The La De Da's
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1963 in Te Atatū, New Zealand |
| Founder | Kevin Borich, Brett Neilsen, Trevor Wilson, Phil Key |
| Defunct | 1975 |
| Headquarters | Te Atatū, Auckland (originally) , New Zealand |
Area served | New Zealand, Australia, England, Europe |
Key people | Kevin Borich, Phil Key, Trevor Wilson, Bruce Howard, Bryan Harris, Keith Barber, Peter Roberts, Ronnie Peel |
| Products | Albums and singles (notable: The Happy Prince) |
The La De Da's were a prominent New Zealand rock ensemble active between 1963 and 1975. Initially established under the name the Mergers in Te Atatū, their primary lineup featured Kevin Borich on lead guitar and vocals, Phil Key handling lead vocals and guitar, and Trevor Wilson on bass. The group relocated to Australia by mid-1968.
Among their significant New Zealand releases were the singles "How Is the Air Up There?" and "On Top of the World" (both released in 1966), as well as "Hey! Baby," "All Purpose Low," and "Rosalie" (all from 1967). After moving to Australia, they achieved placement within the Go-Set National Top 40 charts with tracks like "Gonna See My Baby Tonight" (1971), "Morning, Good Morning" (1972), and "Too Pooped to Pop" (1974). Their 1969 album The Happy Prince stands out as one of Australasia’s pioneering concept albums.
The band toured extensively across New Zealand, Australia, England, and Europe, serving as support for major international acts during their Australian tenure. Their musical style transitioned from garage rock-tinged R&B instrumentals to psychedelic rock, then blues rock, eventually adopting a more stripped-down hard rock approach. In Australia, they are recognized for launching Kevin Borich’s solo career; he went on to form the Kevin Borich Express in 1976. Phil Key passed away in 1984 due to a congenital heart condition, while bassist Ronnie Peel died of cancer in 2020.
1963–1967: Formation through Find Us a Way
The La De Da's originated as the Mergers in Te Atatū Peninsula toward the end of 1963, founded by three students from Rutherford High School: Kevin Borich (lead guitar), Brett Neilsen (drums), and Trevor Wilson (bass), with Phil Key (rhythm guitar) joining from Mt Albert Grammar School. Their average age was around sixteen. Initially, their repertoire consisted of mod-style instrumentals inspired by the Shadows, but following The Beatles' 1964 visit and the Rolling Stones' rise in popularity, their sound evolved. Phil Key assumed lead vocal duties while Borich and Wilson provided backing vocals.
In pursuit of a name that better reflected their emerging garage rock edge, they briefly adopted the name Gonks before settling on the La De Da's—a suggestion attributed to one member’s mother. By early 1965, they had secured regular dance engagements across Auckland. A local television producer traded promotional film footage for studio recording time, resulting in their debut single "Little Girl" (released April 1965), co-written by Borich and Wilson and characterized by a Rolling Stones-influenced R&B style.
By November 1965, they had gained a residency at Auckland’s The Platterack nightclub. Upon Key finishing secondary school, the band transitioned into full-time professionalism with weekly earnings of NZ£12. Keyboardist Bruce Howard, classically trained on organ and providing vocals, joined the group; he and Wilson became principal songwriters for most original pieces. Eldred Stebbing, owner of Zodiac Records, signed them after witnessing a live performance and produced their second single—a cover of "How Is the Air Up There?" (February 1966)—which reached number four on New Zealand’s Hit Parade and also charted in Sydney. Zodiac's records were distributed through Phillips Records.
Their fourth single, a rendition of John Mayall's "On Top of the World" (November 1966), climbed to number two on the charts. They became the house band at Stebbing's Galaxie nightclub and frequently appeared on the television program C'mon. Although their music was rooted in gritty garage-punk styles, they maintained mod fashion aesthetics. According to Key, they reinvested their earnings into the band's development amid growing popularity.
