“Motor Marriage”, The Newz

This way: Motor Marriage

The Newz (Origianally Bon Marche) were a New Zealand band who were very active on both the New Zealand and Australian pub circuit throughout 1980-1981, with them clocking up scores of gigs over that time.

Their only album Heard The Newz was released on the Music World label, a budget imprint whose catalogue was otherwise made up of local small-time Country acts, else oddities with titles like 40 Accordion Pops / Yamaha Organ Greats / 20 Classical Songs in Moog / and Ivy's Old Time Dance Band's Old Time Dance Favourites ... that sort of thing.

Aside from local country singer Suzanne Prentice, The Newz were the only 'proper' act (as it were) that Music World ever had on their books, probably because both the band and the label were based in Christchurch, which was at the time a musical backwater. But the label had achieved a massive international success in 1978, selling nearly 600,000 copies of a stylish easy-listening album titled Golden Saxophones - 22 All-Time Favourites, and so were perhaps looking to expand their stable of artists into the potentially lucrative pop/rock market, and as they were now well-placed financially to take a punt on a local act, they chose The Newz.

Bass, Vocals – Bryan Colechin, Drums, Percussion – Allan Cattermole, Guitar – Phil Jones, Guitar, Vocals – Tony Rabbett, Keyboards – Brad Coates, Vocals – Simon Darke

[Spotify] Motor Marriage