Hello Sailor (band)

History

The band's history is long and complicated, with guitarist/vocalists Dave McArtney and Harry Lyon having first played together in the mid 1960s.

Their first gig as Hello Sailor was at the Trees Tavern in Tokoroa, and they subsequently built a huge following playing in hotels and clubs scattered throughout New Zealand.

After several lineup changes, the band released its first album, Hello Sailor, in 1977, which went on to become the first New Zealand made record to be certified gold. The line-up at that time was Graham Brazier on vocals and some guitar and saxophone, McArtney and Lyon on guitars and vocals, Lisle Kinney on bass, and Ricky Ball on drums. Three top 20 singles were taken from the album: "Gutter Black" written and sung by McArtney, "Blue Lady" written and sung by Brazier, and "Lyin' In The Sand" written and sung by Lyon.

Their second album, Pacifica Amour, was released in 1978, after the band had made their first visit to America to try to crack the American market. However, the trip was not a success, due in part to a party atmosphere which saw the consumption of large amounts of alcohol and drugs.

In 1979 the band left for Australia, but this trip was also not a success.

Hello Sailor formally disbanded in 1980. Although, the core members of the band have continued to play and record together in the years following.

In 1982, a compilation EP-album was released, titled Last Chance to Dance. It contained five tracks taken from the band's two earlier albums, plus an additional rare track "Here Comes Johnny".

The classic line-up eventually came together again within Graham Brazier's early-1980s band The Legionnaires, and in 1985 decided to once again reform as Hello Sailor (with former Coup d'Etat bass player Neil Hannan replacing Lisle Kinney). The band released a new single "Fugitive For Love", and a follow-up album Shipshape & Bristol Fashion, which included a re-recorded version of the single. In addition to new songs, the album also contained some reworked material which had originally been recorded during their various solo projects since 1980. Following on from the release of the album, the band toured extensively throughout New Zealand during late 1985 and into 1986.

After another hiatus, the band returned in 1994, recording a new album titled The Album, and again commenced a nationwide promotional tour. Three singles were released from "The Album"; "New Tattoo", "Never Fade Away, and "Raging With The Storm". This incarnation of the band also featured a considerably altered line-up, as Hello Sailor became a 6-piece band when original members Graham Brazier, Dave McArtney, and Harry Lyon were joined by three new members; Tony Lumsden on bass, Gordon Joll on drums, and Stuart Pearce on keyboards.

In 1996, a two-disc Compilation / Greatest Hits album The Sailor Story was released. In addition to Hello Sailor tracks, the album also contained material which had been recorded by the band's members during their various solo projects.

In 2005, Hello Sailor's 1977 song "Gutter Black" (written by Dave McArtney) was chosen as the title music for what would become a hit New Zealand television series Outrageous Fortune. This not only sparked renewed interest for the band, but also resulted in a favourable renegotiation of the publishing rights for Hello Sailor's earlier material.

In 2007, the band released the album, When Your Lights Are Out, which featured all-acoustic versions of their best-known material.

In 2011 the band entered the APRA NZ Music Hall of Fame[1].

In 2012, the band again reunited to record an album of new material Surrey Crescent Moon.

Founding member Dave McArtney died in 2013.

In 2015, the band were planning their 40th-anniversary tour when Brazier suffered a heart attack. The tour was postponed while he recovered, but he died shortly after, marking the end of the band's career.

Featured appearances

The group has appeared on the following compilations and soundtracks.