Tina Matthews
Encyclopedia
Christina "Tina" Matthews (born 1961) is a New Zealand
musician who played bass guitar
in bands such as The Wide-Mouthed Frogs, and The Crocodiles
. She is also an author and puppeteer.
, Bronwyn Murray on keyboards
and Sally Zwartz on drums
. In 1979 they released the track, "Some Day" for the compilation album
, Home Grown Volume One.
Wide Mouthed Frogs worked with The Spats
' members: drummer Bruno Lawrence
sometimes played saxophone
for them and keyboardist Peter Dasent
became their musical director. By 1980, The Spats had evolved into The Crocodiles
, under the mentorship of US producer Kim Fowley
, and featured Tony Backhouse
(guitar), Dasent, Fane Flaws
(guitar/vocals), Mark Hornibrook (bass guitar), Lawrence, and songwriter Arthur Baysting
. Morris was asked to join and soon after, Hornibrook departed and was replaced by Matthews. The Crocodiles were managed by Mike Chunn
(ex-Split Enz
bassist) and regularly performed in Auckland. In January 1980 they played the high profile Sweetwaters Music Festival
and in April that year, they released their debut album, Tears, produced by Glyn Tucker Jr., and its lead single, "Tears", both reached No. 17 on the respective New Zealand albums
and singles charts.
Lawrence left and was replaced on drums by Ian Gilroy
(ex-Whizz Kids), then Flaws left, although he continued to write material for the second album. Released in November 1980, Looking at Ourselves, was produced by Ian Morris. That year
they won 'Best Group' and 'Most Promising Group' at the New Zealand Music Awards
. The line-up went through further changes, Gilroy left to join The Swingers
, followed by Matthews and Dasent.
Matthews was initially mentored by Peter Chester in puppetry
at a community workshop for the QE II Arts Council in New Zealand. She later worked with designer Garth Frost to fabricate the puppets for Australian ABC television programme The Ferals
. During the 1980s Matthews honed her skills by working on the Jim Henson
movie Labyrinth
, starring David Bowie
.
In 2007 Matthews published her first book, Out of the Egg, which she also illustrated. Out of the Egg was nominated in the Picture Book section of the 2008 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults and won the award for Best First Book.
Matthews is currently a puppetry teacher at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) in Sydney
and a self-employed artist and designer.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
musician who played bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in bands such as The Wide-Mouthed Frogs, and The Crocodiles
The Crocodiles
The Crocodiles was a New Zealand pop band formed in 1979 with lead singer Jenny Morris, who went on to commercial success as a solo artist in Australia; and later included drummer Barton Price who subsequently joined Sardine v and then Models...
. She is also an author and puppeteer.
Biography
Tina Matthews (born 1961 in Wellington, New Zealand) joined an all-girl group, Wide Mouthed Frogs in Wellington, performing bass guitar. Fellow members were Jenny Morris on lead vocals, Andrea Gilkison on guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Bronwyn Murray on keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and Sally Zwartz on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. In 1979 they released the track, "Some Day" for the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Home Grown Volume One.
Wide Mouthed Frogs worked with The Spats
The Spats
Spats were a New Zealand band . Members included Fane Flaws, Peter Dasent, Bruno Lawrence and Tony Backhouse. Spats worked with the Limbs Dance Company, a contemporary dance company based in New Zealand...
' members: drummer Bruno Lawrence
Bruno Lawrence
Bruno Lawrence was a New Zealand musician and actor.Initially notable as founder of 1970s musical and theatrical "Blerta", he had well-regarded roles in several major films, and starred on the 1990s Australian satirical TV series Frontline.-Biography:Born David Charles Lawrence in Worthing, West...
sometimes played saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
for them and keyboardist Peter Dasent
Peter Dasent
Peter Dasent is a New Zealand musician and composer. He played keyboards in the bands Spats, and The Crocodiles. He leads the chamber-jazz group the Umbrellas, is writing a book on the music of Nino Rota and currently works in music composition for film and television, most notably in the...
became their musical director. By 1980, The Spats had evolved into The Crocodiles
The Crocodiles
The Crocodiles was a New Zealand pop band formed in 1979 with lead singer Jenny Morris, who went on to commercial success as a solo artist in Australia; and later included drummer Barton Price who subsequently joined Sardine v and then Models...
, under the mentorship of US producer Kim Fowley
Kim Fowley
Kim Vincent Fowley is an American record producer, impresario, songwriter, musician, film maker, and radio actor. He is best known for his role behind a string of novelty and cult rock pop singles in the 1960s, and for managing The Runaways in the 1970s...
