Band Bio - Greer Wilcox, Bass player

Previous bands :

• The Triffids – Lead guitar (Takapuna Grammar days)
• Me & Them - Bass
• Spectre Blues Band – Bass and 2 nd guitar
• Spectre classic rock Band – Rhythm/2nd guitar
• Spectre cabaret & show Band – rhythm guitar
• Stewart & the Belmonts – rhythm guitar/Hammond organ
• Aladdin – Hammond organ
• Blue Collar Band (5 piece) – Bass
• Blue Collar Band - (3 piece) - Bass

Greer commenced teaching himself the ukelele at age 12 and then upon a return cruise from Fiji, his grandmother bought him back a guitar as a gift. This was the start. It didn’t take too long before he had persuaded his father to buy him an electric guitar and a 15 watt amplifier. He taught himself instrumental tunes from the Shadows and many similar artists.

Playing with some school buddies he formed the “Triffids”, a schoolboy Band who performed at numerous lunchtime concerts at Takapuna Grammar. Often at lunchtime the boys would venture into the Music room to practice, only to be told they would have to lock themselves in a back room so as not to be heard by students! This was because guitar was not an instrument recognised in the school music curriculum. With the arrival of the Beatles, Stones and other sixties pop bands, Greer diversified his playing styles and after leaving school after the sixth form carried on in the Triffids for a while playing at a Milford night club called “Shoreline”. Also the Band often performed spots at Surfside on a Saturday night. This Band finally split up and Greer decided to take up Bass.

He replied to a newspaper advert and joined a Band called “Me & Them”. This Band comprised of three other experienced musicians and was a challenge for Greer, but he was keen and managed to keep up to the level required. The Band travelled quite a bit throughout the North Island and performed mainly at Dances and Night-clubs. The Band was performing at a the “Delmonico” Night Club/Coffee Lounge in Northcote, Auckland and during a break, Greer was apprehended by two blokes requesting he leave this Band and join their Blues Band called “The Spectre”. Greer had heard this band previously and had liked their style and he agreed to join. The Spectre achieved a lot of work through Benny Levin, Fullers and Mary Throll Agencies. They also performed regularly at the Top-20 (1480 Village), Galaxy, Platterack, The Bowl, Aubreys, Club Bo Peep and various other nightclubs. While playing at Aubreys, the owner, Phil Warren invited the Band to perform on the TV Show “Come-On” which he arranged with Kevin Moore the Producer.

This break was most successful for the Band and work increased as a result. Soon after, the Band also appeared on the TV show “Happen-In” and the Radio Show “Pop-along Special”. The Band recorded several original records, but none were ever commercially released. Finally this Band split and Greer joined a new Band called “Stewart & The Belmonts” playing both second guitar and Hammond organ. A new Bass player joined (Steve Hughes ex band Tramline), Drummer (Brent Eccles – who later joined the Angels) and guitarist singer, Alastair Ridell. This Band didn’t last too long and Alastair went on to form “Space Waltz”.

Greer reformed the Spectre once again but this time the music style was totally different. Tony McNulty, one of his old school mates on Bass and Greer on rhythm guitar. A lead guitarist (Albert Peters) was engaged along with a drummer (Colin McLean), although Colin was soon replaced by Kevin Sheehan a much more proficient drummer. This Band toured quite a bit and gained a residency at the Waitangi Hotel in the Bay of Islands. However the Band’s repertoire and style had completely changed to a commercial and cabaret style, which was not Greer’s thing. The Band tried to change its style without success. Eventually Greer could no longer handle this type of music and as there was friction developing, the band split.

After a break, Greer decided to take up electric Hammond organ and after a year formed a new band called “Aladdin”. This band was a five piece with John Ellis, the drummer from the old Spectre and his wife Mary on shared lead vocals. The bass player was from the old Triffids band. This band performed regularly at The Lighthouse reception lounge and British Isles Chartered Club – both in Birkenhead, playing mostly popular songs and classic standards. Also, for nearly a year, the Band were resident on Friday nights at Surfside Ballroom in Milford, Auckland. This band eventually split when Greer became too busy in his own business and he gave away public performing for a while. This ended up being over 20 years!

It was the reunion at 50th birthday parties that re-ignited the flame with a music jam at Greer’s party. A few of the old musos decided to rehearse for a few months, with a view to get back on the road, but nothing really eventuated. Finally Greer replied to an advert for a Bass player and in 1999 with Richard Stringer (vocalist), formed another Band, which they named “Blue Collar Band”. This was a 5-piece band with guitar, bass, drums, lead vocalist and keyboard player. This band managed to obtain quite a lot of work and travelled out of Auckland regularly – to perform. After a year, Richard the vocalist moved to Queenstown to live, and the keyboard player left due to day-job work pressures.

Greer, John and Tim Biggs (lead guitarist) auditioned numerous musicians without success and finally decided to continue on as a 3-piece. This Band was extremely successful and recorded 2 CD’s. Unfortunately John’s wife became terminally ill and he had to give up playing for three years both taking care of her and coming to grips with her passing. The Band resumed again in February 2005 until Tim, the guitarist had to resign due to work pressures. During this time, Greer decided to discard his 4 string bass and convert to 5-string which he found a challenge at first, but before too long, totally came to grips with the instrument and the versatility it could offer.

John and Greer (bass and drums) continued practising on their own until they learned that Phil Pritchard was available as his Band “X-Factor” had just split. We contacted Phil and have never looked back since. The band has worked regularly up to three nights per week and recorded another CD (Soul’d Out Blues) in July 2005.

They have also appeared at the Bay of Islands and Whangarei Jazz & Blues festivals, plus the 2006 Blues, Brews & BBQ’s festival at Mt Maunganui. This year they will again be performing at these festivals and plan on recording another CD soon. The Band has recently taken on a female vocalist (Sheree Wilson) to share lead vocals and to further complement the Bands BV’s and harmonies. She has an awesome Soul/Blues voice and also has had a great deal of past experience as vocalist in various rock bands.

Blue Collar Band performed at over 20 North Island venues during an intensive Christmas/New Year Tour (2005/06) and were extremely well received.