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| − | + | Named after a little-known song from Bowie's ''Space Oddity'' album, ''Cygnet Committee'' were formed in January 1987 to introduce a new face to what they believed was "Hamilton's dying music scene". The original line-up was [[Sean Lynch]] (vocals, acoustic guitar), [[Adrian Scott]] a.k.a [[Adrian Webclaw]] (bass), [[Tony Mephisto]] a.k.a [[Tony Davys]] (guitar, effects) and [[Daniel Allen]] (drums).<br> | |
| − | + | All but ''Allen'' remained in the group throughout, with numerous changes behind the drumkit at first. He became the drummer for [[Requiem]] and was replaced by [[Tara Watt]]; [[Paul Tregilgas]] was reputedly rejected only to go on to become a well known drummer in Hamilton. Finally, [[Rik O'Kane]] became the most permanent drummer to play with the group.<br> | |
| − | + | A second guitarist [[Dave Whitehead]] was also recruited from [[Requiem]] in 1988, completing the Committee's "definitive" 5-piece line-up. ''Whitehead'' also became the band's producer, engineering all their recordings. Notable recordings included the gargantuan gothic grind of ''Corpse'' (which effectively became the band's "theme song"), the short-sharp blast of snot-infested punk-noise known as ''Skag'' and the epic "Apocalyptic Folk" anthem ''City''.<br> | |
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They played [[the University of Waikato]]'s Orientation in 1988, and supported ''The Chills'' later that year at the [[Hillcrest Tavern]]. <br> | They played [[the University of Waikato]]'s Orientation in 1988, and supported ''The Chills'' later that year at the [[Hillcrest Tavern]]. <br> | ||
| − | With their swapping of various members and playing live together often, Cygnet Committee and Requiem formed the collective known as [[Terror Couple]]. In 1989 ''Terror Couple'' produced | + | With their swapping of various members and playing live together often, Cygnet Committee and Requiem formed the collective known as [[Terror Couple]]. In 1989 ''Terror Couple'' produced Hamilton's first compilation, of the same name. The name ''Terror Couple'' was derived from a song by early UK gothic band ''Bauhaus'', and was also a reference to the love of Horror (''Terror'') exhibited by the Two Bands (''Couple'').<br> |
With these "schlock horror" overtones culled from the genres of gothic, punk, glam, metal and deathrock, both Cygnet Committee and Requiem were soon seen to be the spear-head of a "dark" movement in Hamilton music, which also later included [[Book of Martyrs]] and [[The Haunting]], among others.<br> | With these "schlock horror" overtones culled from the genres of gothic, punk, glam, metal and deathrock, both Cygnet Committee and Requiem were soon seen to be the spear-head of a "dark" movement in Hamilton music, which also later included [[Book of Martyrs]] and [[The Haunting]], among others.<br> | ||
| − | Cygnet Committee had a theatrical element to their performances. | + | Cygnet Committee had a theatrical element to their performances. Frontman ''Sean Lynch'' was heavily involved in drama at the time and his stage performances and melodramatic vocal style were often compared to the camp histrionics of ''Ziggy''-period ''Bowie'', and ''Bauhaus'' frontman ''Peter Murphy''.<br><br> |
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| − | + | <b>Live Review</b> (from defunct Auckland 'zine <b>Monitor</b>):<br> | |
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26/07/89 at ''The Gluepot'' (Auckland), with [[Book of Martyrs]] and [[Watershed]]<br> | 26/07/89 at ''The Gluepot'' (Auckland), with [[Book of Martyrs]] and [[Watershed]]<br> | ||
"..the Cygnet Committee experience was like stepping into a weird dream where Peter Murphy meets Ziggy, they tango a while (great tangoing - can that guy move or what?) and it all gets very arty. Ten out of ten for consistent stage act..."<br> | "..the Cygnet Committee experience was like stepping into a weird dream where Peter Murphy meets Ziggy, they tango a while (great tangoing - can that guy move or what?) and it all gets very arty. Ten out of ten for consistent stage act..."<br> | ||
- ''Sasha Diamond''<br><br> | - ''Sasha Diamond''<br><br> | ||
| − | + | One band-member was also a theatrical lighting technician which was utilised to good effect in the band's shows, and they often favoured performances in theatres rather than conventional pubs and music venues. Other performances at Auckland's ''Gluepot'' are well-remembered, one such event involving an actor as a "zombie" who wandered on stage to have his "brains" eaten with spoons by members of the band during the song ''Brain Music''. A young woman in the audience (thought to have been tripping) was so convinced by the horrific sight that she ran on stage hysterically assaulting band members in an attempt to liberate the poor cannibalised zombie.<br> | |
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| + | They disbanded around 1990/'91 (?). <br> | ||
* [[Sean Lynch]] played trumpet in [[Hand of Glory]], and later went to Melbourne and focused primarily on theatre. He has more recently returned to Hamilton and is a member of [[Conway]]. | * [[Sean Lynch]] played trumpet in [[Hand of Glory]], and later went to Melbourne and focused primarily on theatre. He has more recently returned to Hamilton and is a member of [[Conway]]. | ||
| − | * Co-founder/songwriter and bassist [[Adrian Scott]] (''Webclaw'') later played in and collaborated with many bands, projects and artists including [[Swamp Goblin]], [[Wendyhouse]], [[Raleigh 20]], [[Emit Snake Beings]], [[The Webclaw Four/For/Flaw]] and solo project [[Frottage]] | + | * Co-founder/songwriter and bassist [[Adrian Scott]] (''Webclaw'') later played in and collaborated with many bands, projects and artists including [[Swamp Goblin]], [[Wendyhouse]], [[Raleigh 20]], [[Emit Snake Beings]], [[The Webclaw Four/For/Flaw]] and solo project [[Frottage]]. |
| − | * [[Tony Davys]] (''Mephisto'') ran [[Highlights]], the only Hamilton "alternative" venue in the early 1990s | + | * [[Tony Davys]] (''Mephisto'') ran [[Highlights]], the only Hamilton "alternative" venue in the early 1990s. |
* [[Rik O'Kane]] played alongside ''Adrian Scott'' in both [[Swamp Goblin]] and [[Raleigh 20]]. | * [[Rik O'Kane]] played alongside ''Adrian Scott'' in both [[Swamp Goblin]] and [[Raleigh 20]]. | ||
* [[Dave Whitehead]] and [[Dave Lowndes]] transformed [[Terror Couple]] into [[Theta Productions]] (early-mid '90s), and co-founded [[Gas]]. | * [[Dave Whitehead]] and [[Dave Lowndes]] transformed [[Terror Couple]] into [[Theta Productions]] (early-mid '90s), and co-founded [[Gas]]. | ||
