The Revival

Resident at Snoopy's Nitespot 1969

Rob Carpenter Collection

The Revival
Craig Scott (Vocals), Rod Coe (Bass), Robbie Carpenter (Keyboards), Gerard (Bruno) Berens (Drums), Eddie Hansen (Guitar)

The Revival - Rod Coe, Robbie Carpenter, Craig Scott, Eddie Hansen and Gerard (Bruno) Berens

Original HMV HR-377
Viva Bobby Joe

Reissue HMV HR-377
Viva Bobby Joe

Re-issue EMI HR-377
Viva Bobby Joe

Craig Scott was working in Dunedin as a bank clerk, but he had a strong interest in Rock 'n' Roll.  He sang and played bass guitar for Dunedin band, The Klap before joining Dunedin's top band, Fantasy in 1968 - just before they relocated to Christchurch.  Soon after arriving in Christchurch, Craig met up with four locals who had a band called The Blues Revival, and Craig joined them as vocalist.

Robbie Carpenter, Rod Coe, Eddie Hansen, Craig Scott and Gerard (Bruno) Berens

Craig Scott, Gerard (Bruno) Berens, Robbie Carpenter, Rod Coe and Eddie Hansen

In February 1969, (at Ray Columbus's suggestion), they shortened their name to The Revival, simultaneously changing their image and repertoire, which resulted in immediate success.  May 1969 saw The Revival win the Christchurch section of the National Battle Of The Bands, and this caught the attention of HMV record producer and A&R man Peter Dawkins, who took them to Wellington to record a single - a cover of a current number by The Equals - and the Revival version outsold the original hands down.  The single was Viva Bobby Joe // Rudi's In Love (the flipside was also a cover, but of a song by the British group Locomotive).  Viva Bobby Joe made it to number 14 on the National Charts in 1969, and although the record was a success, the 'bubble-gum' style wasn't really what most of the members felt happy with, and thus when Craig was offered a solo career in April 1970, the group disbanded.