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Blerta.. touring the Coast.ca.1971. - 2 PHOTOS -
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DescriptionI remember Blerta coming to Hokitika in their hippy bus. Blew the minds of the locals - that must have been about 1971.
Craig Norman.."I used to drive Corben Simpson from Blerta around Hamilton in my old van.He told me I was his road manager.My job was to supply the van and the petrol,load his gear into the back,drive him to the gig, carry most of his gear inside. come back at 11pm and carry his gear to the van, drive him home and help him unload.As an impressionable school boy I thought this was a fabulous arrangement and Corben was so generous he didn't even charge me for the privilige. He was extremely talented and way ahead of his time. He was the first " one man band" pub act as he had the first "automatic drum machine " . It sort of sounded like a milking machine but it did the trick. He then joined a local rock band and I didn't want to cart them around as they had Mountains of very large speaker boxes etc. They then moved to Wellington to seek fame and fortune. Corben and Tony Littlejohn ended up in Blerta. Corben lives in Katikati up the road from Tauranga, where I live.He is a shadow of what he was, but he is starting to perform again."
Date of Photo1971Map[1] External LinkThe Blerta YearsContributorWendy PerkinsVideo
Craig Norman.."I used to drive Corben Simpson from Blerta around Hamilton in my old van.He told me I was his road manager.My job was to supply the van and the petrol,load his gear into the back,drive him to the gig, carry most of his gear inside. come back at 11pm and carry his gear to the van, drive him home and help him unload.As an impressionable school boy I thought this was a fabulous arrangement and Corben was so generous he didn't even charge me for the privilige. He was extremely talented and way ahead of his time. He was the first " one man band" pub act as he had the first "automatic drum machine " . It sort of sounded like a milking machine but it did the trick. He then joined a local rock band and I didn't want to cart them around as they had Mountains of very large speaker boxes etc. They then moved to Wellington to seek fame and fortune. Corben and Tony Littlejohn ended up in Blerta. Corben lives in Katikati up the road from Tauranga, where I live.He is a shadow of what he was, but he is starting to perform again."
Date of Photo1971Map[1] External LinkThe Blerta YearsContributorWendy PerkinsVideo
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Date Created18th October 2019CommentsHeather Newby I remember then playing over in Cobden... near the beach I think.
Marie Tern Heather Newby I saw them in Motueka in January 1972. Bruno Lawrence was drumming, Beaver was singing along with Corban Simpson who sung, Dance all Around the world. Magic!
Heather Newby Marie Tern i still hear that song on the radio
Bill Johnsen cobden boy with them....
Robin Donaldson Great night in hokitika when they played
Anthea Keenan I remember Wendy Perkins too :)Julie Clemett Barrytown Hall, the good old days
Shawry Shaw Graham Lalor theres ya old bus m8
Peter Mitchell Yep. Went to the concert in Hoki
Peter Campion Yes I remember them played at the old StMarys hall there for a few nights was able to see in the bus Bruno was a great guy and drummer
Trish Briggs They played at the Lyceum Hall opposite the Police Station. Remember Linda Griffin
David Hall The great Bruno Lawrence.
r
Neil Ensor How are the locals minds now?
Reg Allan Do you remember them playing at Barry town hall to Julia Clemett I was there to good old days alright
Julie Clemett Reg Allan oh to be young again
Janet Sutton I remember my aunt being mortified that they were swimming naked!!!! At Hokitika beach lol.
Brenda Brown Went to my first dance in Totara Flat hall they played at it pretty girl can I take you home loved them
Janet Sutton Brenda Brown wasnt that Hogsnort Rupert who played that?
Ray Vincent Went to Stones concert at Western Springs in 71? Judy knew them better than me, train up and back in those days. Interesting trip.
Shanar Yorke Neat :)
Lyn Gosling Dance all around the World....
Shanar Yorke Cool looking bus too :)
Shanar Yorke Yes lyn, dance all around the world x
Steve Jones They played in a small hall near the railway station some where near there I remember,
Charles Cotton Played at Stoke Hall in Nelson.
Bob King Beaver did a drum solo at a party in Christchurch I was at...she was pretty good on drums
Phil Millar Beaver was a great Jazz vocalist also,very talanted!
John Nancekivell We had a few fun nights out partying with them, after Blerta played dances in St Mary's hall, behind the Catholic Church cnrs, Tancred and Stafford Streets, at the house Ferg Bryant was renting in Kaihinu, wow what a fun night, never touched apricot b…See More
Heather Newby John Nancekivell apricot brandy! ☺
Craig Norman Heather Newby or firewater as it was known.
