The Dizzy Limits

aka Dizzy Limit, Timberjack


From their formation as The Dizzy Limits in 1964 to their breakup as Timberjack seven years later, this Wellington quartet played hundreds of gigs, crossed the globe, charted with a medley from The Beatles’ Abbey Road, and were Loxene Golden Disc finalists with a controversial Satanic-themed hit.

The Dizzy Limits formed at the height of Beatlemania, from the remnants of several teenage Wellington bands. Frits Stigter had been rhythm guitarist with the Wadestown-based Berets (whose bass player was future tennis star Onny Parun), Steve McDonald was drummer for Miramar group The Strangers, while Kelvin Diedrichs and Stu Johnstone played lead and bass guitars respectively in the Kilbirnie-based Pickadors.

The Dizzy Limit - Alone (Ode, 1969)
The Dizzy Limit - Mare Tranquillity (Ode, 1969)
The Dizzy Limits, 1968. In front: Steve McDonald. Back row, L-R: Kelvin Diedrichs, Stu Johnstone, Frits Stiger
Photo credit: Andy Shackleton Collection
Steve McDonald, drumming for The Dizzy Limits.
Photo credit: Barry Clothier
The 1969 Dizzy Limit single Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight, released six weeks after The Beatles' Abbey Road. It reached No.9 on the NZ charts, as voted for by the readers of the Listener, and stayed on the charts for seven weeks. The B-Side was Stuart Johnstone's Be My Friend, Be My Lover.
The Dizzy Limit, 1969 (from left): John Donoghue, Steve McDonald, Stu Johnstone, Frits Stigter
Photo credit: Andy Shackleton Collection
The Dizzy Limit at Caltex Lounge, Wellington, 1967 (L-R): Kelvin Diedrichs, Stu Johnstone, Steve McDonald, Frits Stigter
Come To The Sabbat - Timberjack, 1971
The Dizzy Limits prefer Jansen keyboards (1968). From left: Frits Stigter, Steve McDonald, Kelvin Diedrichs, Stu Johnstone 
Photo credit: Roger Watkins Collection
The Dizzy Limits, 1966 (L-R): Steve McDonald, Stu Johnstone, Frits Stigter, Kelvin Diedrichs
The Dizzy Limit - Mare Tranquillity (Ode, 1969)
The Dizzy Limit - Alone (Ode, 1969). The A-side of the band's debut single was written by their multi-instrumentalist, Stuart Johnstone.
Frits Stigter, bassist and guitarist of The Dizzy Limits.
Photo credit: Barry Clothier
The Dizzy Limits, Napier 1967 (L-R): Kelvin Diedrichs, Steve McDonald, Stu Johnstone, Frits Stigter
For their third single, the Dizzy Limit covered Creedence Clearwater Revival's Wrote A Song For Everyone (Ode, 1970). From the Green River album, CCR didn't release it as a single.
The Dizzy Limits starting out, 1964. From left: Frits Stigter, Kelvin Diedrichs, Stu Johnstone, Steve McDonald
Photo credit: Andy Shackleton Collection
Members:

John Donoghue - vocals, guitar

Frits Stigter - bass

Kelvin Diedrichs - guitar

Stuart Johnstone - guitar, bass, keyboards

Steve McDonald - drums

Labels:

Ode

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