Jim Lange

ROCKHAPPENZ Public Collection

Jim Lange  —  pedal steel guitarist with The Marcasites, The Opposition, Val Elliot and The Rhythm Ramblers and The Laredo Country Showband
Jim's career included extensive involvement with Country Music shows on TV and all around New Zealand .....

Here Jim tells us in his own words .....

I was in The Opposition for about 10 years (1980 until 1990).   The Opposition was always a three piece band consisting of bass guitar, lead/rhythm guitar and drums.  Peter Hansen on bass was the founder and leader.  I was on pedal steel which turned out to be an ideal instrument for the role of lead/rhythm.  Gary Mayo was on drums and later on Gary took a break with Tom Corlett taking over the drums.  Unfortunately Tom passed away at a young age.  One of the features of the band was that all members had to be able to sing, and we were sometimes accused of using backing tracks because of the very full sound the band had.  That was never the case - it was always live sound with no extras.

Although Peter Hansen was the founder, the name The Opposition was coined by Peter Gillette, a keyboard player in a particular iteration of the band.

The Marcasites
Allan Brown, Anton Korunic, Jim Lange, Averill Lange and Ross Taylor

Val Elliot and The Rhythm Ramblers
Dave Johnston, Val Elliot, John Cooke and Jim Lange (in front)

..... with The Laredo Country Showband
Malcolm Lilley, Renny Hantler, Jim Lange, Dave Johnston and Gary Mayo (front)