Weta (band)
Encyclopedia
Weta are a four piece rock band from Wellington
, New Zealand
.
The band was formed in 1995, and quickly developed an enviable live reputation, securing support slots for the likes of Everclear
, The Foo Fighters
and Soundgarden
(after a Wellington Town Hall show, Soundgarden bassist Ben Shepherd
presented Clinton Tokona with his Music Man
bass guitar after falling out with it on stage).
In 1997 Aaron Tokona temorarily filled in on guitar for Adelaide
, Australia
band The Superjesus
, after guitarist Chris Tennent left the band. When offered the position full-time, Tokona declined in order to concentrate on Weta. Impressed with his abilities as a guitarist, former Superjesus manager Dan Hennessy took a keen interest in the band and when he took over as A&R chief at Warner Bros. Records Australia, Weta were added to their roster and the band moved to Melbourne, Australia
in 1998.
The band's first release came in 1999 with the Natural Compression EP, which had been recorded at Marmalade Studios in Wellington, with friend and Shihad
drummer Tom Larkin
producing.
September 2000 saw the New Zealand release of their debut album, Geographica.
The band broke up early in 2001, after Aaron Tokona "stopped believing that I was doing what I really wanted to do. I'm not talking about playing music because I think I'll always do music. I'm talking about playing music in the sense of being in a band or being in public." The album, recorded at Melbourne's Sing Sing studios and produced by Steve James
, was never released in Australia. The song "Calling On" received regular airplay on Australian radio station Triple J
during 2001, however it failed to break into the station's Hottest 100
that year.
Weta reformed and played small 200-300 person venues in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch during November 2008.
Following this mini tour they announced they were all committed to a second album, after a break of 8 years --- only to break up shortly before recording, feeling "too old."
One new live song was played during their reunion tour, however there are no plans to release this new material.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, 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 was formed in 1995, and quickly developed an enviable live reputation, securing support slots for the likes of Everclear
Everclear (band)
Everclear is a rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1992 best known for their radio hits spanning more than a decade. For most of its existence, Everclear has consisted of Art Alexakis , Craig Montoya , and Greg Eklund . Eklund replaced original drummer Scott Cuthbert in 1994...
, The Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
and Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
(after a Wellington Town Hall show, Soundgarden bassist Ben Shepherd
Ben Shepherd
Ben Shepherd is an American musician, two-time Grammy Award Winner best known for playing bass in the grunge band Soundgarden from 1990 until the band's 1997 break-up...
presented Clinton Tokona with his Music Man
Music Man (company)
Music Man is an American guitar, and bass guitar manufacturer. It is a division of the Ernie Ball corporation.-Early years:The Music Man story began in 1971 when Forrest White and Tom Walker talked with Leo Fender about starting a company they would call Tri-Sonic, Inc...
bass guitar after falling out with it on stage).
In 1997 Aaron Tokona temorarily filled in on guitar for Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, 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...
band The Superjesus
The Superjesus
The Superjesus were an ARIA award–winning rock band from Adelaide, Australia. They are best known for their singles "Shut My Eyes", "Down Again" and "Gravity".-History:...
, after guitarist Chris Tennent left the band. When offered the position full-time, Tokona declined in order to concentrate on Weta. Impressed with his abilities as a guitarist, former Superjesus manager Dan Hennessy took a keen interest in the band and when he took over as A&R chief at Warner Bros. Records Australia, Weta were added to their roster and the band moved to Melbourne, 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...
in 1998.
The band's first release came in 1999 with the Natural Compression EP, which had been recorded at Marmalade Studios in Wellington, with friend and Shihad
Shihad
Shihad is a New Zealand hard/alternative rock band, currently based in Melbourne, Australia. During Shihad's recording career, they have produced four number-one studio albums and three top-ten singles in their home country of New Zealand....
drummer Tom Larkin
Tom Larkin
Tom Larkin is a member of the New Zealand band Shihad. He plays the drums, sings background vocals and uses samplers...
producing.
September 2000 saw the New Zealand release of their debut album, Geographica.
The band broke up early in 2001, after Aaron Tokona "stopped believing that I was doing what I really wanted to do. I'm not talking about playing music because I think I'll always do music. I'm talking about playing music in the sense of being in a band or being in public." The album, recorded at Melbourne's Sing Sing studios and produced by Steve James
Steve James
Steve James may refer to:* Steve James , American actor* Steve James , Welsh contemporary Christian musician* Steve James , English cricketer and journalist* Steve James , English football player...
, was never released in Australia. The song "Calling On" received regular airplay on Australian radio station Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
during 2001, however it failed to break into the station's Hottest 100
Triple J Hottest 100
The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual music poll, based on the votes of national Australian radio station Triple J listeners, in order to determine their favourite song of the year. Voting is conducted by the internet and begins roughly two weeks prior to the new year for the previous year's songs...
that year.
Weta reformed and played small 200-300 person venues in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch during November 2008.
Following this mini tour they announced they were all committed to a second album, after a break of 8 years --- only to break up shortly before recording, feeling "too old."
One new live song was played during their reunion tour, however there are no plans to release this new material.
Band members
- Aaron Tokona (vocals/guitar)
- Gabriel Atkinson (vocals/guitar)
- Clinton Den Heyer (drums)
- Clinton Tokona (bass guitar)
Discography
| Date of Release | Title | Label | Charted | Certification | Catalog Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albums | |||||
| 18 September 2000 | Geographica Geographica (album) Geographica is the sole full-length album by New Zealand rock band Weta, released in 2000.Rumoured to cost up to $400,000 Weta's management planned to use the album to launch the band in Australia --- but the band broke up before its release in that country.With no band to support the album on... |
Warner Bros. Records Warner Bros. Records Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies... |
8 | Platinum | |
| EPs | |||||
| 8 August 1999 | Natural Compression Natural Compression Natural Compression was the first release by defunct New Zealand rock band Weta, being released in 1999.The EP received radio attention in New Zealand with the title track Let It Go becoming a staple of student and rock radio... |
Warner Bros. Records Warner Bros. Records Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies... |
12 | - | |
| Singles | |||||
| 27 August 2000 | Calling On Calling On "Calling On" is a single by New Zealand band Weta, off their only studio album Geographica. It peaked at #37 in the New Zealand RIANZ Chart.... |
Warner Bros. Records Warner Bros. Records Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies... |
37 | - | |