Жаңа Зеландиялық Mi Sex тобының тарихы

New Zealand new wave band

Mi Sex (also styled as MiSex) is a New Zealand new wave band originally active from 1978 to 1986, and led for much of its existence by Steve Gilpin as vocalist, Kevin Stanton as guitarist and songwriter, Murray Burns as keyboardist and songwriter, and Don Martin as bassist. The group's manager for much of its career was Bob Yates. Mi Sex achieved two top 10 hit singles in 1979 80: "Computer Games" in October 1979 (No. 1 in Australia, No. 5 in New Zealand) and "People" in 1980 (No. 6 and No. 3, respectively). Their first two albums both reached the New Zealand top 10, Graffiti Crimes (July 1979) and Space Race (No. 1, June 1980). They were known for their cutting edge production and dynamic live shows. Gilpin died in January 1992, two months after a serious car accident from which he never recovered. Mi Sex have periodically reformed, including in 2011 with Steve Balbi (ex Noiseworks) on lead vocals. Stanton died on 17 May 2017, Martin on 10 August 2020.

Mi Sex was formed in 1978 in New Zealand when Murray Burns on keyboards, Steve Gilpin on lead vocals, Don Martin on bass guitar and Kevin Stanton on lead guitar and backing vocals (all ex Fragments of Time) and were joined by Richard Hodgkinson on drums. The band name is adapted from an Ultravox track, "My Sex", from that group's debut album, Ultravox! (February 1977). Gilpin had earlier performed as a solo artist in New Zealand, following his winning a TV talent quest, New Faces, in 1972 (second place in the same show was Shona Laing). Invercargill born Burns was influenced by progressive rock bands such as Yes, whereas Stanton's influences veered towards heavy metal. During 1977 Gilpin met Martin and they set about forming their own band; Martin brought Stanton on board and together with former Father Time members Alan Moon and Phil "Smarty" Smart, they formed Fragments of Time. Mi Sex released their first single for EMI New Zealand, "Straight Laddie" (originally intended as a demo), early in 1978. Early performances include the Wellington Institute of Technology and Dr Johns (Ray Johns), on the same day with demo recording at Dellbrook studios in Tawa, and the bus breaking a gearbox on the Ngauranga Gorge section of motorway.

In August 1978 the band relocated to Sydney, where they became the city's "fourth biggest drawcard" within six months. It was released in Australia on 1 October 1979. Dawkins had first heard the track at the album launch, in July, he asked Stanton, "'Why didn't you play me "Computer Games" when we were doing the demos for the album?'. Kevin answered in the most succinct way possible, 'Because I hadn't written it yet!" In the following month they appeared at the Concert of the Decade at the Sydney Opera House – an edited hour of concert footage was broadcast by the Nine Network under the same name and a double LP was issued on Mushroom Records later that month. In January 1980, the band began recording their second album. Space Race was released in May 1980. In New Zealand it peaked at No. 1 and in Australia it reached No. 6.

Their third album, Shanghaied! (October 1981), was co produced by the band's members, mostly by Burns and Stanton, together with John L Sayers and Dave Marett. In 2008, Yates was prosecuted for sexual acts with a 15 year old girl in Ringwood, Victoria.

The band reunited for a fund raising concert following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, with former Noiseworks bass player Steve Balbi on lead vocals. Don Martin battled cancer for some years, holding a 'living wake' in January 2020, and dying on 10 August of that year. Mi Sex were due to start a major New Zealand tour five weeks later, and – sensing an opportunity for publicity – Kevin Stanton invited Muldoon to attend their Wellington concert during a radio interview in Hamilton, an invitation which Muldoon was urged to accept when quizzed by the opposition in parliament.

Year Title Peak chart positions Album NZ AUS AUT NL USDance 1978 "Straight Laddie" — — — — — 1979 "But You Don't Care" 33 20 — — — Graffiti Crimes "Computer Games" 5 1 16 44 61 1980 "People" 3 6 — — — Space Race "Space Race" 19 28 — — — "It Only Hurts When I'm Laughing" — 84 — — — 1981 "Falling In and Out" 30 20 — — — Shanghaied "Missing Person" — — — — — "Shanghaied!" — — — — — 1982 "Castaway" — 20 — — — rowspan="3" "Down the Line (Makin' Love on the Telephone)" — 37 — — — "Lost Time" — 57 — — — 1983 "Only Thinking" — 48 — — — Where Do They Go? 1984 "Blue Day" 36 20 — — — "5 O'Clock (In the Morning)" — — — — — 2016 "Somebody" — — — — — Extended Play "My Sex Your Sex" — — — — — Not from Here "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.