Band reform for night

John Steedman, Fred Loveridge, Peter Calkin, Mike McGrail, Brent Holt, and Murray Loveridge. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Dance Party together again for one-off gig

Like all rockers of a certain age, the members of Dance Party have plenty of funny stories to tell about "the good old days".

There is the one about the gunpowder on stage, the one about the microphone that went flying ... and then there are the ones that are not fit to print.

These stories will get a good airing when Dance Party's members get together later this month for a reunion. As part of the reunion, the band will play a one-off gig next Saturday at one of their old venues, Stellar, or Fosters, as it used to be known.

Dance Party was formed by a group of mates in 1984 and was in hot demand on the Whanganui pub circuit until 1988.

"The idea of a reunion had been talked about for a while and one of the band members is moving out of town so we thought we'd better do it sooner rather than later," guitarist Fred Loveridge said.

As well as Mr Loveridge, band members were lead vocalist Peter Calkin, bassist Murray Loveridge, saxophonist John Steedman, and drummer Mike McGrail. The band also had several members who played keyboard and trumpet, and these roles will be filled for the reunion gig by Brent Holt on keyboard and Tohu Pikimaui on trumpet.

Although only active for four years, Dance Party gained a huge local following.

For the first year of their existence, Dance Party was the resident band at the Palm Lounge, a dine and dance bar on Wicksteed St.

"We played there every Friday and Saturday night," Mr Loveridge said.

"In those days bars closed at 11pm but the Palm Lounge had a licence to stay open till 1pm. So at 11 o'clock the place would just erupt with people coming from other pubs in town."

The band played a wide variety of covers, from the Steve Miller Band to Flock Of Seagulls to Madness. What made them unusual among Whanganui cover bands of the time was the speed with which they could turn out a song.

"We'd hear a new release, record it off the radio, work out how to play it at rehearsal, then be performing it on Thursday night," Mr Steedman said.

Lead vocalist Peter Calkin was known for his flamboyant style and love of strange props. His exploits included a pyrotechnic display that involved lighting gunpowder on stage. Mr Loveridge recalls one mishap Mr Calkin had on stage with his microphone.

"He swung the microphone wildly over his head, lasso-style, and it became disconnected and flew out into audience. All he had left was the cord in his hand.

"Apparently the microphone actually landed in a woman's handbag."

The band split amicably in 1988.

"I think some of us were really burnt out, and people were going off in different directions," Mr Loveridge said.

Band members have mostly stayed in touch in the nearly 30 years since Dance Party's heyday, and some are still active in the Whanganui music scene.

Mr Loveridge said everyone was looking forward to the reunion.

"We had a lot of fun back then, they were good times."

-Dance Party at Stellar, 8.30pm, December 12. Cover charge $10.