The Bluestars
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1962 in Auckland, New Zealand |
| Headquarters | Auckland , New Zealand |
| Products | Garage rock music, singles |
The Bluestars were a 1960s garage rock ensemble originating from Auckland, New Zealand. They rose to prominence as one of the country's leading bands, gaining regional acclaim with their debut single released through Decca Records. This achievement marked them as the first New Zealand rock group to secure a contract with the label. Their subsequent release, "Social End Product," distinguished itself with anti-monarchist themes that presaged lyrical content common in 1970s punk music. Their contributions continue to be highly valued within garage rock circles.
Formation
Established in Auckland in 1962, The Bluestars began when John Harris—a multi-instrumentalist and journalist for the Auckland Star—connected with Murray Savidan and Roger McLay at a music store. Initially named the Nomads, the band featured Savidan on bass and vocals, McLay on guitar, and Harris initially on drums before transitioning to lead guitar following McLay’s exit; Jim Crowley then took over drumming duties. Vocalist and guitarist Rick von Bokhoven later joined the lineup. By 1962, they adopted the name The Bluestars and started performing regularly at church halls and youth clubs.
In 1963, after Savidan introduced the Beatles' Please Please Me album to the group, they embraced a beat group sound. This shift led them to cancel booked appearances in order to focus on rehearsals. Their revamped set debuted at St Chad's Hall where initial reactions were modest but quickly turned favorable, elevating their local standing above competing bands. Drawing inspiration from the Beatles, they began crafting original songs. Early in 1964, they approached Eldred Stebbing of Zodiac Records seeking a recording contract and produced demos that ultimately remained unreleased. Savidan took charge of bookings, targeting safer suburban venues such as Tamaki Yacht Club, which attracted audiences up to three hundred.
Decca Records
In 1965, actor and voice-over artist Terry Hayman offered to manage The Bluestars and claimed to have secured a recording deal with London's Decca Records. Though initially doubtful, the band agreed to work with him. Hayman arranged a secretive recording session at Auckland’s Radio Theatre where four tracks were laid down before the Auckland Symphony Orchestra arrived; engineer Wahanui Wynard supervised the session. Two of these recordings were issued as a single on Decca’s London imprint in December 1965 and later in Australia in February 1966, establishing The Bluestars as the first New Zealand rock outfit signed by this prestigious label. Their single "Please Be a Little Kind" backed with "I Can't Take It" climbed to #12 on Auckland’s charts. Alongside groups like the La De Da's and the Gremlins, The Bluestars became one of New Zealand’s top bands. Later that year, they recorded a follow-up single at Mascot Studios; however, Decca declined to release it and terminated their contract. Additional tracks from these sessions remain unreleased.
Allied International Records
Subsequently, The Bluestars signed with Allied International Records, releasing their next single featuring "Social End Product," now their signature song. Penned by Murray Savidan, its provocative lyrics reflected anti-establishment views inspired by real events, foreshadowing punk rock attitudes. The B-side offered a contrasting lighter pop ballad style. Despite its significance, this release did not chart.
Towards late 1966, guitarist Rick von Bonhoven departed; drummer Rick Crowley moved to keyboards aiming to replicate organ-centered sounds of bands like the Spencer Davis Group and Small Faces, while Eric Jackson joined as drummer. In October, The Bluestars inaugurated their own venue called the Gallows in Remuera, decorated with artwork themed around the band. Although they made several attempts to obtain a club license, these efforts failed; they operated without authorization until neighbor complaints led to its closure by year-end. In January 1967, they toured coastal holiday spots and issued their final single "I'm a Little Man" backed with "Sherlock Sweet" in February—featuring a garage organ riff reminiscent of ? and the Mysterians’ "96 Tears." Like previous releases, it did not enter the charts. The band ultimately dissolved in March 1967.
Subsequent Progressions
Following his time with the group, John Harris shifted his focus to creating and recording sacred music alongside St Paul's Singers before achieving success as a television producer. Murray Savidan built a professional path in advertising and established himself as a skilled photographer. Rick von Bokhoven dedicated his career to graphic design work. After moving to Sydney, Jim Crowley continued his involvement in music through participation in several bands until his passing in 2001.
Their contributions have been acknowledged within the garage rock community, appearing on various compilation albums including Wild Things, volume 1, Trans World Punk, Volume 2, and Ugly Things, Volume 3. The song "Social End Product" stands out prominently; Ian Marks referred to it as "arguably the finest '60s punk track ever recorded – the formidable 'Social End Product'".
Initial Formations 1962–1964
- Murray Savidan (bass guitar, vocals)
- John Harris (lead guitar, drums)
- Roger McLay (guitar)
- Rick von Bokhoven (vocals, guitar)
- Jim Crowley (drums)
1965–1966
- Murray Savidan (bass guitar, vocals)
- John Harris (lead guitar)
- Rick von Bokhoven (vocals, guitar)
- Jim Crowley (drums)
1966–1967
- Murray Savidan (bass guitar, vocals)
- John Harris (lead guitar)
- Jim Crowley (organ)
- Eric Jackson (drums)
Releases
- "Please Be a Little Kind" backed with "I Can Take It" (Decca UK F-12303, December 1965; Decca Australia DEC-361, February 1966)
- "Social End Product" backed with "I'm Over Here" (Allied JAR-540, September 1966)
- "I'm a Little Man" backed with "Sherlock Sweet" (Allied JAR-545, February 1967)