I had been a long time Mockers fan, first seeing them at The Windsor Castle on the Cleopatra tour. There had been clips on Radio With Pictures but nothing prepared me for their live assault.

Those early songs burned with embers of punk fire but also had a real pop edge. Later, the tight rhythm section from The Dabs joined and gave them real stability. Songs that would later be toned back and flowered up with catchy pop baby talk choruses for the debut album Swear It's True were rammed home with passion and skill. 

After following them to numerous gigs across Auckland we (my friends and myself) were recognised as “fans” and we would regularly be invited to hang out backstage before and after gigs. I had dreams of becoming a rock photographer and had a battered old Minolta camera, so I asked if it was OK if I took some photos. Very graciously they agreed.

Unfortunately, my lack of knowledge with the camera proved to be my undoing as far as inside shots went. Sure they may look “arty” today but they are generally out of focus, no flash and with wrong settings. Yep, I was so dumb I didn’t know you had to change the settings for poor light.

That dream died quickly!

The Windsor Castle, Parnell, c.1984

Admin_thumb_image2

Steve Thorpe at the kit during the revamped version of 'Good Old Days'

Admin_thumb_image3

Geoff Hayden with his trusty Rickenbacker bass provides the harmony

Admin_thumb_image4

Dean Hazelwood nails that riff in 'George Henry Swan'

Admin_thumb_image5

Admin_thumb_image6

Left to right: Dean Hazlewood, Andrew Fagan, and Tim Wedde

Admin_thumb_image7

Tim Wedde on Keyboards. I remember post-gig banter about how Tim’s hair almost caught fire due to placement of the lighting and the use of hair product. The 80s!

The Gluepot, Ponsonby, c.1984

Admin_thumb_image8

Tim Wedde not on fire

Admin_thumb_image9

Steve Thorpe stops the cymbal, likely in 'You Only Live Once'

Admin_thumb_image10

Geoff Hayden

Admin_thumb_image11

Dean Hazlewood and Tim Wedde (partially obscured)

Admin_thumb_image12

Andrew Fagan sings one for the floor

Admin_thumb_image13

Steve Thorpe told me before the gig he had spent hours draping the fishing net over the stage

Admin_thumb_image14

Geoff Hayden under the net

Admin_thumb_image15

He can see me! Shame about the light right into the lens.

Admin_thumb_image16

Andrew Fagan (and tongue) and the light, all but obscure Dean Hazlewood

Admin_thumb_image17

Dean Hazlewood and Andrew Fagan

Admin_thumb_image18

Andrew Fagan – in charge – likely singing 'Ancient Times'

Rainbow's End, Manukau City, late 1985

Now this was more like it! An open-air gig with no lighting issues. I remember going to the “dressing room” (what appeared to be an old school prefab behind the stage) to show the above photos. The guys were polite about them … I think this was the second time I had met Dean Hazlewood’s replacement, Brett Adams, but the first time I had seen him play.

I believe this gig was one of the Just Juice Summer Series (actually I'm not so sure of the name, but Just Juice was definitely one of the sponsors, as was the radio station ZM) at Rainbow's End.

The stage was outside as noted and the area ringed with huge Eucalyptus and other trees. I wished them a good gig and headed out to grab a perch to get some shots.

Opening with 'A Winter’s Tale' from the new album Culprit And The King, the band came out one by one as the song progressed and slowly built up.

Admin_thumb_image19

About to start – the band are backstage

Admin_thumb_image20

Tim Wedde opens into 'A Winter’s Tale' with that lovely keyboard intro…

Admin_thumb_image21

Andrew Fagan waits for his cue

Admin_thumb_image22

Geoff Hayden attempts crowd control before plugging in as 'A Winters’ Tale' continues…

Admin_thumb_image23

Brett Adams chimes in

Admin_thumb_image24

'A Winter’s Tale' draws to a close

Admin_thumb_image25

Steve Thorpe surveys the crowd

Admin_thumb_image26

Andrew Fagan spots me

Admin_thumb_image27

Andrew Fagan clowning around with the nose flute. I can’t remember which song this was in.

Admin_thumb_image28

Andrew reaching for a large supply of Just Juice, near the drum kit, to hand to the keen front row

Admin_thumb_image29

Steve Thorpe's famous cheeky grin

Admin_thumb_image30

Geoff Hayden looks down the lens

Admin_thumb_last

Just after they finished this song, Andrew noticed the wind had picked up significantly. I remember him saying “I can hear the trees”.

And he wasn’t wrong. I was looking around at this point, feeling the change in the air. The wind was definitely rising. Off to the northeast, the sky was growing increasingly dark and there was the odd distant rumble of thunder. I packed the camera away and enjoyed the rest of the set.

After the encore, the sky was pitch black with the thunder and lightning becoming more regular. I popped in to the dressing room and congratulated them on a great gig, and ran for the trusty Vauxhall Vx4/90, not wanting to get the camera wet. Just as I started the car the storm hit, a full on thunder and lightning – with hail – spectacular. I had to wait 20 minutes before it was safe to leave the carpark. One of my favourite Mockers gigs.

All images © 2016 Dave Smith

--

Read The Mockers profile here

Read Mockers Reflect here

Read Going Up here

Read The Man Who Would Be STAR here