Neill Duncan


To Australians, Neill Duncan was the amazing one-armed saxophonist, the musician who, after sarcoma necessitated the amputation of his left arm, had the resilience and attitude to overcome the impediment – while showing the creative possibilities that absence made possible.

To New Zealanders, he was simply one of our most spirited and greatest roving musical polymaths, a multi-instrumentalist whose mantra was “keep it fresh” and who did so over four decades of playing and making it up as he went with some of our most adventurous ensembles.

Six Volts 1986 poster presented by Braille Records in association with NZ Student Arts Council.
Photo credit: New Zealand Students Arts Council poster (NZSA90366)
Primitive Art Group on the cover of Wellington's TOM magazine
The Four Volts rehearsing for and performing at The Flying Kiwi Arts Festival in Wellington (1986)
Anthony Donaldson, Janet Roddick, Neill Duncan, David Long, David Donaldson, Coromandel tour, 1980s.
Photo credit: David Long collection
Neill Duncan, and friend, while he was in the band Bootleg; Mt Eden, Auckland, 1978
Photo credit: Simon Lynch
The credits for Neill Duncan's album Quiver (Braille, 1999)
Neill Duncan with Nigel Gavin at the Bunker, Devonport, 2000.
The Jews Brothers Band performing Hobos at The Vic in Devonport, Auckland (2016). Neill's one-hand drum solo at 5:22.
Neill Duncan at Campbell Road flat, Takapuna, Auckland, 1978
Photo credit: Simon Lynch
Four Volts, 1985. From left: David Donaldson, Neill Duncan, Anthony Donaldson, Janet Roddick.
Photo credit: Janet Roddick collection
The Six Volts - The Hills Are Alive (Braille, 1989).
"A beautiful apocalypse": Neill Duncan describes coming to terms with needing an amputation with Support Help who offered to help Neill obtain a new one-handed saxophone (2022).
Neill Duncan and John Stuart performing "The Backhander" as the Three-Handed Beat Bandits. Filmed at Sound Heaven Studios in Sydney (January 2021)
Neill Duncan tries out his new one-handed saxophone with his friend and Darth Vegas bandmate Michael Lira playing piano (2014)
Neill Duncan in 2014 after his operation.
Photo credit: Wolter Peeters, Sydney Morning Herald
1986 Braille collective tour in association with NZ Students Arts Council. Concerts at Streets Ahead Performance Cafe in Wellington included Jungle Suite, Motto, The Family Mallet, Four Volts and Black Sheep. Primitive Art Group concerts held at Limbs Dance Studio and Shadows in Auckland.
Photo credit: New Zealand Student Arts Council poster (NZSA90318)
Peter Stuyvesant Hitlist - K Rd (aka Ode to K' Rd, 1999), produced by Neill Duncan, from their self-titled album. Video produced & directed by Andrew Moore, Stephen Sinkovich, Stuart Page.
Darth Vegas - El Flamo live in Surry Hills, Sydney (2012)
Neill Duncan speaks about his experience finding work after his life-changing operation with OCTEC Limited, Australia's largest not-for-profit disability employment service provider (2018)
Braille Collective c.1986. L-R: Anthony Donaldson, Gerard Crewdson, David Watson, Janet Roddick, David Long, David Donaldson, Stuart Porter, Richard Sedger and Neill Duncan.
Photo credit: Marcel Tromp
Primitive Art Group 1981-1986 album cover, released in 2024.
Six Volts, 1989. From left: David Long, Janet Roddick, Neill Duncan, Anthony Donaldson, David Donaldson, Steve Roche.
The Jews Brothers Band at Emmanuel School, Sydney, 2014. Hershal Herscher, Linn Lorkin, Neill Duncan, Nigel Gavin and their regular Australian bassist Michael Lira.
Photo credit: Linn Lorkin Collection
Official promo video for Primitive Art Group's album "1981-1986", released 25 October 2024.
Primitive Art Group's 1985 album Future Jaw Clamp released on Braille Records.
Neill Duncan
The Spines, 1987. Left to right: Neill Duncan, Jon McLeary, Ross Burge and Wendy Calder.
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
Nigel Gavin and Neill Duncan in the Blue Bottom Stompers
Side A of Six Volts' 1989 album The Hills Are Alive. Released on Braille Records.
The Bung Notes: Steve Roche, Anthony Donaldson, David Donaldson, Neill Duncan. Backdrop: Toshiro Mifune from Akira Kurosawa's 1957 film Throne of Blood.
Photo credit: Dave Gurr
Neill Duncan's photo taken in 2018 and also used for the cover of his posthumous album Phantom Tones. Released in 2023 by Auckland's experimental jazz record label Kiwijahzz.
Photo credit: Leahy & Watson
Neill Duncan in 2014
Photo credit: Joe Glaysher
Blue Bottom Stompers performing Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me (2008)
The Moon was the third release from The Spines. Issued via Wellington indie Jayrem, the line-up was Wendy Calder, Ross Burge, Neill Duncan and Jon McLeary, who also did the cover painting.
Neill Duncan explaining how to use his one-handed saxophone (2020)
Saxophonist Neill Duncan: Superhuman Stories on Channel 4 (2016)
Jon McLeary, Neill Duncan and Andy Drey, circa 1982
Primitive Art Group - "Cecil Likes to Dance" Live (Official Music Video). Recorded at Off the Deep End II Festival, Thistle Hall, Wellington, April 1984. Video by Stuart Porter, 2024.
Primitive Art Group poster c.1986.
Photo credit: New Zealand Student Art Council Posters (NZSA90419)
Neill Duncan plays the one-handed saxophone and drums with John Stuart on guitar together as the Three-Handed Beat Bandits (2014)
Neill Duncan and Lloyd Swanton performing "In A Sentimental Mood" at Junction 142, Katoomba (November 2018). Part of Neill's Big Thank You concert for the crowdfunding campaign that enabled restoring his saxophone.
Neill Duncan's 1999 album Quiver released through Braille Records.
Primitive Art Group, outside Stuart Porter's flat, Vivian Street, Wellington. (From left): Anthony Donaldson, Stuart Porter, David Watson, David Donaldson, Neill Duncan. Absent: Pamela Gray. 
Photo credit: Neill Duncan Collection
Six Volts performing 3 songs for a children's TV show c.1989-90
Bootleg, at the North Shore Teachers College, Auckland, 1978. From left: Simon Lynch (guitar), Glen McLean (vocals), Jeremy Marshall (bass), and Neill Duncan (drums). 
Photo credit: Simon Lynch Collection
Six Volts - Stretch, 1991.
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Flying Nun


Braille


Kiwijahzz


Ripper


Jayrem


Ode


Festival


Rimu Records

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