Biography
Whilst Chris Matthews was struggling within the pop-confines of the Prime Movers, Johnny Pierce (Bass), Grant Fell (Guitar) and Bevan Sweeney (Drums) were forming their own sound as Children’s Hour.
More intense and experimental than what the Headless Chickens eventually became (Children’s Hour were essentially the Chooks in their original incarnation), they fused electronic and analog instrumentation, and wrote thoroughly brooding rock music that actually went rather unnoticed.
Matthews (Vocals / Guitar) eventually joined the trio in 1983, and it was this line-up that released two EPs on Flying Nun Records – and went on to tour New Zealand. Fell left for Australia, but after a short-absence, the group eventually reformed as the International Headless Chickens, and with fell back in line (and the ‘International’ dropped), the Headless Chickens went on to become one of New Zealand’s most successful bands.
In 2005 the core remaining members (plus Failsafe Records Rob Mayes) reconvened for a handful of reunion performances, playing a swag of material both old and new, released as Looking for the Sun – as part of Mayes archival Retrogenic series.
Members
- Johnny Pierce (Bass, Children’s Hour, Headless Chickens, This Kind Of Punishment)
- Grant Fell (guitar, Children’s Hour)
- Bevan Sweeney (drums, Children’s Hour, En Can M.A.)
- Chris Matthews (Vocals/Guitar, Children’s Hour, Chris Matthews And Robot Monkey Orchestra, Death By Silo, Headless Chickens, Prime Movers, This Kind Of Punishment)
- Rob Mayes (bass, AD, Astro 64, Beat Rhythm Fashion, Children’s Hour, Chris Matthews And Robot Monkey Orchestra, Delphy, Dolphin, Heartland, Kimo, Skin Darlings, Songs In The Key, Springloader, Throw)
Discography
- Flesh 12″ EP (1983, Flying Nun Records Records, FNC60)
- Washed Away 7″ Single (1984, Flying Nun Records Records, KID001)
- Looking For The Sun (2005, Failsafe Records, 064CD)