Later that year, 2ZC disc jockey Keith Richardson was asked to compere a show in Napier. His wife Sylvia took the booking, and was asked if she knew a suitable band. She said she did, though in fact she only knew Fred Neale. A few frantic phone calls were made to organise a band. After Keith told Fred and Athol about The Shadows in the UK, Fred became fascinated with Hank Marvin and wanted to emulate his guitar sound. The Hawke’s Bay band was renamed The Rockets because of the post-Sputnik interest in space travel; the musicians also wanted to include some covers by the British Shadows.
HMV
Pacific
Athol Munro - keyboards
Fred Neale - lead guitar
Leon Clapperton - bass
John Lindsay - rhythm guitar
Craig Alexander - drums
Bob Catherill - saxophone
Rudy Pederson - bass
Grant Kamau - saxophone
Noel Henderson - drums
Des Hall - guitar
Des McLoughlin - rhythm guitar