Blerta

Bruno in CHTV3 makeup ....

ROCKHAPPENZ Public Collection

BLERTA  —  Bruno Lawrence's Electric Revalation and Travelling Apparition .....
was a New Zealand musical and theatrical co-operative active from 1971 until 1975.

It was the idea of Bruno Lawrence to arrange a group of musicians, actors and friends, who would travel around New Zealand on a tour to get away from the pressure of the music and movie scene.   He organised the travelling group, and in October 1971, they departed on their tour.  The group travelled around New Zealand in a very distinctive red bus, concluding in January 1973 at the first large outdoor music festival in New Zealand, The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival, before heading up the eastern seaboard of Australia, and performing at the 1973 Aquarius Festival at the Northern Rivers NSW hippie town of Nimbin.

Blerta circa 1976 - Billy Brown (Drums), Malcolm Hayman (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Peter Blake (Keyboards),
Rodger Fox (Trombone), Paul Clayton (Lead Guitar), Geoff Culverwell (Trumpet)
and Murray Loveridge Bass Guitar/Vocals)

The group lived in a commune for many years.  Three families lived together, including those of Bruno Lawrence and Geoff Murphy.  The group came to the attention of the New Zealand film industry and were employed at times to create work for TVNZ.  The group were labelled as hippies during that time and were looked down upon by some in the industry, despite the quality and nature of their work.  Nevertheless, the band had a significant hit with their song Dance All Around The World, which reached #13 in the N.Z. music charts in June 1972.

The line-up changed throughout the years that Blerta travelled.  Members included Bruno Lawrence, Fane Flaws, Beaver (Beverly Morrison), Geoff Murphy, Tony Barry, Patrick Bleakley, Ian Watkin and Mick Lieber, as well as many others, of which some had previously worked with Bruno in bands and others joined along the way.  The original line up was Bruno Lawrence (Drums), Corben Simpson (Guitar/Vocals), Kemp Turirangi (Guitar), Geoff Murphy (Trumpet), Alan Moon (Organ), Tony Littlejohn (Bass), Beaver (Vocals), Eric Foley (Saxophone), and Chris Seresin (Keyboards).  The great adventure and experience of Blerta finished in 1975, with the troupe embarking on one last tour.  Former lineups included Dave Orams (Bass Guitar), Rufus Rehu (Keyboards), Johnny McCormick (Saxophone), Dennis Mason (Saxophone), Brian Beauchamp (Drums).

Blerta - This Is The Life - Fane Flaws

Blerta - Dance All Around The World
HR.466(A) 1972

Blerta - Jam And Pudding
HR.491(B) 1972

Blerta - Rain Song
HR.536(B) 1975

Blerta - Organism - Fane Flaws

The Blerta Bus

The Blerta Bus again ..... photo by Murray Cannick

Blerta communal group .....