Blam Blam Blam

Blam Blam Blam were a New Zealand pop/rock/alternative band. Tim Mahon (bass) and Mark Bell (guitar, vocals) had been members of The Plague and The Whizz Kids. After losing their drummer Ian Gilroy to The Swingers in 1980, Tim and Mark joined up with Don McGlashan, a multi-instrumentalist who played drums and sang many lead vocals.

History

The band's first release was the song Motivation on the Propeller Records Class of 81 compilation album in March 1981. They then released a four-track self-titled EP for the label, which hit the top 40 in New Zealand. One of its notable uses was as a maiden speech in Parliament in 2002. Metiria Turei of the Green Party read a Maori translation of the song, which Russell Brown's liner notes to The Complete Blam Blam Blam (see below) described as "a quirky, arty, militant thing to do. Which probably makes it a perfect Blam Blam Blam moment."

The Complete Blam Blam Blam was released in 1992. It contained almost the entire Blam Blam Blam back catalogue. This was remastered in 2003 by Chris Chetland at Auckland's Kog Transmissions, on a single CD, although the general consensus seems to be that the earlier mastering was superior. Another reunion tour accompanied the release.

They reformed again for a tour in mid-2007. In August and September 2019 a reunion tour included dates in Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland, Paekakariki and Wellington.

Discography

Albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

! rowspan="2" | Year

! rowspan="2" | Title

! rowspan="2" | Details

! Peak chart positions

! NZ

| 1982

| Luxury Length

Label: Propeller
Catalogue: REV 204

| align="center" | 4

| 1984

| The Blam Blam Blam Story

Released as Blam Blam Blam With Guests Netherworld Dancing Toys
Label: CBS
Catalogue: SBP 237993

| align="center" | 27

Singles

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

! rowspan="2" width="1em" | Year

! rowspan="2" | Title

! width="3em" | Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2" | Album

! NZ