The Body Electric


Wellington band The Body Electric arrived at a time when musical fashion, via post-punk, gave young musicians permission to experiment and push the boundaries of popular music. A range of new and affordable electronic devices could now create electronic rhythms and offer musicians rudimentary sampling options.

Formed out of punk band The Steroids, The Body Electric used new technology to create one of the biggest indie singles of the 1980s in ‘Pulsing’, a record that sat in our charts for over six months without any mainstream airplay.

The Spines meet The Body Electric. Left to right: Alan Jansson, Wendy Calder, Garry Smith, Jon McLeary and Andy Drey
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
The Body Electric with two members of The Spines. L to R: Andy Drey, Garry Smith, Wendy Calder (The Spines), Alan Jansson and Jon McLeary (The Spines). Taken as a promo shot for the joint Pulsing With Punch tour, Wendy Calder would replace Andy Drey in The Body Electric after the tour.
Garry Smith on the cover of TOM magazine, November1982
Body Electric: Wendy Calder, Garry Smith, Alan Jansson
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
Body Electric: Wendy Calder, Garry Smith, Alan Jansson
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
The Body Electric Presentation and Reality reissue (Propeller/Flying Nun, 2022).
The Spines meet The Body Electric. Left to right: Jon McLeary, Wendy Calder, Alan Jansson, Andy Drey and Garry Smith.
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
Interior Exile
Pulsing
Labels:

Jayrem

Trivia:

Alan Jansson moved north to Auckland and became a highly respected producer. In the mid-1990s he had a global smash hit with How Bizarre by OMC.

Members:

Alan Jansson - guitar, keyboards, production

Andy Drey - bass, production

Garry Smith - keyboards, production, vocals

Wendy Calder - bass

Paul Turney - keyboards

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