The Rumour

Simon Grigg

24 May 2013

From Huntly, The Rumour grew out of the earlier high school band The Sapphires who became The Surfires and recorded three singles for Zodiac Records in the mid-1960s.

Twins Shade and Gerard Smith fronted the band with Ross Hindman and Jacques Koolen as the rhythm section.

The Surfires broke up in 1968, however after an 18-month break, reformed as The Rumour and signed to Polydor Records in 1970. They were managed by Ray Columbus (who suggested the name change) under the wing of Phil Warren’s larger Fuller Entertainment Agency.

The band’s first two singles ‘What Have You Done To That Day God Gave You’ and ‘We've Got To Learn To Live Together’ made little impact. However their third release ‘Garden Of Your Smile’ was a minor hit, and their fourth ‘L'Amour Est L'Enfant De La Liberte’ was a major smash after it won NZBC’s Studio One talent quest.

‘L'Amour’ was composed by Shade, and sung by his twin brother Gerard. The song was No.1 for six weeks in 1971 and reportedly sold over 30,000 copies, thus making it one of the biggest selling NZ singles of the era.

‘L'Amour’ was composed by Shade, and sung by his twin brother Gerard. The song was No.1 for six weeks in 1971 and reportedly sold over 30,000, thus making it one of the biggest selling NZ singles of the era. For much of 1971 and 1972 the song was inescapable on radio and TV.

The next single ‘Holy Morning’ was also a hit although it didn’t match ‘L’Amour’ peaking at No.3.

The band released two albums Garden of Your Smile in 1971 and Land of New Vigour and Zeal in 1972. The second was a concept album based on New Zealand’s colonial past.

In 1973 a compilation (with several new tracks), Holy Morning was issued by Polydor, followed by a formal best of The Rumour collection, entitled An Evening At Home - The Best of The Rumour.

Shade Smith left around the same time and the band continued briefly as a duo with Gerard Smith and Sjaaki Koolan until they decided to call it a day in 1974.

The original band briefly reformed in 1977 and 1983, releasing a single each time without any success.

Shade Smith, Gerard Smith and Jacques Koolen issued an album, Never Lose The Wonder, as Somersault in 1984.

Gerard Smith went on to a career in radio, and is now the host of the retrospective TV show The Beat Goes On. Shade Smith has had a long career in songwriting, music production, a brief solo career, including a rock opera (Star Blaze) and television.

The Rumour reformed in the late 1980s and have played together since.

Gerard Smith and Sjaaki Koolen in a Fullers Agency publicity shot. Fullers, owned by Phil Warren, both booked and managed (via Ray Columbus who worked for Fullers) The Rumour, however the relationship with Warren did not end well with a series of heated letters exchanged between the parties.

Photo credit: Phil Warren Collection

The reformed line-up in a 1977 publicity shot for the Queen Of Paradise single. L-R Shade Smith, Sjaaki Koolen, Gerard Smith

Photo credit: Shade Smith collection

Garden Of Smiles, The Rumour's debut album from 1971 that includes their Number 1 hit L'Amour Est L'Enfant De La Liberte.

Compilation from 1972 made up of tracks from the band's first two albums and three new tracks - covers of Our House, Leaving On A Jet Plane, and Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.

Suzanne (left) and Judy Donaldson (right) with Ray Columbus (centre) and friends. Back row, L to R: Shane Hales, Kevin McNeil, Ray Woolf, Shade Smith.

Photo credit: Judy Donaldson collection

1972's Land Of New Vigour And Zeal, Shade Smith's concept album exploring New Zealand's character and identity. Using photographs by Sal Criscillo, the album cover was designed by Dale Wrightson.

The 2009 Rumour Collection

John McCready signing The Rumour, to Polydor, 1970. Pictured is songwriter Shade Smith.

A publicity photo taken in Cornwall Park Auckland in early 1971. L-R Gerard Smith, Sjaaki Koolen, Ross Hindman, Shade Smith

Photo credit: Shade Smith collection

A publicity shot to promote the debut album Garden of Smiles. Taken in Cornwall Park Auckland early 1971. L-R Sjaaki Koolen, Gerard Smith, Shade Smith, Ross Hindman

Photo credit: Shade Smith collection

The Rumour at Judy (Chicks) Donaldson's wedding to Ross Hindman

Photo credit: Courtesy of The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand

The cover of this 1973 compilation features a photograph of the short-lived two man line- up of the band. Using the Reserve Bank's inflation calculator the album would cost $48.03 in 2014!

The Rumour

Polydor

Shade Smith - vocals, guitar, piano

Gerard Smith - vocals, guitar

Ross Hindman - bass

Jacques Koolen - drums, vocals

Wikipedia

Radio documentary on Land Of New Vigour and Zeal

AudioCulture

The Rumour