Mi-Sex
Encyclopedia
Mi-Sex was a New Zealand new wave
rock band active from 1978 to 1984. Led by Steve Gilpin
as vocalist, they were best known for their singles "Computer Games" in 1979 and "People" in 1980.
(vocals), Murray Burns (keyboards), and Kevin Stanton (guitar/vocals).
Gilpin had earlier performed in New Zealand in a singer-songwriter mode, and had won the Television New Zealand
talent quest New Faces
in 1972 (second place in the same show was Shona Laing
). Invercargill
-born Burns was influenced by progressive rock
bands such as Yes
, whereas Stanton's influences veered towards heavy metal
.
In 1977, Gilpin formed a band with former Father Thyme members Alan Moon (keyboards) and Don Martin (bass/vocals). They recruited two extra members for their new band, Fragments of Time - Phil "Smarty" Smart (drums) and Kevin Stanton who originated from the late sixties and performed at Aucklands leading Night Club the Montmarte with his brother (Drummer) Ron Stanton and (Bassist) Martin Mailley. The new band continued in the mid-'70s hippy style of Father Thyme, but soon ditched this sound, influenced by British New Wave and pub rock. This change was accompanied by line-up changes, with Moon being replaced by Murray Burns and Phil Smart also leaving, replaced briefly by Steve Osborne and then Richard Hodgkinson. Between them they concocted a quirky futurist paranoia-themed blend of new wave, punk, and pub rock, amalgamating some of the textures common to Britain's Tubeway Army
and Ultravox
with those more associated with The Stranglers
. At around the same time they changed their name to Mi-Sex, this name taken from an Ultravox song title, "My Sex". They released their first single, "Straight Laddie" (originally intended simply as a demo), during 1978.
Early New Zealand performances included the Wellington Technical Institute
and Dr Johns (Ray Johns), on the same day with demo recording at Dellbrook studios in Tawa, and the bus breaking a gearbox on the Ngauraunga Gorge section of motorway.
In August 1978 the band headed to Sydney
, where they quickly became a major live drawcard. They were soon signed to the Australian division of CBS Records
by the label's then A&R manager/House producer Peter Dawkins
, himself an expatriate New Zealander who is best known for his productions with another former NZ group based in Australia, Dragon
.
Their first single for CBS, "But You Don't Care"/"Burning Up", was released in Australia in June 1979 and their debut album, Graffiti Crimes
was issued in July 1979 to coincide with their national tour as the support act for Talking Heads
. The LP included their biggest hit, the synthesizer
-driven "Computer Games", a Burns/Stanton composition released in Australia on October 1, 1979. The single went to #1 in Australia, made the top 5 in New Zealand, and also charted in 20 countries including Canada
and South Africa
.
The follow-up album, Space Race
sold well and produced another big single, "People", but the band were unable to maintain their early momentum and two later albums failed to produce the same popular interest. Mi-Sex disbanded in March 1984.
Gilpin remained in Australia, working with bands such as Under Rapz. In November 1991, while returning to his home after a gig, he was seriously injured in a major car accident, and lapsed into a coma from which he never recovered. He died in Southport Hospital on January 6, 1992
After many years, the band reformed with former Noiseworks
bass player Steve Balbi
on Lead Vocals. Kevin Stanton has been forced to sit out due to having recently undergone surgery on his back.
Robert Muldoon
. The New Zealand government had slapped a 40% sales duty on records, much to the objection of the New Zealand Arts Council, record retailers and record companies. On April 21, Muldoon claimed that popular music was "not culture", stating that "The records sold in this country are not Kiri Te Kanawa
's, they are 50 to 1 those horrible pop groups and I'm not going to take the tax off them."
Mi-Sex were due to start a major New Zealand tour five weeks later, and - sensing an opportunity for publicity - invited Muldoon to attend their Wellington concert, an invitation which he accepted. The Prime Minister attended the concert and met with the band after their performance, but the sales tax remained.
