The Swingers
Encyclopedia
The Swingers were a New Zealand
rock band. Formed out of the remnants of The Suburban Reptiles
, the founding members were Phil Judd
(guitar, vocals), Wayne Stevens (aka Bones Hillman
) (bass), and Mark Hough (aka Buster Stiggs) (drums). Formed in 1979, the band released the single "One Good Reason" which was a top 20 hit in New Zealand. They also appeared on the Ripper Records sampler AK79
and established a large live following after a residency at Auckland
's Liberty Stage club.
In 1980 the band moved to Australia
and signed for Mushroom Records
for that country, although their New Zealand releases remained on Ripper.
After some band dissension, Ian Gilroy
of The Crocodiles
replaced Hough on drums. The band released the single "Counting the Beat
" which became a No. 1 hit in Australia and New Zealand. A second single released in 1981, "It Ain't What You Dance, It's the Way That You Dance It" (which had the outro repeat line "oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah"), was also a Top 5 hit in New Zealand but only a minor hit in Australia (reaching #43). An album, Practical Jokers, produced by David Tickle
, was released. The band also performed songs in the film Starstruck
. The band underwent a couple more line-up changes, including the addition of Pop Mechanix
and Coconut Rough
vocalist Andrew Snoid
, before it split up in March 1982.
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...
rock band. Formed out of the remnants of The Suburban Reptiles
Suburban Reptiles
The Suburban Reptiles and The Scavengers were the first punk bands to form in New Zealand.- History :The Suburban Reptiles were first conceptualised by Auckland students Simon Grigg and Brett Salter in late 1976, with some encouragement from filmmaker David Blyth...
, the founding members were Phil Judd
Phil Judd
Philip Judd is a New Zealand singer-songwriter known for being one of the founders of the bands Split Enz and The Swingers.-Split Enz:...
(guitar, vocals), Wayne Stevens (aka Bones Hillman
Bones Hillman
Bones Hillman is a New Zealand musician. He played bass guitar in his first band The Masochists, an early New Zealand punk act, formed with friends from the Auckland suburb of Avondale . In late 1977 he joined the Suburban Reptiles and appeared on their first single, "Megaton"...
) (bass), and Mark Hough (aka Buster Stiggs) (drums). Formed in 1979, the band released the single "One Good Reason" which was a top 20 hit in New Zealand. They also appeared on the Ripper Records sampler AK79
AK79
AK79 is a compilation album of tracks by punk bands active in Auckland, New Zealand, in the late 1970s. The album was compiled by Bryan Staff, with artwork from Terence Hogan, and was released by Ripper Records in 1979 - just in time for Xmas. Bands featured on the original compilation include The...
and established a large live following after a residency at 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...
's Liberty Stage club.
In 1980 the band moved to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and signed for Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
for that country, although their New Zealand releases remained on Ripper.
After some band dissension, 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:...
of The Crocodiles
The Crocodiles
The Crocodiles was a New Zealand pop band formed in 1979 with lead singer Jenny Morris, who went on to commercial success as a solo artist in Australia; and later included drummer Barton Price who subsequently joined Sardine v and then Models...
replaced Hough on drums. The band released the single "Counting the Beat
Counting The Beat
"Counting the Beat" is a single by New Zealand rock band The Swingers released in 1981 from their album of the same name, Counting the Beat.-History:The single was performed by The Swingers, with frontman Phil Judd from Split Enz...
" which became a No. 1 hit in Australia and New Zealand. A second single released in 1981, "It Ain't What You Dance, It's the Way That You Dance It" (which had the outro repeat line "oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah"), was also a Top 5 hit in New Zealand but only a minor hit in Australia (reaching #43). An album, Practical Jokers, produced by David Tickle
David Tickle
David Tickle is a British record producer and engineer. As a producer, he is most noted for his work with Split Enz, and in Canada, for his mid-80s work with Red Rider, Platinum Blonde and Gowan...
, was released. The band also performed songs in the film Starstruck
Starstruck (1982 film)
Starstruck is a 1982 Australian comedy-drama musical film starring Jo Kennedy, Ross O'Donovan and Margo Lee about two teenagers trying to make their break into the music industry. The film was shot on location in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. The band underwent a couple more line-up changes, including the addition of Pop Mechanix
Pop Mechanix
Pop Mechanix were a New Zealand 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...
and Coconut Rough
Coconut Rough
Coconut Rough were a short-lived New Zealand new wave/pop band formed in 1982.Despite their 1983 first single, "Sierra Leone", hitting the top five, and the band being named Most Promising Group of the Year at that year's RIANZ Awards they split up in 1984.-History:The band was formed in 1982 by...
vocalist Andrew Snoid
Andrew Snoid
Andrew Snoid born Andrew McLennan is a New Zealand musician, singer, and songwriter.He was featured in bands such as The Plague, The Whizz Kids, Blam Blam Blam , Pop Mechanix, The Swingers, and Coconut Rough....
, before it split up in March 1982.
Discography
| Date of Release | Title | Label | Charted | Certification | Catalog Number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albums | ||||||
| 1981 | Practical Jokers | NZ: Ripper, AUS: Mushroom | #2 (NZ) #70 (AUS) |
- | ||
| 1982 | Counting the Beat | USA: Backstreet | - | - | ||
Singles
| Year | Single | Album | Charted | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | "One Good Reason" | #19 (NZ) | - | |
| 1981 | "Counting the Beat Counting The Beat "Counting the Beat" is a single by New Zealand rock band The Swingers released in 1981 from their album of the same name, Counting the Beat.-History:The single was performed by The Swingers, with frontman Phil Judd from Split Enz... " |
#1 (NZ) #1 (AUS) |
- | |
| 1981 | "It Ain't What You Dance, It's The Way That You Dance It" | #4 (NZ) #43 (AUS) |
- | |
| 1981 | "One Track Mind" | # 27 (NZ) | - | |
| 1982 | "Punch and Judy" | - | - |
External links
- Frenz.com Swingers biography
- Swingers discography at Australian Rock DatabaseAustralian Rock DatabaseAustralian Rock Database is a website with a searchable online database that lists details of Australian rock music artists, albums, bands, producers and record labels. It was established in 2000 by Swedish national, Magnus Holmgren, who had developed an interest in Australian music when visiting...
by Magnus Holmgren