andrew fagan’s mockers were hugely successful in an early-mid 80s new zealand obsessed with then-current crop of british pop. fagan’s vocal inflection (slightly nasal, almost morrissey like at times) were the absolute focal point of the band, a pop-orientated rotating cast of support men, specifically noteable for the mammoth hit (and a genuine kiwi classic, despite how british it sounds) ‘forever tuesday morning’, though originally gaining notoriety with the track ‘murder in manners street’.
faigan originally appeared in the ambitious vegetables – a highly visible wellington terrace ‘punk’ band from the late 1970s. after several early line-up changes, faigan recruited victoria university friend barry caitcheon (guitar), costello (bass – formerly of the red) and brendan fitzgerald (drums) from wellington rockers the innocent. soon after touring new zealand and cutting ‘cleopatra’, all bar gordon costello had left the group leaving faigan to rebuild a new line-up with the ex-dabs rhythm section of steve thorpe (drums) and geoff haydn (bass), plus dean hazlewood (guitar).
Discography
picks in bold
- swear its true [1984 reaction REAL013]
- caught in the act [live recording 1984 reaction REAMC-017]
- culprit and the king [1985 rca VPLI0524]
- the first five years [1986 rca vpli0618]
- the emporers new clothes [1987 rca vpl1 0636]
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- top male vocalist of the year andrew faganrn