Space Waltz


“Watch out young love!” Akin to a trumpet fanfare stridently announcing the beginning of a battle – an analogy that sits remarkably close to the truth, given the furore that would follow – these four words uttered by the androgynous, pouting, Alastair Riddell remain forever etched upon the popular music history of Aotearoa. They marked a milestone. A sea change. A line in the sand. So many clichés come to mind and all are applicable.

Delivered in 1974 to an unsuspecting populace via the nation’s must-watch, prime time, light-entertainment TV talent quest Studio One/New Faces, Riddell’s introductory warning preceded Space Waltz’s mimed yet declamatory debut of their soon-to-be smash hit, ‘Out on the Street’.

Alastair Riddell of Space Waltz - a flyer for the band's 1975 New Zealand Students' Arts Council Tour.  
Alastair Riddell/Space Waltz university tour handbill, 1975
Space Waltz - the first line-up without Eddie Rayner. From left: Alastair Riddell, Peter Cuddihy, Greg Clark, Brent Eccles. 
Poster for Space Waltz single 'Out on the Street', 1974. 
Space Waltz by Alastair Riddell, 1975 on EMI
Space Waltz - Hard Work (2023)
Watch: Space Waltz - Out On The Street (1974)
Back cover of Space Waltz by Alastair Riddell LP, 1975
Forty-seven years after Space Waltz won Best New Artist in the record industry's RATA awards, Alastair Riddell is presented with the trophy by Nick Bollinger (right). Since 1975 it had been with the late Frank Douglas, legendary EMI engineer; Space Waltz was in Australia when the awards took place. 
Space Waltz - Hypnotise Me (2022)
Alastair Riddell and Space Waltz. L to R: Brent Eccles, Peter Cuddihy, Alastair Riddell, Greg Clark, Eddie Rayner
Out on the Street - Popco, 1974
Alastair Riddell in Space Waltz, Canterbury University, Christchurch, 1975
Watch the judges' reaction to Space Waltz on TV's New Faces (1974)
Members:

Alastair Riddell - vocals, guitar

Brent Eccles - drums

Eddie Rayner - keyboards

Greg Clark - guitar

Peter Cuddihy - bass

Dave Walker - guitar

Paul Baeyertz - keyboards

Labels:

EMI

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