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Th' Dudes debut
The band debuted in the summer of 1975 and 1976 at Croft's nightclub in the city. This led to a stint to play in the Windsor Castle in Parnell, a leading venue in the music scene. -
Th' Dudes formation
The rock band known as Th' Dudes formed after the members graduated high school. Dave Dobbyn (vocals, guitars), Peter Urlich (vocals, drums), Ian Morris (guitars, keyboard, backing vocals), and Peter Coleman (bass, later replaced by Lez White) met at high school (Sacred Heart College). Bruce Hambling joined from an advertisement in The New Zealand Herald for a drummer for the band. -
Battle of the bands win
The' Dudes won battle of the bands by playing a set of cover songs. -
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Playing gigs
Th' Dudes played a large amount of gigs throughout Auckland, and often crossed paths with Hello Sailor. Hello Sailor became a huge influence on the band, in particular their rock and roll attitudes. In this time, Th' Dudes developed their distinctive Auckland sound. -
Becoming regulars at Windsor Castle
Th' Dudes had built a lot of interest and popularity, resulting in Kevin Lane offering them a regular spot at the Windsor Castle, replacing Street Talk. -
Charley Gray
The band approached Charley Gray, a former jazz drummer, to become their manager. Gray was determined to make them the number one band in Aotearoa after Hello Sailor left to USA in August 1978. -
Th' Dudes debut single
Their first single 'Be Mine Tonight', written and sung by Dave Dobbyn, backed with 'That Look in Your Eyes' was released on Stebbing's Key label and peaked on the chart at 36. -
Second single
Their second single was 'Right First Time' / 'Tonight Again', which peaked at 34. -
Th' Dudes debut album Right First Time
Th' Dudes debut album Right First Time released, which peaked at 17 and was certified gold. -
Aotearoa Music Awards 1979
Th' Dudes won best single for 'Be Mine Tonight' and best group. -
Year of touring
The year was filled with touring. This included a series of lunchtime concerts at high schools throughout Aotearoa (sponsored by ANZ bank) to reach a wider audience. They toured Aotearoa as well as Australia to support the UK act, the Members in November. -
'Walking in Light' single released
The single 'Walking in Light' / 'Bad Boy Billy', written by Dobbyn was released in late 1979 and peaked at 50. -
The Sweetwaters festival
The band was given the prime slot in the festival before the headliners, Elvis Costello and the Attractions. The performance was the best of their career and gained them a larger fanbase, even though they were attacked by some of the crowd. -
Th' Dudes breakup
Morris decided he was leaving, which led to the breakup of the band. -
Th' Dudes second album
Although they had officially broken up, they returned to Stebbing studio to finish their second album, Where are the Boys?, which was written by Dobbyn and Morris. Another single released from the album was 'Bliss' / 'On the Rox' which peaked at 25. -
DD Smash formation
After the split of Th' Dudes, Dave Dobbyn formed a new band, DD Smash (briefly known as Dave Dobbyn's Divers). The band was fronted by Dobbyn on vocals and guitar, and he was the main songwriter. Members also included Andrew Clouston (saxophone), Peter Warren (drums), Rob Guy (guitar), and Lisle Kinney (bass). -
Record deal
DD Smash signed a contract with Mushroom Records, and started recording their debut album with Ian Morris as the producer. -
DD Smash debut single
The band released their first single 'Repetition' in December 1981, which peaked at 25. -
'Bull by the Horns' single
Dave Dobbyn and DD Smash release 'Bull by the Horns', a non-album single. -
'Lipstick Power' single
Dobbyn releases a single 'Lipstick Power'. -
Debut album singles
'Devil You Know' which peaked at 35 and 'Solo' were also released as singles off Cool Bananas. -
Aotearoa Music Awards 1982
Dave Dobbyn won top male vocalist and most promising male vocalist. His band also won top group of the year, and album of the year, producer of the year, engineer of the year, and sleeve design of the year for Cool Bananas. -
DD Smash debut album
DD Smash released their debut album, Cool Bananas on Mushroom label. This album went to number 1 on the charts in April 1982 and reached gold status in May. This was the first kiwi album to reach number 1 and stayed on the charts for 24 weeks. -
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Cool Bananas tour
DD Smash toured New Zealand and Australia. They played in numerous venues and played most frequently in Melbourne. -
'Outlook for Thursday' single
Dobbyn recruited a horn section, and a new non-album single 'Outlook for Thursday' was recorded and released. This single peaked at 3 on the charts. -
Move to Sydney to record their second album
The band spent a large amount of time in Australia to break into the Australian market, and eventually move to Sydney to record their second album. The band is stripped down to only Dobbyn and Warren on drums with session players filling the remaining parts. -
Aotearoa Music Awards 1983
For the second year in a row, the band come home with a large amount of awards. Dave Dobbyn won top male vocalist and DD Smash won top group of the year and most popular artist. 'Outlook for Thursday' received single of the year and best music video, and their album Live: Deep in the Heart of Taxes won album of the year. -
The Optimist first single
'Actor' was the first single released from their second album, The Optimist. -
Live: Deep in the Heart of Taxes release
The band had a devoted live TV special on Radio with Pictures and this was released as the album Live: Deep in the Heart of Taxes. The album peaked at 11 on the charts. -
