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Blackjack

Biography

Hamilton mainstream 90’s metal group that found some success in the mid 90’s thanks to being championed by Grant Hislop – the young founder of The Rock radio station – which focused on getting New Zealand rock music onto radio from his Hamilton base in the early 1990s.

Blackjack were Hark Records’ most commercially successful band. Described by their guitarist Paul Martin as having an “organic rock sound” the legend goes that Grant received a cassette copy of Blackjack’s song ‘Spinning Wheel’ and was so impressed by it that he put it on air immediately. They recorded their debut album, Deal, with Hark, and ‘Spinning Wheel’ charted at No.38 in February 1994. Sell out tours followed and Deal also charted in April 1994 at No.34, selling around 5,000 units. Their second album Kicasso d’Muse was also a big seller but by this time the band had imploded. At this point, The Rock was playing 20% Hamilton music on top of the 20% local music they were already playing.

– AudioCulture article on Hark Music

Members

  • Scott Davies (Bass, 1993 – 1995)
  • Bill Parker (Drums, 1993)
  • Darryl Ingham (Keyboards, 1993 – 1994)
  • Paul Westbury (Drums, 1995)
  • Gavin Dempsey (Vocals/Guitar, 1993 – 1995)
  • Paul Martin (Guitar, 1993 – 1995)

Discography

  • Now You Fly Cassette Single (1993, Hark Records, HKC20)
  • Key to the Shade EP (1994, Hark Records, HKS29)
  • Baby It’s You Cassette Single (1994, Hark Records, HKS30)
  • Kicasso d’Muse (1995, Hark Records, HKC26)

Links

 

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