Th' Dudes
{{Short description|New Zealand rock band}}
{{About|the New Zealand rock band|the Canadian rock band|The Dudes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2012}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2010}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Th'Dudes
| image = DudesCricketersB.jpg
| caption = Th' Dudes at the Cricketers' Arms, Wellington, New Zealand. 1980.
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| origin = Auckland, New Zealand
| instrument =
| genre = Post-punk, punk rock, rock, pub rock
| occupation =
| years_active = 1975–1980, 2006–2008, 2019-present
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website =
| current_members = Dave Dobbyn
Rikki Morris
Peter Urlich
Lez White
Bruce Hambling
| past_members = Ian Morris (deceased)
Peter Coleman
}}
Th' Dudes are a New Zealand rock band that was formed in the late 1970s in Auckland, New Zealand. Hits include "Walking in Light", "Right First Time", "Be Mine Tonight" and "Bliss".
History
=1975–1980=
The band was formed by Morris, Urlich, Coleman and Dobbyn, students at Sacred Heart College in Auckland. The band name derived from the "Lone Groover" comic strip in the English music paper, NME. The band's sound was heavily influenced by the British scene, especially The Beatles, David Bowie and The Rolling Stones, and later by the Punk and New Wave sounds of Iggy Pop, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Roxy Music, The Stranglers and The Clash.{{cn|date=August 2021}}
Starting off as a covers band that played surf clubs and private parties, Th' Dudes quickly earned a reputation as an energetic and skilful outfit featuring dual guitar work from Dobbyn and Morris, a tight no-nonsense rhythm section (Peter Coleman on bass, later replaced by Lez White, and drummer Bruce Hambling) and charismatic vocalist Urlich. Slowly the repertoire featured more originals and their status rose to the point where Th' Dudes were acclaimed NZ Group of the Year in 1979.{{cn|date=August 2021}} The group disbanded in 1980.{{cn|date=August 2021}}
=1990s-present=
The mid-1990s saw a resurgence of interest in Th' Dudes in New Zealand, when "classic hits" and "classic rock" radio became more prevalent, and the compositional, performance and production qualities of the band's records endured. Bliss: 20 Essential New Zealand Classics and other compilations showcased New Zealand post-punk acts which epitomized the Kiwi rock genre. Th' Dudes', "Bliss", attained particular popularity and has since established itself as New Zealand's unofficial national drinking song.{{cn|date=August 2021}}
In October 2006, Th' Dudes embarked on a tour of New Zealand as part of Radio Hauraki's 40th anniversary celebrations.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3767886a1860,00.html |website=Stuff.co.nz|title=40th anniversary|access-date=18 August 2021}} The original tour was 11 dates, but quickly expanded to 17 shows due to demand.{{cn|date=August 2021}} The band compiled a six-track album of demo and alternate versions of their biggest hits, culled from the band's own collections. This CD was available only at shows on the tour and was called Pubs, Parks, Theatres, Clubs, Church Halls, Gardens, Lounges & Band Rotundas.
In late 2007, Th' Dudes embarked on the "Summer of Love" tour.{{cn|date=August 2021}}
In 2008, the band sued Stebbing Studios for non-payment of royalties. The band sought to show that they were not paid royalties for sales of their music due to their songs being recorded in downtime at Stebbing, but studio owner Eldred Stebbing claimed production costs had not been met.{{cite news|title=Stebbing Walking in Court with Th'Dudes|url=http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/newsdetail/pi_newsitemid/2778|accessdate=24 September 2012|newspaper=NZ Musician|date=1 March 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306060143/http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/newsdetail/pi_newsitemid/2778|archivedate=6 March 2012}}{{cite news|last=Eames|first=David|title=Studio says it offered Dudes a share of disputed royalties|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10498326|accessdate=24 September 2012|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=15 March 2008}} The dispute was resolved to both parties' mutual satisfaction{{cite news|title=Eldred Stebbing as remembered by Ian Morris|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/radionz/programmes/nat-music/audio/2531163/eldred-stebbing-as-remembered-by-ian-morris.asx|accessdate=11 November 2012|newspaper=Radio NZ National Music|date=15 December 2009}} in November 2008.
In 2019, the band announced a new tour of New Zealand, with dates from 9–25 April 2020, but it was postponed until November due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ian Morris's brother, Rikki Morris joined the group for the tour.
Ian Morris died suddenly in Napier on 7 October 2010.{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/4211381/Th-Dudes-guitarist-Ian-Morris-dies |title=Th'Dudes guitarist Ian Morris dies |author=Kristy Johnston and Chris Schulz |date=8 October 2010 |agency=with NZPA |work=Stuff.co.nz |accessdate=19 November 2011}} Prior to his death, Morris produced records and wrote advertising music, after having had a brief solo career under the stage name Tex Pistol. He is survived by his twin daughters, Julia and Maude.
