Simon Lynch has been a key part of the Auckland music scene since the 1970s. In the 21st Century, Simon is an engineer and technician at Stebbing Studios and a playing musician. In the early 1980s, he was a member of touring bands The Snipes, The Valentinos and The Broken Dolls, before returning to his funk and soul roots with Ardijah and D-Faction (he was also a co-founder of Southside Records with Murray Cammick).

Simon was also a prolific photographer who carried a camera everywhere. This page, focusing on those early 80s years, gathers together some of this images, with one or two being taken by someone else on his camera.

Toy Love, Sweetwaters festival, January 1980

Simon Lynch with The Valentinos, Framptons Hotel, Hamilton 1980

Future director and filmmaker Simon Mark-Brown (then Rock And Roll Records employee and Rhythm Method drummer), Auckland 1981

Dave Dobbyn with Th' Dudes at Orewa Domain, January 1980

Valentinos band members Dean McLeod, Joe Gill, Dave Spillane and Paul Robinson outside the Cabana Hotel, Napier 1980

Derek Chunn, mod and music fan, 1980

Phil Judd with The Swingers, Myers Park, Auckland, March 1980

Future promoter Peter Campbell. In 1980, he was the manager of Charley and Ann Gray's Island Of Real in Airedale Street.

Valentinos sax player and singer Dave Spiillane (ex-Picture This), Framptons Hotel, Hamilton 1980

Valentinos drummer Dean McLeod (on the left) with ex-Island Of Real and lighting technician Mark Hayes, Framptons Hotel, Hamilton, 1980

Valentinos (and ex-Johnny and The Hookers) bassist Joe Gill at Framptons Hotel, Hamilton 1980

Broken Dolls bassist Lez White (L) with photographer Kerry Brown, Hamilton, April 1981

Real Groovy founder Chris Hart and unknown friend, Avondale,1981

Valentinos band members on the roof of the Cabana Hotel, Napier 1980

Bruce Hambling (left) drummer, and Lez White, bassist, on tour with Broken Dolls outside the Bellblock Hotel, New Plymouth, April 1981. The duo were earlier Th'Dudes' rhythm section.

Nigel Russell, Dance Macabre frontman, Parnell 1982

Rob Guy and Dave Marshall with Lip Service, Myers Park, Auckland, 1980

Valentinos drummer Dean McLeod, Framptons Hotel, Hamilton 1980

Broken Dolls members (bassist) Lez White, (guitarist) Gary Langsford, and(sax player and singer) Dave Spillane, Auckland, September 1981

Legionnaires guitarist Andrew Langsford and photographer Kerry Brown, Auckland 1982

Mike Lynch (soundman) (on the left) and Mark Hayes (lighting technician) beside The Valentinos damaged truck outside the Cabana Hotel following near-fatal road smash, Napier 1980

Photographer Phil Peacock, Gill Rawnsley and Lez White, Auckland, May 1981

Valentinos frontman and keyboards, Paul Robinson (ex-Sheerlux and Berlin), Framptons Hotel, Hamilton 1980

Street Talk at Auckland's Logan Campbell Centre, 1980

Broken Dolls bassist Lez White, asleep on the bus, April 1981

Photographer Kerry Brown, Auckland 1982

Charley Gray's Last and First Café, Symonds St, Auckland, 1982

© Simon Lynch