/Countdown Music Awards: 'Most Popular Album or Single', 'Best Australian Single' and 'Best New Talent (Johnny O'Keefe
Memorial Award)'.http://www.sergent.com.au/misex.html
. Released in New Zealand by Universal Music, it reached number 20 in the charts. While the version horrified some purists, it was well-received by the band and Nicolette subsequently collaborated with Colin Bayley on several songs.
Note: All New Zealand chart figures are from the New Zealand national sales chart.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
rock band active from 1978 to 1984. Led by Steve Gilpin
Steve Gilpin
Steve Gilpin was a New Zealand-born vocalist best known for his work in the rock band Mi-Sex.Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Gilpin began his career as a cabaret singer in hotels. His star rose in 1972 when he was the winner of television talent show New Faces. After releasing a string of singles...
as vocalist, they were best known for their singles "Computer Games" in 1979 and "People" in 1980.
History
Mi-Sex evolved from the band Fragments of Time, a band which itself formed from members of earlier bands Father Thyme and Think. The band centred on a trio of performers: Steve GilpinSteve Gilpin
Steve Gilpin was a New Zealand-born vocalist best known for his work in the rock band Mi-Sex.Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Gilpin began his career as a cabaret singer in hotels. His star rose in 1972 when he was the winner of television talent show New Faces. After releasing a string of singles...
(vocals), Murray Burns (keyboards), and Kevin Stanton (guitar/vocals).
Gilpin had earlier performed in New Zealand in a singer-songwriter mode, and had won the Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand, more commonly referred to, and stylized as TVNZ, is a government-owned corporation television network broadcasting in New Zealand and parts of the Pacific. It operates TV1, TV2, TVNZ7, TVNZ Heartland, TVNZ U and new media services....
talent quest New Faces
New Faces
New Faces was a British television talent show popular in the 1970s and 1980s, presented originally by Derek Hobson. It was produced by ATV Network Limited for the ITV Network. The first run of the show was from 29 September 1973 to 2 April 1978 and was recorded at the ATV Centre, Birmingham...
in 1972 (second place in the same show was Shona Laing
Shona Laing
Shona Laing is a New Zealand musician. She has had several hits in her native country, as well as a few minor international hits, most notably " Not a Kennedy" and "Soviet Snow". Laing also contributed to the Manfred Mann's Earth Band album Somewhere in Afrika...
). Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
-born Burns was influenced by progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
bands such as Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, whereas Stanton's influences veered towards heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
.
In 1977, Gilpin formed a band with former Father Thyme members Alan Moon (keyboards) and Don Martin (bass/vocals). They recruited two extra members for their new band, Fragments of Time - Phil "Smarty" Smart (drums) and Kevin Stanton who originated from the late sixties and performed at Aucklands leading Night Club the Montmarte with his brother (Drummer) Ron Stanton and (Bassist) Martin Mailley. The new band continued in the mid-'70s hippy style of Father Thyme, but soon ditched this sound, influenced by British New Wave and pub rock. This change was accompanied by line-up changes, with Moon being replaced by Murray Burns and Phil Smart also leaving, replaced briefly by Steve Osborne and then Richard Hodgkinson. Between them they concocted a quirky futurist paranoia-themed blend of new wave, punk, and pub rock, amalgamating some of the textures common to Britain's Tubeway Army
Tubeway Army
Tubeway Army were a London-based punk rock and new wave band led by lead singer Gary Numan. They were the first band of the post-punk era to have a synthesizer-based hit, with their single Are 'Friends' Electric? and its parent album Replicas both topping the UK Album Chart in mid-1979.-Line-up:The...
and Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
with those more associated with The Stranglers
The Stranglers
The Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...
. At around the same time they changed their name to Mi-Sex, this name taken from an Ultravox song title, "My Sex". They released their first single, "Straight Laddie" (originally intended simply as a demo), during 1978.