John Nancekivell Tasted good at the time, but had a lasting effect,,,, 40 odd years, lol,
Craig Norman John Nancekivell how was the taste when it came back up? To this day I cannot abide the smell or taste of sherry or port.
John Nancekivell Craig Norman nor really can I, taste?? Its taken 40yrs trying to forget, nothing ever tastes good coming the other way,
John Nancekivell Actually, I went outside for a pee, is all I can remember, and someone found me asleep on the tool bench in Fergs shed, and put me in the back of a car,in Kaihinu, when I woke up, l wondered where the hell I was, I was in Ross, got quite a surprise
Craig Norman John Nancekivell I used to drive Corben Simpson from Blerta around Hamilton in my old van.He told me I was his road manager.My job was to supply the van and the petrol,load his gear into the back,drive him to the gig, carry most of his gear inside. come back at 11pm and carry his gear to the van, drive him home and help him unload.As an impressionable school boy I thought this was a fabulous arrangement and Corben was so generous he didn't even charge me for the privilige. He was extremely talented and way ahead of his time. He was the first " one man band" pub act as he had the first "automatic drum machine " . It sort of sounded like a milking machine but it did the trick. He then joined a local rock band and I didn't want to cart them around as they had Mountains of very large speaker boxes etc. They then moved to Wellington to seek fame and fortune. Corben and Tony Littlejohn ended up in Blerta. Corben lives in Katikati up the road from Tauranga, where I live.He is a shadow of what he was, but he is starting to perform again .
Craig Norman John Nancekivell great grandfather and his family were miners at Ross. My grandmother was born there. she would tell us kids endless stories about Ross, The Chinese miners, buying cocaine from the nuns at the catholic monestry.for tooth ache.etc.I can't confirm it, but the "Great Roddy" gold nugget was found on their claim.AFTER they had sold it. It was in the scubby patch that the had ignoerd as it didn't look like it had any gold there.
John Nancekivell Craig Norman wow, all that history, that gold is sneeky stuff it is still hiding in the ground, but, getting harder to mine due to you know what
Lindy Magee Thank you for posting this Heather Newby, I have always loved this song and it is still so relevant today but having been born in the 70’s I had no idea this was a kiwi band! Wish I had been born earlier to see them live , this is a great part of our history
Heather Newby yes.. it is a really good song,, i actually heard it on the radio the other day
Reg Allan Beverley Jeean Morrison was Beavers real name and she died on the 23-5-2010
Heather Newby what did she die of? I didnt know she died,, shame, she wouldnt have been that old?
Maree Burrell They played at Runanga hall
Alan Acker Was some good times had then , more than dance all around the world
Carol Jones Went to the concert at Hokitika
Lynda Pope Yes, I remember them as well. They were hanging out in Doyle St for a while, down the road from us. I got all of their autographs.
Linda Griffin Yes January 1972
Jeanne Godfrey Whow that brings back memories.
Kath Maitland
Kath Maitland Remember them playing at the Kaniere Hall might have been a bit later than 1971 and they fired the old cannon that is still there. Great times and memories.
Marie Tern Heather Newby I saw them in Motueka in January 1972. Bruno Lawrence was drumming, Beaver was singing along with Corban Simpson who sung, Dance all Around the world. Magic!
Heather Newby Marie Tern i still hear that song on the radio
Bill Johnsen cobden boy with them....
Robin Donaldson Great night in hokitika when they played
Anthea Keenan I remember Wendy Perkins too :)Julie Clemett Barrytown Hall, the good old days
Shawry Shaw Graham Lalor theres ya old bus m8
Peter Mitchell Yep. Went to the concert in Hoki
Peter Campion Yes I remember them played at the old StMarys hall there for a few nights was able to see in the bus Bruno was a great guy and drummer
Trish Briggs They played at the Lyceum Hall opposite the Police Station. Remember Linda Griffin
David Hall The great Bruno Lawrence.
r
Neil Ensor How are the locals minds now?
Reg Allan Do you remember them playing at Barry town hall to Julia Clemett I was there to good old days alright
Julie Clemett Reg Allan oh to be young again
Janet Sutton I remember my aunt being mortified that they were swimming naked!!!! At Hokitika beach lol.
