Jane Walker


During her time in the New Zealand music scene, Jane Walker was as much an iconoclast as Toy Love, the band in which she became well known. Apart from Clare Elliott – Zero in the Suburban Reptiles – there were very few female musicians in the early punk and post-punk bands.

Jane was not there for novelty or shock value, though she was unmissable in her thrown together, primary coloured, op-shop outfits. On stage, while all was chaos at the microphone, she was one of four musicians keeping the maelstrom together. Toy Love was the sum of its parts, each distinctive, but her clavinet gave the band a pop element that helped transport those great songs – credited to every member – beyond the post-punk audience.

Jane Walker, Christchurch - June 1978
Photo credit:  Kevin Hill
Jane Walker with Stuart Page and Jed Town, Titirangi, 2011.
Photo credit: Stuart Page
Jane Walker and Paul Kean (obscured), October 1979
Photo credit: Simon Lynch
The Detroit Hemroids at Punakaiki on the West Coast, c. 1977. The lineup in these was Nicky Carter, Oliver Scott, Jane Walker, Paul Kean and Mark Wilson
Toy Love recording their debut single at Mandrill Studios, 1979
Photo credit: Murray Cammick
Toy Love in Christchurch, outside the Gladstone, probably in October 1979: Chris Knox, Jane Walker, Paul Kean, Mike Dooley and Alec Bathgate.
Jane Walker in The Basket Cases, playing at the Gresham, Christchurch
Photo credit: Ian Dalziel
Jane Walker by Jane Walker, 2010
Photo credit: Jane Walker collection
Interview with Jane Walker, bFM, 2012
Squeeze (with remastered audio)
Jane Walker with Jed Town and Anna Bailey, Titirangi, 2011.
Photo credit: Stuart Page
Jane Walker, Toy Love at Squeeze.
Photo credit: Murray Cammick
Jane Walker performing in Toy Love at XS Cafe, Auckland.
Mike Dooley, Paul Kean and Jane Walker in Sydney, early 1980
Photo credit: Photo by Carol Tippet
Jane Walker and Mike Dooley, Toy Love, Willy's Wine Bar, Wellington, 27 August 1979.
Photo credit: Chris Bourke
Jane Walker, Toy Love in the studio.
Photo credit: Murray Cammick
Jane Walker in Titirangi, 2011.
Photo credit: Stuart Page
Jane Walker's design for 'Stitched Up: the Songs of Toy Love', a tribute album on Burning Sky released in 2011. As well as many artists from the Burning Sky stable, the album featured recordings by Proud Scum, Don McGlashan, Hamish Kilgour, and Shayne Carter. 
Photo credit: Jane Walker
Jane Walker with Jed Town and Anna Bailey, Titirangi, 2011.
Photo credit: Stuart Page
Chris Knox and Jane Walker, Toy Love, Island of Real, 1979
Photo credit: Murray Cammick
Jane Walker.
Photo credit: Peter Towers
Jane Walker.
Photo credit: Peter Towers

Funded by

Partners with