The Androidss


“We were basically a party that hit the road. And our lifestyle was something out of the box.”

So recalls the Androidss’ Mark Wilson in a fond oral history video by Stuart Page, capturing the image of a band known more for its propensity for partying than its music – but whose sole recording testifies that the music should not be underrated either.

Androidss, Newtones, Playthings, Ritchie Venus @ The Gladstone
Photo credit: Design by Robin Neate - Christchurch City Libraries Collection
The Androidss at Christchurch's Gladstone Hotel, 1980/81
Photo credit: Photo by Gordon Bartram
The Androidss at Christchurch's Gladstone Hotel, 1980/81
Photo credit: Photo by Gordon Bartram
The Androidss at Christchurch's Gladstone Hotel, 1980/81
Photo credit: Photo by Gordon Bartram
The crowd at an an Androidss gig at XS Cafe, 1980
Photo credit: Photo By Bryan Staff
Auckland Tonight
Plasticine Babies - Live at the 2008 reunion, Kings Arms Auckland
The Androidss' wages at Squeeze. Nobody retired on their earnings ...
Photo credit: Annie McNeur Collection
Mark Wilson, pre-The Androidss, with The Basket Cases at The Gresham, circa 1978/9
Photo credit: Ian Dalziel
Mark Wilson talks about the Androidss with Stuart Page, 8/7/16
Getting Jumpy - Live at the 2008 reunion, Kings Arms Auckland
The Passenger - Live at the 2008 reunion, Kings Arms Auckland
Steve and Eric Marsden with roadie Greg Carroll, later U2's guitar-tech, 1981
Photo credit: Bryan Staff
Toy Love and The Androidss at Christchurch's Hillsborough, October 1979
Photo credit: Design by Ian Dalziel
The Androidss at Christchurch's Gladstone Hotel, 1980/81
Photo credit: Photo by Gordon Bartram
The Androidss - Auckland Tonight, Ripper 1981
The Androidss - Auckland Tonight, 1981
Eric and Steve Marsden with Ripper Records' Bryan Staff
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
The Androidss in the doorway at the Rip It Up offices in Darby Street, Auckland, early 1981
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
The Androidss gigging at XS Cafe, 1980
Photo credit: Photo By Bryan Staff
The Androidss - Getting Jumpy, 1981
The Androidss - Getting Jumpy b/w Auckland Tonight, Ripper 1981
Trivia:

Formed as Lincoln Road Loonies.

The Androidss were named after Phillip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.

Auckland Tonight was retitled Christchurch Tonight for hometown shows.

Eric and Steve Marsden were twins. Steve died in 2009 and Eric in 2011.

Iggy Pop watched The Androidss at the seedy British Hotel in port town Lyttelton one night – they played him their famous extended version of The Passenger as Pop sat to the side of the stage.

The version of ‘Auckland Tonight’ released on record is only two minutes long, but it was extended by a minute for the song’s video. This extended version now appears on some compilations.

Members:

Steve Marsden - guitar, vocals

Eric Marsden - drums

Mark Spence - keyboards

Neil Spence - guitar

Frankie Steentjes - bass

Mark Wilson - guitar

Labels:

Ripper


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