Thorazine Shuffle


In the mid-nineties, Thorazine Shuffle were the student radio band of the moment – brash upstarts poised for bigger success. Their early sound was noisy enough to catch the coattails of the grunge hype, but their best songs aspired towards a more classic 1960s rock sound.

The pre-history of Thorazine Shuffle began at Selwyn College, when bassist Chris Familton started jamming with two other students, guitarist Antony McDonald and drummer Blair Miller.

The cover of An Affair (1996)
Aaron Carson at the 2009 Thorazine Shuffle reunion at 95bFM's bStreet at Auckland's Britomart
Photo credit: Photo by Gareth Shute
Josh Hetherington and Jules Barnett onstage for the Thorazine Shuffle reunion at a private party, Hollywood Cinema, Avondale, Auckland, November 3, 2018.
Photo credit: Some Bizarre Monkey
Thorazine Shuffle at Bob Bar, High Street, Auckland
Thorazine Shuffle reunion at a private party, Hollywood Cinema, Avondale, Auckland, November 3, 2018.
Photo credit: Some Bizarre Monkey
Thorazine Shuffle at a 95bFM Private Function
Jules Barnett at the 2009 Thorazine Shuffle reunion, 95bFM's bStreet at Auckland's Britomart
Photo credit: Photo by Gareth Shute
Josh Heatherington, at the 2009 Thorazine Shuffle reunion, 95bFM's bStreet at Auckland's Britomart
Photo credit: Photo by Gareth Shute
Thorazine Shuffle (clockwise): Antony McDonald, Jules Barnett, Murray Hood, Josh Hetherington, late 1996
Thorazine Shuffle reunion line-up, Auckland, November 2018: Chris Familton, Steve Simpson (ex-Pash, Exponents), Josh Hetherington, Jules Barnett.
Photo credit: Chris Familton collection
Thorazine Shuffle - An Affair (1996)
Thorazine Shuffle and The Nixons at The Pelican's first birthday, Elliot Street, Auckland, November 1993
The cover of the 1999 Your Own PR album, released by Hapuka Records, via Mushroom
Josh Hetherington
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
Setlist from the Obscure tour with Semi Lemon Kola
1994 live at the Auckland University Cafe
Thorazine Shuffle - Emperor's New Clothes (1999)
Second Child, Thorazine Shuffle and Sniff at Squid, O'Connell Street, Auckland, February 1994
Chris Familton, Antony McDonald, Josh Hetherington and Jules Barnett
The self-released Stir cassette EP from 1993, recorded at Frisbee Studios
Thorazine Shuffle as a trio - Jules Barnett, Aaron Carson and Josh Hetherington
On the roof of De Brett's Hotel in Auckland: Antony McDonald, Jules Barnett, Chris Familton and Josh Hetherington
Murray Hood, Josh Hetherington, Jules Barnett and Antony McDonald
Jules Barnett recording in York Street Studios
More than Anyone (2000)
Thorazine Shuffle - Harry (1996)
A reunion of the Thorazine Shuffle trio - Aaron Carson, Josh Hetherington and Jules Barnett
Thorazine Shuffle, Albert Park, Auckland in the late 1990s at a 95bFM Summer Series - Antony McDonald, Josh Hetherington, Aaron Carson and Jules Barnett
Josh Hetherington at the 95bFM Summer Series, Albert Park, 1996
Jules Barnett, 95bFM Summer Series, Albert Park, Auckland 1996
The cover of the 1996 single Harry
Jules Barnett and Aaron Carson
Labels:

Chronic


Hapuka Records

Members:

Mette Dale - flute

Josh Hetherington - vocals, guitar

Jules Barnett - drums, vocals

Aaron Carson - bass

Antony McDonald - guitar

Chris Familton - bass

Blair Miller - drums

Murray Hood - bass

Trivia:

Thorazine Shuffle’s music videos feature a number of cameos from people who were well known in Auckland at the time. Amongst the waltzing dancers on the video for “An Affair” are Joel Tobeck (actor and guitarist, ex-Splitter), and guitarist, Dan Sperber (New Loungehead, Relaxomatic Project, Dan Sperber Dance Band).

Thorazine Shuffle members, Chris Familton, Antony McDonald, and Blair Miller played with Mikey Havoc (Push Push) in Fontanelle from 1995-8, while Jules Barnett was also the bass player for Freak Power during his first years in the local music scene.

These days, Familton runs a music blog, www.doubtfulsounds.net, and plays in Sydney band Charlie Horse, which also features Matt Brown (Shaft, Propeller) on drums.

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