The Optimist release
Their second album, The Optimist was released on Mushroom label and peaked at 6. -
The Optimist singles
'Whaling' which peaked at 8 and 'Surrender' were released as singles from their second album, The Optimist. -
DD Smash becomes a central part of the Queen Street riot
Thank God It's Over was a free end of academic year concert in Aotea Square, consisting of DD Smash, Herbs, and The Mockers. There was a power cut during DD Smash's set, and conflict broke out, leading to police involvement. Dobbyn remarked "I wish those riot squad guys would stop wanking and put their little batons away", which he regrets to this day. Riots broke out following this and Dobbyn was charged with inciting a riot but eventually cleared of all charges. -
The Optimist singles
'Magic (What She Do)' and 'She Loves Me Back' were also released as singles off The Optimist. They respectively reached 4 and 38 on the charts. -
DD Smash breakup
DD Smash disbanded when Dobbyn began recording as a solo artist. -
Aotearoa Music Awards 1986
Dobbyn's and Herbs' song 'Slice of Heaven' won best song of the year. -
Solo artist and Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale
Dobbyn reemerged as a solo artist by writing, composing and performing the soundtrack music for Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale, which was Aotearoa's first feature-length animated cartoon. The soundtrack included hits like 'You Oughta Be in Love' and 'Slice of Heaven', which was a collaboration with the band Herbs and peaked at number 1 on both the New Zealand and Australian charts. 'Slice of Heaven' soon becomes one of Dobbyn's best known songs and is frequently used in tourism advertisements. -
Touring
Dobbyn toured in pubs around the country, from Dargaville to Invercargill. His new name was Dave Dobbyn and The Stone People, which suggested he was still hiding behind the guise of a band. -
'Sailing Away'
Dobbyn features in the song 'Sailing Away', which was a single by a group of New Zealand artists to promote the New Zealand yacht in the following year's America's Cup. -
APRA Music Awards 1987
Dobbyn won the APRA Silver Scroll Award for the song 'You Oughta Be in Love'. -
Aotearoa Music Awards 1987
Dobbyn won best male vocalist, single of the year for 'You Oughta Be in Love', and best film soundtrack and best producer for Footrot Flats. -
'Slice of Heaven' reworked version
Dobbyn's popular song 'Slice of Heaven' was reworked and featured in television commercials in Australia, promoting the Devon meat product. This was funded by the Australian Meat Industry Council. -
Loyal album
Dobbyn released the album Loyal which peaked at number 9 on the charts. -
Loyal singles
Dobbyn released 'Love You Like I should' and 'Loyal' as singles off his album Loyal. The singles peaked at 7 and 19 on the charts respectively. 'Loyal' became increasingly popular for ceremonies of all kinds. -
Aotearoa Music Awards 1988
Dobbyn won best male vocalist once again as well as album of the year for Loyal. -
'Space Junk' single
Dave Dobbyn & The Lunettes released 'Space Junk (Theme to Space Knights)' which was a non-album single. -
'Shaky Isles' single
Dobbyn released the non-album single, 'Shaky Isles' which peaked at 26. -
Work as a producer
The album Watershed by Grant McLennan was released, which Dobbyn produced. -
The Dave Dobbyn Collection album
Dobbyn releases The Dave Dobbyn Collection, which is a compilation album including his work from Th' Dudes, DD Smash, and as a solo artist. The album charted at number 4 on the charts. -
Trip to LA
Dobbyn was sent to LA by Warner Music to work with Mitchell Froom, an American musician and producer who had previously produced 'Don't Dream It's Over' by Crowded House. In doing so, Warner Music hoped that Dobbyn and Froom would make hits collaborating together. -
Grassy Knoll
Dobbyn helped with vocals and guitar on The Exponents fifth album Grassy Knoll while living in Sydney. -
Lament for the Numb singles
'Maybe the Rain' and 'Don't Hold Your Breath' are released as singles by Dave Dobbyn and the Stone People off his album, Lament for the Numb -
Work as a producer
The album Fireboy by Grant McLennan was released, which Dobbyn produced. -
APRA Music Awards 1993
Dobbyn won the APRA Silver Scroll Award for his song 'Belle of the Ball' off his album Lament for the Numb as the year's best New Zealand song. -
Lament for the Numb album
Dave Dobbyn and the Stone People released the album Lament for the Numb, which was produced by Mitchell Froom. -
Back to NZ
In the early 90s, Dobbyn moved back to Auckland from Australia after feeling a little jaded. -
Touring Australia
Dobbyn toured Australia for his album, Lament for the Numb, however, the record was met with indifference. -
Twist single
Dobbyn released 'Language' off his upcoming album Twist, which peaked at number 4 on the charts. -
Twist album
Dobbyn released his third solo artist, Twist, which peaked at 8 on the charts. He worked with Neil Finn, who was a member of Split Enz and Crowded House, as well as the Māori single, Emma Paki. Contrasting to his previous album Lament for the Numb, Twist had songs filled with light. -
Twist singles
Dobbyn releases 'Lap of the Gods' and 'Naked Flame' as singles off his album, Twist. They respectively peaked at 13 and 20 on the charts. -
Aotearoa Music Awards 1995
Dobbyn won best male vocalist once again for his album Twist and best songwriter for the song 'Language' at the Aotearoa Music Awards in 1995. -
APRA Music Awards 1995
Dobbyn won the most performed work in New Zealand for his song 'Language' on Twist at the APRA Music Awards.