The Warratahs Profile

Kerry Doole

Published: 1 Jul 2013
Updated: 14 Aug 2018

In a career now past the quarter-century mark, The Warratahs have given homegrown country music real credibility, bringing their fresh sound to just about every nook and cranny in the country.

Here's a band that got together for all the right reasons – to play the music they loved with a bunch of mates down at the pub. There was no vision of world or even national domination as The Warratahs took to the stage at The Cricketers' Arms in Wellington in 1986.

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The most recognisable Warratahs line-up that recorded two albums and toured virtually nonstop from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Left to right: Wayne Mason, Clinton Brown, Barry Saunders, Nik Brown, Rob Clarkson.

Photo credit: Trevor Reekie Collection

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Nik Brown with The Warratahs in Hastings, 1990

Photo credit: Glen Moffatt collection

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The Warratahs, 2018. From left: Nick Theobold, Barry Saunders, Mike Knapp, and Nik Brown.

Photo credit: James Gilberd

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The Warratahs on stage at Snobbz Nightclub, Hastings, 1990.

Photo credit: Glen Moffatt collection

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Barry Saunders, 1995.

Photo credit: Guy Robinson

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The Warratahs in the 2000s. Left to right: Mike Knapp, Barry Saunders, Nik Brown, Alan Norman.

Photo credit: Trevor Reekie Collection

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Making Music - Wayne Mason

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Rob Clarkson with The Warratahs in Hastings, 1990

Photo credit: Glen Moffatt collection

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The Big Sky-era Warratahs line-up. Left to right: Clinton Brown, Wayne Mason, Barry Saunders, Mike Knapp, Nik Brown.

Photo credit: Bruce Ward collection

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The Warratahs on the cover of Rip It Up, December 1990

Photo credit: Polly Walker

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The original Warratahs line-up. Left to right: John Donoghue, Wayne Mason, Barry Saunders (seated), Marty Jorgensen, Nik Brown.

Photo credit: Trevor Reekie Collection

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Rip It Up February 1988

Photo credit: Photo by David Hamilton

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The Big Sky-era Warratahs line-up, 1993. Left to right: Mike Knapp, Nik Brown, Barry Saunders (seated), Wayne Mason, Clinton Brown.

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Radio With Pictures - My Kind of Town - 1981 documentary directed by Simon Morris, featuring interviews with Barry Saunders and Nick Theobald during their time as the Tigers, plus Sharon O’Neill, producer Peter Dawkins, Dragon’s Marc Hunter, Kevin Stanton of Mi-Sex, and Dave McArtney.

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Hands Of My Heart

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The Warratahs in the 2000s. Left to right: Nik Brown, Barry Saunders, Alan Norman, Mike Knapp.

Photo credit: Trevor Reekie Collection

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Nik Brown and Barry Saunders with The Warratahs at Snobbz Nightclub, Hastings, 1990.

Photo credit: Glen Moffatt collection

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Barry Saunders with The Orange in Christchurch, 1969

Photo credit: Kevin Hill

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Barry Saunders on Radio Wammo 2012

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Big Sky (1993)

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The poster for the Wildcard release party (with Dribbling Darts Of Love) at The Gluepot, December 1990

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One Of Two Things (1999)

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Too Hot To Sleep (1989)

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The short-lived Warratahs line-up between The Only Game In Town and Too Hot To Sleep. Left to right: Nik Brown, John Donoghue, Barry Saunders (seated), Wayne Mason, Rob Clarkson.

Photo credit: David Hamilton - Murray Cammick Collection

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The most recognisable Warratahs line-up that recorded two albums and toured virtually nonstop from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Left to right: Wayne Mason, Barry Saunders, Clinton Brown, Rob Clarkson, Nik Brown.

Photo credit: Trevor Reekie Collection

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The Big Sky-era Warratahs line-up, 1993. Left to right: Mike Knapp, Barry Saunders, Wayne Mason, Clinton Brown, Nik Brown.

Photo credit: Trevor Reekie collection

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Clinton Brown with The Warratahs in Hastings in 1990

Photo credit: Glen Moffatt collection

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Wild Card (1990)

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The Warratahs, 2013: Nick Theobald, Nik Brown, Barry Saunders, and Mo Newport

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The most recognisable Warratahs line-up that recorded two albums and toured virtually nonstop from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Left to right: Rob Clarkson, Wayne Mason, Barry Saunders, Clinton Brown, Nik Brown.

Photo credit: Trevor Reekie Collection

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The Warratahs in the 2000s. Left to right: Nik Brown, Sid Limbert, Barry Saunders, Mo Newport.

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The Warratahs in the 2000s. Left to right: Nik Brown, Barry Saunders, Sid Limbert, Mo Newport.

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Wayne Mason with The Warratahs in 1990

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Barry Saunders with The Warratahs at Snobbz Nightclub, Hastings, 1990

Photo credit: Glen Moffatt collection

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Maureen

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Clinton Brown with The Warratahs in Hastings in 1990

Photo credit: Glen Moffatt collection

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The Only Game in Town (1987)

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The short-lived Warratahs line-up between The Only Game In Town and Too Hot To Sleep. Clockwise from bottom left: John Donoghue, Nik Brown, Wayne Mason, Rob Clarkson, Barry Saunders.

Photo credit: Photo By David Hamilton - Trevor Reekie Collection

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The Warratahs were named by John Donoghue, after a character in Footrot Flats.

A highlight of Barry Saunders’ solo career was opening for Patti Smith and Bob Dylan in Christchurch in 1998. He recalls now that “my part went really well and got a great review. Patti Smith was fantastic, and Bob Dylan came and said a brief hello after.”