Peter Stapleton
Encyclopedia
Peter Stapleton (born 25 April 1954) is a musician from New Zealand
. He is principally a drummer
, although he has also contributed shortwave radio and tape manipulations to various recordings.
In 1976 Stapleton joined The Vacuum, who went largely unrecorded. The band consisted of Stapleton, Bill Direen, Tony O'Grady, and Alan Meek. When The Vacuum split, Bill Direen went on to form The Bilders
, while Stapleton, O'Grady and Meek, along with singer/songwriter Steven Cogle,transformed into The Victor Dimisich Band, which released its first EP, Native Waiter, on the Flying Nun
label in 1982. The Victor Dimisich Band disbanded, and posthumously released a cassette, Mekong Delta Blues, on the Xpressway
label in 1988. Stapleton and Cogle went on to form The Terminals
in 1986.
Stapleton also formed The Pin Group with Roy Montgomery
and Ross Humphries. Their 1981 "Ambivalence" 7" was the first release on the Flying Nun label. Another 7", "Coat" was issued later that year, followed by The Pin Group Go To Town EP in 1982. The Pin Group then disbanded, yet reunited in 1992 for the "Eleven Years After" 7".
Stapleton formed the garage rock
band Scorched Earth Policy, who released two EPs; Dust to Dust (1984) and Going Through a Hole in the Back of Your Head (1985). These recordings were later compiled and reissued on the Medication label as Keep Away From The Wires.
During the 1990s, Stapleton moved into more experimental
noise
music, forming bands such as Dadamah
, Flies Inside The Sun
, and Sleep. In 1996 he founded the Metonymic and Medication record labels. As of 2006, he plays in Dunedin
rock trio Eye.
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...
. He is principally a drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, although he has also contributed shortwave radio and tape manipulations to various recordings.
In 1976 Stapleton joined The Vacuum, who went largely unrecorded. The band consisted of Stapleton, Bill Direen, Tony O'Grady, and Alan Meek. When The Vacuum split, Bill Direen went on to form The Bilders
The Bilders
The Bilders is the name for lineups of musicians led by a New Zealand singer-songwriter. The first Bilders sprang from the group Vacuum and is known under other names such as Kazaportico, Above Ground, Bilderbergers, Builders, Soluble Fish and Bilders Paris Sessions...
, while Stapleton, O'Grady and Meek, along with singer/songwriter Steven Cogle,transformed into The Victor Dimisich Band, which released its first EP, Native Waiter, on the Flying Nun
Flying Nun Records
Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
label in 1982. The Victor Dimisich Band disbanded, and posthumously released a cassette, Mekong Delta Blues, on the Xpressway
Xpressway
Xpressway was a record label founded by New Zealand musician Bruce Russell in Dunedin in 1988. Until it ceased in 1993, Xpressway released a variety of New Zealand musicians, primarily on cassette, but its catalogue included several 7" singles and one 12" EP....
label in 1988. Stapleton and Cogle went on to form The Terminals
The Terminals
The Terminals are an alternative rock band from New Zealand. They released material on the Xpressway and Flying Nun labels.No affiliation with the TERMINALS aka the TERMINALS , a Surf/Punk band from Hutchinson, KS, USA...
in 1986.
Stapleton also formed The Pin Group with Roy Montgomery
Roy Montgomery
Roy Montgomery is a guitarist from Christchurch, New Zealand.He has played in several New Zealand bands, including Compulsory Fun, Murder Strikes Pink, The Pin Group, The Shallows, Dadamah and Dissolve...
and Ross Humphries. Their 1981 "Ambivalence" 7" was the first release on the Flying Nun label. Another 7", "Coat" was issued later that year, followed by The Pin Group Go To Town EP in 1982. The Pin Group then disbanded, yet reunited in 1992 for the "Eleven Years After" 7".
Stapleton formed the garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
band Scorched Earth Policy, who released two EPs; Dust to Dust (1984) and Going Through a Hole in the Back of Your Head (1985). These recordings were later compiled and reissued on the Medication label as Keep Away From The Wires.
During the 1990s, Stapleton moved into more experimental
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
noise
Noise music
Noise music is a term used to describe varieties of avant-garde music and sound art that may use elements such as cacophony, dissonance, atonality, noise, indeterminacy, and repetition in their realization. Noise music can feature distortion, various types of acoustically or electronically...
music, forming bands such as Dadamah
Dadamah
Dadamah were a band from New Zealand, active during the early 1990s. The band consisted of Kim Pieters, Peter Stapleton, Roy Montgomery, and Janine Stagg. After the band broke up, the members went on to numerous other music projects, including Flies Inside The Sun, Doramaar, Dissolve, and...
, Flies Inside The Sun
Flies Inside The Sun
Flies Inside the Sun were a band from New Zealand. They formed in 1993, and consisted of Kim Pieters, Peter Stapleton, Danny Butt, and Brian Crook. They were part of a prominent improvisation / noise scene which was active in New Zealand at the time, documented in magazines such as Opprobrium and...
, and Sleep. In 1996 he founded the Metonymic and Medication record labels. As of 2006, he plays in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
rock trio Eye.