Biography
In 1979 the New Zealand band Pop Mechanix came together in Christchurch, initially operating under the name Splash Alley with Dick Driver handling vocals, Paul Mason on guitar, Paul Scott on bass, Chris Moore on keyboards, and Kevin Emmett on drums. Following a nationwide tour, the ensemble adopted the fuller title Popular Mechanix before shortening it to Pop Mechanix. Under the shortened name they released their first single, “Now,” in 1980. Driver soon departed to join Blam Blam Blam, and Andrew Snoid, previously of the Whizz Kidzz, stepped in as vocalist. After issuing the follow-up single “The Ritz,” the band supported Split Enz on tour and then delivered “Jumping Out a Window,” their most successful release, which climbed just short of the Top 20. The move to Sydney prompted an Australian group called Popular Mechanics to serve a cease-and-desist order; while litigation remained pending, the New Zealanders recorded under the interim name NZ Pop and began work on a debut album. As sessions neared completion, Snoid left to join the Swingers, prompting bassist Scott to overdub the vocal tracks. A further rebranding to the Zoo preceded the late-1982 release of the album Cowboys and Engines, which failed to chart and led to the group’s dissolution. Pop Mechanix reconvened in 1985 and again three years afterward.