Wide Mouthed Frogs


When my son asked me how many gigs the Wide Mouthed Frogs played, I couldn’t remember. I said, maybe 100? He asked, and how long was the band together? About a year, I said. He did the calculations: You mean about one gig every three or four days?

In fact, that estimate is entirely wrong. The Wide Mouthed Frogs (WMF) probably performed somewhere between 20-30 times. But my first guess says something about the intensity of the experience. Retrospectively, it feels like we were playing all the time. If not on stage then off: rehearsing, talking, listening, learning, laughing. Drinking cups of tea and eating biscuits. By playing I mean fun, because that’s essentially what the WMF was for us – a year of huge all-absorbing fun.

A gathering on Bondi Beach for three former Frogs, 1992. From left: Sally Zwartz (with Tosca), Jenny Morris (with Hugh), Tina Matthews (with Hal in cap, and Billie).
Photo credit: Oliver Strewe
"Home grown nears harvest": the Dominion reports on Radio Windy's compilation LP of Wellington bands, produced by Graeme Nesbitt, 1979. Among them were the Wide Mouthed Frogs (top) and Rough Justice. 
Another Wide Mouthed Frogs outdoor gig makes the newspaper. From left, Sarah Mulheron, Katie Brockie, Jenny Morris, Tina Matthews and Andrea Gilkison. 
Nick Bollinger (lower right) and friends watch the Wide Mouthed Frogs at Ben Burn Park, Karori, Wellington. Towards the centre, looking at the camera is artist Peter Chester (with long hair); between them are Paddy Neville and Paul McAllister. 
Photo credit: Matthew McKee
The Wide Mouthed Frogs with their go-go boys. From left: Kevin Hinchey, John Bowden, and Mark Cubey
Photo credit: Matthew McKee
Paul McAllister, left, joins the Wide Mouthed Frogs frontline Jenny Morris (centre) and Tina Matthews. His showstopper with the Frogs was Ray Charles's 'Hit the Road Mac'; he was later bass player for The Hulamen.
A poster for the ill-fated Wellington Opera House gig with Th' Dudes, Rough Justice and the Wide Mouthed Frogs, 25 April 1979. Th' Dudes bailed, unhappy with the sound system. The other bands went on, unfazed. 
Photo credit: Thomasin Bollinger collection
A portrait of the Wide Mouthed Frogs by Matthew McKee. From left, at back, Tina Matthews and Sally Zwartz; in front, Katie Brockie, Andrea Gilkison, Jenny Morris.
Photo credit: Sally Zwartz collection
Sally Zwartz drumming for the Wide Mouthed Frogs at Ben Burn Park, Wellington. 
The Wide Mouthed Frogs perform in a Wellington Summer City event, possibly at Khandallah. From left: Katie Brockie, Tina Matthews, Andrea Gilkison. 
The Wide Mouthed Frogs: an early photo call in the Botanic Gardens, Wellington. From left: Katie Brockie, Jenny Morris, Thomasin Bollinger, Andrea Gilkison, Tina Matthews, Sally Zwartz. 
The Wide Mouthed Frogs play a Wellington Summer City concert, 1979. From left: Katie Brockie, Sally Zwartz, Jenny Morris, Andrea Gilkison, Tina Matthews.
Photo credit: Matthew McKee
The Wide Mouthed Frogs: at back, from left, Jenny Morris, Sally Zwartz, Tina Matthews, Andrea Gilkison; in front, Bronwen Murray, Katie Brockie. 
Photo credit: Matthew McKee
The Wide Mouthed Frogs: Matthew McKee's name-in-lights series. At back, from left, Jenny Morris, Sally Zwartz, Tina Matthews, Andrea Gilkison; in front, Bronwen Murray, Katie Brockie. This photo appeared in Rip It Up's "2ZM Wellington supplement", September 1979.
Photo credit: Matthew McKee
The Wide Mouthed Frogs and friends sing madrigals at a Wellington Summer City event, 1979. From left, unidentified, Jenny Morris, Michelle Scullion, Bronwen Murray, Tony Backhouse, Katie Brockie, Michael Mulheron. 
Photo credit: Matthew McKee
A pyramid of Wide Mouthed Frogs. In the mask is Michael Mulheron. In the middle are Tina Matthews and Jenny Morris. Holding them up are, from left, Andrea Gilkison, Sally Zwartz, and Katie Brockie. 
Photo credit: Matthew McKee
Wide Mouthed Frogs frontline: from left, Callie Blood, Jenny Morris, Andrea Gilkison. Rock Theatre, Wellington, April 1979.
Photo credit: Matthew McKee
Using double-entry bookkeeping, guitarist Andrea Gilkison meticulously kept the accounts for the Wide Mouthed Frogs. 
This tour poster for the Wide Mouthed Frogs, designed by Peter Chester, was banned from appearing in the Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune
Photo credit: Peter Chester
Six Wide Mouthed Frogs on a chaise longue. Clockwise from left: Andrea Gilkison, Katie Brockie, Bronwen Murray, Sally Zwartz, Tina Matthews, and Jenny Morris
Photo credit: Sally Zwartz collection
The Wide Mouthed Frogs' Hohner piano, bought for $120 in April 1979, was sold for $100 seven months later. 
Three months after their first gig, "all girl group" the Wide Mouthed Frogs are billed above Rough Justice at the Rock Theatre, Wellington, March 1979. 
The Wide Mouthed Frogs received $281.01 for performing on TV's 'Ready to Roll' on 4 April 1979. 
Sally Zwartz, Wide Mouthed Frogs.
Callie Blood, left, performing as a Wide Mouthed Frog with Jenny Morris and Tina Matthews. Rock Theatre, Wellington, April 1979.
Photo credit: Matthew McKee
Wide Mouthed Frogs, by Matthew McKee. From left, standing: Andrea Gilkison, Katie Brockie, Sally Zwartz, Jenny Morris; in front, Tina Matthews
Photo credit: Matthew McKee
The Wide Mouthed Frogs, a portrait by Matthew McKee, 1979. At back, from left, Jenny Morris, Sally Zwartz, Tina Matthews, Andrea Gilkison; in front, Bronwen Murray, Katie Brockie.
Photo credit: Matthew McKee
The Wide Mouthed Frogs and others play the Mount Victoria 1960s Dance Spectacular, Wellington, 3 November 1979. The band received $136 and the $4 tickets included wine, beer, and a non-alcoholic punch. Shortly afterwards Chris Lipscombe, who designed this flyer, recruited Jenny Morris to record a jingle for the charity Corso.
Photo credit: Chris Lipscombe
The lineup for Rough Justice's farewell party in July 1979 also included the Wide Mouthed Frogs, Neville Purvis, Gary McCormick, the Ducks (featuring Bill Lake), and the Windy City Strugglers. 
Photo credit: NZSA90480, New Zealand Students Arts Council Archives, J C Beaglehole Room, Victoria Unversity of Wellington. 
The Wide Mouthed Frogs and friends at a Wellington Summer City event, 1979. From left, Tony Backhouse (sitting), Sarah Mulheron, Katie Brockie, Jenny Morris and, in a cape, Paddy Neville singing 'Twist and Shout'.
Photo credit: Matthew McKee
Members:

Jenny Morris - vocals

Katie Brockie - vocals

Tina Matthews - bass

Andrea Gilkison - guitar

Bronwen Murray - keyboards

Sally Zwartz - drums

Wide Mouthed Frogs badge. - Ian Dalziel collection

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