Later that night the three went to Progressive Music Studios where they jammed all through the night, rehearsing some of the early songs The Dabs were later to play. At Steve’s suggestion they took their name from a line in their favourite UK TV show, Minder: “My dabs will be all over that motor.” (“Dabs” being criminal slang for fingerprints).
It all came together naturally with Rowan writing most of the material, sharing vocal duties with Geoff, who had a stronger voice and could always come up with a nice harmony or take the lead spot with ease, and Steve occasionally added background vocals from behind the drum kit. Geoff’s brother Neil and his mate Sandy were the road crew with Geoff’s sister’s boyfriend doing the sound. The Dabs even built their own PA system.
They debuted in September 1981 as a support act for The Screaming Meemees at the notorious boot boy venue The Reverb Room.
They debuted in September 1981 as a support act for The Screaming Meemees at the notorious boot boy venue The Reverb Room. The Dabs then gigged all over Auckland city, slowly building up a following at venues The Windsor Castle, Mainstreet, The Reverb Room, The New Station Hotel, The Globe, and The Rumba Bar. With their rising popularity and exposure they soon were off on jaunts out of the city, touring the North Island as support for Blam Blam Blam and then The Screaming Meemees.
The Dabs were briefly in Harlequin Studios laying down an early version of ‘Remember When’ for the The Furtive Four 3 Piece Pack compilation EP on Furtive Records. This led to a full tour of the country with the other Three Pack bands Prime Movers, The Bongos and Skeptics. This was the first major tour for The Dabs. Each band got to open or close a show thanks to the revolving headline and support positions. Some nights all four bands played while on other nights two bands played one night and the other two on the following night.
1982 started well for The Dabs with a great set at Sweetwaters Festival, more Auckland gigs, and some headlining forays into the provinces playing anywhere they could. They were also back in the studio to lay down tracks for their debut four song 12-inch EP called Love The Army.
This unfortunately would be the only recorded work issued under The Dabs name. The EP featured ‘Love The Army’ as the lead track, an instrumental number ‘The Wager’, ‘B Of D ( Ballard Of A Drunkard)’ and a re-recording of ‘Remember When’ (from the Furtive sampler).
The EP was engineered and produced by Steve Kennedy at Harlequin Studios. While awaiting the eventual release of the EP The Dabs continued doing what they did best, thrilling audiences with their power pop songs. In September the EP was finally released on Propeller Records (REV 19).
The EP charted at No.36, received some airplay on Radio B (now 95bFM) and a supporting video was shown on Radio With Pictures for the title track ‘Love The Army’. This was an obvious choice; the song itself is naggingly catchy with a memorable chorus. The video was recorded in about four hours, with pyrotechnics, one freezing day during the Wellington winter. In the clip Rowan is seen with a black Fender guitar that belonged to John Quigley of The Bongos rather than his trademark Rickenbacker as there had been some flak in the music press about both Rowan and Geoff using Rickenbackers.
All looked rosy for the band and they finished the year with a New Year’s Eve gig supporting The Mockers at The Windsor Castle.
After a stunning set at the 1983 Sweetwaters Festival The Dabs were back in the studio to record their first 7-inch single, ‘Just Another Day’ b/w ‘Night & Day’ (produced by Mike Caen, ex-Street Talk, at Harlequin Studios). However, once completed it was never pressed owing to financial stress at their Propeller label, which had overextended itself funding albums for other artists on their roster.
It was a sad end to one of Auckland’s bands who always delivered a great, sweaty night out.
However, a major promotional tour was already lined up with The Mockers who were plugging their new 12-inch single, ‘My Girl Thinks She’s Cleopatra’. The tour was to be another with rotating headline and support positions but without a new single to promote the tour manager relegated The Dabs to support band. The Mockers were having personnel problems during this tour, which led to their rhythm section being let go at the end of the tour and Steve and Geoff being folded into the new Mockers line-up. This effectively left Rowan without a band and The Dabs were no more.
It was a sad end to one of Auckland’s bands who always delivered a great, sweaty night out.
Rowan Shedden formed, led or joined a string of bands (The Yesmen, The Henchmen, The Midnight Movers, Soundshock & The Theory as well as Rick Bryant and The Jive Bombers), showcasing his drive to play and his adaptability to different styles of music and instruments. He moved to Sydney, Australia in the late 1980s and has remained there ever since. As always Rowan has been driven to make music and he has kept his hand in playing with a variety of local cover bands over the years. He plays guitar with the band Ironbark and has put together the definitive The Dabs website.
Steve Thorpe was a light that burned far too brightly for too short a time. He departed this world during his time with The Mockers and is greatly missed by all who knew him and his larrikin sense of humour (RIP Steve Dab).
Geoff Hayden remained with The Mockers until they closed up shop. He then joined with Brett Adams (guitarist with The Mockers) and Dianne Swann (ex-Everything That Flies and When The Cat's Away) to form The Julie Dolphin, who set up shop in the UK where their live shows included support for the likes of Oasis and Radiohead. After several EPs and an album, Lit, label troubles forced a change of name to Boom Boom Mancini. This band recorded the stunning album Mess Up Your Life (A Bit), only to have their record company go belly-up prior to its release. Geoff left the music business, and having gained “The Knowledge” is working as a London cabbie.