, and featured Tony Backhouse
Tony Backhouse
Tony Backhouse is a musician from New Zealand. He played in NZ bands such as The Crocodiles, and formed Australian a cappella groups, the Elevators, the Cafe of the Gate of Salvation, the Honeybees and the Heavenly Lights...
(guitar), Dasent, Fane Flaws
Fane Flaws
Fane Flaws is a New Zealand musician, songwriter, and artist. He was a member of bands including Blerta, Spats and The Crocodiles.He wrote many of the songs used in the film Meet the Feebles....
(guitar/vocals), Mark Hornibrook (bass guitar), Lawrence, and songwriter Arthur Baysting
Arthur Baysting
Arthur Baysting is a songwriter, screenwriter , and comedian from New Zealand. He was a songwriting member of The Crocodiles, co-writing their biggest hit Tears with Fane Flaws....
. Morris was asked to join and soon after, Hornibrook departed and was replaced by Matthews. The Crocodiles were managed by Mike Chunn
Mike Chunn
Mike Chunn is a former member of the New Zealand bands Split Enz and Citizen Band. He performed alongside his brother Geoff Chunn in both bands....
(ex-Split Enz
Split Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
bassist) and regularly performed in Auckland. In January 1980 they played the high profile Sweetwaters Music Festival
Sweetwaters Music Festival
Sweetwaters Music Festival was a series of events held between 1980 and 1999, at venues such as a farm in Ngaruawahia, then further north on a farm near Pukekawa, and finally at South Auckland, New Zealand.- Events:*1980 - Ngaruawahia*1981 - Ngaruawahia...
and in April that year, they released their debut album, Tears, produced by Glyn Tucker Jr., and its lead single, "Tears", both reached No. 17 on the respective New Zealand albums
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand
The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand...
and singles charts.
Lawrence left and was replaced on drums by Ian Gilroy
Ian Gilroy
Ian Gilroy is a New Zealand musician who played drums in bands such as The Plague, The Whizz Kids, The Crocodiles , The Swingers and Fetus Productions .-Films:...
(ex-Whizz Kids), then Flaws left, although he continued to write material for the second album. Released in November 1980, Looking at Ourselves, was produced by Ian Morris. That year
1980 in New Zealand
-Population:* Estimated Population as of 31 December: 3,176,400* Increase since 31 December 1979: 12,500 * Males per 100 Females: 99.2-Regal and Vice Regal:*Head of State - Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand...
they won 'Best Group' and 'Most Promising Group' at the New Zealand Music Awards
New Zealand Music Awards
The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups....
. The line-up went through further changes, Gilroy left to join The Swingers
The Swingers
The Swingers were a New Zealand rock band. Formed out of the remnants of The Suburban Reptiles, the founding members were Phil Judd , Wayne Stevens , and Mark Hough . Formed in 1979, the band released the single "One Good Reason" which was a top 20 hit in New Zealand...
, followed by Matthews and Dasent.
Matthews was initially mentored by Peter Chester in puppetry
Puppetry
Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance which involves the manipulation of puppets. It is very ancient, and is believed to have originated 30,000 years BC. Puppetry takes many forms but they all share the process of animating inanimate performing objects...
at a community workshop for the QE II Arts Council in New Zealand. She later worked with designer Garth Frost to fabricate the puppets for Australian ABC television programme The Ferals
The Ferals
The Ferals is an Australian children's comedy television series created by Wendy Gray and Claire Henderson and produced by the ABC. It ran from 1994 to 1995, and it featured a mixture of people and animal puppets known as the "Ferals." It was lauded for its irreverent humour and distinctive...
. During the 1980s Matthews honed her skills by working on the Jim Henson
Jim Henson
James Maury "Jim" Henson was an American puppeteer best known as the creator of The Muppets. As a puppeteer, Henson performed in various television programs, such as Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, films such as The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, and created advanced puppets for...
movie Labyrinth
Labyrinth (film)
Labyrinth is a 1986 British/American fantasy film directed by Jim Henson, produced by George Lucas, and designed by Brian Froud. Henson collaborated on the screenwriting with children's author Dennis Lee, Terry Jones from Monty Python, and Elaine May .The film stars David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin...
, starring David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
.
In 2007 Matthews published her first book, Out of the Egg, which she also illustrated. Out of the Egg was nominated in the Picture Book section of the 2008 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults and won the award for Best First Book.
Matthews is currently a puppetry teacher at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and a self-employed artist and designer.
External links
- Tina Matthews interview with Kim Hill on Radio New Zealand National (24 May 2008)