Alastair Riddell | |
|---|---|
 Riddell in 2023. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1952 (age 71–72) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Instrument(s) |
|
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Labels | |
Alastair Riddell (born 1952) [1] is a New Zealand singer-songwriter.
Alastair Riddell | |
|---|---|
| Riddell in 2023. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1952 (age 71–72) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Instrument(s) |
|
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Labels | |
Alastair Riddell (born 1952) [1] is a New Zealand singer-songwriter.
Riddell is a musician and a film maker. [2] He has a singing style that was likened to a combination of Bryan Ferry and David Bowie. [3] Prior to 1974, he was in a band called Orb with Eddie Rayner. Then later, the two of them were in Space Waltz. [4]
In 1968, Riddell started a newsletter called "Bluesnews" and also organised the First National Blues Convention, held at Mollers Farm in Oratia, Auckland.
In 1967, Original Sun Blues Band was formed by the original line-up consisting of Riddell on rhythm guitar and vocals, his brother Ron on drums, Peter Kershaw on bass guitar and vocals, and Henry Jackson on lead guitar. The band was influenced by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and American blues, with the band's name a nod to Son House. After Kershaw and Jackson left the band, the name was shortened to Original Sun and consisted of Alastair (guitar/vocals), Ron (drums), and Peter Cuddihy (bass). The new line-up took on the more adventurous blues sounds of Jimi Hendrix and Cream. There are no known recordings of the band. [5]
In 1971, while studying at Auckland University, Riddell formed the Psychedelic Art rock band Orb. They played some of Riddell's original songs, including "Seabird" which would later feature on the Space Waltz album. Orb consisted of Riddell on rhythm guitar, synthesizer, and vocals, Eddie Rayner on keyboards, Paul Emlyn Crowther on drums, Paul (Wally) Wilkinson on lead guitar, and Peter Kershaw on bass guitar. They played the Art's Festival in 1972. [6]
In 1974, Riddell formed the glam rock band Space Waltz. The group appeared on the television talent quest New Faces and created a stir with their image. They did not win the finals, but attracted attention from rock fans. They were noticed by EMI and promptly signed to the label. [7] Their single "Out on the Street" was a number-one hit in New Zealand. [8] [9]
The album Space Waltz, which was released by EMI in 1975, featured Riddell, Eddie Rayner, Greg Clark, Peter Cuddihy, and Brent Eccles, with backing vocals from The Yandall Sisters. [5]
In 1977, the single "Wonder Ones" / "Oh Ron" was released on the Mandrill label. 'The Wonder Ones' band featuring Alastair Riddell on guitar and vocals, Tony McMaster on bass, Paul Baeyertz on keyboards and Paul Dunningham on drums, toured New Zealand between July 1977 and February 1978 including performing at the first 'Nambassa Music Festival' held at Waihi and at 'The Great Western Music Festival' at Oratia in January 1978 . Paul Dunningham had also played at the start of 1977 with Alastair's band 'Stuart And The Belmonts' who were resident at the 'Stage Door' nightclub in Auckland. The 'Wonder Ones' lineup also played on Alastair's album which was recorded at Glyn Tucker's 'Mandrill Recording Studio' in 1977.
In 1978, the self titled album Alastair Riddell was also released on the Mandrill label. [10]
Riddell toured with The Alastair Riddell Band until 1979. The Alastair Riddell Band consisted of Riddell on lead guitar, synthesizer, and vocals, John Treseder on guitar, Gavin Beardsmore on bass, Noel Lamberton on drums and Ruth Hall on backing vocals .
He twice declined invitations to join Split Enz, the first time to replace guitarist Wally Wilkinson in 1975, and then again in 1977 when Phil Judd left the band, with Neil Finn subsequently taking the position. [11] [12]
In 1983, he contributed electronic drums to the number-one hit "Poi E" by Pātea Māori Club. Incidentally, The Yandall Sisters who sang backup on the Space Waltz album appeared on another track of the album that the hit was on. Both "Poi E" and "Out on the Street" appear on the soundtrack for Taika Waititi's 2010 film, Boy . [13] [14]
In 2012, Riddell directed The Last Stop, a short film set in 1950s New Zealand which featured his wife Vanessa. [15] Also that year he released a single, "Last Of The Golden Weather". [9]
He joined a brief David Bowie tribute tour in 2016 with Jordan Luck, Finn Andrews, Eddie Rayner and others, the same year "Fraulein Love" featured in the trailer for Taika Waititi's 2016 film Hunt for the Wilderpeople .