In November 1966, "How Is the Air Up There?" was nominated as a finalist for the Loxene Golden Disc Awards. Their debut album—self-titled and comprising mostly cover songs—was released in December 1966 and sold out its initial pressing. With encouragement from Claude Papesch, their February 1967 release of Bruce Channel's "Hey! Baby" became their first number-one hit on the Hit Parade—the first New Zealand-produced record to achieve this milestone. In April that year, they issued the EP Stupidity, featuring covers of songs originally by Solomon Burke, Young Rascals, and Otis Redding.
While working on their sophomore album, bassist Wilson initiated a rock opera project titled The Happy Prince, inspired by Oscar Wilde’s story; although Howard supported this endeavor, it created some internal conflict within the group. Their second album, Find Us a Way (May 1967), marked a stylistic shift away from pure R&B toward influences such as the Spencer Davis Group, blending original compositions with covers. Despite dissatisfaction over track selection and album artwork among members, it performed well commercially in New Zealand and is regarded as a classic among enthusiasts of 1960s music.
1967–1969: Move to Australia and the Creation of The Happy Prince
In May 1967, The La De Da's relocated to Sydney, where they performed at Ward Austin's Jungle disco and served as support for the Easybeats. Their Australian manager, Jimmy Murta, implemented a new image by cutting their hair and focusing marketing efforts on teenage audiences, a strategy the band opposed. The single "All Purpose Low" climbed to No. 3 on the New Zealand Hit Parade in June, followed by "Rosalie," which reached No. 5 in August. Prior to their 1968 return to Australia, drummer Neilson was replaced by Bryan Harris (formerly of the Action), signaling a transition toward covering songs by Vanilla Fudge, the Doors, and Traffic, reflecting the prevailing Australian flower power trend.
By June 1968, Keith Barber (ex-the Wild Cherries) had taken over drumming duties from Harris. English producer Jimmy Stewart approached them with plans to record their third album, The Happy Prince, but the project fell through by November. In early 1969, Adrian Rawlins convinced the band to record in Sydney with Rawlins narrating and David Woodley-Page producing under EMI Music (NZ). Employing synchronized Scully 4-track machines enhanced their multi-tracking capabilities. Released in April 1969, The Happy Prince stood among Australasia's pioneering concept albums. Despite proficient musicianship and production quality, it was perceived as overly earnest and failed commercially. Music journalist Ed Nimmervoll observed that its ambition surpassed its entertainment appeal.
From April 1969, they toured England; however, their mellow psychedelic pop style was deemed outdated. Their dependence on cover material caused them to fall out of sync with contemporary local trends. Nonetheless, in September 1969 they released a Beatles cover of "Come Together" under the La-De-Da Band name. Performances included London's Stax Club and venues in Birmingham, followed by brief tours in Germany and France featuring poorly compensated shows. After leaving Wilson behind in the UK, the remainder returned to Australia in April 1970.
Upon returning to Australia, the group adopted a more straightforward rock'n'roll approach. Reno Tahei joined on bass until his arrest led to deportation back to New Zealand. Following the departures of Howard, Tahei, and Wilson, the ensemble condensed into a four-piece consisting of Barber, Borich, Key, and Peter Roberts (formerly of Freshwater) on bass. On New Year's Eve 1970 at Byron Bay, they unveiled a raw hard rock sound influenced by R&B and Chicago blues traditions. This lineup garnered strong support at January’s Wallacia Festival and frequently shared stages with Tamam Shud, Company Caine, Chain, and Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs.
By late 1971, they regularly performed alongside Daddy Cool. In September that year, they joined Chain, Tamam Shud, and Country Radio for outdoor concerts at Wollongong and Sydney Showgrounds attended by approximately 10,000 people. On Boxing Day, they co-headlined with Daddy Cool before an estimated crowd of 50,000 at Victoria’s 3XY Rosebud Show. Their single "Gonna See My Baby Tonight," penned by Borich and released in November 1971, received enthusiastic praise from Molly Meldrum in Go-Set magazine and reached No. 12 on the Go-Set National Top 40 chart.
