Highway home
Started by bassist George Limbidis and guitarist Phil Pritchard, and later joined by drummer Jim Lawrie, ex Tom Thumb vocalist Bruce Sontgen and guitarist George Barris, Highway exploded onto the Wellington music scene in the early 70s with an originality that belied the three-minute, predictably pop format that most bands adhered to at the time.
Broadcaster Simon Morris was playing in Tamburlaine at the time: “They came from out of nowhere… I’d never seen anything quite like it. Every song was 40-minutes long and yet they were never boring. That’s pretty much where prog rock started as far as New Zealand is concerned.”
Fane Flaws, guitarist for BLERTA and The Crocodiles, used to open for Highway at their old haunt Lucifer’s, and is coming down from the Hawkes Bay especially for the gig.
“They’re my favourite New Zealand band of all time. They’re so amazing; they sounded like no other band on the planet and their record stands up to this day.”
The first rock group to be given a national tour grant from Creative New Zealand, then QEII, Highway built a passionate student fan base. Then after a gig with them in Palmy, Ross Wilson from Daddy Cool suggested Highway try their luck in Melbourne.
Highway made the move, and played big gigs with the likes of Manfred Mann, Mungo Jerry, and John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. But it was never to be.
“Two of the guys left to join up with Daddy Cool but that didn’t work out. That’s what broke it up,” says Sontgen.
Only one member of the original band will be missing when they play next week – bassist George Limbidis, who died in 2000, and who will be replaced by guitarist Barris, with Pritchard’s 17-year old son Mark on guitar.
“I love Wellington and I can’t wait to go back. We’re not gonna worry about money, or selling CDs, we’re just gonna try get it on musically.”
Highway, The Hotel Bristol, July 14.










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