Bird Nest Roys


Bird Nest Roys’ story began in the early 1980s in West Auckland – and might well have ended there, without more than a couple of hundred people ever knowing they existed. Instead, their discography was reissued 30 years later and they have fans among American indie royalty.

The genesis of the band was the meeting of Ross Williams and Ross Hollands – “Big Ross” and “Little Ross” respectively – via the former’s girlfriend Joan George. Both part of a generation that had seen punk rock flip everything over, they quickly bonded over music.

Peter Moerenhout , Rupert E. Taylor, Ross Williams, Ross Hollands, Deborah Shadbolt, Dominic Stones, Herne Bay, 1986
Bird Nest Roys 
Bird Nest Roys, venue unknown
Bird Nest Roys in 1986: Rupert E. Taylor, "Big" Ross Williams, Dominic Stones, Peter Moerenhout, "Little" Ross Hollands, Deborah Shadbolt. Taken in Herne Bay at a time when the band was named Heavy As - it only lasted two weeks. A colourised version of this appeared on the rear of the Jaffa Boy sleeve.
Photo credit: Taken by Cushla Stones
Alien
Peter Moerenhout, Ross Williams, Rupert E. Taylor, Ross Hollands, Dominic Stones and Deborah Shadbolt
Bird Nest Roys at the Rising Sun Auckland's K Rd. in 1986
Photo credit: Photo by Jonathan Ganley
Whack It All Down, the 1985 debut EP
The 1987 eponymous longplayer from Bird Nest Roys
Dominic Stones, Deborah Shadbolt, Ross Hollands, Rupert E. Taylor (back), Ross Williams (front) and Peter Moerenhout
Ross Williams, Ross Hollands, Peter Moerenhout, Deborah Shadbolt, Rupert E. Taylor and Dominic Stones, Wellington ca. 1984-85
Photo credit: Photo by Sean Shadbolt
Bird Nest Roys early 1985
Who Is The Silliest Rossi (Live at the Windsor Castle, Auckland, New Zealand, 4 May 1985) Bob Sutton Collection
Bird Nest Roys in Wellington, 1984-85
Photo credit: Photo by Sean Shadbolt
A Flying Nun Bird Nest Roys publicity shot, 1985
Deborah Shadbolt in Wellington, 1984-85
Photo credit: Photo by Sean Shadbolt
Able Tasmans, Bird Nest Roys and Court Martial, at The Pulse, Auckland, May/June1991
Photo credit: Graeme Hill collection
Dominic Stones, venue uknown
Alien (Live at the Windsor Castle, Auckland, New Zealand, 4 May 1985) Bob Sutton Collection
An early 1985 Flying Nun publicity shot
Ross Hollands at Auckland's Rising Sun Hotel in 1986
Photo credit: Photo by Jonathan Ganley
Rupert E. Taylor and Dominic Stones, Wellington 1984-85
Photo credit: Photo by Sean Shadbolt
Ross Williams
Ain't Mutatin
Rupert E. Taylor at Auckland's Rising Sun Hotel in 1986
Photo credit: Photo by Jonathan Ganley
Peter Moerenhout, Ross Hollands, Dominic Stones, Rupert E. Taylor, Ross Williams and Deborah Shadbolt, early 1985
Able Tasmans, The Expendables, Bird Nest Roys
Photo credit: Graeme Hill collection
Bird Nest Roys in Wellington, 1984-85
Photo credit: Photo by Sean Shadbolt
Bird Nest Roys 
Bird Nest Roys in Dunedin, 1986
The 1986 Jaffa Boy 7-inch single, produced by Terry King
Members:

Rupert E. Taylor - vocals, dancing

Dominic Stones - guitar

Ross Hollands - vocals

Ross Williams - guitar, vocals

Deborah Shadbolt - bass

Peter Moerenhout - drums

Trivia:

Dominic Stones' father Tony has had a distinguished career as a sculptor – but in the 1960s also worked as a designer on the TV pop show C'mon. Bird Nest Roys' retro-look video for their song Ain't Mutatin' was in part a nod to Stones Senior.

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