The Strangers

The Strangers - circa '64  —  a restored and recoloured image
Arthur Thain (Lead Guitar), Gary Thain (Bass Guitar), Graeme Ching (Vocals and Rhythm Guitar) and Dave Beattie (Drums)

An early image of the Strangers
Arthur Thain   —   Graeme Ching   —   Dave Beattie   —   Gary Thain

Latter-day Strangers capitalising on The Beatles popularity
Advert organised by Bart Ball, owner of the Zodiac Lounge

In their time, The Strangers released three singles on the Robbins Recordings label.  The recordings were (in order of commercial release)  —  
RRSP23  My Blue Heaven // The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs — RRSP48  Alright // Pretend — RRSP52  I Can't Help Forgiving You // I'd Never Be Blue

The Strangers outside the Zodiac Lounge
From top  —  Arthur Than, Gary Thain, Dave Beattie and Graeme Ching

The Strangers

Gary Thain   —   Dave Beattie   —   Graeme Ching   —   Arthur Thain

The Strangers were resident at the The Zodiac Lounge (Caledonian Hall, Kilmore Street, Christchurch), and the group included the Thain brothers, Arthur (Lead Guitar) and Gary (Bass Guitar) along with Dave Beattie (Drums) and Graeme Ching (Rhythm Guitar and Vocals).  Gary went on to greater things, eventually winding up as bassman in the internationally famous group Uriah Heep before joining the elite Twenty-seven Club — dying of a drug overdose at the very early age of 27.

The Strangers - '60s photograph at an unkown venue  (Photo: Yvonne Hart)
Dave Beattie   —   Graeme Ching   —   Gary Thain   —   Arthur Thain

The Strangers - at a Barn Dance in Burwood circa 1963  (Photo: Yvonne Hart)
Arthur Thain   —   Graeme Ching   —   Gary Thain   —   Dave Beattie