Space Waltz
{{Short description|New Zealand glam rock band}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Space Waltz
| background = group_or_band
| origin = Auckland, New Zealand
| genre = {{flatlist|class=nowraplinks|
}}
| years_active = 1974–1975; 2023
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| past_members =
- Alastair Riddell
- Eddie Rayner
- Brent Eccles
- Greg Clark
- Peter Cuddihy
- Mike Chunn{{efn|Split Enz bassist Mike Chunn temporarily stood in when Peter Cuddihy was unavailable for a national tour. Chunn also featured in the band's second appearance on television's New Faces.}}
}}
Space Waltz are a New Zealand glam rock band formed in 1974 by frontman Alastair Riddell. In 1974, they had a number-one hit in New Zealand with "Out on the Street".
Career
In 1974, Alastair Riddell (vocals/guitar), Greg Clark (guitar), Eddie Rayner (keyboards), Peter Cuddihy (bass), and Brent Eccles (drums) had been performing as a covers band named Stewart and the Belmonts. Seeking to record Riddell's original compositions, they entered the television talent quest New Faces under the name Space Waltz. In the qualifying round they performed "Out on the Street"; in the finals, "Beautiful Boy", creating a stir with Riddell's "androgynous" image (influenced by David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust).{{cite book |last1=Chapman |first1=Ian |title=Alastair Riddell's Space Waltz |date=2023 |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=9781501389511}} Although Space Waltz did not win the final, they attracted attention from rock fans and were promptly signed up by EMI Records, who released "Out on the Street" as a single.{{cite web |title=Out on the Street - Space Waltz |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/out-on-the-street-1974 |website=NZ On Screen |access-date=3 June 2023 |language=en}} The song reached number 1 on the New Zealand charts.Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop'' By Bob Stanley [https://books.google.com/books?id=9emZAAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Alastair+Riddell%22Space+Waltz&pg=PT335 30 It Came from the Suburbs: Marc Bolan and David Bowie]New Zealand Music Commission, Te Reo Reka O Aotearoa [http://nzmusic.org.nz/news/artist/alastair-riddell-releases-new-single/ Alastair Riddell Releases New Single]
File:Eddie Rayner and Alastair Riddell.jpg (left) and Alastair Riddell in 2023.]]
In 1975 the band's debut album was released, entitled Space Waltz by Alastair Riddell, creating some confusion among the public as to whether Space Waltz was a group or a Riddell solo project. The album, which featured backing vocals by The Yandall Sisters, made the New Zealand Top 20, with the second single, "Fraulein Love", reaching the Top 30.{{efn|Chapman states the album and "Fraulein Love" peaked at number 14 and 20, respectively, while other sources give chart positions of 15 and 27.{{cite web |title=Space Waltz - Fraulein Love |url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Space+Waltz&titel=Fraulein+Love&cat=s |website=Charts.NZ |access-date=2 June 2023}}{{cite web |title=Alastair Riddell - Space Waltz |url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Alastair+Riddell&titel=Space+Waltz&cat=a |website=Charts.NZ |access-date=2 June 2023}} New Zealand had established a new music chart system in April 1975, which may account for the differing figures.}} Space Waltz won Best New Artist at the 1975 Recording Arts Talent Awards.{{cite web |title=Best New Artist 1975 |url=https://aotearoamusicawards.nz/award-category/best-new-artist-1975/ |website=Aotearoa Music Awards |access-date=2 June 2023}}
The group subsequently flew to Australia but were unable to finalise a record deal there, and disbanded shortly afterwards. Riddell pursued a solo career, Rayner joined Split Enz, and Clark and Eccles joined Citizen Band.
In 2023, the band reunited for the release of a second album, Victory, which featured a blend of new songs together with re-recordings of selected tracks from their first album.{{cite news |title=Space Waltz return after almost 50 years with album 'Victory' |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/music101/audio/2018890995/space-waltz-return-after-almost-50-years-with-album-victory |work=RNZ |date=20 May 2023 |language=en-nz}}
Discography
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable"
|+ Singles |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Year |
|---|
| scope="row" | "Out on the Street" / "Angel"
| 1974 |
| scope="row" | "Fraulein Love" / "Scars Of Love"
| 1975 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable"
|+ Albums |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| scope="row" | Space Waltz by Alastair Riddell
| 1975 | Reissued on CD in 2002{{cite news |last1=Reid |first1=Graham |title=Space Waltz |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/ispace-waltzi-space-waltz/LAQFK2X5UGGAUUG6GBLVL5VL3A/ |work=NZ Herald |date=31 May 2002 |language=en-NZ}} and 2023.{{cite web |title=Alastair Riddell - Space Waltz |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/354017-Alastair-Riddell-Space-Waltz |website=Discogs.com |access-date=3 June 2023 |language=en |date=1975}} |
| align="left"|Victory
|2023 | |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20230603002709/https://www.officialspacewaltz.com/ Official Site] (archived)
- [https://www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/space-waltz AudioCulture profile]
{{Authority control}}
Category:1970s in New Zealand music
Category:New Zealand glam rock musical groups