Instigators


The Instigators – Ed Geddes (vocals, sax), Sonya Waters (keyboards, vocals), Tarewai Wesley (bass), Eddie Olsen (drums) and Tom Rothsey (guitar) – were a hard touring Auckland ska/punk group, whose first single release 'Not Really Bad' arrived in 1981 after winning Battle of the Bands.

In Rip It Up, assistant editor Mark Phillips described the band at its Battle appearance as “a five-piece with wailing sax and keyboards packed the dance floor. They have a ska band look and sound, uptempo rhythms but unimpressive songs.”

The Instigators
Instigators - Hope She's Alright (Ripper, 1982)
Sonya Waters.
Photo credit: Photo by Bryan Staff
The Instigators.
Photo credit: Sonya Waters Collection
1982 Canterbury University Orientation gig, with Desperate Measures, Instigators and Riot 111
The Instigators first lineup: Tarewai Wesley, Sonya Waters, Ed Geddes and Eddie Olsen
Photo credit: Sonya Waters archive
The Not The 1978 Tour lineup - The Instigators with Andrew Boak (No Tag), Eric Marsden (Androidss), Nick Hanson (Spelling Mistakes) and Yoh (Screaming Meemees), 1982
Instigators, L to R: Sonya Waters, Tom Rothsey, Eddie Olsen.
Photo credit: Sonya Waters Collection
'Hope She's Alright' - Rob Mayes Collection
The Instigators at Sweetwaters, 1982.
Photo credit: Photo by Gordon William Bartram
Trivia:

Don McGlashan produced The Instigators first single Not Really Bad for Ripper Records in 1981.

Sonya Waters released a solo EP No Pain through Ripper Records in 1983. She is a music teacher in Auckland and has played in Fang and White Swan Black Swan.

Sonya Waters, Instigators, early 80s.
Sonya Waters performing with the Instigators at Sweetwaters, 1982.
Labels:

Ripper

Members:

Ed Geddes - sax, vocals

Sonya Waters - keyboards, vocals

Tarewai Wesley - bass

Eddie Olsen - drums

Tom Rothsey - guitar

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