Blam Blam Blam
Encyclopedia
Blam Blam Blam were a New Zealand
pop/rock/alternative band. Tim Mahon
(bass) and Mark Bell (guitar,vo) had been members of The Plague and The Whizz Kids
. After losing their drummer Ian Gilroy
to The Swingers
in 1980, Tim and Mark joined up with Don McGlashan
, a multi-instrumentalist who played drums and sang many lead vocals.
The band's first release was the song Motivation on the Propeller Records
Class of 81 compilation album. They then released a four-track self-titled EP for the label, which hit the top 40 in New Zealand
. The band had two hit singles in 1981 with There is no Depression in New Zealand, and Don't Fight it Marsha, It's Bigger than Both of Us (which McGlashan later re-recorded with The Mutton Birds).
In 1982 vocalist Dick Driver joined the band, but soon left. The band recorded an album Luxury Length, which reached No. 4. in the New Zealand charts. Later that year the band were involved in a car accident where Tim Mahon was seriously injured.
In 1984 the band briefly reunited, recording the live album The Blam Blam Blam story. Don McGlashan
has since worked on a number of movie soundtracks, and been in the bands The Front Lawn
, From Scratch
, and The Mutton Birds
. Tim Mahon
has worked in music management. Mark Bell works as a session guitarist and as a journalist.
There is no Depression in New Zealand remains a well-known song in its home country. One of its notable uses was as a maiden speech in Parliament in 2002. Metiria Turei
of the Green Party read a Maori translation of the song, which Russell Brown's liner notes to The Complete Blam Blam Blam (see below) described as "a quirky, arty, militant thing to do. Which probably makes it a perfect Blam Blam Blam moment."
The Complete Blam Blam Blam was released in 1992. It contained almost the entire Blam Blam Blam back catalogue. This was remastered in 2003 by Chris Chetland at Auckland's Kog Transmissions, on a single CD, although the general consensus seems to be that the earlier mastering was superior. Another reunion tour accompanied the release. They reformed again for a tour in mid 2007.
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/rock/alternative band. Tim Mahon
Tim Mahon
Tim Mahon is a New Zealand musician who played in The Plague, The Whizz Kids and Blam Blam Blam. He was seriously injured in a road accident while on tour with Blam Blam Blam, leading to the band breaking up....
(bass) and Mark Bell (guitar,vo) had been members of The Plague and The Whizz Kids
The Whizz Kids
The Whizz Kids were a New Zealand pop/rock band featuring Andrew Snoid, Mark Bell, Tim Mahon, and Ian Gilroy. They released a 7" single called Occupational Hazard on Ripper Records in 1980. On the b side is The Spelling Mistakes - Reena...
. After losing their drummer Ian Gilroy
Ian Gilroy
Ian Gilroy is a New Zealand musician who played drums in bands such as The Plague, The Whizz Kids, The Crocodiles , The Swingers and Fetus Productions .-Films:...
to 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...
in 1980, Tim and Mark joined up with Don McGlashan
Don McGlashan
Don McGlashan is a New Zealand musician and songwriter who has been a member of bands such as The Plague, From Scratch, The Whizz Kids, Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn, The Mutton Birds and, from 2009, The Bellbirds. He composed several pieces for the Limbs Dance Company...
, a multi-instrumentalist who played drums and sang many lead vocals.
The band's first release was the song Motivation on the Propeller Records
Propeller Records
Propeller Records was an independent record label formed in Auckland, New Zealand, by Simon Grigg in 1980.-1980-81:In the years prior to 1980 the New Zealand contemporary recording industry was largely moribund. The major record labels were either not recording or were confining themselves largely...
Class of 81 compilation album. They then released a four-track self-titled EP for the label, which hit the top 40 in 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...
. The band had two hit singles in 1981 with There is no Depression in New Zealand, and Don't Fight it Marsha, It's Bigger than Both of Us (which McGlashan later re-recorded with The Mutton Birds).
In 1982 vocalist Dick Driver joined the band, but soon left. The band recorded an album Luxury Length, which reached No. 4. in the New Zealand charts. Later that year the band were involved in a car accident where Tim Mahon was seriously injured.
In 1984 the band briefly reunited, recording the live album The Blam Blam Blam story. Don McGlashan
Don McGlashan
Don McGlashan is a New Zealand musician and songwriter who has been a member of bands such as The Plague, From Scratch, The Whizz Kids, Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn, The Mutton Birds and, from 2009, The Bellbirds. He composed several pieces for the Limbs Dance Company...
has since worked on a number of movie soundtracks, and been in the bands The Front Lawn
The Front Lawn
The Front Lawn was a New Zealand musical/theatrical duo formed by Don McGlashan and Harry Sinclair. From 1989-90, they were joined by Jennifer Ward-Lealand. Their song Andy appeared at number 82 in the Top 100 New Zealand Songs...
, From Scratch
From scratch
From scratch may refer to:* "from basic components", as in a cake made from scratch, not from a commercial pre-mix, showing the skill or knowledge of the cookFrom Scratch may refer to:* From Scratch * From Scratch...
, and The Mutton Birds
The Mutton Birds
The Mutton Birds was a band from New Zealand formed in 1991 by Don McGlashan, Ross Burge, and David Long.-History:All three members came into the band with experience: McGlashan came from Blam Blam Blam and The Front Lawn, guitarist Long had played in the Six Volts and Burge had played in the...
. Tim Mahon
Tim Mahon
Tim Mahon is a New Zealand musician who played in The Plague, The Whizz Kids and Blam Blam Blam. He was seriously injured in a road accident while on tour with Blam Blam Blam, leading to the band breaking up....
has worked in music management. Mark Bell works as a session guitarist and as a journalist.
There is no Depression in New Zealand remains a well-known song in its home country. One of its notable uses was as a maiden speech in Parliament in 2002. Metiria Turei
Metiria Turei
Metiria Leanne Agnes Stanton Turei is a New Zealand member of Parliament and the female co-leader of the Green Party. she is the Green Party spokesperson on Social Equity, Electoral Reform, Māori and Treaty Issues, Housing and Children....
of the Green Party read a Maori translation of the song, which Russell Brown's liner notes to The Complete Blam Blam Blam (see below) described as "a quirky, arty, militant thing to do. Which probably makes it a perfect Blam Blam Blam moment."
The Complete Blam Blam Blam was released in 1992. It contained almost the entire Blam Blam Blam back catalogue. This was remastered in 2003 by Chris Chetland at Auckland's Kog Transmissions, on a single CD, although the general consensus seems to be that the earlier mastering was superior. Another reunion tour accompanied the release. They reformed again for a tour in mid 2007.
Single
| Year | Single | Album | Charted (NZ) | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | "Blam, Blam, Blam" | 25 | - | |
| 1981 | "There is No Depression in New Zealand" | 11 | - | |
| 1981 | "Don't Fight it Marsha, It's Bigger than Both of Us" | 17 | - | |
| 1982 | "Call for Help Call for Help Call for Help, also known as CFH, was a computer-themed television program that first aired exclusively on TechTV , a cable and satellite television network focused on technology, and then aired on G4techTV Canada and the HOW TO Channel in Australia... " |
50 | - | |
| 1982 | Luxury Length | 4 | Gold | |