Early New Zealand performances included the Wellington Technical Institute
Wellington Institute of Technology
The Wellington Institute of Technology, or WelTec is a public New Zealand polytechnic based in Petone. WelTec was formed by an amalgamation between the Central Institute of Technology and the Hutt Valley Polytechnic in 2001. Hutt Valley Polytechnic was established in 1904. WelTec delivers...
and Dr Johns (Ray Johns), on the same day with demo recording at Dellbrook studios in Tawa, and the bus breaking a gearbox on the Ngauraunga Gorge section of motorway.
In August 1978 the band headed to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, where they quickly became a major live drawcard. They were soon signed to the Australian division of CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
by the label's then A&R manager/House producer Peter Dawkins
Peter Dawkins
Peter Dawkins may refer to:*Pete Dawkins, Vice Chairman of the CitiGroup Private Bank and former Chairman/CEO of Primerica Financial Services, Inc.*Peter Dawkins , English founder of the Francis Bacon Research Trust...
, himself an expatriate New Zealander who is best known for his productions with another former NZ group based in Australia, Dragon
Dragon (band)
Dragon is a popular New Zealand rock band, they were formed in Auckland, New Zealand in January 1972 and relocated to Sydney, Australia in May 1975. They were previously led by singer Marc Hunter and are currently led by his brother bass player Todd Hunter...
.
Their first single for CBS, "But You Don't Care"/"Burning Up", was released in Australia in June 1979 and their debut album, Graffiti Crimes
Graffiti Crimes
Graffiti Crimes was the debut album by New Zealand New Wave music group Mi-Sex, released in 1979. It reached number six on the New Zealand albums chart...
was issued in July 1979 to coincide with their national tour as the support act for Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
. The LP included their biggest hit, the synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
-driven "Computer Games", a Burns/Stanton composition released in Australia on October 1, 1979. The single went to #1 in Australia, made the top 5 in New Zealand, and also charted in 20 countries including Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
The follow-up album, Space Race
Space Race (album)
Space Race is an album by New Zealand New Wave music group Mi-Sex, released in 1980. It reached number one on the New Zealand albums chart, and spawned several singles, including the top 5 hit "People"....
sold well and produced another big single, "People", but the band were unable to maintain their early momentum and two later albums failed to produce the same popular interest. Mi-Sex disbanded in March 1984.
Gilpin remained in Australia, working with bands such as Under Rapz. In November 1991, while returning to his home after a gig, he was seriously injured in a major car accident, and lapsed into a coma from which he never recovered. He died in Southport Hospital on January 6, 1992
After many years, the band reformed with former Noiseworks
Noiseworks
Noiseworks is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1986 with bass guitarist Steve Balbi, guitarist Stuart Fraser, drummer Kevin Nicol, keyboardist Justin Stanley and lead vocalist Jon Stevens...
bass player Steve Balbi
Steve Balbi
Steve Balbi played bass in the hit-making Australian band Noiseworks, and was also in Electric Hippies along with fellow Noiseworks member Justin Stanley. Prior to Noiseworks, he was in Rose Tattoo, and prior to Rose Tattoo was in a band with his cousins called The Apaches. They performed 'Fox on...
on Lead Vocals. Kevin Stanton has been forced to sit out due to having recently undergone surgery on his back.
The "Culture" controversy
Mi-Sex gained considerable publicity during 1980 thanks to then Prime Minister of New ZealandPrime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
Robert Muldoon
Robert Muldoon
Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
. The New Zealand government had slapped a 40% sales duty on records, much to the objection of the New Zealand Arts Council, record retailers and record companies. On April 21, Muldoon claimed that popular music was "not culture", stating that "The records sold in this country are not Kiri Te Kanawa
Kiri Te Kanawa
Dame Kiri Jeanette Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC is a New Zealand / Māori soprano who has had a highly successful international opera career since 1968. Acclaimed as one of the most beloved sopranos in both the United States and Britain she possesses a warm full lyric soprano voice, singing a wide array...
's, they are 50 to 1 those horrible pop groups and I'm not going to take the tax off them."
