The Knobz
From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.
The Knobz were a significant New Zealand pop band. They were made famous in 1980 with their political song "Culture?" criticising Robert Muldoon, who was Prime Minister at the time and said that New Zealand's Pop music wasn't part of the New Zealand culture. There was a 40% sales tax placed on popular music, but more 'traditional' music would be exempt from the tax!
The Knobz were a fairly typical pop band of the 1980's New Zealand scene. Best described in an article of the time as "XTC meets The Knack". However, several things set them apart from their contemporaries. They were the very first rock band to have a self funded single hit the top 5 in New Zealand and, on their own label - Bunk Records! They were self managed and toured extensively with good chart success for 2 singles and later, an album - Sudden Exposure. They were also a great live act and always entertained their huge audiences. The band toured New Zealand before leaving for Australia in 1980 and they played the (mainly) Sydney scene with other acts of the period such as the Divinyls, Men at Work, Misex, Swanee, Moving Pictures etc. The band dispersed at the end of 1981 but a few of the players went on to other projects, notably, drummer Bob Reid played in powerhouse Sydney band The Sharks with well known guitarist Karl Taylor (ex Buffalo) and keyboardist Noel Geyghan(?) from Queensland band Moonlight.
The Knobz MKII essentially reformed around songwriter Kevin Fogarty for one more trip around New Zealand and to promote the album "Roads to Rome". All the material on this cut had been written by former band members but these guys were replaced with more Kiwi imports; drummer Tim Powles (ex Flight X-7) and also the bass player from the same band, Warwick Keays. The Knobz are long gone now but looking back, they epitomised the early 80s period when punk still held a slender audience and new romantic was starting to hit. Criticism leveled at The Knobz during and since their time was often unfair and not seen in the context of the times. Many of the critics have been players from the same period and obviously people who perhaps envied the Knobz chart successes.
Their album SUDDEN EXPOSURE which included their hit single CULTURE and eleven tracks written by KEVIN FOGARTY.
Two other singles LIVERPOOL TO AMERICA - a tribute to John Lennon and K.G.B. were released before they left for Australia.
