The Wastrels

Gordon Bartram Collection

The Wastrels
Peter Cooke (Guitar/Vocals), Anton Jenner (Vocals), Johnny Brinson (Bass) and Richard Hlavac (Drums)

The Wastrels formed in Christchurch in early 1982 with Anton Jenner (formerly with The Solatudes) as lead vocalist.  They group emerged contemporaneously with The Dance Exponents and the two bands briefly paralleled each other, playing together frequently — The Wastrels reputedly being Jordan Luck's favourite band.  When The Dance Exponents moved on and up, The Wastrels were touted as the Garden City's next big thing, destined to follow on to the national stage.  That seemed a likely scenario with a charismatic front man in Anton Jenner and the group's repertoire of 60s materials.

The Wastrels - Publicity
Richard Hlavac, Johnny Brinson, Peter Cooke and Anton Jenner

The Wastrels - Poster
Richard, Anton, Peter and Johnny

The Wastrels - Publicity
Peter Cooke, Anton Jenner, Richard Hlavac and Johnny Brinson

Hampered by bad behaviour (and possibly bad luck), The Wastrels never quite made that grand step — for too long, there seemed to be a determination to take their name a little too seriously with sloppy, often chaotic, live shows that could try an audience's patience.  They did however taste success in the 1982 Christchurch Battle of the Bands, which resulted in The Jenner Affair — a 12-inch, five-track EP which was recorded at Harlequin Studios and released on the Hit Singles label in early 1983.  It included live favourites like Watch You Move and one of their most enduring songs, Angels In Silence.  The follow-up, Out To Sea delivered a more contemplative side (complete with synthesisers) although the flipside, Slutty Mole saw them in more familiar territory.  A TVNZ Shazam! televised concert in May 1984 promised bigger things, but momentum was finally lost when guitarist Peter Cooke had an amplifier fall on him, fracturing two fingers.

The Wastrels - Timaru
Richard Hlavac, Peter Cooke, Anton Jenner and Johnny Brinson

The Jenner Affair
12-inch EP

The Wastrels - Timaru
Richard Hlavac, Peter Cooke, Anton Jenner and Johnny Brinson

Additional The Wastrels information is available from the Audio Culture Website .....

www.audioculture.co.nz/people/the-wastrels