Fred Dagg

Last updated

Fred Dagg is a fictional character from New Zealand created and acted on stage, film and television by satirist John Clarke. Clarke appeared on New Zealand TV screens as Dagg during the mid to late 1970s, "taking the piss" out of the post-pioneering Kiwi "blokes" and "blokesses". The sense of the name "Dagg" is associated with the slang term dag . The Fred Dagg character is a stereotypical farmer and New Zealand bloke: clad in a black singlet and gumboots, hailing from the isolated rural town of Taihape, and attended by numerous associates (or sons) all named "Trev". One memorable expression was uttered whenever there was a knock at the door: "That'll be the door." When Clarke first unveiled the character of Fred Dagg in recordings and on New Zealand TV in 1975, he became a national star. He also recorded a series of records and cassettes as Dagg, [1] as well as publishing several books.

Contents

In 1977, Clarke moved from New Zealand to Australia, where he went on to establish himself as a top script writer and personality. [2]

He appeared regularly on Australian television delivering political satire sketches with actor comedian Bryan Dawe until his death in April 2017. [3] [4]

Influence

Clarke stated that the inspiration for Fred Dagg came primarily from his uncles who would talk in such a way, using intonation and speech rhythm, to cause laughter without the standard telling of jokes.

Much of the comedy coming into New Zealand at the time was British radio and this was an inspiration to him.

Works

John Clarke slowly refined the character of Fred Dagg in short comedic interview segments that screened occasionally on the New Zealand current affairs show Nationwide throughout 1974. In December of that year the character was the subject of a satirical mockumentary spoof episode on the NZBC farming show, Country Calendar . Fred Dagg went on to become a household name in New Zealand in 1975 with further comedy skit appearances on the Television One news programme Tonight at Nine and with the release by Clarke (as Dagg) of two singles with EMI, "Traditional Air"/"Unlabelled", and "We Don't Know How Lucky We Are"/"Larry Loves Barry", with the latter making it to number 17 on the national music single charts.

An album called Fred Dagg's Greatest Hits followed and was a massive seller. [5] Thirty years after its release this album remains one of New Zealand's all-time biggest selling records.

Another single recorded with Diamond Lil was an even bigger hit in 1976. "Gumboots"/"Save The Last Dance For Me" climbed to number 6 on the charts. "Gumboots" was a modified version of Billy Connolly's "If It Wasna For Your Wellies", itself an adaptation of the old song "The Work Of The Weavers". [6]

A second album, Fred Dagg Live was released in 1976. [7] Following on in the style of the first, it was also a huge seller.

1977 saw the release of the film Dagg Day Afternoon , co-directed and co-written by John Clarke and Geoff Murphy, and starring Fred Dagg. The film, under 45 minutes long, is essentially a series of sketches tied together with a loose narrative about Dagg's secret mission to find a "bionic sheep" (or 6 million dollar ram) which has been lost by the government.

By 1978 John Clarke and his young family had settled in Australia but he briefly commuted back to New Zealand during that year to create a Fred Dagg television series for South Pacific Television (TV2). The Fred Dagg Lectures on Leisure consisted of 20 five-minute long episodes which screened Sunday nights from September 1978 through to February 1979. The programmes featured Fred holding forth on a variety of diverse subjects such as golf, photography, how to write an autobiography, UFO spotting, saving whales and tree-felling. The original master tapes of all these episodes no longer exist and are thought to have either been wiped or lost by SPTV when the company was dissolved and amalgamated with Television One in 1980. [8]

A third and final album was released in 1979 called The Fred Dagg Tapes. [9]

In 1998 the Fred Dagg Anthology CD was released by Columbia. [10] It contained most of Dagg's best-known material. A lot of the second half of the Anthology isn't genuine "Fred Dagg" material, having been created by Clarke after he'd retired Fred Dagg and moved to Australia. A number of mock interviews were first broadcast on Australian current affairs television, and lampoon prominent people (such as businessman Alan Bond) who would not be familiar to a New Zealand audience. There are also six "farnarkeling" reports, which parody sports news and were first performed by Clarke on the ABC's The Gillies Report .

"We Don't Know How Lucky We Are!" was re-released in 1998 with revised lyrics. This re-recording was driven by Graeme Hill, and Sky TV's SportsCafe .

