Pop Mechanix

Pop Mechanix were a New Zealand pop band that played from 1979 to 1988.

They had a number of high-profile fans during the course of their career, notable championed by fellow NZ band Split Enz. Their career was fraught with line up changes and legal suits which slowed one of NZ's hardest-working acts down somewhat. Their genius is recognized with one of their songs being considered a New Zealand classic ('Jumping out a Window' number 87 out of the top 100 of all time for APRA NZ,[1] and number 12 in the all-time top 50 for The Press[2])

The Band was involved in a precedent setting law case involving an Australian act called Popular Mechanics who took the NZ act Via their major Record Label WEA to court over the use of their name in the Australian Territories.[3] The bassist for the Australian act was a lawyer by trade and eventually won the case, forcing Pop Mechanix to change their name, first to NZ Pop, and then to Zoo. The band eventually returned to New Zealand and continued work there under their original name.

Lineup

Releases

The band has a large but sporadic discography.[4] Starting with 3 classic and collectible 7-inch singles in 1980 and 81 Now/Radio Song(Ripper Records), Ritz/Brains Are Dumb/Talking (RCA) & Jumping out a Window/Way I Dance/Private Military(on the XSF label XS001) before moving to Australia and hitting issues with their name. A further single "Texas/Cowboys" and the single "Holidays/Ritz" under the name NZpop were released before singer Andrew Snoid left the band to join The Swingers, who were at the top of the charts in Australia and New Zealand with their hit Counting the Beat. The remaining members continued on under the name Zoo and released the album Cowboys and Engines. The band abandoned their Australian ambitions in 1983 and returned to NZ, where they regrouped with singer Snoid and restarted their career. Keyboardist/guitarist Chris Moore leaving to pursue a solo career and guitarist Brent Williams joining. A four-song EP Virginia Purple/Here She Comes Again/Eyes of Love/No Surprise, and a 7-inch single of Here She Comes Again was released in 1985 on the Hit Singles label. The last single with this lineup was "Celebration of The Skin/Land of Broken Dreams" in 1986. One final single "Pale Sun/Alright Here" was released in 1988 with Peter Warren and Mark Bell replacing drums and guitar. The band called it quits after this release.

In April 2005 Failsafe Records released 5 discs covering 4 phases of the band.

In March 2010 Failsafe released a compilation of the band's singles from the 1981–86 period.

Two discs remain in the series.
2010 – Splash Alley – Lets Get Started 1979–80 captures the Richard Driver period of the band comprising one concert at Auckland's Mainstreet venue and Drivers version of the band's first single "Now".
Lost Tapes – Parallel Universe – 1982 contains the lost Australian album featuring Andrew Snoid's original vocals is scheduled for release in mid-2010. Many of the tracks on this disc were re-sung by Bassist Paul Scott when he took over lead singing after the departure of Snoid to join Fellow NZ band The Swingers; plus 3 tracks which didn't make the Cowboys and Engines album.

References

  1. ↑ "APRA Top 100 New Zealand Songs Of All Time". christchurchcitylibraries.com.
  2. ↑ "Top 50 Kiwi songs named". The Press. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  3. ↑ Shane Simpson – Australian Music Business – Selecting and protecting a Name
  4. ↑ "Pop Mechanix". Discogs.
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