They hooked up with New Music Management and moved to Auckland, sought out Mike Chunn during his brief tenure as head of A&R at CBS and were signed to that label, and they went after former Hello Sailor guitarist Dave McArtney to produce their debut album.
In 1987, Andy Dickson and Tony Waine teamed up with Gurlz singer Kim Willoughby, Citizen Band guitarist Greg Clark, Mi-Sex drummer Paul Dunningham and Grammar Boys keyboardist Simon Alexander in a Party Boys-style line-up called The Kuhtze Band, touring and releasing a single of 60s pop covers.
The Narcs’ 1996 album Push The Boat Out was named by drummer Steve Clarkson from English slang for spending big on a boozy night out. Clarkson also named Whistle While You Work, the live album shared with Coconut Rough.
In Sydney in 1990, Andy Dickson was an original member of Ghostwriters, a band brought together by Midnight Oil drummer and songwriter Rob Hirst while the Oils were taking a break. Dickson appeared on their self-titled 1991 album.
The Fane Flaws-produced video for Diamonds On China won Best Video at the 1985 New Zealand Music Awards. Flaws also did the artwork for the 1985 album The Narcs.
Tony Waine - bass, vocals
Bob Ogilvie - drums
Garth Sincock - guitar
Andy Dickson - vocals, guitar
Steve Clarkson - drums
Liam Ryan - keyboards, vocals