1971–1972: Changes in Personnel
Despite selling out venues in November 1971, The La De Da's canceled a planned four-week tour of New Zealand at Key's insistence. They engaged Michael Chugg from Consolidated Rock as their talent agent based in Sydney; he continued managing them through his Sunrise agency. In January 1972, the band became one of the standout acts at the inaugural Sunbury Pop Festival. Three of their performances—"Roundabout," "Gonna See My Baby Tonight," and "Morning Good Morning"—were captured for EMI/His Master's Voice’s live double album Sunbury, released in October 1972.
Their single "Morning Good Morning," released in March 1972 and co-written by Borich and Key, peaked at No. 24 on the Go-Set charts. Both songwriters were ranked within the top ten of the 1972 Go-Set Best Songwriter poll. Throughout that year, they maintained strong nationwide attendance figures while touring with Manfred Mann Chapter Three and performing at a free concert organized by 3XY at Melbourne’s Myer Music Bowl before an audience estimated at 200,000—one of Australia's largest concert gatherings at that time. Industry insiders placed them among Australia's top three bands alongside Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs and Daddy Cool.
Despite this success, internal conflicts intensified. Chugg resigned as manager and was succeeded by Roger Davies from Sunrise. In September 1972 Key and Roberts left to establish Band of Light. With Borich now as the sole original member remaining alongside Barber, they recruited Ronnie Peel (known professionally as Rockwell T. James) on bass to continue as a trio that developed into a formidable rock force. This new configuration debuted at Sydney’s Paddington Town Hall in November.
1973–1975: From Rock and Roll Sandwich to Legend
In January 1973, the La De Da's were the headline act at New Zealand's Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival, delivering a performance that eclipsed many international artists. Upon returning to Australia, they embarked on tours across major urban centers, supporting renowned visiting performers including Little Richard, Gary Glitter, and Three Dog Night. Additionally, they contributed to Richard Clapton's debut album, Prussian Blue (1973), with Borich providing a guitar solo featured on the single "I Wanna Be a Survivor" (1974).
In July of that year, a truck accident resulted in injuries to Peel and roadie John Brewster, while also destroying much of their gear. A benefit concert arranged by the Sunrise agency raised approximately AU$2000 to aid them. The band earned acclaim as Australia's premier live act, with Borich widely regarded as the nation's leading guitarist.
Under the guidance of manager Chugg, recording sessions resumed but yielded mixed outcomes; only two tracks from the initial EMI recordings were retained. Further sessions held at the Green Elephant Hotel culminated in their fourth studio album, Rock and Roll Sandwich (released November 1973), which was celebrated as a quintessential boogie rock record and among Australia's finest rock albums. Their touring schedule included prestigious support slots for Elton John and Suzi Quatro.
Live performances continued throughout 1974 and into early 1975, including an appearance at the final Sunbury Festival. Despite this activity, commercial radio largely ignored them, and internal conflicts grew. As Glenn A. Baker observed in 1981, the band's progress stalled due to Australia's difficult market environment, preventing them from achieving significant commercial success despite ten years of persistence.
In March 1975, EMI issued Legend, a compilation assembled by Chugg that combined singles, recent tracks, and Borich’s Hendrix-inspired cover of "All Along the Watchtower". On 20 April, they took part in a Bangladesh relief concert alongside prominent Australian musicians. By May 1975, Borich announced the group’s dissolution.
Critics such as Nimmervoll emphasized the band's exceptional musicianship and energetic shows despite some inconsistency in direction. Richie Unterberger from AllMusic recognized them as New Zealand's most popular rock band of the 1960s but considered their later output somewhat imitative of international trends. Andrew Schmidt noted that although based in Australia, they maintained strong connections with New Zealand’s music scene through collaborations with expatriate artists and producers.