Riddell married English model Vanessa in the 1980s. The couple have four children and live in the West Auckland suburb of Titirangi. [16]
| Title | Catalogue | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Wonder Ones" / "Oh Ron" | Mandrill M 10005 | 1977 | |
| "Smile" / "Eyes Of Love" | Mandrill DRILL 9 | 1978 | |
| "Zero" / "She's In Love" | WEA Z10047 | 1981 | |
| "Do You Read Me" / "Passion & Love" | WEA 2599317 | 1982 | Engineer: Graeme Myhre |
| "Let Her Know" / "Futura" | WEA Z10070 | 1982 | [17] |
| Title | Catalogue | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alastair Riddell | Mandrill MAN 3 | 1978 | |
| Positive Action | WEA Z20027 | 1982 | |
| Space Waltz | RPM Records RPM 306 | 2005 | [18] |
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources .(May 2019) |
| Title | Role | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert | sound mixer: festival version | 2010 | |
| The Last Stop | director, editor, sound editor | 2012 | |
| Colliding Lives | director | 2013 | |
| Broken Hallelujah | director, producer, cinematographer, actor | 2014 | |
| West of Eden | director, editor, composer | 2015 |
Split Enz were a New Zealand band formed in 1972. Regarded as the first New Zealand band to gain significant recognition outside of Australasia, they were initially noted for their progressive/art rock sound, flamboyant visual style and theatrical performances. The band later moved toward a pop/new wave sound that yielded the breakthrough hit single "I Got You" (1980). Split Enz broke up in 1984. Since that time, the band has staged several brief reunions.
Citizen Band were a New Zealand band formed by the brothers Geoff and Mike Chunn, both of whom had previously been members of Split Enz.
Schnell Fenster were a New Zealand rock band formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1986 by Noel Crombie on drums and percussion, Nigel Griggs on bass guitar and backing vocals, Phil Judd on lead vocals and guitar, and Eddie Rayner on keyboards and piano – who were all former members of New Zealand-formed rock group, Split Enz. Fellow founder, Michael den Elzen on lead guitar had worked with Tim Finn Band, another band formed by a Split Enz alumnus. Judd's band were briefly named The Wanx: but Rayner soon left and they changed their name to faux-German for "quick window", because it "appealed to [their] perversity". The group formed the core members of Noel's Cowards, a short-term ensemble, whose sole output was six tracks for the soundtrack of a feature film, Rikky and Pete, in 1988. Schnell Fenster released two studio albums, The Sound of Trees (1988) and Ok Alright a Huh Oh Yeah (1990), before disbanding in 1992. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1989 they were nominated for Breakthrough Artist – Album for The Sound of Trees, Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Whisper" and Best Cover Art for Judd's graphic art.
Anthony Edward Charles Rayner is a New Zealand musician who spent ten years as a keyboardist in the band Split Enz. He has also played in the groups Orb, Space Waltz, Crowded House, the Makers, The Angels in 1986-1987 and 801.
Dizrythmia (1977) is the third studio album released by New Zealand new wave band Split Enz. It was the first Split Enz album without co-founding members Phil Judd and Mike Chunn. Neil Finn and Nigel Griggs, the first being the younger brother of band leader Tim Finn, replaced them respectively. Meanwhile, Nigel's old friend and former bandmate Malcolm Green took the place of Emlyn Crowther, who also left around this time. The album was released domestically by Mushroom Records, and overseas by Chrysalis Records.
