Biography
Mainstream kiwi pop-rock group out of Auckland with a very disputed history thanks to a split between the two key members – frontman and original song-writer Mark Loveys and guitarist / vocalist Deane Sutherland.
Loveys penned and demoed the catchy ‘Destiny in Motion‘ with his former group Blasé in 1984, but the labels interested weren’t keen on the band name or Loveys clean cut look – he drafted in Sutherland (who took the alias Tommy Joy) and they relaunched the group as Satellite Spies; though it’s disputed who came up with the band name. Sutherland gave the band some stylistic direction, the duo looking very much like New Zealand’s own Hall and Oates.
Satellite Spies – Destiny in Motion
The completed recording of ‘Destiny in Motion‘ (with studio drummer Steve Garden and keyboardist Bruce Lynch) was a hit, and afforded some strong radio play for the group – not a guarantee for a popular local group in mid 1980’s New Zealand. When Dire Straits came to the country with their gigantic ‘Brothers in Arms‘ tour in 1986, Satellite Spies were the lucky support act – however they failed to translate this exposure into further chart success.
Sutherland left the original group sometime in 1987 and Loveys carried on with label support and a revolving door of experienced sidemen, however things eventually petered out in 1988. Unbeknownst to Loveys, Sutherland then copyrighted the band name, and formed his own Satellite Spies, at one point basing this new group in England.
In 1994 Sutherland had a surprise hit with ‘It must be love‘ – a single which would turn out to be either groups most successful.
In 2011 Loveys released the groups previously unreleased late 1980’s material under the compromised name ‘Mark Loveys Satellite Spies‘.
Dean Sutherland passed away in March, 2020.
Members
- Mark Loveys (Blasé, vocals / bass / keyboards / clarinet)
- Dean Sutherland (aka Tommy Joy, Hot Stuff, Rated X, Tomorrow’s Parties, guitar / vocals)
- Peter Warren (DD Smash, Lip Service, Neons, Pop Mechanix, Disciplin A Kitschme, drums)
- Tim Wedde (Chrome Safari, Greedy’s People, The Mockers, The Flood, keyboards)
- Mark Watson (keyboards)
- Gordon Joll (Hot Ash, Herbs, Rock Candy, Glen Moffat Band, drums)
- Grant Wills (Ninety Mile Beach, guitar)
- Brett Adams (Chrome Safari, Boom Boom Mancini, The Bads, The Bellboys, The Julie Dolphin, The Mockers, Tongue, guitar)
- David Curtis (keyboards)
- Eddie Pausma (Chrome Safari, guitar)
- Hamish Sutherland (drums / bass)
- John Godfrey (bass)
- Graeme Scott (Gary Havoc and the Hurricanes, drums)
- Willy Seiffert (bass)
- Nathan Billings (bass)
- Daniel Pooley (The D4, drums)
- Jodie Wakeman (drums)
- Lyle Jenkin (bass)
- Robin Tioke (bass)
Discography
- ‘Destiny in Motion’ single (1985, Reaction Records, REACTS024)
- Destiny In Motion (1985, Reaction Records, REAL025)
- ‘Machine’ single (1985, Reaction Records, REACT026)
- ‘I wish I’d asked (that girl)’ single (1985, Reaction Records, REACT030)
- ‘Hold onto the night’ single (1986, Reaction Records, REACT034)
- ‘Living in a Minefield’ single (1986, Reaction Records, REACT044)
- ‘Private Detective’ single (1986, Reaction Records, REACT046)
- ‘Only Here for the Rock’n’Roll’ single (1987, Reaction Records, REACT053)
- ‘Gonna Have to Change’ (w/ The Yandall Sisters, 1988, Reaction Records, REACT058)
- ‘It Must be Love’ single (1994, Andromeda Records Limited)
- Us Against The World (as ‘Mark Loveys Satellite Spies’, 2011)
Awards
RIANZ Awards 1985
- Most Promising Group: Satellite Spies
- Most Promising Vocalist: Mark Loveys