[ad_1]
Dave Dobbyn, the hitmaker behind decades of New Zealand classical music, spent Tuesday night rooting for the young crowd at Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne. This morning, he was knighted Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
The 63-year-old musician performed to a packed crowd, with festival goers lining the hills and filling the moshpit to watch him perform.
GRACE BARRALET / Things
Dave Dobbyn performs at Rhythm and Vines 2020 in Gisborne.
“It was amazing to be at the top of the hill watching thousands of kiwis singing with all their hearts the classic kiwifruit bangers,” said Alice Ross, 23, of the Dobbyn set. “I’m not a nationalist, but it was a truly a Kiwi experience.”
“Welcome home shot up,” he said.
An hour before taking the stage on Tuesday, a jovial Sir Dave spoke with Stuff about what the award meant to him. He said that it was not about recognizing him, per se, but the community of musicians of which he was a part. It was also a time to remember how far New Zealand culture had come, he said.
Of course, while speaking from the artists’ home backstage at the festival, it was also a time to celebrate.
READ MORE:
* Th ‘Dudes happily reunite for one more round
* Th ‘Dudes adds Nelson to the national tour next year
* Behind the scenes with Th’Dudes as they prepare for the first tour in more than a decade.
“It’s a great pat on the back, I have to accept it with gratitude that it’s incredible. I can’t believe I’m saying that, I’ve never spoken like a gentleman before, ”he said.
Alden Williams / Stuff
Dave Dobbyn has been made a fellow knight of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
But Dobbyn said it wouldn’t be a long night for him. “We are playing quite early, around 6.30, which is great. It means I’ll have a cup of tea and go to bed at 10. “
Stuff He couldn’t confirm what happened in the early hours of Wednesday morning, but the musician said it wasn’t one of the rockstar lifestyles.
“I just get immense joy from music.
“I love it. I have some good heroes in the business, Louis Armstrong was one,” he said, recalling a story from the jazz player’s former keyboardist.
GRACE BARRALET / Things
Thousands of people gather to watch Dave Dobbyn perform.
“He could have had anything; Cristal Champagne, cocaine, girls, parties. But after a concert, what excited him the most was going back to the motel to eat two hard-boiled eggs from the fridge. “
Dobbyn said one of the highlights of his music career, which showed no signs of slowing down, was watching New Zealand culture evolve.
Backstage, he seemed wicked when meeting alternative pop band The Beths and rapper Avantdale Bowling Club.
“It’s quite fascinating the way this culture has developed, I feel really good,” he said.
“People forget how absolutely dreary it was in the 60s and 70s, it was absolutely dreary. You just couldn’t do anything, it was legislated that you couldn’t do anything.
“Having the freedom to make music, make art, have a conversation and do things, all of that was hard fought. You have to be grateful for it, at least I am. It helps a lot to be grateful. “
Dobbyn shared the Rhythm stage with one of the biggest acts of 2020, LAB, rapper Jess B, and drum and bass group Shapeshifter. That Sir Dave, a punk star from the ’70s and’ 80s, was invited to perform on the main stage at a student festival is perhaps a testament to this musician’s manna.
His music industry colleagues from the 70s, 80s and 90s also welcomed the news of his knighthood.
Mike Chunn of Citizen Band, Split Enz and later music business manager, recalled the first time he heard Dobbyn after the 1976 Battle of the Bands.
“The name Dave Dobbyn popped in,” he said.
It wasn’t long before the school band was on tour nationwide.
Dave Simpson / Getty Images
Peter Urlich and Dave Dobbyn of Th ‘Dudes perform during the 2019 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards at Spark Arena.
Chunn signed DD Smash to Mushroom Records in 1982, in the hope that the young and up-and-coming band would launch Mushroom’s newly established local division.
When he recorded the debut of DD Smash, Chunn recalled: “From the first note there was magic in the air and at the launch Fresh bananas debuted on the national album chart at number one. “
He said the news of Dobbyn’s knighthood was “fantastic” recognition of “this genius.” He described him as a songwriting sage and said DD Smash, which included Peter Warren, Andrew Clouston, Rob Guy and Lisle Kinney, was a “powerhouse who knew how to dominate the stage.”
Dobbyn got his start in music with schoolmates, forming Th ‘Dudes in 1975. He then started DD Smash, releasing hits like Whaling. With The ‘Dudes, he released the song that makes all the pubs scream, happiness, as much as Be mine tonightand Walking in light.
His solo career generated even more unforgettable melodies. Created the soundtrack for Footrot floorsincluding You must be in love. Wrote the tear welcome home then translated as Welcome. And of course he’s the man behind Loyal and Piece of sky.
