Rick Bryant


With a musical upbringing that encompasses rhythm and blues, electric blues, acid rock and psychedelic soul, Rick Bryant's lengthy career stands as a testament to the US soul, R&B and gospel singers he admires.

Rick Bryant first hit the Wellington live scene in 1968, performing in the Pretty Things-inspired rhythm and blues band Original Sin and Chicago-blues act Gutbucket.

Rick Bryant and The Jive Bombers - Hold Back The Night (2013)
Bill Lake and Rick Bryant - We're in the Same Boat, Brother (Eelman Records cassette, 1990)
Joe Wylie's Rough Justice poster, late 1970s
Photo credit: Design by Joe Wylie
Rough Justice at Wellington's Last Resort: Stephen Jessup, Mike Gubb, Peter Boyd, Rick Bryant, Nick Bollinger and Peter Kennedy
The Neighbours - Love Is Never Cruel (1981)
The Only One You Need - The Neighbours Compilation (Director Gaylene Preston,1982)
Colin Hogg reviews the debut performance of Rick Bryant and the Jive Bombers, Auckland Star, 1983
Rough Justice in the studio, c. 1978. From left: Peter Kennedy, Denys Mason, Nick Bollinger, Rick Bryant. 
Photo credit: Nick Bollinger collection
Top Scientists, circa 1980: Rick Bryant, Michael Polglase, John Malloy, Gary Langsford, Alastair Dougal
The Original Sin circa 1968: Simon Morris, Steve Robinson, Rick Bryant and Lindy Mason. Robinson and Mason were also in the wonderfully named Kelburn International Airport Ceremonial Guard Band.
The Rick Bryant Trio - Countdown
The Neighbours
Photo credit: Sam Ford collection
Rough Justice in 1978 at Victoria University's Student Union
Photo credit: Nick Bollinger collection
Rough Justice - Martin Highland, Peter Kennedy, Nick Bollinger, Rick Bryant, Steven Jessup, Mike Gubb, Peter Boyd
Rick Bryant and The Jive Bombers - Too Funky (1984, Wellington Town Hall)
Pain In My Heart (1986)
Rick Bryant at The Gluepot, 1985
Photo credit: Photo by Jonathan Ganley
The Neighbours, fronted by Rick Bryant, Trudi Green and Sam Ford – opening for Taj Mahal and Toots and the Maytals, Athletic Park 1983.
Photo credit: John Pilley
Rough Justice 1979, left to right: Denys Mason, Rick Bryant, Nick Bollinger, Tony Backhouse
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
The Neighbours, fronted by Rick Bryant, Trudi Green and Sam Ford – opening for Taj Mahal and Toots and the Maytals, Athletic Park 1983.
Photo credit: John Pilley
Original Sin, Battle of the Bands, Horticultural Hall, Lower Hutt, 1967. L to R: Rick Bryant, Norm McPherson, Rod Bryant, Aff Fraser, Simon Morris, Bill Lake.
Photo credit: Buchanan Studios
Windy City Strugglers - Snow On The Desert Road
Ephemera from 1984, when Rick Bryant's Jive Bombers were at their peak - and sponsored by Smirnoff.
Rick Bryant and his band at Mountain Rock III, January 1994
Photo credit: Photo by Scruff
The Original Sin performing in the student union building, Victoria University of Wellington, 1967. From left: Simon Morris, Steve Robinson, Rick Bryant, Rod Bryant, Bill Lake and Norm McPherson.
Photo credit: Steve Robinson collection
Rick Bryant, Martin Highland, Nick Bollinger
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
The Neighbours Mk.1
Photo credit: Sam Ford collection
The Windy City Strugglers - Can't Get Back
Rick Bryant sings 'Testify' with the Jubilation Choir, 2008
The Windy City Strugglers, 1995. From left: Andrew Delahunty, Bill Lake, Andrew Delahunty, Rick Bryant, Nick Bollinger, and Geoff Rashbrooke. 
Rick Bryant with Mammal, The Great Ngaruawahia Festival, 1973
Photo credit: Rick Bryant Collection
Rough Justice, circa 1978: Rick Bryant, Martin Highland and Nick Bollinger
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
Trudi Green, Rick Bryant and one of the changing Neighbours lineups, around 1983
The Neighbours Mk.2
Rick Bryant and The Jive Bombers - Morning (2006)
The Windy City Strugglers - Unlikely Friends
Rough Justice in 1978. Clockwise from top left: Rick Bryant, Peter Kennedy, Martin Highland, Nick Bollinger, Mike Gubb and Steve Jessup.
Photo credit: Nick Bollinger collection
The Neighbours with Rick Bryant, Trudi Green and Sam Ford, Athletic Park 1983, opening for Taj Mahal and Toots and the Maytals.
Photo credit: John Pilley
Gutbucket publicity flyer, 1969
The Neighbours - The Only One You Need (1982, from the Neighbours' 10-minute Break The Bank short - directed by Gaylene Preston)
Rough Justice on their first trip to Auckland, 1977. Left to right: Steve Jessup, Peter Kennedy, Rick Bryant, Simon Page, Nick Bollinger, Martin Highland
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
Rick Bryant
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
The Neighbours - The Only One You Need (directed by Gaylene Preston, featuring Rick Bryant as a police constable)
The Rough Justice bus
Photo credit: Nick Bollinger collection
Rough Justice - Tony Backhouse and Martin Highland
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
Blacksoap Boys live
Rock & Roll Cabaret at the Majestic, Wellington, 7 September 1980: the Top Scientists, the Rodents, full catering and two other bands for $6. 
Photo credit: John Niland collection
The Rough Justice 2014 reunion shows
Gutbucket, left to right: Bill Lake sitting in on harp, Laurence Cooper, Steve Hemmens, Mike Fullerton, Rick Bryant, Bernard Schmidt.
Photo credit: Rick Bryant collection
Bill Lake and Rick Bryant
Photo credit: Murray Cammick Collection
Labels:

Jayrem


Epic


Red Rocks

Trivia:

In 2000, Bumper Books published 32 of his lyrics as a collection called Clever Monkeys.

The Windy City Strugglers were the subject of the Costa Botes-directed 2005 documentary, Struggle No More.

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