Airstrike

aka Tarbet, Kamsha


In a brief but action-packed 18 months at the beginning of the 1980s, Invercargill band Airstrike hit the New Zealand touring circuit hard, gaining a reputation as a high-energy live act with a strong following.

Although they were still taking their first steps in a career that would continue in Australia with line-up and name changes, Airstrike never lacked self-belief and found themselves rubbing shoulders with many of the headline Kiwi bands of the era. They would often cross paths with the likes of Mi-Sex, DD Smash, Hello Sailor, Citizen Band, The Swingers, The Crocodiles, Golden Harvest, Rick Bryant, Barry Saunders’ early band The Tigers, Flight X7, Pop Mechanix, Coup D’Etat, Lip Service and The Knobz.

Kamsha - 1000 Years (PolyGram, 1985)
Neil "Sutho" Sutherland, Airstrike.
Airstrike in a Hillcrest Tavern advert.
Early Airstrike photo, 1979. Left to right: Neil Sutherland, Graham Moses, Neil Chilton, Peter Chilton, Neil Burns.
Airstrike, 1979. From left: Neil Sutherland, Graham Moses, Peter Chilton, Neil Chilton, Neil Burns.
Airstrike in the Shoreline carpark, Dunedin, 1980.
Neil Chilton, Cabana 1980.
Neil "Burnsy" Burns at the Cabana, Napier.
Kamsha - He Will Sleep
Airstrike - Peter Chilton on the truck, Timaru 1980.
Airstrike's 2017 reunion at the Civic Theatre, Invercargill, with former Exponents bassist Dave Gent at right. From left: Paul Maaka, Neil Sutherland, Neil Chilton, Peter Chilton, and Dave Gent. 
Paul Maaka, Airstrike.
Neil "Burnsy" Burns and Neil Chilton, Airstrike.
Neil Chilton, Airstrike.
Airstrike reunion at the Civic, Invercargill 2017.
Airstrike, from left: Neil Burns, Neil Sutherland, Paul Maaka, Neil Chilton, and Peter Chilton
Neil Chilton and Neil "Sutho" Sutherland, Airstrike reunion, 2017.
Airstrike visiting the grave of Neil Burns, 2017.
Airstrike in Sydney.
Airstrike live on stage, Invercargill.
Airstrike in Hamilton. From left: Peter Chilton, Neil Sutherland, Neil Chilton, Paul Maaka, Neil Burns.
Paul Maaka, Airstrike.
Neil "Burnsy" Burns, Airstrike.
Neil "Sutho" Sutherland, Airstrike.
Airstrike.
Peter Chilton, Airstrike.
Airstrike in 1979, just before the band headed to Auckland. From left: Neil Sutherland, Neil Chilton, Graham Moses, Peter Chilton, and Neil Burns. 
What's the Name of Your Band? - the story of Airstrike, by Peter J Chilton (2022) 
Kamsha - Work Until You Drop (1985)
Airstrike reunion, Invercargill 2017, with Dave Gent of the Exponents.
Kamsha - 1000 Years (1985)
Neil Chilton, Airstrike reunion 2017.
Airstrike in Sydney.
Paul Maaka, Airstrike.
Neil "Burnsy" Burns and Neil Chilton at the Cabana, Napier 1980.
Trivia:

Update, 2022: Peter Chilton has written What’s the Name of Your Band?, a warts-and-all memoir of his years with the bands Air Strike, Strika and Kam Sha.

Members:

Neil Chilton - vocals, guitar

Peter Chilton - drums

Neil Burns - bass

Neil Sutherland - keyboards

Graham Moses - guitar

Paul Maaka - guitar

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