Biography
Even amid the frequently eccentric and interlinked saga of New Zealand rock, Mi-Sex stood apart for the sheer oddity of its trajectory. Fronted by Steve Gilpin, a former cabaret singer, the band began in art-rock territory before shifting its sound and presentation toward new wave. Gilpin first captured nationwide attention in 1972 by winning the television talent show "New Faces," after which he settled into steady work on the provincial hotel circuit, delivering cabaret sets to lounge audiences. In contrast, Father Thyme operated as a hippified prog rock outfit whose lineup included vocalist Steve Grant, guitarist Don Begdegood, keyboardist Alan Moon, bassist Don Martin, and drummer Lindsay Brook. Gilpin caught one of their performances in 1976 and struck up a friendship with Moon and Martin, sensing untapped promise in both musicians.
After Father Thyme dissolved the following year, Moon and Martin reached out to Gilpin, and the three decided to start a group together. They recruited guitarist Kevin Stanton and drummer Don Smart, initially calling themselves Fragments of Time and quickly attracting followers largely because of Gilpin’s earlier television exposure. Moon departed soon afterward, and Smart was dismissed as well; the arrival of keyboardist Murray Burns and drummer Richard Hodgkinson brought both a fresh name—Mi-Sex—and a revised look. Outfitted in tank tops and leather pants, the musicians fully adopted the new wave’s sonic and visual language, incorporating material from Elvis Costello, Mink DeVille, and Graham Parker. Yet their reliance on laser light shows and precise choreography placed them closer to the pre-punk era, overlooking the core spirit of post-punk. When EMI sought a domestic new wave act, Mi-Sex was chosen, resulting in the 1978 release of their first single, “Straight Laddie.”
The record vanished without notice. Although the band retained a loyal following, fellow New Zealand new wave artists regarded them with contempt. Relocating to Australia, however, proved far more rewarding; their debut album, Graffiti Crimes, appeared in 1979, and the single “Computer Games” reached the top of the Australian charts, prompting a celebratory homecoming in New Zealand. The follow-up, Space Race, also succeeded in 1980, but the collapse of a proposed American tour sharply curtailed their progress. Domestic crowds began to shrink, and Shanghaied made scant impression in 1981. Hodgkinson left and was succeeded by Paul Dunningham, formerly of Coup D’Etat; modest successes such as “Castaway” and “Blue Day” ensued, yet Where Do They Go? failed to register on the charts in 1984, after which Mi-Sex disbanded. Steve Gilpin passed away in 1991.
After Father Thyme dissolved the following year, Moon and Martin reached out to Gilpin, and the three decided to start a group together. They recruited guitarist Kevin Stanton and drummer Don Smart, initially calling themselves Fragments of Time and quickly attracting followers largely because of Gilpin’s earlier television exposure. Moon departed soon afterward, and Smart was dismissed as well; the arrival of keyboardist Murray Burns and drummer Richard Hodgkinson brought both a fresh name—Mi-Sex—and a revised look. Outfitted in tank tops and leather pants, the musicians fully adopted the new wave’s sonic and visual language, incorporating material from Elvis Costello, Mink DeVille, and Graham Parker. Yet their reliance on laser light shows and precise choreography placed them closer to the pre-punk era, overlooking the core spirit of post-punk. When EMI sought a domestic new wave act, Mi-Sex was chosen, resulting in the 1978 release of their first single, “Straight Laddie.”
The record vanished without notice. Although the band retained a loyal following, fellow New Zealand new wave artists regarded them with contempt. Relocating to Australia, however, proved far more rewarding; their debut album, Graffiti Crimes, appeared in 1979, and the single “Computer Games” reached the top of the Australian charts, prompting a celebratory homecoming in New Zealand. The follow-up, Space Race, also succeeded in 1980, but the collapse of a proposed American tour sharply curtailed their progress. Domestic crowds began to shrink, and Shanghaied made scant impression in 1981. Hodgkinson left and was succeeded by Paul Dunningham, formerly of Coup D’Etat; modest successes such as “Castaway” and “Blue Day” ensued, yet Where Do They Go? failed to register on the charts in 1984, after which Mi-Sex disbanded. Steve Gilpin passed away in 1991.
Albums
Not from Here
2016
The Essential
2007
Where Do They Go?
1984
Shanghaied
1981
Space Race
1980
Graffiti Crimes
1979
Singles
