The Politicians were a
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
/
new wave/
reggae
Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...
band formed in
Tokoroa
Tokoroa is the fourth-largest town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand and largest settlement in the South Waikato District. Located 30 km southwest of Rotorua and 20 km south of Putāruru, close to the foot of th ...
, New Zealand, in March 1981. Originally writing and performing their own songs with such titles as "Shift worker", "Teacher Teacher", "Can't write a love song", "Arabian girl", and "5 Years time".
Career
Two of their singles were played on various NZ television shows, including ''
Shazam!'' and ''
Radio with Pictures''. They toured New Zealand for 5 years playing the hotel circuit. When Tim Armstrong left the band in May 1986 he went on to form the Kiwi Bandits, and the Tim Armstrong band. Which played at Zaks nitepub in Hamilton, New Zealand. The Politicians continued for almost another 10 years playing resident at Shakes niteclub in Hamilton, now known as the Altitude.
After their resident gig finished they carried on as a working band and recorded the album ''Test Pattern''.
The singles "Photograph" and "Christmas Day" were released in 1986. "Grantham Street/Elenore" (single) was released in 1993.
2015 saw the release of an '80s compilation album called ''Hamiltune'', two Politicians songs were featured on this.
Legacy
Wa Kupa lives in Wairoa and Doug Pepperell is now in Perth, Australia. Paul Alderton is still performing with the swampdogs. Campbell Hapi is performing in China. Paul van Wering is teaching music and Guitar in Hamilton. Ian Jefferies has moved to Perth Australia, while Jeff Downey owns his own company, Downey Construction. Adrian Ellis continues his Music career and is living in the Tauranga area. Paul Krippner has his own sound company. Warren Williams is still playing music in Sydney and has his own finance broking business.
Tim Armstrong recorded three albums in the nineties: ''Relationships'' (1992), ''Breaking hearts'' (1993), and ''Wondering why'' (1995). Also a cover version of the Beatles' song "
Here comes the sun" came out as a single in 1994.
Tim Armstrong's band is still performing and has released several albums and singles. He has also released songs with
Howie Casey
Howard William Casey (born 12 July 1937) is a British rhythm and blues and rock saxophonist. He came to prominence in the early 1960s as a member of Derry and the Seniors, the first rock and roll band from Liverpool to play clubs in Germany, a ...
, a well known saxophone player from England. Tim Armstrong's later albums include ''Listen to your Heart'' (2007), ''Old kid on the block'' (2009), and ''2010'' (2010).
Band members
* Tim Armstrong (
guitar
The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...
/vocals) (1981–1986)
* Wa Kupa (
bass
Bass or Basses may refer to:
Fish
* Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species
Wood
* Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree
Music
* Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...
) (1981–1984)
* Doug Pepperell (
drums
The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...
) (1981–1982)
* Paul van Wering (guitar/keyboards) (1983-1990s)
* Campbell Hapi (bass) (1984–1986)
* Geoff Downey (drums) (1985-1990s)
* Paul Alderton (drums) (1982–1985)
* Donna Armstrong (keyboards) (1984–1986)
* Adrian Ellis (Bass) (1986–1990)
* Lance Healey (Bass) (1990)
* Paul Krippner (sound) (1985-1990s)
* Simon Elton (Bass) (1990s)
* Laurence Arps (guitar) (1990s)
* Corilin Steel (vocals) (1990s)
* Kevin Smith (Drums) (1990s)
* Liam Ryan (keyboards) various times
* Ian Jeffries (guitar) (1986–1990)
[Ian Jeffries was originally from the band known as ]The Bronx
The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...
* Sam Ware (vocals) (1988–1990's)
* Warren Williams (Bass) (1986–1988)
* Kevin Popperwell (Lighting) (1983–1985)
* Derek McGrath (sound) (1981–1982)
* Howard Bright (lighting) (1982–1983)
* Steve Parker (Lighting) (1981)
Tim Armstrong band (1997 – present)
* Tim Armstrong (Electric guitar/vocals)
* Don McClumpha (Backing vocals/bass guitar)
* Nigel Sanderson (joined 2008) (Backing vocals/drums)
Singles
Album
*''Test Pattern'' (1993)
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Politicians
New Zealand new wave musical groups
Musical groups established in 1981
People from Tokoroa