Discography

Studio and live albums

List of albums
TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
AUS
[11]
Fred Dagg's Greatest Hits
  • Released: 1975
  • Label: EMI (DAGG 1)
  • Format: LP, Cassette
-
Fred Dagg Live
  • Released: 1976
  • Label: EMI (DAGG 3)
  • Format: LP, Cassette
-
The Fred Dagg Tapes
  • Released: 1979
  • Label: EMI (EMC 159)
  • Format: LP, CD
36

Compilation albums

List of compilation
TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions Certifications
NZ [12]
Fred Dagg Anthology
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Columbia (489885-2)
  • Format: CD, Cassette
2
The Taihape Years
  • Released: August 2008
  • Label: Jigsaw
  • Format: CD, DD
34

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hollies</span> English pop rock group formed in the early 1960s

The Hollies are an English rock and pop band formed in 1962. One of the leading British groups of the 1960s and into the mid-1970s, they are known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. Singer Allan Clarke and rhythm guitarist/singer Graham Nash founded the band as a Merseybeat-type group in Manchester, although some of the band members came from towns further north, in east Lancashire. Nash left the group in 1968 to co-form Crosby, Stills & Nash, though he has reunited with the Hollies on occasion. As well as Clarke and Nash other members have included lead guitarist Tony Hicks, rhythm guitarist Terry Sylvester, bassists Eric Haydock and Bernie Calvert, and drummers Don Rathbone and Bobby Elliott.

<i>The Games</i> (Australian TV series) Mockumentary about preparations for 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney

The Games was an Australian mockumentary television series about the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. The series was originally broadcast on the ABC and had two seasons of 13 episodes each, the first in 1998 and the second in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Mune</span> New Zealand actor

Sir Ian Barry Mune is a New Zealand character actor, director, and screenwriter. His screen acting career spans four decades and more than 50 roles. His work as a film director includes hit comedy Came a Hot Friday, an adaptation of classic New Zealand play The End of the Golden Weather, and What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, the sequel to Once Were Warriors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Clarke (satirist)</span> New Zealand comedian, writer, and satirist (1948–2017)

John Morrison Clarke was a New Zealand comedian, writer and satirist who lived and worked in Australia from the late 1970s. He was a highly regarded actor and writer whose work appeared on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in both radio and television and also in print. He is principally known for his character Fred Dagg and his long-running collaboration with fellow satirist Bryan Dawe, which lasted from 1989 to his death in 2017, as well as for his success as a comic actor in Australian and New Zealand film and television.

Arthur Baysting was a New Zealand writer, producer and children's advocate. He lived in Auckland with his partner, artist Jean Clarkson. They have two grown children.

Bryan John Dawe is an Australian writer, comedian, political satirist, songwriter, photographer and social activist. He is known predominantly for his long-running collaboration with fellow satirist, John Clarke, which lasted from 1989 until Clarke's death in 2017; Dawe has also achieved success as a painter and public speaker.

<i>Rock n Roll Music</i> (album) 1976 compilation album by the Beatles

Rock 'n' Roll Music is a compilation album by the English rock band the Beatles containing previously released tracks. It was issued on 7 June 1976 in the United States, on Capitol Records, and on Parlophone in the United Kingdom, four days later. A double album, the 28-track compilation includes 15 Lennon–McCartney songs, one George Harrison composition ("Taxman"), and a dozen cover versions of songs written by significant rock and roll composers of the 1950s, including Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins and Larry Williams. Not counting the 1971 Spanish compilation album, Por Siempre Beatles, Rock 'n' Roll Music was the first Beatles album to include "I'm Down", which had previously only been available as the B-side of the "Help!" single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand humour</span>

New Zealand humour bears some similarities to the body of humour of many other English-speaking countries. There are, however, several regional differences.

The Gillies Report is an Australian topical satirical sketch comedy television series that was broadcast on the ABC between 1984 and 1985. The program was best known for sending up politicians and media personalities of the day such as Prime Minister Bob Hawke and Opposition Leader Andrew Peacock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Topp Twins</span> New Zealand folk singers, comedians, and activists (born 1958)

The Topp Twins are the folk singing and activist sister comedy duo of New Zealand entertainers Jools and Lynda Topp. They are known for their country music influenced style, live shows and television performances. They often perform as characters, the most notable being the roles Ken & Ken, and Camp Mother & Camp Leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Williams (singer)</span> New Zealand-born singer

Mark Williams is a New Zealand singer with Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) number one hit singles, "Yesterday Was Just the Beginning of My Life" (1975) and a cover of Buddy Holly's "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" (1977) before he relocated to Australia later that year. His single, "Show No Mercy" (1990) was a top ten hit in both countries. He has undertaken extensive touring in support of numerous Australian bands and worked in television. In 2006 he became the vocalist for the reformed New Zealand band, Dragon.

