The Mutton Birds

The Mutton Birdswere aNew Zealandrock music group formed inAucklandin 1991 byRoss Burge,David LongandDon McGlashan, withAlan Greggjoining a year later. Four of their albums reached the top 10 on theNew Zealand Albums Chart,The Mutton Birds(1992),Salty(1994),Envy of Angels(1996) andRain, Steam and Speed(1999). They had a number-one hit with "The Heater" (1994), while their two other top 10 singles were a cover of "Nature" bythe Fourmyula(1992), and an original, "Anchor Me" (1994). From 1996 to 2000 the group were based inEngland; they returned to New Zealand and then disbanded in 2002.
David Longon guitars andDon McGlashanon lead vocals and bass guitar formed the Mutton Birds inAucklandas a three-piece rock group in early 1991.For their first live performance, onSaint Patrick's Day, they used an interim drummer who was soon replaced byRoss Burge.McGlashan had been a member ofBlam Blam Blam(1982, 1984) andthe Front Lawn(1985–1993), Long had played in the Six Volts and appeared on the Front Lawn's albums.Burge had been a member of the Spines andSneaky Feelings, and early on, he was drumming both forDribbling Darts(1989–1993) and the Mutton Birds. In 1992, the three-piece band gainedAlan Gregg, also from Dribbling Darts, on bass guitar.
As a four-piece they recorded their firstself-titled album.It peaked at No. 2 on theNew Zealand Albums Chartin September 1992,and was certified platinum in New Zealand.It was in the top 50 for 52 non-consecutive weeks.They gained notice outside college radio for their cover version of "Nature" (August 1992), which reached No. 4 on the related singles chart.The original was recorded bythe Fourmyulain 1969 (written by keyboardistWayne Mason), and in 2001 was voted asNew Zealand's greatest song of the previous 75 years.
They signed with EMI Australia, which financed their second studio album,Salty(April 1994).This was self-produced and mixed by American producer-engineerTchad Blake(Elvis Costello,Tom Waits,Crowded House).It reached No. 3 and was certified platinum in New Zealand.Saltyprovided a number-one hit single, "The Heater", in April, and top 10 position for "Anchor Me" (October).McGlashan won anAPRA Silver Scrollsong writing award for the latter hit.Their next album,Nature(September 1995), was a compilation of tracks selected from their first two albums with additional production byNeil Finn(of Crowded House), viaVirgin Recordsfor the United Kingdom market.
Their third studio album,Envy of Angels, was recorded in Wales and released in November 1996, withHugh Jonesproducing (the Bluetones,Dodgy,Echo and the Bunnymen).It peaked at No. 4 in New Zealand.The band moved to London where they remained until 2000.During 1996 the Mutton Birds contributed a cover version ofBlue Öyster Cult's 1976 single, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", to the soundtrack ofPeter Jackson's filmThe Frighteners.Their version reached theARIA Singles Charttop 50 early in the following year.By that time Long had already returned to New Zealand and he was replaced on guitar by New Zealand-born, British-based Chris Sheehan (ofthe Starlings).
In 1997 the band played concerts in Canada as part of theAnother Roadside Attractionfestival tour.They established their own label, Gravy Train Records, and issued two limited-release albums,Angle of Entry(an acoustic live album) in late 1997 andToo Hard Basket(subtitledB-sides and Bastards, a compilation of contained rarities) in 1998.In mid-1998 Gregg left and was replaced by English-born Tony Fisher on bass guitar and keyboards.The group's fourth studio album,Rain, Steam and Speed(February 1999), appeared on shhh! Records.Another live album,Live in Manchester, was issued before their 2000 UK tour, during which their line-up was augmented by ex-Garageland guitarist, Andrew Claridge.
For the New Zealand and Australian tour in October–November 1999, Burge's former band mateMatthew Bannister(Sneaky Feelings,Dribbling Darts) was added to the line-up. The group returned to New Zealand in 2000. A greatest hits compilation,Flock, was released in 2002 but they disbanded by mid-year. In 2012 the Mutton Birds temporarily reunited with the line-up of Burge, Gregg, Long and McGlashan, to play at New Zealand wineries in February and early March.Another live album from that tour,Free Range: The Mutton Birds Live 2012, was issued in November.
TheAotearoa Music Awards(previously known asNew Zealand Music Awards(NZMA)) are an annual awards night celebrating excellence inNew Zealand musicand have been presented annually since 1965.