Peter Caulton


Larger-than-life New Zealand country music singer and storyteller Peter Caulton had three separate careers – in New Zealand, Australia, and Germany – that barely intersected. He recorded in all three countries as well as the United States, but little of his offshore success is known in his home nation.

Beginning the 1960s, Caulton released three singles, made several television appearances and performed countless gigs in New Zealand, as well as forming The Country Flyers, long since synonymous with celebrated blues man Midge Marsden. In 1980 he turned up in Melbourne reinvented as a down-under Jerry Jeff Walker and fronting PC Caulton and The Pickups.

Peter Caulton, Queenstown, 2016.
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
A 1983 promo shot of PC Caulton and The Pickups. Left to right: Peter Caulton, Martin Hope, Nick Pitman, Andrew Forrer.
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
Peter Caulton - Fifteen Hundred Breweries Five Thousand Beers (2014)
Peter Caulton, Queenstown, 2016.
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
A 2008 promo shot of Peter Caulton with his dog Johnny Cash (aka JC).
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
A 1979 promo shot of Peter Caulton in Australia in the 1980s.
Photo credit: Greg Noakes
PC Caulton and The Pickups at Spurs, Melbourne, in the early 1980s. Left to right: Craig Reeves, Andrew Forrer, Peter Caulton, Barry Fletcher, Martin Hope.
Photo credit: Craig Reeves collection
Peter Caulton and partner Robyn Alexander, who would sing the June Carter duets in Caulton's Johnny Cash tribute shows in New Zealand, 2017.
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
Peter Caulton and Sievert Ahrend performing Johnny Cash's 'Hurt' in Leer, Germany (2016)
Victor O'Neil with PC Caulton & The Pickups performing at Spurs Country Bar, Australia (1982)
Peter Caulton and Sievert Ahrend performing Ghost Riders in the Sky in Leer, Germany (2016)
PC Caulton and The Pickups in Australia in the early 1980s. Left to right: Peter Caulton, Martin Hope, Craig Reeves, Andrew Forrer, Barry Fletcher.
Photo credit: Greg Noakes
Good News at the Wellington Botanic Garden. Left to right: Richard Nicholson, Jamie Linton, Mark Hihira, Peter Caulton.
Photo credit: Richard Nicholson collection
Peter Caulton performing at the Hamburg Harley Days Festival, 2004.
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
Peter Caulton performing Me and Bobby Mcgee in Denmark (2017)
NZ Breweries manufactured group Distillery, 1974. Left to right: Steve McDonald, Peter Caulton, Rick Adcock.
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
Peter Caulton's last show at Monday Music in Hamburg (2016) where he frequently performed over the years.
Peter Caulton was a resident singer at the Pines for some time in the early 1960s. He went on to tour internationally, occasionally working in comedy. He reappeared in the mid-70s as the singer of NZ Breweries pub band Distillery. 
Photo credit: Don Peat
Peter Caulton crouching front and centre with most of the musicians and singers that made up the Vic State Opry, 1985. The bus advertises their West Tamworth Leagues Club festival residency. Caulton’s former Pickups bandmate Craig Reeves is top left. 
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
Peter Caulton performing at the Hamburg Harley Days Festival, 2004.
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
Peter Caulton and American singer Beth Hart, circa 2007-2009.
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
Peter Caulton and Steve McDonald in 2012, four decades after first playing together in Distillery.
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
Peter Caulton performing at the Hamburg Harley Days Festival, 2004.
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
Peter Caulton - Festival 2014 - Johnny Cash close up
Peter Caulton and his Johnny Cash tribute band Ring of Fire performing in Germany (2011)
Peter Caulton and the Vic State Opry's tour bus, 1985. 
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
Studio One's 'New Faces' final episode (1974) featuring Distillery performing 'Supermarket Superstar'
Peter Caulton performing Who Drove the Mystery Train on national German TV.
Bob Style and Peter Caulton performing Beer For My Horses in Hamburg, Germany (2004)
Peter Caulton and his Johnny Cash Ring of Fire tribute show band, 2003.
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
Peter Caulton photoshoot for his Johnny Cash Ring of Fire tribute, circa 2003.
Photo credit: Peter Caulton collection
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