The Amps
From Up The Punks
| The Amps | |
|---|---|
 1979 gig | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Jellyfish |
| Genres | Proto-punk |
| Years active | 1978-1979 |
| Associated acts | Shoes This High, Smelly Feet, The Spies, The Kiwi Animal, 52, Fishschool, The Normals |
| Past members | |
| Kevin Hawkins (guitar), Chris Plummer (bass), Brent Hayward (vocals), Mike Lawry, George Henderson, Andy Drey, Jane Walker, Jessica Walker | |
Contents |
History
The Amps started in 1978 out as a “music experiment”[1] that became resident band at The Mindshaft on Majoribanks street playing songs from a diverse range of punk and proto-punk influences: the New York Dolls, The Slickers, The Clash and early Pink Floyd; to a diverse clientele of junkies, pimps, hustlers and “those into music with an “eat shit” attitude”[1]; the emerging Wellington punk scene.
The Amps featured a line up that would go on to form some of the main acts within the Wellington scene: (The Steroids, The Spies and Shoes This High. Following a personnel change The Amps briefly became The Jellyfish playing what George Henderson described as a "Syd Barret, Lee Perry and Beefheart influence seeping into the Wellington punk/ new wave matrix."[2] Splitting in late 1979 Chris, Kevin and Jessica regrouped with vocalist-provocateur Brent Hayward and became the "defiant, abrasive, negative Shoes This High".[2]. George and Chris meanwhile continued to jam and formed influential band The Spies who would initiate the late 1979 Cuba Mall gigs and the first use of Thistle Hall as a venue.
- George Henderson is now based in Dunedin and continues to perform psychedelic lounge music as The Puddle.
- Brent Hayward went on to play in Smelly Feet, The Kiwi Animal and currently performs in Fats White.
Images
The Amps 1979 gig poster |
References