1975–present: After the Break-up
Following the split, Kevin Borich continued touring under the La De Da's name with Harry Brus on bass and Barry Harvey on drums before renaming the ensemble as the Kevin Borich Express in 1976. He sustained this project into the 1990s with changing personnel. After Band of Light disbanded in 1975, Phil Key exited the music industry and passed away in 1984 due to a congenital heart defect. Ronnie Peel pursued a solo career under the name Rockwell T James during the late 1970s before joining John Paul Young’s backing band. Trevor Wilson remained active in Australia before moving to London, where Howard also lived.
Neilsen returned to Auckland and joined bands including the Action (1967–1969), Cruise Lane, and the Medicine Show. The original La De Da's reunited for a performance at Auckland’s Galaxie Club in 1992, dedicating their set to Phil Key’s memory. Keith Barber left music for printing work and died from cancer in 2005. Ronnie Peel succumbed to cancer in 2020, followed by Bruce Howard’s death in 2021.
Personnel
- Kevin Borich – vocals, lead guitar
- Phil Key – rhythm guitar, lead vocals
- Brett Neilsen – vocals, drums
- Trevor Wilson – bass guitar
- Bruce Howard – keyboards, organ
- Bryan Harris – drums
- Keith Barber – drums
- Reno Tehei – bass guitar
- Peter Roberts – bass guitar
- Ronnie Peel (Rockwell T. James) – vocals, bass guitar
Studio albums
- The La De Da's (1966) – released through Zodiac Records / Philips
- Find Us a Way (1967) – Zodiac Records / Philips
- The Happy Prince (1969) – under EMI
- Rock and Roll Sandwich (1973) – EMI
Live albums
- Sunbury 1972 (1972) – EMI/His Master's Voice
Compilation albums
- Legend (1975) – EMI (later issued on CD as The Best of the La De Das Legend)
- Rock 'n' Roll Decade 1964-74 (1981) – EMI
- La De Da's (1995) – Zero Records (reissued by EMI in 2003)
- How Is the Air Up There?: 1966-1967 (2000) – Ascension
- La De Da's (2014) – Real Groovy Records
Extended plays
- Stupidity (1967) – Philips
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest Chart Positions | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | AUS | |||
| "Little Girl" | 1965 | 32 | — | |
| "How Is the Air Up There?" | 1966 | 4 | — | |
| "Don't You Stand in My Way" | — | — | ||
| "On Top of the World" | 2 | — | ||
| "Hey Baby" | 1967 | 1 | — | |
| "All Purpose Low" | 3 | — | ||
| "Rosalie" | 5 | — | ||
| "Come Together" | 1969 | — | — | |
| "Come and Fly with Me" | — | — | ||
| "Sweet Girl" | 1971 | — | — | |
| "Gonna See My Baby Tonight" | — | 12 | ||
| "Morning, Good Morning" | 1972 | — | 24 | |
| "I'll Never Stop Loving You" | — | — | ||
| "The Place" | 1974 | 48 | — | |
| "Too Pooped to Pop" | — | 26 | ||
| "Honky Tonkin'" | — | — | ||
Awards
- 1977 - Best Guitarist at Australian Rock Music Awards
- 1978 - Best Guitarist at Australian Rock Music Awards
- 1978 - Concert of The Year Award from Marconi Club
- 1983 - Ampex Golden Reel Award
- 1983 - EMI Gold Record for The Party Boys LP
- 1983 - EMI Gold Record for Live at Several 21st (Party Boys)
- 1987 - EMI Gold Record for He's Gonna Step on You (Party Boys)
- 1999 - Heritage Award at Australian Blues Music Festival
- 2003 – Inducted into Australian Blues Foundation Hall of Fame
Further reading
- Noel McGrath: Encyclopedia of Australian Rock (Outback Press, 1978)
- Chris Spencer and Zbig Nowara: Who's Who of Australian Rock (Five Mile Press, 1994)
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1963 establishments in New Zealand
- 1975 disestablishments in New Zealand
- New Zealand garage rock groups
- Australian rock music groups
- New Zealand blues rock musical groups
- Musical groups established in 1963
- Musical groups disbanded in 1975
- Musical groups disestablished in 1975