Me And The Others

aka The Secrets, The Strangers, The Dynamics


The first New Zealand beat band to play the UK club scene at the height of the 1960s British pop explosion, Me And The Others evolved from a combination of Christchurch units that included drummer and later top producer Peter Dawkins and legendary bass player Gary Thain.

Bass players in rock bands mostly blend in as part of the rhythm section, rarely taking centre stage, but the melodic, lead guitar style and mesmerising stage presence of Gary Thain broke the mould. 

The Me And The Others / New Nadir 2009 EP
The New Nadir, August 1967: New Zealanders Gary Thain on bass and Peter Dawkins on drums and Californian Ed Carter, who went on to join the Beach Boys, on vocals and guitar 
Me And The Others in a 1966 UK publicity shot
Me And The Others on Hampstead Heath: Paul Muggleston, Gary Thain (rear), Peter Dawkins (front) and Dave Chapman
Me And The Others in Munich, 1966: Gary Thain, Peter Dawkins, Dave Chapman and Paul Muggleston
The New Nadir with Peter Dawkins, Gary Thain and Ed Carter
The Strangers - Alright (1964)
Dave Chapman's first band The Mustangs
Me And The Others: Paul Muggleston, Dave Chapman, Gary Thain and Peter Dawkins
Me And The Others in London, 1966: Dave Chapman, Paul Muggleston, Peter Dawkins and Gary Thain
The Strangers 1963/64: Arthur Thain (lead guitar and vocals), Graeme Ching (rhythm guitar), Gary Thain (bass) and Dave Beattie (drums)
The Strangers' 3rd single on Robbins, released early in 1965 after the band had split. The Strangers included Peter Dawkins on drums and Gary Thain (who wrote the B-side to this single).
The Strangers - Pretend (1964)
Dave Chapman shortly before Me And The Others went to the UK
Peter Dawkins and Gary Thain in The New Nadir, 1968
Me And The Others in Munich at the PNN Hithouse, 1966
The Strangers with Gary Thain on the left
Gary Thain with Me And The Others
Peter Dawkins and Dave Chapman with Me And The Others in Munich, 1966
Me And The Others in Munich: Paul Muggleston, Gary Thain, Dave Chapman and Peter Dawkins
Me And The Others - Dave Chapman, Paul Muggleston, Gary Thain and Peter Dawkins
Peter Dawkins, Gary Thain and Dave Chapman outside Jennings guitar store, Charing Cross Road, London
Me And The Others at the PNN Hithouse, Munich, 1966: Gary Thain, Dave Chapman, Paul Muggleston and Peter Dawkins
The Secrets at Christchurch's Plainsman Club
The New Nadir - Ed Carter, Peter Dawkins and Gary Thain
The New Nadir in their best fab gear before their tour between Zurich and Winterthur during the 1967 Summer of Love. The trio had earlier recorded an all-originals demo at Eurex Studio on the outskirts of Zurich that helped gain them a recording session with Polydor in London. From left: Peter Dawkins, Ed Carter and Gary Thain.
Me And The Others on the February 1966 Tom Jones and Herman's Hermits tour, taken at The Theatre Royal Christchurch. The original line up with Gordon Bennett (bass), Rob Carpenter (rhythm guitar), Peter Dawkins (drums), Dave Chapman (lead guitar) and Paul Muggleston (vocals).
Peter Dawkins with The New Nadir at the Speakeasy, London 1967
The Secrets in 1965: Wayne Allen, Derek Wright, Gary Thain and Paul Muggleston
Photo credit: Ken Cooper collection
Gary Thain with Me And The Others in Munich, 1966
Me And The Others in Chelsea, London, 1966: Gary Thain, Paul Muggleston, Dave Chapman and Peter Dawkins
The Secrets1965: Paul Muggleston, Derek Wright, Gary Thain with Wayne Allen in front.
Meet The Secrets at Phil Warren's The Beatle Inn
A publicity shoot for the Brian Epstein group
Trivia:

Whilst waiting for Dave Chapman and Peter Dawkins to arrive in the UK in 1966, Paul Muggleston worked briefly as part of "The Dalton Brothers" in a cowboy themed riding show in Kirby.

Members:

Gary Thain - bass

Paul Muggleston - guitar, vocals

Peter Dawkins - drums

Dave Chapman - guitar

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