 1981. Can anyone name the host?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

23 Responses

  • Mark Easterbrook,

    Put the band in a car!

    Or just the camera.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew Dubber,

    Umm... that's not Arthur Baysting is it?! :)

    Umeå, Sweden • Since Nov 2006 • 23 posts Report Reply

  • Philternz,

    I lived that song, though I never got to see the Androidss live.

    Tolls on the harbour bridge anyone ?

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 7 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Umm... that's not Arthur Baysting is it?! :)

    Hardly!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I lived that song, though I never got to see the Androidss live.

    They were either a mobile party or trouble on legs, depending on your point of view. Lovely chaps either way, and always kind to us young whippersnappers.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Morrison,

    -

    The host's name is Terry Herbert. He was a bicyle courier who, mistaken as someone auditioning for the role of presenter, ended up getting the gig! He worked in advertising when I knew him around 5-6 years ago, though not sure where he's at now...

    -

    Sydney • Since May 2007 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Hosking,

    O God I remember this.

    Aged 17 and living out in Auckland's rural hinterland at the time, it really captured the mood of driving up the Southern motorway for what felt like a big night out. Young Farmers hit the Big Smoke....Ugly Ugly scenes. I assumed at the time it was done by a band in similar circuamstnaces and was a bit bemused to find, years later, they were form Christchurch....

    Foudn the single itself a few year'sl ater whne i moved to the big smoke. There was a little second hand record shop at the bottom of Fort St and walked in one day and they had a whole pile of old Ripper Record singles - there was this one, with the picturre of a pile of spaghetti turning humanoid and lunging out of the picture.....(also the Newmatics double 45 'Broadcast' the Mee Mees' 'Sunday Boys'....probalby some others as welll)

    Since then of course have bought it on CD on the 'Bigger than Both of us' compilation....in fact I was wondering on the w'end whether more Ripper stuff would find its way onto CD. I've got a lot of compilation vinyl albums from that era which are still non-digitised....

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Since then of course have bought it on CD on the 'Bigger than Both of us' compilation....in fact I was wondering on the w'end whether more Ripper stuff would find its way onto CD. I've got a lot of compilation vinyl albums from that era which are still non-digitised....

    Simon has some of the Propeller Records stuff headed for a digital download service near you, so sit tight. We'll make a song and dance about it here when it happens.

    But he also looks after the AK79 rights on behalf of Ripper Records founder Bryan Staff. Any chance we'll see that, Simon?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Philternz,

    Now that is something to look forward to.

    My record collection was stolen in a burglary around 1982 and I lost all those old Ripper/Propeller 7'' singles most of which I have never seen again.

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 7 posts Report Reply

  • Nobody Important,

    What's the likelihood that most of that 'graffiti' was put up so they could film it for the opening titles?? And forget who's the host - can anyone tell us what that funny booth-like structure approaching the Harbour Bridge is? I'm much too young to remember ...

    Go the Rasta's in their knitted tea-cosies!

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    someone wants to tell the mint chicks they're 25 years out of their time.

    but better than 80s were at the same stuff...

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker,

    There was a little second hand record shop at the bottom of Fort St

    Rock'n'Roll Records. Great shop. Treasure trove. And Kerry knew a thing or two, that's for sure.

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    I remember the song, but I have no recollection at all of the programme. I can't have watched as much TV at 17 as I thought. How long did Dropa Kulcha run for?

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    whoops... last comment was supposed to be a compliment to both androidss and mint chicks.

    weird how things can seem kosher on first draft, and not on a reread.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    someone wants to tell the mint chicks they're 25 years out of their time.

    but better than 80s were at the same stuff...

    You're just old. I have two friends with teenage daughters who are absolutely mad for the MintChicks - and the Ramones for that matter.

    Funny thing is, there are a few young bands who sound like they want to be the MintChicks.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Nobody Important,

    I know it's not Arthur, but ....
    "Arthur Baysting is a musician, songwriter, screenwriter, and comedian from New Zealand. He was also a member of The Crocodiles. His comedy alter-ego Neville Purvis had his own television show in 1979. Baysting (as Neville Purvis) has a dubiously notable first in New Zealand. In 1979, at the end of an episode of Neville Purvis, he uttered the word "fuck" in the closing credits, being the first person on New Zealand Television to do so. It caused an uproar amongst the media watchdogs, and resulted in the show immediately being cancelled. Currently, he is a Project Director with the New Zealand Music Industry Commission."
    That's the whole Wikipedia entry so I didn't bother linking to it. Oddly enough Baysting's imdb.com entry fails to mention this - a story/script that SPTV's John Barnett shopped overseas and ended up as a B Grade starring for vehicle for Mrs Gene Simmons. Baysting is uncredited on imdb but if you watch the closing credits you'll see based on an original script by Arthur Baysting [or similar, I'm going from memory]. Baysting doesn't mention it either (the film is that bad) other than to say he was happy to reduce his mortgage.

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report Reply

  • Lee Wilkinson,

    Ha great post Russell,
    Frank and I were boyhood friends through sailing, Id forgotten what he looked like with short hair n all.
    I think the way the photographer captured all those blurring lights was just like......
    Partying with Eric and Frank in the big Knowles St house.

    Whangarei Heads • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    Classic! My eyes are watering just looking at those pre-lycra stovepipes.

    And forget who's the host - can anyone tell us what that funny booth-like structure approaching the Harbour Bridge is? I'm much too young to remember ...

    Ah yes, back when you used to have to pay to leave Auckland... It cost 20c if I remember rightly, er, if I remember hearing my elderly relatives rightly. Grubbing round under the bench seats of the Chrysler Valiant for the right change. Those were the days.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • isaac salek,

    saw them in wgtn at the 'last resort cafe' down courtney place. Let it be known that they are playing at this years chch Punk fest at the jetset fri 16th november 2007 :)

    Since Oct 2007 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    woooo ho.
    they were a hoot at the hippie festival at charleston in '79. If i remember rightly, which i probably don't.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Labretta Suede,

    Good news for you all after 27 years they will be in Auckland tonight.Kings Arms October 25th

    more info charliehorseinfo@gmail.com

    Auckland • Since Sep 2008 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Steve Android passed away this week. RIP matey

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Thanks Simon. I knew he was unwell.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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