Blam Blam Blam to Join Bill with the Exponents

Blam Blam Blam to Join Bill with the Exponents for the Chris Sheehan Fundraiser

The Powerstation

31 October

Tickets from Ticketmaster

Legendary NZ group Blam Blam Blam are joining The Exponents at the fundraiser show for their friend and ex guitarist, Chris Sheehan. On discovering that Sheehan was gravely ill, they rallied to put a show on to help him and his family. Blam Blam Blam agreed without hesitation to join the bill.

It’s a rare event to have The Blams perform their brand of alt pop/rock. Mark Bell, Tim Mahon and Don McGlashan haven’t played a public show together for 10 years or so.

The band was one of NZ’s most exciting live acts in the early 80s, and used to play prison gigs in Christchurch with the ‘Dance Exponents’ as they were then. “It is fantastic to have both of these bands come together to help their friend” says promoter Brent Eccles.

Sheehan joined Dance Exponents on guitar in 1983 and was widely recognised as bringing a new edge to the group, best heard on his first recording, Sex & Agriculture produced by Julian Mendelsohn. He played on the follow up record, Expectations which featured the singles My Love For You, Christchurch (In Cashel St. I Wait) and Greater Hopes, Greater Expectations.

Chris moved to the UK with the band in 1986 and elected to stay on when the other members returned to New Zealand in 1990. Sheehan formed his own group The Starlings as well as playing with The Mutton Birds and Sisters Of Mercy.

He later moved to Spain with his wife and children where they run an animal shelter. Recently he posted the following on his facebook page and the news is worse than anyone could imagine.

‘I can't justify any of my limited income to be spent on my own non-profit activities. Stage 4 metastatic nodular melanoma. Clinical trials and palliative treatment only. Wife terminally ill. Dozens of rescue animals. I don't own a computer anymore and would like a good laptop and software to see what comes out. I will not divert money from my family for selfish artistic urges. Maybe someone who enjoyed a Starlings record at some time is flush. Ta Chris’.

The four founding members of the band have rallied to send funds to Chris and the family. The obvious thing was to play a show, to have friends, family and fans of the band come together and to help contribute to the family and in the hope that Chris can make another record.

Promoter Brent Eccles says “I encourage everyone in the business and all music fans to attend this worthy event”.

ends

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