Pop Mechanix
Encyclopedia
Pop Mechanix were a New Zealand
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...

 pop band that played from 1979 - 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 recognised 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, and number 12 in the all time top 50 for The Press
The Press
The Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is owned by Fairfax Media.- History :The Press was first published on 25 May 1861 from a small cottage in Montreal Street, making it the oldest surviving newspaper in the South Island of New Zealand. The first...

)

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. 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.

Line Up

  • Kevin Emmett - Drums/Backing Vocals 1979 - 1986.
  • Paul (Ace) Mason - Guitar - 1979 - 88.
  • Chris Moore - Guitar/Keyboards - 1979 - 1983.
  • Paul Scott - Bass/Vocals - 1979 - 88. Lead Vocals 82 - 83
  • Andrew Snoid (Mclennan) - Vocals - 1980 - 88.
  • Richard (Dick) Driver - Vocals 1979 - 80.
  • Brent Williams - Guitar - 1985 - 87.
  • Mark Bell - Guitar - 1987 - 88.
  • Peter (Rooda) Warren - Drums 1987 - 88.

Releases

The band has a large but sporadic discography (Pop MX at discogs).
Starting with 3 classic and collectible 7" 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" single of Here She Comes Again was released in 1985 on the Hit Singles label.
The last single with this line up was Celebration of The Skin/Land of Broken Dreams in 1986.
One final single Pale Sun/Alright Here was released in 1988 with a 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.
  • Now - Singles and Demos 79 - 81 (SAFE067CD)
  • Zoo - Lost in Australia - 81 - 83 (SAFE068CD)
  • Acceptance - Reform Restart, Redirect - 85 - 86 (SAFE069CD)
  • Alright Here - Make or Break - 87 - 88 (SAFE070CD)
  • Live Kicks - Live Performance kicks 1985 - 86 (SAFE071CD)


In March 2010 Failsafe released a Compilation of the bands singles from the 81 - 86 period.
  • Now:Then - One Hit Windows


Two disc 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 bands 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
The Swingers
The Swingers were a New Zealand rock band. Formed out of the remnants of The Suburban Reptiles, the founding members were Phil Judd , Wayne Stevens , and Mark Hough . Formed in 1979, the band released the single "One Good Reason" which was a top 20 hit in New Zealand...

; plus 3 tracks which didn't make the Cowboys and Engines Album.

External links

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