The Earthlings
In late 1991 The Earthlings were formed in Rotovegas (Rotorua), New Zealand. Founded by Rotorua local Dave Bishop aka Davey Bishara, previously of Christchurch's Big White Undie Band and Rotovegas's three-piece Adult Mayflys. Dave hooked up with Andrew White previously of Rotovegas indie band P. D. Corp and Paul Tregilgas (ex Boogadagas, Da Hubcaps and Calamari Bushmen) on drums. After Paul T emigrated to Hamiltron and became one the city's most prolific drummers two other drummers hit the skins for the Earthlings - Barry Mackay from Mamaku and Adrian Bergman (younger brother of David Bergman from Christchurch's Throw and Cinematic). Barry played most of the live gigs. Rotovegas musician and producer Rodger "Rodgerson/Te Roira" Cunningham joined up as second guitarist for a short stint after recording the band at the local Iwi radio staion.
The Earthlings gigged and recorded up to mid-1993 when Dave moved overseas and Andrew moved to Auckland. Between 1992 and mid-1993 the Earthlings played numerous local gigs in Rotovegas, Tauranga and Hamilton as well as support slots for the Straitjacket Fits, Jan Hellriegel, the Muttonbirds, the Bats and the Chills. It was at the Chills support where Dave and Andrew met Earl Robertson, the then Chills drummer (on the 1992 Soft Bomb tour) who later joined up as the current Earthlings drummer in Auckland in 1994.
The Earthlings recorded 8 songs in the studio which were released together with one live track as 'The Complete Earthlings Volumes I, II & III'. 6 of the tracks were recorded at Rotorua's Iwi radio station studio by Rodger Cunningham and featured Paul T on drums and Lisa Yerex (Calamari Bushmen) on backing vocals, while two tracks were recorded at Tandy's studio in Hamilton by Dave Whitehead and featured Adrian on drums. The 1993 cassette-only release was put out on Rotorua's indie label Elbow Productions (also home to the Calamari Bushmen whose album 'The Ghost of Things I've Killed' was produced by AC/DC's Phil Rudd). About 80 copies of the tape were sold.
The last of the Rotovegas-based Earthlings gigs were in Hamilton and Tauranga supporting the Straightjacket Fits in May 1993.
In 1994 Dave had returned from overseas, moved to Auckland and reformed the Earthlings. Andrew had got to know Earl Robertson better (both now also living in Auckland) and asked him to join the band as drummer. Rehearsals took place at the long-gone Frisbee Leisure Lounge practice rooms on Symonds St, in the main area or the vault, where the band were locked inside for several hours one night! Gigs were sporadic as commitments to other bands were worked around. Gigs included the Kings Ams and the Temple on Queen St. No studio recordings were made during this time but many live tapes of practice sessions exist. The existing Earthlings catalogue was reworked with Earl and new songs were written.
In 1995 the Earthlings' track 'K.I.S.S.' was included on John Pitcairn's Opus Locus label's compilation Slaves of Nevermind Vol.4 alongside Chris Knox, Tinitus, Smoothy and others.
When not performing as the Earthlings Earl and Andrew went on to be the rhythm section for a number of artists including Bic Runga and Damien Binder; Dave, Earl and Andrew became the live band for singer/songwriter Ana Strong; Dave and Earl formed the Peter Styvesant HitList with Chris Anderton, Dave Goodison and Dominic Blazaar (who Andrew played with for Greg Fleming & The Trains). Andrew also guested ..boards with Dom's band Smoothy live, played in Reader's Wives with ex Chainsaw Masochist's Ricky McShane and Murray Cawley and in Real Fabrica with Scotty Pearson (Elemeno P) and Matt Ruys amongst other projects. Andrew is also behind electronic act Tomorrowpeople amongst other musical ventures. Earl provide the vocals for the Tomorrowpeople track 'Got The Time' which was release on the NZ Fashion Week CD compilation in 2004. Earl has played with numerous acts including Upper Hutt Pose, Grace, City Newton Bombers, Billy Squire and the Rye and many more. Aside from guitar duty in many bands Dave released a solo record as Davey Beige titled 'Fold In Two' in late 2008 and has become a solo artist in his own right. Dave also contributed guitar parts to Tomorrowpeople's remix of K'Lee's 'Broken Wings' hit of 2001. Adrian Bergman went on to play with rock/soul outfit Payola and now plays with Americana/folk rock act The Commonwealth. In 2005 Rodger Cunningham was a finalist in the APRA Maioha Awards and release a solo album ‘Toto’ in late 2005. Paul Tregilgas went on to play for many Hamilton bands including King Biscuit, Gas, Trucker, Disjecta Membra, The Shrugs and many more and set up the ultimate Hamilton band website: Yeti Boil
The Earthlings have never officially split and are work in progress. No doubt they will reform in the near future for gigs and recording.