<i>First Impressions</i> (album) 1974 compilation album by Olivia Newton-John

First Impressions is a compilation album by Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released in 1974 on the EMI label. The collection presents the main hits of the singer, recorded from 1971 to 1974 – songs from the first three studio albums and the compilation If You Love Me, Let Me Know.

<i>Anthology 1: Greatest Hits 1986–1997</i> 1997 greatest hits album by John Farnham

Anthology 1: Greatest Hits 1986–1997 is a greatest hits compilation album by Australian singer John Farnham. The album was released in Australia on 29 September 1997, and is the first of a three disc Anthology set, it coincided with Farnham celebrating his 30th Anniversary in music.

<i>North, South, East, West...Anthology</i> 2009 compilation album by Tim Finn

North, South, East, West...Anthology is the first solo compilation album by New Zealand singer/songwriter Tim Finn. Released in September 2009, the two-disc collection features songs from Finn's solo career as well as his time with Split Enz, Crowded House and the Finn Brothers. The album reached #15 on the New Zealand music charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ric Salizzo</span>

Riccardo Michele Salizzo is a New Zealand journalist, television presenter and producer. He is best known for producing and presenting long-running sports chat show SportsCafe, as well as executive producing and occasionally presenting sports current events show The Crowd Goes Wild.

<i>Clarke and Dawe</i> Australian comedy program

Clarke and Dawe is an Australian news satire television program that originally aired on the Nine Network from 1989 to 1996 and later on ABC TV from 2000 until 2017. Almost all episodes feature comedians John Clarke and Bryan Dawe engaging in a mock interview, with Dawe playing the interviewer and Clarke playing the interviewee.

The Fred Award is the highest honour at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, awarded to the best show written and performed by a New Zealand comedian.

<i>Great Interviews of the Twentieth Century</i> 1990 studio album by John Clarke and Bryan Dawe

Great Interviews of the Twentieth Century is a comedy studio album by New Zealand satirist John Clarke and Australian Bryan Dawe. The album was released in November 1990 and peaked at number 49 on The Australian ARIA Charts.

<i>The Annual Report</i> 1991 studio album by John Clarke and Bryan Dawe

The Annual Report is a second comedy studio album by New Zealand satirist John Clarke and Australian Bryan Dawe. The album was released in November 1991 and peaked at number 94 on The Australian ARIA Charts. The interviews first broadcast on A Current Affair on the Nine Network.

Dagg Day Afternoon is a 1977 New Zealand action comedy film, starring John Clarke. It was written and directed by John Clarke and Geoff Murphy.

References

  1. ↑ "Dagg's humour". The Australian Jewish News . Vol. XLVII, no. 7. Victoria, Australia. 17 October 1980. p. 35. Retrieved 4 September 2023– via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ Nicklin, Lenore (20 November 1990), "Deadpan Dagg in deadly earnest. -Barry Humphries calls him Australia's best humourist but John Clarke, alias Fred Dagg insists he's a 'totally uninteresting' person-", Bulletin (Sydney) (20 Nov 1990): 48–49, ISSN   1440-7485
  3. ↑ "Comedy delivered with an acidic bite (30 April 1984)", The bulletin, 104 (5414), John Haynes and J.F. Archibald: 60, 30 April 1984, ISSN   0007-4039
  4. ↑ "Satirist John Clarke, of Clarke and Dawe fame, dies aged 68". ABC News. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  5. ↑ Clarke, John (1976), Fred Dagg's greatest hits, EMI, retrieved 11 February 2020
  6. ↑ "Gumboots" New Zealand Geographic No85 May–June 2007
  7. ↑ Clarke, John (1976), Fred Dagg live, EMI Records, retrieved 11 February 2020
  8. ↑ Horan, Paul; Hutchings, Mark (2019). "First steps: an overview of John Clarke's television work in New Zealand before 1980". Comedy Studies. 10: 119–126. doi:10.1080/2040610X.2019.1592370. S2CID   194640769 . Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  9. ↑ Clarke, John (1979), The Fred Dagg tapes, Festival, retrieved 11 February 2020
  10. ↑ Clarke, John; Rayner, Eddie (1998), Fred Dagg anthology, Columbia, retrieved 11 February 2020
  11. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 81. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  12. ↑ "Fred Dagg NZ Charts". Charts.nz. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  13. ↑ "Gold and platinum New Zealand albums to 2013". Te Ara. Encyclopedia of NZ. Retrieved 12 July 2020.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.