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.

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

Funded by

Partners with