Tadpole - the band that worked a tad too hard

Tadpole's third and final album is out on Monday.

Tadpole were the hardest-working band in New Zealand for a long time.

After releasing their debut album, The Buddhafinger, six years ago they did more than 150 shows in 12 months, says Dino Lawton, the band's drummer and co-leader with singer Renee Brennan.

During their 12 years together as a band - complete with turbulent band relations and line-up changes - they toured the North Island nine times and the South Island five times.

But tomorrow the band play their final gig, at 4:20 on K Rd.

In hindsight, Lawton reckons the band probably worked too hard.

"We went too hard, too fast, and we should have put the brakes on after The Buddhafinger. We never really gave ourselves time to sit back and have a break. I pushed everyone quite hard because I was always into getting the next video out, and it was just a bit too full on."

He regrets it now. You can hear it in his voice. "But I think we were into the whole touring thing and we were making a living from it. We were making money. I mean, not loads of money, but we all bought gear, Renee bought all her clothes and I bought drums and paid the rent."

The Buddhafinger was big - it sold more than 50,000 copies and produced seven hit singles. No wonder the band got the second-biggest mosh-pit at the 2001 Big Day Out, behind Limp Bizkit.

But second album The Medusa sold only around 10,000 copies. "It was disappointing for sure," says Lawton. "With the first one, you take years to build up that vibe, and the songs, and then the second one you want to experiment a bit more.

"But we should have stopped, gone overseas and then come back and done the second album."

Despite the split they will release their third, self-titled album on Monday, although recording it has meant they are in debt.

"I think we had all kind of had enough," says Lawton.

"Everyone was stressing because none of us could make ends meet. So after 12 years I can safely say that we're all in debt," he laughs. They plan to pay back the money through sales of the album.

Lawton has some good memories - going to East Timor to play for the New Zealand troops in 2002, the nationwide tours, and playing many Big Day Outs are just three of them.

He is sad about the split, but it means he can now focus on his landscaping business.

The rest of the band are moving on, too.

Brennan is going to Spain to teach English, guitarist Henry Penny is going back to London, and bass player Ollie Gordon is concentrating on his band, Autozamm.

Says Lawton: "I've had offers to play in other bands and to manage other bands but there's just not enough money to make a living here."

He stops and, with a laugh, says: "I think I'll hang up my sticks for a little while."