The Human Instinct Profile

Andrew Schmidt

20 May 2013

In the second half of the 1960s, New Zealand musicians departed with some regularity for London, the pop capital of the world. None were as successful there as The Human Instinct, who as the Four Fours, had already cut a steady, if unspectacular, pop path around the top half of the North Island.

The Four Fours were never the hippest group, but they were seasoned live performers, studio experienced and adaptable, with a strong pop sense and three fine vocalists in guitarists Dave Hartstone and Bill Ward and young drummer Maurice Greer. The group was completed by bass player Frank Hay.

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Maurice Greer at Crofts, Airedale Street, Auckland circa 1974

Photo credit: Martin Hope collection

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The 1971 Human Instinct album Pins In It, the last with Billy TK. The artwork, uncredited on the release, was by Dick Frizzell.

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The Human Instinct - Duchess of Montrose (GTK, 1971)

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The Human Instinct, 1972: Neil Edwards, Maurice Greer, and Graeme Collins

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The Human Instinct at Club Bo Beep, Durham Lane, 1970: Larry Waide, Maurice Greer, Billy TK

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The 1971 single of 'Black Sally'. It was a different recordng to the version found on the Stoned Guitar album

Photo credit: Rone Kane Collection

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Maurice Greer with The Human Instinct at Club Bo Peep, Durham Lane, Auckland, 1970

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Maurice Greer and Billy TK

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The Human Instinct in 1974: John Donoghue, Glenn Mikkelson (Zaine Griff), Maurice Greer and Martin Hope

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Maurice Greer, Dave Hartstone, Frank Hay, Bill Ward

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Early 1970s newspaper advertisement for Tabla Nitespot in Lorne St, Auckland. Bands included Human Instinct and Anteapot, which included future Dragon members Todd Hunter and Ray Goodwin.

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The Human Instinct at Bo Peep, Durham Lane, Auckland, 1969: Peter Barton, Maurice Greer, Billy TK

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The Human Instinct in London. From left: Frank Hay, Dave Hartstone, Bill Ward, Maurice Greer

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The 1974 Human Instinct album The Huster featured Maurice Greer, Martin Hope, John Donoghue and Glenn Mikkelson (aka Zaine Griff) with the latter writing five of the nine tracks

Photo credit: Susy Pointon

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Maurice Greer and Dave Hurley in London, 1967

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The Human Instinct: Neil Edwards, Maurice Greer, Billy TK at Club Bo Peep, Durham Lane, Auckland, in the early 1970s

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Maurice Greer, John Donoghue, Martin Hope

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The 1974-75 membership card for the Greer Brothers club Shanty Town in the Civic building in Queen Street. Human Instinct were residents for much of that time.

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