Cellophane


In 1966, with a population of some 23,000, Upper Hutt was named New Zealand’s newest city, something it took great pride in. The youthful city had a teenage population that demanded to hear new music, and in 1968, members of two local bands joined together to form a new act, Cellophane.

In the late 1960s, Upper Hutt was a sleepy although quietly prosperous dormitory suburb joined to Wellington by a single road and a rail line. The suburb itself was long and thin, going just a few roads back from the Hutt Road and its extension, the imaginatively named Main Road (all now Fergusson Drive) on each side, however, it stretched some 15km from the Silverstream Bridge to the foothills of the Rimutaka range and the challenging road across to the Wairarapa.

Cellophane, venue unknown - Ian Hewitson, Michael Hill, Pam Potter and John Van der Ryden
The Pye Records promo pack for the Fire single. Inside was a bio, a poster and a copy of the single.
Cellophane with The Lost Souls, the Upper Hutt Rugby Gym, December 1970
A letter written on behalf of Ken Cooper's organisation, likely by Wendal Hynes, booking Cellophane into shows in Napier and Gisborne in September. It's noted in the letter that the band only plays for two hours and the fee is $200, a good fee for the day.
John Van der Ryden in the NZBC studio, umbrella over his kit to dampen the sound
Cellophane at The Astoria in Palmerston North, June 1969
Cellophane in their first publicty shoot - front to rear: Mike Hill, Pam Potter, John Van der Ryden, Ian Hewitson, Dave Wellington
A generic Cellophane poster
Cellophane at Ali Baba's in Cuba Street (in recent years the venue is the San Francisco Bathhouse). This was one of their last New Zealand shows.
Cellophane arrive back in Wellington after winning the 1969 Battle Of The Bands as reported in The Evening Post
The invitation to enter the 1969 Battle Of The Bands
Producer Hugh McDonald with technicians Gary Clark and Gary Holden recording Cellophane in the NZBC studio, 19 March 1969
Mike Wellington and Pam Potter in the NZBC studio, 19 March 1969
Cellophane celebrated in the General Motors staff magazine
It was a BIG deal in Upper Hutt!
The Pye poster for the November 1970 release of Fire b/w Mind Patterns
Dave Wellington, John Van der Ryden, Ian Hewitson, Mike Hill and Pam Potter
Cellophane at Yogi's in Trentham. The show was not a huge success, pulling only 230 paying customers, the reason managment concluded was that Trentham was not a popular location. The band made a small profit.
UBA confirms March bookings for Cellophane
Benny Levin's response to Cellophane's decision not to take up his offer of management
C'mon to New Zealand travel promo, with music by Ray Columbus and members of Cellophane
Friday night dances in Upper Hutt "gyrate to the the music of [...] The Cellophanes"
Benny Levin's letter to Cellophane with tickets for the Wellington Battle Of The Bands heat
Cellophane in Dunedin, July 1969
The "Pop Teacher" Pam Potter, in The Evening Post, March 1969
The 1969 Battle Of The Bands finals roster
Dave Wellington, Ian Hewitson, Pam Potter, John Van der Ryden, Mike Hill
An August public notice that Ken Cooper has replaced Colin Misseldine as Cellophane's manager. Misseldine, who was with the band from inception, and Cooper had jointly managed the band from June. However by November Misseldine was once again involved in management with Cooper.
An early shot of Cellophane at Johnsonville's Onslow College, with an NZBC presence. Visible is Michael Hill, Ian Hewitson, Pam Potter and Dave Wellington. John Van der Ryden is behind the amp.
Cellophane setting up in the NZBC studio, 19 March 1969
Fans congratulate Cellophane on their national Battle Of The Bands win
The Upper Hutt Leader, 28 May, 1969
Upper Hutt's finest The Fourmyula and their fan club secretary Diane McKenzie (whose name is misspelled) wish Cellophane luck in Auckland
In The Dominion's World Of Women section Pam Potter reflects on Cellophane, the Battle Of The Bands and how it's affected her daily life
The Sports Post reports on the impending Auckland final of the Battle Of The Bands
Cellophane in The Evening Post, March 1969, after their win at St. Francis Hall in Hill Street
The Upper Hutt Leader celebrates one of their own winning the Wellington Heat of the 1969 Battle Of The Bands, 19 March, 1969
Trivia:

John Van der Ryden would go on to do sound in the film and TV industry. His credits include Goodbye Pork Pie, Utu, and Once Were Warriors.

Ian Hewitson would become a celebrity TV chef and a restaurateur in Victoria in the 1990s and beyond, as Iain "Huey" Hewitson

Members:

Ian Hewitson - vocals

Dave Wellington - guitar

Michael Hill - bass

Pam Potter - keyboards

John Van der Ryden - drums

Dave Kirkland - drums

Robert Mackie - bass

Labels:

Pye

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