Skylord


“If you haven’t seen them, how can you talk about them?” The words glared out from stickers plastered in the most bizarre places up and down New Zealand; one-horse towns, hotel light fittings, lampposts, urinals, you name it.

Who were they? Glam rockers Skylord, the band other groups dreaded to follow in the land’s biggest beer barns. It wasn’t uncommon to pull into town for a week-long residency to learn from the hotelier that Skylord had again broken attendance records.

Lead guitarist Denis Doherty, Skylord, Awapuni Hotel.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
A reference from the Shoreline confirms Skylord's ability to pull a crowd.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord, drawn by a Palmerston North artist who liked the band, 1977. L to R: Dave Painting, Rob Gray, Brian Marshall, Denis Doherty. Brad Coates is at the bottom of the drawing.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord's Brian Marshall, 1977.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord's Jos Hodzelmans on bass.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Brad Coates' left-hand keyboard stack and effects units, with Skylord's band strobe tuner at top left.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Denis Newport's Ford Transit van in Whangarei, 1975, complete with yellow Skylord logo.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Inside of Xmas card, 1977. Skylord sent these to all the hotels and venues that they played in during the year. 
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord toured the New Zealand provinces in the 1970s in satin, lace, full foundation and eye-liner 
Skylord crew member Denis Newport manning the front of house sound and lighting desk.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Letter from South Pacific Television's Trevor Spitz confirming two slots on Telethon in Christchurch, 1978. One of the songs Skylord performed live was the Sex Pistols' 'Holiday In the Sun', much to the concern of the TV crew as outrage over punk rock was all over media at that time.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord drummer Allan Cattermole.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord's Denis Doherty on guitar with keyboardist Brad Coates on cowbell.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Manawatu Evening Standard Advert for Skylord at Awapuni Hotel. This visit was for a month, playing six nights a week.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord keyboardist Brad Coates with his right-hand keyboard stack and effects units.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Nova Bar, Dunedin. Skylord's sound and lighting desks, operated by Denis Newport.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Nova Bar, Shoreline Hotel, Dunedin. Skylord's stage setup, with scaffolding around PA to hold lighting towers, drum riser, off-stage sound and light desks with theatre-light "Super Trooper" follow spot out front.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord band bio and information folder put together for the Xmas 1977-78 Sydney trip when Brian Marshall and Denis Doherty tried to set up an Australian circuit. The video referred to is an appearance on Radio With Pictures.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Denis Doherty and Brad Coates, Skylord.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord's Denis Doherty and Brian Marshall.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord in a 1977 promotional photo. Top row left to right: Billy Brittenden (drums), Denis Doherty (guitar); Lower left to right: Brian Marshall (vocals), Jos Hodzelmans (bass), Brad Coates (keyboards).
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord: Rob Gray, Denis Doherty at back.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord band logo, black and white era. This was after the green and yellow period; this logo was on stage, T-shirts, vinyl stickers, postcards, Xmas cards, matchbox covers.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord in 1978, probably at the Rotorua Grand Hotel. Left to right: Denis Doherty, Brian Marshall, Jos Hodzelmans.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord: guitarist Denis Doherty with keyboardist Brad Coates at back.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord feature in Pop Scene magazine, 1978.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord drummer Allan Cattermole, mid-solo.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Newspaper article about Skylord's intended shift to Sydney. Sydney Morning Herald, 1978.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Page of Skylord's information pack folder showing equipment and set up.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Camera script for Radio with Pictures, 22 October 1977. Performers were Skylord, Lea Maalfrid, Shannon. Skylord drew the short straw with a call time of 9.00am. 
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Skylord and friends in 1975, resting the vehicle fleet in the heat of the day. Brad Coates' van Thornton (at rear) had vampire teeth instead of a front grille. The first band truck, "The Milk Truck" was originally used by Skylord's earlier incarnation, Pawn. L to R: Brad Coates, Kathy, Mike Butler, Michelle.
Photo credit: Denis Doherty collection
Trivia:

Navman GPS systems developer Sir Peter Maire built one of Skylord’s first mixing desks in his garage and would sometimes work the door for the band.

Skylord founding members Denis Doherty and Brad Coates have both long been in the music shop business. Doherty owns DDMusic in Avondale, West Auckland, Coates owns Melbourne Music Centre in Australia.

Brad Coates and Allan Cattermole teamed up again in Christchurch bands Bon Marche and The Newz, and Cattermole has been the longtime drummer of eclectic country blues band The Coalrangers.

Members:

Denis Doherty - guitar

Mike Butler - drums

Brad Coates - keyboards

Tom Boucher - bass

Rob Gray - bass

Allan Cattermole - drums

Brian Marshall - vocals

Dave Painting - drums

Billy Brittenden - drums

Jos Hodzelmans - bass

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