Blam Blam Blam
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | Tim Mahon, Mark Bell |
| Headquarters | New Zealand |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Blam Blam Blam was a New Zealand-based pop, rock, and alternative group established by Tim Mahon (bass) and Mark Bell (guitar, vocals), both formerly members of The Plague and The Whizz Kids. Following the departure of drummer Ian Gilroy to join The Swingers in 1980, the band incorporated multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Don McGlashan into their lineup.
History
Their initial release appeared in March 1981 with the track Motivation featured on the Propeller Records Class of 81 compilation. This was succeeded by a self-titled four-track EP that entered the top 40 of New Zealand’s music charts. That same year, they achieved two charting singles: "There is No Depression in New Zealand" and "Don't Fight it Marsha, It's Bigger Than Both of Us," the latter of which was later re-recorded by McGlashan’s subsequent band, The Mutton Birds.
In 1982, the band briefly added vocalist Dick Driver. That year also saw the release of their album Luxury Length, which climbed to number 4 on the New Zealand charts. Later in 1982, Tim Mahon suffered a serious car accident.
A brief reunion occurred in 1984 to produce the live album The Blam Blam Blam Story. After the band's activities ceased, Don McGlashan moved into composing film soundtracks and engaged in projects such as The Front Lawn, From Scratch, and The Mutton Birds. He also collaborated with Ivan Zagni, who had contributed to Luxury Length. Meanwhile, Mahon and Bell participated in Zagni’s ensembles Big Sideways and Avant Garage; Mahon transitioned into music management, while Bell pursued work as a session guitarist and music journalist.
The song "There is No Depression in New Zealand" holds enduring cultural importance, notably when it was referenced in Parliament in 2002. During her maiden speech, Metiria Turei from the Green Party delivered a version translated into Māori, marking a significant moment closely associated with Blam Blam Blam.
In 1992, The Complete Blam Blam Blam was released, compiling nearly all of their recordings. This collection was remastered in 2003 by Chris Chetland at Auckland’s Kog Transmissions, although some fans prefer earlier mastering versions. A reunion tour coincided with this release.
The band reunited for tours during mid-2007 and again between August and September 2019, performing shows in Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland, Paekakariki, and Wellington.
Albums
| Year | Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 1982 | Luxury Length |
|
4 |
| 1984 | The Blam Blam Blam Story |
|
27 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 1981 | Blam, Blam, Blam | 25 | EP |
| 1981 | "There is No Depression in New Zealand" | 11 | Non-album single |
| 1981 | "Don't Fight it Marsha, It's Bigger than Both of Us" | 17 | Luxury Length |
| 1982 | "Call for Help" | 50 | |
| "—" indicates a track that did not chart or was not released in that region. | |||
Compilations
- The Complete Blam Blam Blam (1992)
References
- Chunn, Mike and Chunn, Jeremy, The Mechanics of Popular Music, A New Zealand Perspective, GP Publications, 1995.
- Dix, John, Stranded in Paradise, Penguin, 2005.
- Eggleton, David, Ready To Fly, Craig Potton, 2003.
- Spittle, Gordon, Counting The Beat, GP Publications, 1997.
External links
- Biography of Blam Blam Blam on Propeller Records
- Blam Blam Blam information page
- Discography at Discogs
- Profile on Audioculture
- Rip It Up magazine, 1 July 1981, page 1
- Blam Blam Blam: Rising from the wreckage – Stuff, 21 July 2019. Accessed 10 November 2020
- Blam Blam Blam videos at NZ On Screen