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The Guests
MKI
1996
Vocals/Drums - Alec Withers
Guitar - Greg McColl
Bass - Aron Pallesen
MKII
1996 – 1998
Vocals/Drums - Alec Withers
Guitar - Aron Pallesen
Bass - Kym Butcher
MKIII
1998-1999
Vocals/Drums - Alec Withers
Guitar - Aron Pallesen
Bass - Luke Harlen
MK IV
1999
Vocals/Drums - Alec Withers
Guitar - Todd Bartlett
Bass - Gareth Reddington
MK V
1999 - 2000
Vocals/Drums - Alec Withers
Guitar - Todd Bartlett
Bass - Greg McColl
The Party
MKI
The Band formed in Hawke’s Bay in January 1996 when three drinking buddies, Alec Withers (vocals, drums), Greg McColl (guitar) and Aron Pallesen (bass) (influenced at the time by The Exploited, Rancid and the ‘Faster & Louder’ compilations) threw together some punk tunes to play some parties, although it wasn’t planned, the jump onto the ‘Post grunge/punk comeback’ bandwagon couldn’t have been timed better.
After a couple of weeks of jamming (at Irongate Orchards smoko rooms) the band had a full set of originals and didn’t waste any time taking their new songs to parties most weekends. The bands first ‘real gig’ was at O’Flaherty’s as part of a HB Musos Club event. Greg McColl left the band to move to Wellington, Kym Butcher then joined the band and Aron Pallesen switched from bass to guitar.
MKII
Some of the early BBB tracks made up the raw debut EP ‘Time Of The Day’ (Hanging Tree Records) the cassette EP was recorded by Dave Hannay at Rose Street and 200 copies sold out locally within just a few months. Towards the end of 1996 Big Blue Blanket became one of the resident bands at a Napier all ages venue State Of It (Thanks to Dave Hannay) at which 1997 not only seen BBB playing almost every week to crowds of 300-400, but also along side acts such as Shihad, HLAH, Garageland, King Loser, Your Mother (USA), Tadpole, Muckhole, Hello Sailor, Balance, Ten Foot Pole & Gas Huffer (USA). Shows at the Cabana Bar and parties at the legendary Main Street were also a high point of this busy time.
High demand for new music and the popularity of the band prompted plans to get some quality recordings on to CD and released North Island-Wide, these plans spawned ‘Every Time You Smile (Hit Your Head Music) a 10 track CD album recorded at New Song Studios, Hastings by Arron Cash, Although the production is was not much of a step up from Time Of The Day it does show a bit of progression by adopting more of a ‘rock’ feel and adding elements of ska.
MKIII
The band was to re-locate to Wellington in 1998, Kym Butcher couldn’t make the move so the first part of the year was spent teaching Luke Harlen (a friend of the band) how to play the bass, ”he couldn’t play a note but he was keen as shit and showed promise, as soon as I knew he was gonna be ok we were off” says Alec. On their way to Wellington BBB spent two weeks in Palmerston North. “We had a couple shows booked two weekends in a row so we stayed there for the full two weeks, one week in the motor camp and the other at a friends flat where we all caught a mad fever and were laid up for three days, while we were there the place got raided by the Police and all our shit got turned upside down which was good really as it took our minds off feeling so ill. We filled most the days in by getting drunk and playing lunchtime shows at the local High Schools”.
Over the next several months the band toured the North Island and along the way added to the basic punk/ska sound were sound effects & keyboards. This more colourful sound was a natural progression on the good-time sound the band was well known for and tracks from this era make up the EP ‘This Must Be The Party’ (Hit Your Head Music) which was recorded by David Holmes in Napier on one of the bands visits home. Highlights of this period include BBB playing at the Vans, Warped Tour 1999 & Sweetwaters 2000. In Wellington it was business as usual and BBB took every chance to play wherever and whenever they could (Pubs, Venues, Universities & House Parties) After out-growing the limited Wellington punk/ska scene.
MKII (Re-visited)
The band had planned to move to Auckland after a summer back home in the bay, however bass player Luke Harlen decided he would stay in Wellington with his girlfriend so Alec & Aron re-formed with Kym Butcher and put plans of a move to the big smoke on hold and got straight back into playing the Hawkes Bay party scene.
MK IV
Aron Pallesen re-located to Australia at the end of 1999, so Todd Bartlett joined the band on Guitar with Gareth Reddington having a short stint on bass before being rudely informed Greg McColl would be taking his spot.
MKV
This was the laziest, most self-destructive BBB to date. The learning of the songs by the new line up was soon aborted and overrun by booze and girls. The majority of the original repertoire of material was discarded and replaced with a set of covers, which the three had played together years earlier in a band called SHAG. Some new material was written, from alternative metal to quirky ‘joke’ songs, and although decent tunes, it was a different Big Blue, the new direction was received as an atrocity, the hardcore fans revolted and soon after so did Big Blue Blanket.
MKII (Re-re-visited)
In February 2006, Aron Pallesen made a visit home to New Zealand and BBB played two re-union shows.
Band Members:
Kym Butcher (bass, vocals, keyboard)
Aron Pallesen (guitar, vocals)
Alec Withers (vocals, drums)
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