Poi Dog Pondering is an American musical group which is noted for its cross-pollination of diverse musical genres, including various forms of acoustic and electronic music. Frank Orrall founded the band in Hawaii in 1984, initially as a solo project. In 1985 Orrall formed the first line-up of PDP to perform its first concert at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. The band embarked on a yearlong street performance busking tour across North America. They eventually settled down in Austin, Texas in 1987, where they recorded their first three albums. In 1992, the band relocated to Chicago and they began to incorporate orchestral arrangements and elements of electronic, house music, and soul music into their acoustic rock style. The membership of Poi Dog Pondering has evolved from album to album, with Frank Orrall a constant player since the inception of the band.
The Yandall Sisters were a popular New Zealand-born Samoan all-female singing group of the 1970s, who made a major contribution to music in New Zealand. The members of the group were Caroline, Mary and Adele Yandall, and later younger sister Pauline Yandall.
Paul Emlyn Crowther is the former drummer of Split Enz who performed with the band from July 1974 to November 1976.
The Human Instinct are a New Zealand blues rock band that has been active since the late 1960s. The band currently consists of Maurice Greer, Phil Pritchard (guitar), Joel Haines (guitar) and Tony Baird (bass). The band has had more than 25 members and has changed lineups several times since its formation under the leadership of Maurice Greer.
Enz of an Era was a compilation by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Released to mark the band's 10th anniversary, and composed of tracks selected by members of the band, the album was released in New Zealand and Australia only. The album was followed up by two "Enz Of An Era" 10th anniversary concerts in early 1983.
The Living Enz was the first live album released by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Primarily recorded in Melbourne, Australia during the band's 1984 Enz with a Bang farewell tour, it also includes some material from the Auckland shows of that tour, plus recordings from the band's 1982 Time and Tide tour.
Extravagenza is a live album by New Zealand rock band Split Enz. Comprising recordings from the Palmerston North, New Plymouth and Auckland shows of the band's 1993 20th Anniversary Tour of New Zealand, the album is an expanded, remixed and remastered version of their 1994 live album Anniversary. The canned audience loop used on Anniversary was removed, giving the recordings a more natural feel.
Proud Scum was a notable punk band in New Zealand punk's second wave. Proud Scum were formed in Auckland in 1979 and attracted a hardcore punk and bootboy following.
Philip John Manning is an Australian blues singer-songwriter and guitarist. Manning has been a member of various groups including Chain and has had a solo career. As a member of Chain, Manning co-wrote their January 1971 single "Black and Blue" which became number one on the Melbourne charts and also Judgement, which reached number two in Sydney. The related album, Toward the Blues followed in September and peaked in the top 10 albums chart.
Sensitive to a Smile is a 1987 album by New Zealand reggae band Herbs. It reached number 10 and spent 30 weeks in the New Zealand album chart and was awarded Album of the Year at the 1987 New Zealand Music Awards. The album included the four singles "Sensitive to a Smile", "Rust In Dust", "Listen" and "No Nukes ", all of which charted. Sensitive to a Smile was re-released digitally in 2012 with extra tracks from Herbs' 1984 album Long Ago and their 1982 single "French Letter ".
Glyn Tucker Jr. was a leading figure in the New Zealand music industry for more than twenty years. Following an early career as a singer/songwriter in The Gremlins (1965–1968) he founded Mandrill Recording Studios in Auckland in 1975, and produced and engineered hundreds of New Zealand songs in the late seventies, eighties and early nineties.
Space Waltz are a New Zealand glam rock band formed in 1974 by frontman Alastair Riddell. In 1974, they had a number-one hit in New Zealand with "Out on the Street".
"Out on the Street" is a 1974 single by New Zealand band Space Waltz. The song peaked at number one in the New Zealand singles chart in October 1974, becoming the first glam rock song to achieve this distinction. The Bowie-influenced song was largely responsible for Space Waltz winning the "Best New Artist" award at the following year's New Zealand RATA Music Awards.
Alan Galbraith was one of New Zealand's most successful record producers of the 1970s.
Pātea Māori Club is a New Zealand cultural group and performance act formed in the South Taranaki town of Pātea in 1967 as the Pātea Methodist Māori Club. In 1983, the group began to release Māori-language pop and hip hop music, produced by Dalvanius Prime with lyrics by Ngoi Pēwhairangi. Their first single, "Poi E", reached number one on the New Zealand top 50 singles chart in 1984.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
