Peter Urlich
Encyclopedia
Peter Urlich is a New Zealand
musician. He is one of the few NZ musicians who has managed to successfully cross the rock/house genre divide, performing successfully in both.
in the suburb of Glen Innes
, Auckland
.
At school in the early 1970s he formed a band with his friends from school Dave Dobbyn
and Bruce Murdoch, called Chillum. They played local parties and school dances.
In 1986 Urlich and Phillips were partners in Stimulant Records, with Simon Grigg
. The label released the album Eight Arms To Hold You, the first Club Collection in NZ.
selection became a massive hit. Taking the show to the clubs also proved hugely popular and for the next decade Nice'n'Urlich sold out increasingly larger venues. In 1999 the duo were signed to Simon Grigg
's Huh Records. The three Nice'n'Urlich albums sold over 60,000 albums in New Zealand.
In 1999 Urlich co-starred in a New Zealand reality show, Popstars
(arguably the inspiration for the worldwide "Idol" phenomenon), which was a hunt for people to form a pop band, and to perform and produce an album (the winners formed a band named TrueBliss
). His role in the show was that of manager.
, once again for Huh. The three volumes sold in excess of 150,000 across Australia and New Zealand. The Room Service brand was also used on a 70's Soul
collection, Soul Food, which went gold in 2003. The pair also compiled Welcome To, a collection of original New Zealand House Music in 2001.
In 2002 Urlich launched The P.U.B.E. (Peter Urlich Breakfast Experience), on Auckland station George FM
.
In 2008 he has appeared on New Zealand TV shows Dancing With Stars
and Pop's Ultimate Star
.
His album of covers of Lounge classics, Between You & Me, was released by Liberation Music
, in May, 2008.
Urlich currently hosts Bright & Urlich Saturday mornings, on Auckland station bFM. He is also the manager of the Pt Chev Pirates, a club in Auckland Rugby League
's Phelan Shield
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
musician. He is one of the few NZ musicians who has managed to successfully cross the rock/house genre divide, performing successfully in both.
Early years
Urlich was educated at Sacred Heart CollegeSacred Heart College, Auckland
Sacred Heart College is a secondary school in Auckland, New Zealand. It is a Catholic, Marist College set on of land overlooking the Tamaki Estuary in Glen Innes.- History :The college was opened in 1903 in Ponsonby, by the Marist Brothers...
in the suburb of Glen Innes
Glen Innes, New Zealand
Glen Innes is a suburb located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is located nine kilometres to the east of the city centre, close to the waters of the Tamaki River.The main streets in Glen Innes are Line Road and Apirana Avenue, which meet at a roundabout...
, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
.
At school in the early 1970s he formed a band with his friends from school Dave Dobbyn
Dave Dobbyn
Dave Dobbyn, ONZM is an award-winning New Zealand musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. In his early career he was a member of the rock group Th' Dudes and was the main creative force in pop band DD Smash...
and Bruce Murdoch, called Chillum. They played local parties and school dances.
Th' Dudes
When Chillum folded in 1975, he and Dobbyn formed Th' Dudes, with Ian Morris. After Th' Dudes split in 1980, Urlich headed off to the UK where he was fascinated by the rise of club culture. Returning to NZ in 1981, he approached writer Mark Phillips and they opened their first club in a run down bar in Auckland's Albert Street. A Certain Bar was an immediate success and over the next decade, he and Phillips ran a succession of successful clubs. These were hugely influential in establishing a contemporary club scene in Auckland.In 1986 Urlich and Phillips were partners in Stimulant Records, with Simon Grigg
Simon Grigg
Simon Grigg is a New Zealand music businessman, writer, radio host, publisher, producer, DJ and archivist. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, he attended Palmerston North Boys High, Auckland Grammar and the University of Auckland.-Punk rock:...
. The label released the album Eight Arms To Hold You, the first Club Collection in NZ.
1990s
In the 1990s Urlich returned to performing and had residencies in Auckland as the vocalist with The Lawrence Quintet. In 1995 he began a Saturday morning radio show on 95bFm. His initial partner was DJ Phil Clark, however he was replaced in 1996 by Bevan Keys and the show, Nice'n'Urlich, with its mix of Urlich's chat and Key's soulful House MusicHouse music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
selection became a massive hit. Taking the show to the clubs also proved hugely popular and for the next decade Nice'n'Urlich sold out increasingly larger venues. In 1999 the duo were signed to Simon Grigg
Simon Grigg
Simon Grigg is a New Zealand music businessman, writer, radio host, publisher, producer, DJ and archivist. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, he attended Palmerston North Boys High, Auckland Grammar and the University of Auckland.-Punk rock:...
's Huh Records. The three Nice'n'Urlich albums sold over 60,000 albums in New Zealand.
In 1999 Urlich co-starred in a New Zealand reality show, Popstars
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
(arguably the inspiration for the worldwide "Idol" phenomenon), which was a hunt for people to form a pop band, and to perform and produce an album (the winners formed a band named TrueBliss
TrueBliss
TrueBliss were a New Zealand pop girl group formed in April 1999. The band were formed on the popular television show Popstars, which aired on TV2 for nine weeks in the search for a new girl group...
). His role in the show was that of manager.
2000s
In 2000 Urlich and Grigg released the first of their Room Service compilations of lounge musicLounge music
Lounge music is a retrospective description of music popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It is a type of mood music meant to evoke in the listeners the feeling of being in a place — a jungle, an island paradise, outer space, et cetera — other than where they are listening to it...
, once again for Huh. The three volumes sold in excess of 150,000 across Australia and New Zealand. The Room Service brand was also used on a 70's Soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
collection, Soul Food, which went gold in 2003. The pair also compiled Welcome To, a collection of original New Zealand House Music in 2001.
In 2002 Urlich launched The P.U.B.E. (Peter Urlich Breakfast Experience), on Auckland station George FM
George FM
George FM is an Auckland dance music radio station, owned and operated by MediaWorks from Ponsonby Road headquarters and relayed on Freeview and radio frequencies around New Zealand...
.
In 2008 he has appeared on New Zealand TV shows Dancing With Stars
Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a New Zealand television series based on the British series Strictly Come Dancing. The show introduces eight local celebrities paired with professional ballroom danceers who each week compete against each other in a competition to impress a panel of judges and the viewing...
and Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star was TV2's reality television show which pits former reality contestants againest each other, most of whom are former NZ Idol contestants. The show was produced by Eyeworks Touchdown, with first prize $50,000 and a Kia 'Rio' car. It is hosted by Dominic Bowden and was originally...
.
His album of covers of Lounge classics, Between You & Me, was released by Liberation Music
Liberation Music
Liberation Music is a boutique, independent Australasian record company, started in 1999 by Michael Gudinski and Warren Costello. Its stated aim is to find, nurture and then to develop new talent for a world market while remaining independent in the process...
, in May, 2008.
Urlich currently hosts Bright & Urlich Saturday mornings, on Auckland station bFM. He is also the manager of the Pt Chev Pirates, a club in Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
's Phelan Shield
2010 Auckland Rugby League season
The 2010 Auckland Rugby League season was the 2010 season of senior rugby league in Auckland. The Auckland Rugby League ran the various competitions. The season commenced on the 13 of March, with the start of the Phelan Shield, and finished on the 28 August with the three senior grand finals...
.