Netherworld Dancing Toys

Andrew Schmidt

16 Apr 2013

Dunedin’s Netherworld Dancing Toys brought the full force of the post-punk movement’s interest in horn-driven soul to New Zealand pubs, clubs and pop charts in the early to mid-1980s.

Songwriters Nick Sampson and Malcolm Black, with a rhythm section of Graham Cockroft (bass) and Brent Alexander (drums) and an ever-changing horn section, filled the much complained about tyranny of distance (for Dunedin groups) with self belief, an accessible persona, persistent tours and a constant run of chart records.

They built their early set during 1982 in the tight, sweaty confines of Otago university student haunts, The Captain Cook and the Oriental Tavern. Netherworld Dancing Toys hit the road in late 1982 and early 1983, beginning a cycle of intensive touring, signposted by EP releases on Flying Nun Records.

During this first tour an unexpected call came from the organisers of the Sweetwaters music festival and the band went from South Island pubs to playing main stage on the Friday evening, replacing INXS who had cancelled. The show and the resulting media coverage broke the Netherworld Dancing Toys nationally.

A joint live album with the briefly reformed Blam Blam Blam on Propeller/CBS Records, was followed by a deal with Virgin Records for New Zealand in 1985, negotiated around a promise that success in New Zealand could lead to release and promotion in the UK.

They added Auckland soul stylist Annie Crummer to a Malcolm Black/Nick Sampson composition, and shot to No.3 in August 1985 with the New Zealand classic ‘For Today’, off their Top 10 gold selling album Painted Years. ‘For Today’ won the APRA Silver Scroll songwriting award. At the 1985 New Zealand Music Awards it also won best and most popular song, while Painted Years won album of the year and the band picked up group of the year.

Even with this success Virgin declined to release either 'For Today' or Painted Years in the UK. The Netherworld Dancing Toys consequently decided to raise private funding for their follow-up album, Everything Will Be Alright. Recorded independently, the band secured New Zealand and European release via CBS in 1989.

However, the band's main target was the US market and a deal was sought and negotiated with CBS NZ's US parent, Columbia Records. Then – before anything could be signed – Sony purchased Columbia and the unsigned deal offer was withdrawn as part of a global freeze on new signings. Sampson and Cockroft moved to the UK shortly afterwards, bringing the band to a halt.

'For Today' has become part of New Zealand musical landscape, appearing the APRA Top 100 New Zealand songs listing in 2001.

In the 2019 New Year’s Honours list Malcolm Black was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the music industry.

Sheer Thrill

Mike ‘Rocky’ Rilstone – tenor sax in original NDT line-up

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

Brent Alexander

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

Shazam set-up schedule 1983

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

Nick Sampson

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

Filming Sheer Thrill video in 1983 – left to right – Rocky Rilstone, Matthew Trbuhovic, Alistair Perry

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

The Real You

Netherworld Dancing Toys, Ashburton, 1984.

Photo credit: Ashburton Museum

Back cover shot for the Song and Dance EP – left to right: Matthew Trbuhovic, Nick Sampson, Gary Valentine, Phil Hurring, Brent Alexander, Graham Cockroft, Malcolm Black

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

Nick Sampson

Photo credit: Photo by Bruce Maunsell. Nick Sampson Collection

Trusted Ones - live at Christchurch Town Hall, 1984 (with Phil Schofield intro)

Brent Alexander with the Netherworld Dancing Toys

Photo credit: Nick Sampson collection

NDT rhythm section Graham Cockroft (bass) and Brent Alexander (drums), Massey University 1984

Photo credit: Photo by Bruce Maunsell. Nick Sampson Collection

The risks of ongoing touring – assorted Netherworld Dancing Toys with their just crashed van in the South Island. Happily, nobody was hurt.

Photo credit: Nick Sampson collection

Sweetwaters, 1983

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

Painted Years

Malcolm Black

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

The Netherworld Dancing Toys at The Captain Cook Hotel, Dunedin

Photo credit: Nick Sampson collection

Malcolm Black

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

Bored To Death

Netherworld Dancing Toys outside The Gladstone Hotel, Christchurch

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

Soul Searching

Alistair Perry – trumpet player in original NDT line-up

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

NDTS 1984, left to right – Malcolm Black, Neville Schwabe, Graham Cockroft, Steve Renwick, Paul Docherty (roadie/entertainment officer), Gary Valentine, Tex Houston (sound), Nick Sampson, Ged Taylor (lights), Brent Alexander

Photo credit: Photo by Bruce Maunsell. Nick Sampson Collection

left to right – Steve Renwick, Neville Schwabe, Gary Valentine, Massey University 1984

Photo credit: Photo by Bruce Maunsell. Nick Sampson Collection

Gimme Some Lovin - live at Christchurch Town Hall, 1984

Sticking up posters in Nelson

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

The Esplanade, Devonport – 1983 supporting DD Smash – left to right – Rocky Rilstone, Matthew Trbuhovic, Gary Valentine, Malcolm Black, Graham Cockroft

Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick. Nick Sampson Collection

Standing in the Rain - live at Christchurch Town Hall, 1984

Auckland Airport 1985, left to right Nick Sampson, Malcolm Black, Brent Alexander, Graham Cockroft, Tex Houston

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

Hold On I’m Coming

Bell Block, New Plymouth 1984 – left to right – Gary Valentine, Neville Schwabe, Brent Alexander, Malcolm Black, Stephen Renwick, Graham Cockroft, Nick Sampson

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

'Trusted Ones' lyrics

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

Netherworld Dancing Toys, Ashburton, 1984.

Photo credit: Ashburton Museum

Netherworld Dancing Toys and Annie Crummer perform 'For Today' at the 2018 APRA Silver Scroll Awards

For Today - live at Christchurch Town Hall with Annie Crummer, 1984

For Today

Malcolm Black

Photo credit: Nick Sampson Collection

The Netherworld Dancing Toys, venue unknown

Photo credit: Nick Sampson collection

Nick Sampson with the Netherworld Dancing Toys at The Captain Cook Hotel, Dunedin

Photo credit: Nick Sampson collection

Nick Sampson and Malcolm Black receive the 1985 APRA Silver Scroll for For Today. The venue is Phil Warren's club Keeley's and to the left is APRA's Bernie Darby and to the right Ray Columbus who was the songwriters' representative on the APRA board.

Graham Cockroft is now CFO at Contact Energy and a major shareholder in the revived Flying Nun Records.

Nick Sampson was also in Lure Of Shoes.

Malcolm Black became a prominent entertainment lawyer working in music licensing. He was head of A&R for many years at Sony Music and worked with Les Mills International and Crowded House.

The name Netherworld Dancing Toys was suggested by the band's trumpet player, Alistair Perry. It's a line from the Roxy Music song Spin Me Round on the 1979 Manifesto album.

Nick Sampson's current band is called Betty Love Elvis.

In the 2019 New Year’s Honours list Malcolm Black was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the music industry.

Malcolm Black - vocals, guitar

Nick Sampson - vocals, guitar

Graham Cockroft - bass

Brent Alexander - drums

Phillip Hurring - brass

Alistair Perry - trumpet

Matthew Trubuhovich - saxophone

Mick Rillstone - saxophone

Neville Schwabe - saxophone

Stephen Renwick - trombone