When The Cat's Away


The story of When The Cat’s Away is far more do-it-yourself than observers might imagine.

There was no Svengali behind the five young female vocalists deciding to go on stage together. It was their own concept, inspired by a chance meeting at the 1985 New Zealand Music Awards and in the spirit of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ (1983) it was conceived as a side-project to their burgeoning solo careers.

When The Cat's Away in New Plymouth, 1988: Annie Crummer, Debbie Harwood, Kim Willoughby, Dianne Swann and Margaret Urlich
A poster for the Melting Pot single: Debbie Harwood, Dianne Swann, Annie Crummer, Margaret Urlich and Kim Willoughby
When The Cat's Away's tour group on the Asian Paradise tour, 2001: George Gorga (front of house sound), Robbie Barclay (production manager), Dave McIvor (crew), Marty Reynolds (lighting), Tony Flett (stage), Paul Lopez (crew), Colin Burrell (monitors), Rick Brown (stage), Ian Magan (promoter) and sprawled across the band, Chris Tate (sound). In front: Sharon O'Neill, Debbie Harwood, Kim Willoughby, Margaret Urlich and Annie Crummer.
Photo credit: Photo by Mark Roach
When The Cat's Away - Asian Paradise (2001)
Debbie Harwood live in the late 1980s
Debbie Harwood photographed for the Live in Paradise tour, 2001
Photo credit: Photo by Anthony O'Dwyer
The poster for the 2001 Paradise Tour
A previously unseen, pre-When The Cat's Away photo taken for a NZ Listener story in late 1985 on the female contenders and performers at the New Zealand Music Awards: Debbie Harwood, Annie Crummer, Margaret Urlich and Dianne Swann
Photo credit: Photo by John Reynolds
Proof shots for a pre-When The Cat's Away photo shoot taken for a NZ Listener story in late 1985 on the contenders for, and performers at, the New Zealand Music Awards. The photo shoot provided a catalyst for the formation of When The Cat's Away.
Photo credit: Photos by John Reynolds
When The Cat's Away - Bohemian Rhapsody and interview with Neil Roberts on It's Only Wednesday, 1988
When The Cat's Away 1988 live shows, with Rikki Morris
When The Cat's Away - TVNZ documentary part one (1987)
Dianne Swann with When The Cat's Away in the late 1980s
When The Cat's Away, 2001: Debbie Harwood, Kim Willoughby, Annie Crummer and Margaret Urlich
Photo credit: Photo by Anthony O'Dwyer
An early When The Cat's Away publicity shot: Dianne Swann, Debbie Harwood, Kim Willoughby (front), Margaret Urlich and Annie Crummer.
Photo credit: Paul Ellis
Debbie Harwood, Kim Willougby and Annie Crummer performing Dragon's April Sun in Cuba, at the APRA Silver Scrolls, 2001
Annie Crummer photographed for the Live in Paradise tour, 2001
Photo credit: Photo by Anthony O'Dwyer
When The Cat's Away headlining at the Disturbing The Peace shows at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, May 1987
When The Cat's Away - TVNZ documentary part two (1987)
When The Cat's Away, before the 1989/90 Free Ride tour, all "pregnant" with Debbie Harwood - who actually was.
The 2001 Live In Paradise album
Margaret Urlich with When The Cat's Away, late 1980s
Kim Willoughby photographed for the Live in Paradise tour, 2001
Photo credit: Anthony O'Dwyer
Debbie Harwood and Dianne Swann in Masterton with When the Cats Away, 1987
Photo credit: Photo by Mike Warman
A previously unseen, pre-When The Cat's Away shot taken for a NZ Listener story in 1985 on the presenters and contenders for the New Zealand Music Awards: Debbie Harwood, Annie Crummer, Margaret Urlich and Dianne Swann
Photo credit: Photo by John Reynolds
Annie Crummer with When The Cat's Away, late 1980s
When the Cat's Away - Melting Pot (1987)
Soundmen extraordinaire Chris Tate and Rikki Morris (who also supported When The Cat's Away on the earlier Melting Pot tour) on the 2001 tour
Photo credit: Photo by Mark Roach
Margaret Urlich photographed for the When The Cat's Away Live in Paradise tour, 2001
Photo credit: Photo by Anthony O'Dwyer
When The Cat's Away's live album, 1987
Ian Morris and Sharon O'Neill backstage at a When The Cat's Away gig on Waiheke in summer 2001/2002, with Ian and Kim Willoughby's kids
Photo credit: Photo by Mark Roach
When The Cat's Away - Melting Pot (1988)
All members of When the Cat’s Away were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame in 2021. The Hall of Fame is an initiative of Recorded Music NZ and the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), whose support of AudioCulture enables the site to stream music content.
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