Blindspott

aka Blacklistt


Thanks to their debut single ‘Nil By Mouth’, which took elements from a burgeoning nu metal scene (downtuned and distorted guitars, DJ scratching, angsty lyrics), Blindspott became one of the most successful hard rock bands to come out of New Zealand in the early 2000s.

Blindspott morphed out of a group called Wrench, featuring drummer Shelton Woolright and vocalist Joel Rowell, who met at Rutherford College in the West Auckland suburb of Te Atatu. In 1997, Damian Alexander stepped in to take over from Rowell, while Gareth Fleming (bass), Marcus Powell (guitar) and Karl Vilisini (turntables) also joined the band. They began writing their own music and entered Battle of the Bands, but only made it through the early rounds of the competition. It didn’t put them off: the band organised their own shows at Auckland bars Papa Jacks and Safari Lounge and used the money to record their first single ‘Nil By Mouth’ in 2001.

Blindspott - Stay
Gareth Fleming.
Damian Alexander fronting Blacklistt.
Photo credit: Bradley Garner Creative
Blindspott graphic. L to R: Damian Alexander, Marcus Powell, Shelton Woolright, Karl Vilisini, Gareth Fleming.
Blindspott - Nil By Mouth
Blindspott, L to R: Marcus Powell, Shelton Woolright, Karl Vilisini, Damian Alexander, Gareth Fleming.
Blindspott, L to R: Gareth Fleming, Damian Alexander, Marcus Powell, Shelton Woolright, Karl Vilisini.
Blindspott - Room To Breathe
Blacklistt - Burn (2013)
Blacklistt were awarded Rock Album of the Year at the 2014 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards for their self-titled 2013 debut.
Damian Alexander (vocals, centre).
Blindspott - S.U.I.T (So Us Is This) (2002)
Blindspott, L to R: Karl Vilisini, Shelton Woolright, Gareth Fleming, Damian Alexander, Marcus Powell
Blindspott, L to R: Gareth Fleming, Damian Alexander, Karl Vilisini, Shelton Woolright, Marcus Powell.
Damien Alexander on vocals.
Damian Alexander.
Blindspott, L to R: Gareth Fleming, Damian Alexander, Karl Vilisini, Shelton Woolright, Marcus Powell.
Blindspott - Drown
Blindspott - Blank
Blindspott - Phlex
Blindspott - Yours Truly (2005)
Blindspott - Making Music (2005, NZ On Screen)
Blindspott, L to R: Damian Alexander, Shelton Woolright, Karl Vilisini, Marcus Powell, Gareth Fleming.
Marcus Powell.
Blindspott - Lull (2006)
Damian Alexander (vocals) and Karl Vilisini (DJ).
Blacklistt and fans at the Powerstation, Auckland.
Blacklistt, Hamilton, 2014.
Damian Alexander.
Blacklistt.
Blacklistt - From the Blind Spot (2012)
Blindspott, L to R: Karl Vilisini, Damian Alexander, Gareth Fleming, Shelton Woolright, Marcus Powell.
Blindspott, L to R: Gareth Fleming, Damian Alexander, Karl Vilisini, Shelton Woolright, Marcus Powell.
Tristan Reilly.
Labels:

EMI


Blindspott Ltd

Members:

Damian Alexander - vocals

Shelton Woolright - drums

Marcus Powell - guitar

Gareth Fleming - bass

Karl Vilisini - turntables

Dave McDermott - bass

Brandon Reihana - guitar

Tristan Reilly - drums

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