Mi-Sex were due to start a major New Zealand tour five weeks later, and - sensing an opportunity for publicity - invited Muldoon to attend their Wellington concert, an invitation which he accepted. The Prime Minister attended the concert and met with the band after their performance, but the sales tax remained.
Awards
Mi-Sex received three awards at Australia's 1979 TV WeekTV Week
TV Week is a weekly television magazine in Australia, first published as a Melbourne-only publication in December 1957 , and bearing a strong affiliation to television station GTV.The publication is still publishing weekly...
/Countdown Music Awards: 'Most Popular Album or Single', 'Best Australian Single' and 'Best New Talent (Johnny O'Keefe
Johnny O'Keefe
John Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include "Wild One" , "Shout!" and "She's My Baby"...
Memorial Award)'.http://www.sergent.com.au/misex.html
Cover versions
In 1999, "Blue Day" was covered by Eurodance-pop artist NicoletteChristopher Banks
Christopher Banks is a New Zealand journalist, musician, record producer, songwriter and film-maker.- Deep Obsession :Banks was responsible for eight top 30 New Zealand hits for three different acts between 1998 and 2002....
. Released in New Zealand by Universal Music, it reached number 20 in the charts. While the version horrified some purists, it was well-received by the band and Nicolette subsequently collaborated with Colin Bayley on several songs.
Albums
| Date | Title | Label | Charted | Country | Catalogue number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albums | |||||
| 1979 | Graffiti Crimes Graffiti Crimes Graffiti Crimes was the debut album by New Zealand New Wave music group Mi-Sex, released in 1979. It reached number six on the New Zealand albums chart... |
Columbia CBS Records CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J... |
6 | New Zealand | 463031 2 |
| 1980 | Space Race Space Race (album) Space Race is an album by New Zealand New Wave music group Mi-Sex, released in 1980. It reached number one on the New Zealand albums chart, and spawned several singles, including the top 5 hit "People".... |
1 | New Zealand | SBP 237442 | |
| 1981 | Shanghaied! Shanghaied! Shanghaied! is the third album by New Zealand new wave band Mi-Sex, released in 1981. The album was less successful than the band's earlier efforts, failing to chart and the single "Falling In and Out" charting at number 48 in New Zealand.... |
- | New Zealand | SBP 237701 | |
| 1983 | Where Do They Go? | - | New Zealand | MX 203364 | |
| EPs | |||||
| 1988 | Mi-Sex EP | Columbia | - | New Zealand | 651091-7 |
| Greatest Hits | |||||
| 1985 | '79-'85 | Columbia | - | New Zealand | SBP 8117 |
| 2007 | The Essential Mi-Sex | Sony | - | New Zealand | B000NJLPUW |
Singles
| Year | Single | Album | Charted | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "Straight Laddie" | - | - | - |
| 1979 | "But You Don't Care" | Graffiti Crimes | 33 (NZ) | - |
| 1979 | "Computer Games" | Graffiti Crimes | 5 (NZ); 1 (Australia) |
- |
| 1980 | "People" | Space Race | 3 (NZ) | - |
| 1980 | "Space Race" | Space Race | 19 (NZ) | - |
| 1980 | "It Only Hurts When I'm Laughing" | Space Race | - | - |
| 1981 | "Shanghaied!" | Shanghaied! | - | - |
| 1981 | "Falling In and Out" | Shanghaied! | 48 (NZ) | - |
| 1981 | "Missing Person" | Shanghaied! | - | - |
| 1982 | "Castaway" | - | - | - |
| 1982 | "Down the Line (Makin' Love on the Telephone)" | - | - | - |
| 1982 | "Lost Time" | - | - | - |
| 1983 | "Only Thinking" | Where Do They Go? | - | - |
| 1983 | "Blue Day" | Where Do They Go? | 36 (NZ) | - |
| 1983 | "Five O'Clock (In the Morning)" | Where Do They Go? | - | - |
Note: All New Zealand chart figures are from the New Zealand national sales chart.