Doug Hood


Doug Hood remembers almost to the hour, the time and place, he first met Chris Knox. It was two or three in the afternoon on Good Friday, 31 March 1972, in Dunedin’s North East Valley. He’d headed south that morning from Christchurch with a University of Canterbury mate in a just purchased car to visit his Te Kuiti High School friend, Trevor Sargent, who flatted with Knox in the southern city.

Hood’s first impression of Chris Knox, the future Toy Love front man, one half of Tall Dwarfs and respected solo performer has faded with time and circumstance, although 44 years later, sitting in the main bar of Auckland inner-city Grey Lynn Returned Services Club, he remembers Knox as being “a little wacky” that day.

Martin Phillipps and Doug Hood
The South Tonight interviews Toy Love's Chris Knox as Doug Hood sets up the PA (1980)
Toy Love late 1979. Soundman Doug Hood is repairing something. Mike Dooley, Chris Knox, Doug Hood and Alec Bathgate
This Sporting Life's In Limbo EP, recorded by Doug Hood and Simon Shanahan at Progressive Studios in Auckland. Recorded in 1983, it was not released until early 1984.
Doug Hood
Photo credit: Photo by Dianne Clayton
The Clean, 1978, at Beneficiaries Hall, Dunedin. Doug Hood (vocals), David Kilgour (guitar), Peter Gutteridge (bass), Hamish Kilgour (drums).
Photo credit: Jeff Batts
Douglas Henry Hood with family and friends, at his investiture as Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the music industry, September 2023. From left: Elise, Victoria Oliver, Jack Oliver-Hood, Governor-General Cindy Kiro, Colin Hogg, and Doug's cousin Marissa.
Doug Hood, Mick Dawson and Chris Knox with The Enemy, probably at The Windsor Castle, Auckland, 1978
Filming an unreleased Clean promo video for Happy Birthday John in Chris Knox and Doug Hood's backyard in Jessel Street, Grey Lynn, 1982.
Chris Knox filming The Clean during the 1981 Boodle Boodle Boodle shoot as Doug Hood watches
Photo credit: Photo by Carol Tippet
Simon Grigg, Roger Shepherd and Doug Hood at the Apra Silver Scroll. Photograph taken at the Powerstation, Auckland, in the late 1980s by Murray Cammick
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
Doug Hood (front left) at a presentation of gold albums to Hunters & Collectors, held at Festival's Auckland office. 
Photo credit: Janet Dawes collection
A group shot from the February 1984, Doug Hood promoted, Looney Tours Flying Nun touring show, with The Chills, Children's Hour, The Expendables and the Doublehappys, with tour manager Dave Merritt.
Unknown, Tim Mahon and Doug Hood backstage at Auckland's St. James, 2005
Photo credit: Photo by Mark Roach
Doug Hood, circa 1980
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
Doug Hood with Bird Nest Roys
Toy Love in Sydney: Jane Walker (out of picture), Mike Dooley, Chris Moody and Doug Hood
Show Me To The Bellrope was This Sporting Life's only long player. It was recorded at The Lab by Doug Hood and released in November 1982. The sleeve was designed by The Herco Pilots' Chris Williams.
Chris Knox with the legendary TEAC. Doug Hood is in the mirror
Photo credit: Alec Bathgate
The Looney Tour, February 1984, with promoter Doug Hood, left, with hat
Photo credit: Photo by Terry Moore
The Clean, 1979. Doug Hood on vocals
Photo credit: Photo by Jeff Batts
The Last Rumba, a live album released by Flying Nun in 1983, recorded by Doug Hood and Terry King
The 1984 Looney Tour poster
Photo credit: Chris Knox design; Jonathan Ganley Collection

Funded by

Partners with