Dd Smash

The New Zealand music scene of the era counted DD Smash among its leading acts, a group fronted by the esteemed singer and songwriter Dave Dobbyn. The ensemble assembled in the middle of 1981, initially performing as Dave Dobbyn's Divers with ex-Lip Service guitarist Rob "Revox" Guy, drummer Peter "Rooda" Warren, and bassist Lisle Kinney. Following a few early shows the musicians adopted the name DD Smash and released their debut single "Repetition," which rose quickly into the Top 25 and prompted the 1982 album Cool Bananas to enter the charts at number one. An automobile accident prompted Kinney's departure; after bassist Ian Morris joined, the band returned in 1983 with the hit "Outlook for Tuesday." Once the concert recording Live: Deep in the Heart of Taxes appeared, Dobbyn retained only Warren and completed 1984's The Optimist using session musicians. On December 7 of that year the reconstituted DD Smash staged gratis a performance that descended into rioting, after which Dobbyn was singled out and prosecuted for inciting the crowd to violence. The charges were ultimately dismissed, yet in the trial's aftermath DD Smash dissolved while Dobbyn directed greater effort toward solo endeavors.