Brenda Brown Went to my first dance in Totara Flat hall they played at it pretty girl can I take you home loved them
Janet Sutton Brenda Brown wasnt that Hogsnort Rupert who played that?
Ray Vincent Went to Stones concert at Western Springs in 71? Judy knew them better than me, train up and back in those days. Interesting trip.
Shanar Yorke Neat :)
Lyn Gosling Dance all around the World....
Shanar Yorke Cool looking bus too :)
Shanar Yorke Yes lyn, dance all around the world x
Steve Jones They played in a small hall near the railway station some where near there I remember,
Charles Cotton Played at Stoke Hall in Nelson.
Bob King Beaver did a drum solo at a party in Christchurch I was at...she was pretty good on drums
Phil Millar Beaver was a great Jazz vocalist also,very talanted!
John Nancekivell We had a few fun nights out partying with them, after Blerta played dances in St Mary's hall, behind the Catholic Church cnrs, Tancred and Stafford Streets, at the house Ferg Bryant was renting in Kaihinu, wow what a fun night, never touched apricot b…See More
Heather Newby John Nancekivell apricot brandy! ☺
Craig Norman Heather Newby or firewater as it was known.
John Nancekivell Tasted good at the time, but had a lasting effect,,,, 40 odd years, lol,
Craig Norman John Nancekivell how was the taste when it came back up? To this day I cannot abide the smell or taste of sherry or port.
John Nancekivell Craig Norman nor really can I, taste?? Its taken 40yrs trying to forget, nothing ever tastes good coming the other way,
John Nancekivell Actually, I went outside for a pee, is all I can remember, and someone found me asleep on the tool bench in Fergs shed, and put me in the back of a car,in Kaihinu, when I woke up, l wondered where the hell I was, I was in Ross, got quite a surprise
Craig Norman John Nancekivell I used to drive Corben Simpson from Blerta around Hamilton in my old van.He told me I was his road manager.My job was to supply the van and the petrol,load his gear into the back,drive him to the gig, carry most of his gear inside. come back at 11pm and carry his gear to the van, drive him home and help him unload.As an impressionable school boy I thought this was a fabulous arrangement and Corben was so generous he didn't even charge me for the privilige. He was extremely talented and way ahead of his time. He was the first " one man band" pub act as he had the first "automatic drum machine " . It sort of sounded like a milking machine but it did the trick. He then joined a local rock band and I didn't want to cart them around as they had Mountains of very large speaker boxes etc. They then moved to Wellington to seek fame and fortune. Corben and Tony Littlejohn ended up in Blerta. Corben lives in Katikati up the road from Tauranga, where I live.He is a shadow of what he was, but he is starting to perform again .
Craig Norman John Nancekivell great grandfather and his family were miners at Ross. My grandmother was born there. she would tell us kids endless stories about Ross, The Chinese miners, buying cocaine from the nuns at the catholic monestry.for tooth ache.etc.I can't confirm it, but the "Great Roddy" gold nugget was found on their claim.AFTER they had sold it. It was in the scubby patch that the had ignoerd as it didn't look like it had any gold there.
John Nancekivell Craig Norman wow, all that history, that gold is sneeky stuff it is still hiding in the ground, but, getting harder to mine due to you know what
Lindy Magee Thank you for posting this Heather Newby, I have always loved this song and it is still so relevant today but having been born in the 70’s I had no idea this was a kiwi band! Wish I had been born earlier to see them live , this is a great part of our history
Heather Newby yes.. it is a really good song,, i actually heard it on the radio the other day
Reg Allan Beverley Jeean Morrison was Beavers real name and she died on the 23-5-2010
Heather Newby what did she die of? I didnt know she died,, shame, she wouldnt have been that old?
Maree Burrell They played at Runanga hall
Alan Acker Was some good times had then , more than dance all around the world
Carol Jones Went to the concert at Hokitika
Lynda Pope Yes, I remember them as well. They were hanging out in Doyle St for a while, down the road from us. I got all of their autographs.
Linda Griffin Yes January 1972
Jeanne Godfrey Whow that brings back memories.
Kath Maitland
Kath Maitland Remember them playing at the Kaniere Hall might have been a bit later than 1971 and they fired the old cannon that is still there. Great times and memories.
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West Coast New Zealand History (21st Oct 2019). Blerta.. touring the Coast.ca.1971. - 2 PHOTOS -. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 27th Apr 2026 08:40, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/26339