The Datsuns

aka Trinket


How did they do it? That’s a good question – and there are good answers. Anyone who has seen The Datsuns live knows that they have always been committed to their live performance – from day one to day five thousand and one. There was a buzz after their 2016 gigs at Auckland’s The King’s Arms and Wellington’s Homegrown Festival.

Their story is not about posting online, but about old school packing and posting a vinyl 7-inch single to a person of importance in the music industry – whether a booker in Australia (or Japan) or a radio legend at the BBC. In 2002 The Datsuns broke through in pre-internet ways: live performance, the John Peel radio show and UK magazines including the NME. They hit London town just before the NME lost its star-making power and the conversation about music moved from pieces of paper stapled together to the on-line buffet of audio and video nibbles.

Outta Sight / Outta Mind (2004)
Bad Taste (2014)
The Datsuns in 2003, with Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, producer of their second album, Outta Sight /Outta Mind: Dolf de Borst, Jones, Matt Osment, Phil Somervell and Christian Livingstone
The Datsuns in Melbourne, December 2000
The Datsuns - In Love (live on the UK's Top of the Tops, 2002)
Death Rattle Boogie (2012)
The Datsuns - Waiting For Your Time To Come
The Datsuns, Melbourne, May 2001
The poster for the canceled 2004 Lollapalooza tour
The Datsuns, 2003: Phil Somervell, Christian Livingstone, Dolf de Borst and Matt Osment
Photo credit: Photo by Garry Brandon. RipItUp Archives.
Dolf de Borst and Matt Osment, September 2002
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
The Datsuns: Christian Livingstone, Ben Cole, Phil Somervell and Dolf de Borst
The Datsuns - Bullseye
The Datsuns, 2002: Dolf de Borst, Matt Osment, Christian Livingstone and Phil Somervell
The Datsuns - In Love (2002)
The Datsuns in Sydney, January 2003
Lady (7-inch, 2001)
The Datsuns - Super Gyration (2000) - directed by Greg Page
A Datsuns publicity shot: Phil Somervell, Matt Osment, Christian Livingstone and Dolf de Borst
Human Error (7-inch single, 2008)
The Datsuns, 2012: Ben Cole, Phil Somervell, Christian Livingstone and Dolf de Borst
Dolf de Borst, 2004
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
The Datsuns - Stuck Here For Days
The Datsuns - So Long
The Datsuns new lineup, 2008: Phil Somervell, Christian Livingstone, Ben Cole and Dolf de Borst
The Datsuns - Girl's Best Friend
The Datsuns - Gods Are Bored
Headstunts (2008)
The Datsuns, 2003: Matt Osment, Dolf de Borst, Christian Livingstone and Phil Somervell
Photo credit: Garry Brandon
The Datsuns, 2008: Ben Cole, Dolf de Borst, Christian Livingstone and Phil Somervell
The Datsuns (2002)
Phil Somervell, 2004
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
The Datsuns record for John Peel, May 2002
Photo credit: Photo by Quentin Reade.
Rip It Up Archive/Simon Grigg collection.
The Datsuns - Harmonic Generator
The Datsuns in Germany, 2004
The Datsuns - Blacken My Thumb
The Datsuns in Europe in the mid-2000s: Matt Osment, Phil Somervell, Dolf de Borst and Christian Livingstone
The Datsuns on tour in Australia, 2000`
The Datsuns, 2003: Matt Osment, Dolf de Borst, Christian Livingstone and Phil Somervell
The Datsuns - Stuck Here For Days documentary (2014)
The Datsuns - In Love
The Datsuns - MF From Hell
The Datsuns - Human Error
Promo clip for the Datsuns Death Rattle Fuzz guitar pedal box - an effects pedal designed by guitarist Christian Livingstone
The Datsuns, Kings Arms, Auckland, 2002
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
Deep Sleep (2014)
Smoke & Mirrors (2006)
Dolf de Borst during The Datsuns' first John Peel Session, May 2002
Photo credit: Photo by Quentin Reade.
Rip It Up Archive/Simon Grigg collection.
The Datsuns, 2012: Dolf de Borst, Ben Cole, Christian Livingstone and Phil Somervell
A Datsuns publicity shot from 2002
Photo credit: Photo by Ian "Blink" Jorgensen
Dolf de Borst, 2000
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
The Datsuns, 2002: Dolf de Borst, Matt Osment, Christian Livingstone and Phil Somervell
The Datsuns - Gold Halo
The Datsuns - Stuck here For Days (2006)
The Datsuns at Espy, Melbourne, January 2002
Claw Machine
Matt Osment, John Peel and Dolf de Borst, May 2002
Photo credit: Photo by Quentin Reade.
Rip It Up Archive/Simon Grigg collection.
The Datsuns: Christian Livingstone, Matt Osment, Phil Somervell and Dolf de Borst
The Datsuns, Kings Arms, Auckland, 2002
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
Gold Halo (7-inch single, 2012)
The Datsuns, 2002: Matt Osment, Dolf de Borst, Phil Somervell and Christian Livingstone
The Datsuns - Super Gyration
The Datsuns on Top Of The Pops, October 2002
The Datsuns - System Overload
Labels:

V2


Hellsquad Records


Cooking Vinyl


EMI

Members:

Dolf de Borst - vocals, bass

Christian Livingstone - guitar

Phil Buscke Somervell - guitar

Ben Cole - drums

Matt Osment - drums

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