Members
- Dave Dobbyn – vocals, guitars
- Ian Morris (deceased) – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
- Peter Urlich – drums (changing to vocals later)
- Peter Coleman, (Replaced by Lez White 1978) – bass
- Lez White - bass
- Bruce Hambling – drums
- Rikki Morris - guitar, vocals
=Timeline=
{{#tag:timeline|
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DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1975 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3
ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1976
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1976
Colors =
id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals
id:guitar value:green legend:Lead_guitar
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:bvocals value:purple legend:Backing_Vocals
id:keyboards value:yellow legend:Keyboards
id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album
id:live value:gray(0.75) legend:Live_album
LineData =
layer:back color:studio
at:05/01/1979
at:05/01/1980
layer:back color:live
at:06/30/2006
BarData =
bar:Dobbyn text:"Dave Dobbyn"
bar:I.Morris text:"Ian Morris"
bar:Urlich text:"Peter Urlich"
bar:Coleman text:"Peter Coleman"
bar:Hambling text:"Bruce Hambling"
bar:White text:"Lez White"
bar:R.Morris text:"Rikki Morris"
PlotData =
width:11
bar:Dobbyn from:start till:09/30/1980 color:vocals
bar:Dobbyn from:start till:09/30/1980 color:guitar width:3
bar:Dobbyn from:01/01/2006 till:09/30/2008 color:vocals
bar:Dobbyn from:01/01/2006 till:09/30/2008 color:guitar width:3
bar:Dobbyn from:01/01/2019 till:end color:vocals
bar:Dobbyn from:01/01/2019 till:end color:guitar width:3
bar:I.Morris from:start till:09/30/1980 color:guitar
bar:I.Morris from:start till:09/30/1980 color:bvocals width:4
bar:I.Morris from:start till:09/30/1980 color:keyboards width:3
bar:I.Morris from:01/01/2006 till:09/30/2008 color:guitar
bar:I.Morris from:01/01/2006 till:09/30/2008 color:bvocals width:4
bar:I.Morris from:01/01/2006 till:09/30/2008 color:keyboards width:3
bar:Urlich from:start till:09/30/1980 color:drums
bar:Urlich from:01/01/2006 till:09/30/2008 color:drums
bar:Urlich from:01/01/2019 till:end color:drums
bar:Coleman from:start till:05/31/1978 color:bass
bar:White from:05/31/1978 till:09/30/1980 color:bass
bar:White from:01/01/2006 till:09/30/2008 color:bass
bar:White from:01/01/2019 till:end color:bass
bar:Hambling from:start till:end color:drums
bar:R.Morris from:11/01/2020 till:end color:guitar
}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of studio albums, with New Zealand chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart |
| style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|NZ |
|---|
| scope="row" | Right First Time
|
| 17 |
| scope="row" | Where Are the Boys?
|
| – |
=Live albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of live albums, with New Zealand chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart |
| style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|NZ |
|---|
| scope="row" | Th' 2006 Reunion Tour Live
|
| 39 |
=Compilation albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of compilation albums, with New Zealand chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart |
| style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|NZ |
|---|
| scope="row" | So You Wanna Be a Rock'n'Roll Star
|
| 27 |
| scope="row" | Where Are the Girls?: Th' Definitive Collection
|
| 31 |
| scope="row" | Bliss On Wax
|
| 7 |
=Demo albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of demo albums ! Title ! Album details |
| scope="row" | Pubs, Parks, Theatres, Clubs, Church Halls, Gardens, Lounges & Band Rotundas
|
|
|---|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles with selected New Zealand positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
| style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|NZ {{Cite web|url=https://charts.nz/search.asp?search=Th%27+Dudes&cat=s|title=Th' Dudes NZ Charts|website=charts.nz|access-date=18 August 2021}} |
|---|
| rowspan="3"|1979
|align="left" valign="top"|"Be Mine Tonight" / "That Look in Your Eyes" |align="center" valign="top"| 36 |rowspan="2"| Right First Time |
| align="left" valign="top"|"Right First Time" / "Tonight Again"
|align="center" valign="top"| 34 |
| align="left" valign="top"|"Walking in Light" / "Bad Boy Billy"
|align="center" valign="top"| 50 |rowspan="2"| Where Are the Boys |
| align="left" valign="top"|1980
|align="left" valign="top"|"Bliss" / "On the Rox" |align="center" valign="top"| 25 |
| align="left" valign="top"|2010
|align="left" valign="top"|"Bliss 2010" (vs. Jolyon Petch & Sam Hill) |align="center" valign="top"| – | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
Awards and nominations
=Aotearoa Music Awards=
The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously known as New Zealand Music Awards (NZMA)) are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in New Zealand music and have been presented annually since 1965.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 2019 || Th' Dudes || New Zealand Music Hall of Fame || {{yes2|inductee}} || {{cite web|url=https://www.musichall.co.nz/home/inductees/|title=HOME INDUCTEES|website=www.musichall.co.nz|access-date=16 August 2021}}
|-
{{end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://archive.today/20130222234932/http://www.igmusic.co.nz/thdudes.html Th' Dudes homepage]
- [http://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/th-dudes AudioCulture]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060528213244/http://www.sergent.com.au/dudes.html Th' Dudes Biography]
- [http://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/678.html Th' Dudes at muzic.net.nz]
- [http://www.last.fm/music/Th'+Dudes Th' Dudes at last.fm]
- [http://www.dailypost.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3685913&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection= NZ Music survey]
{{Th' Dudes|state=expanded}}
{{Dave Dobbyn}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dudes}}
Category:New Zealand post-punk music groups
Category:Musicians from Auckland
Category:People educated at Sacred Heart College, Auckland
Category:Musical groups established in 1975
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1980