Strawpeople
Strawpeople were formed at 95bFM by Mark Tierney and Paul Casserly in 1990, primarily as a studio band with featured vocalists. Initially signed to Pagan Records, their first single ‘One Good Reason’, a cover of the old Swingers hit, was released the same year but failed to chart. It was followed shortly afterwards by an album Hemisphere.
Further singles ‘Blue’, ‘The Slide’ (a cover of the Tall Dwarfs song), and ‘Love Explodes’ fared little better, although the second album Worldservice charted (No.30) on the strength of student radio play and strong reviews.
Interview with Mark Tierney and Paul Casserly from Strawpeople, 22 April 1994. Directed by Ross Cunningham.
Strawpeople - No New Messages
Paul Casserly
Under The Milky Way
Sweet Disorder
Fiona McDonald and Paul Casserly
Mark Tierney and Paul Casserly
Strawpeople - Hemisphere, 1991
Paul Casserly, Mark Tierney, Stephanie Tauevihi
Strawpeople - 100 Street Transistors, 1997
No One Like You
Stamp magazine, July 1990
Drive (feat. Bic Runga)
The Strawpeople album No New Messages was awarded gold sales status.
Drive, featuring vocals by Bic Runga.
Strawpeople - Vicarious2, 1997
Fiona McDonald, Strawpeople.
Taller Than God
Strawpeople - Broadcast, 1994
1991 publicity shot of The Strawpeople
Strawpeople - Vicarious
Strawpeople: Mark Tierney, Stephanie Tauevihi, Paul Casserly.
Paul Casserly
Paul Casserly, Greg Johnson and Mark Tierney during a break recording the Strawpeople at The Lab
Mark Tierney, Stephanie Tauevihi, Paul Casserly,
Strawpeople - Knucklebones (2023)
Paul Casserly, Merinia, Mark Tierney, 1990
Paul Casserly and Greg Johnson at The Lab. Both Greg and The Strawpeople have recorded two albums at The Lab.
A wry hand drawn Chris Knox comment on Strawpeople's cover of the duo's The Slide, 1992
Photo credit:
Revor Reekie collection
Trick With a Knife
Fiona McDonald, Strawpeople.
The advert for the first double 10-inch Deepgrooves EP
Strawpeople with Anthony Ioasa, APRA Silver Scrolls, 1995
Discography