News
The Mod's nod
Published: 10:34AM Tuesday October 06, 2009
Source: Sunday
He shook his long dark mop at the girls in the mosh pit and they screamed in ecstasy.
Ray Columbus, New Zealand's trail-blazing '60's mod star, was our first truly international pop phenomenon. We still hum and whistle his anthems She's a Mod and Til we Kissed.
They were heady days and Ray Columbus and The Invaders stood alongside the greatest, doing 52 concerts with The Rolling Stones. They also shared billings with the likes of Roy Orbison and Tom Jones.
Now Ray and his band, The Invaders, are being honoured for their contribution to New Zealand pop history.
They're being admitted to the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.
Some would say it's long overdue.
We celebrate Ray Columbus, a man inspired by pop and political revolutions, a man ahead of his time.
Sunday October 11, 7.30pm TV ONE---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vintage Kiwi pop anthem to be re-launched
Published: 6:45PM Sunday October 04, 2009
Source: One News
Music lovers are keenly awaiting the release of a vintage Kiwi pop anthem re-make by a band with a radically different sound.
Punk band The Mint Chicks is breathing new life into 60s classic She's a Mod, originally done by Ray Columbus and The Invaders.
It was a 60s pop anthem and a classic Kiwi sing-a-long. So classic in fact that Ray Columbus and The Invaders will be presented with a legacy award at Thursday's Vodafone Music Awards.
Traditionally a younger group breathes new life into one of the winners' hits and this year it's home-grown punk group The Mint Chicks.
"We get to play dress up and be a mod group which is what we always really want to do," says The Mint Chicks guitarist Ruban Nielson.
It's not the first time She's a Mod has had a make-over as there was the 70s punk version by The Terrorways and an 80s rap version by Double J and Twice the T.
However this version is much closer to the original.
"We even recorded it on old equipment as well, so it kind of sounds a little bit vintage," says The Mint Chicks singer Kody Nielson.
After the remake's debut at the music awards next week it will be digitally released to the public, with all proceeds helping special needs children at the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre.
Ray Columbus hopes the song is a big hit for the band.
"The fans will tell, but they're hot, they're edgy, they're different, they're quite mod in a way, and so I hope it's a big hit for them," he says.
Many hope that bringing this classic up to date will keeps Kiwis singing it for some time to come.1 2
MULTIMEDIA - Video - Pictures
Printed Articles (PDF format)
Kiwi Mods - Ray Columbus and The Invaders - by Christopher Paxton
Ray Columbus - From Christchurch With The Mash Potato (Part 1) - by Murray Cammick, Real Groove April 2001
Ray Columbus - There's No Business Like Show Business (Part 2) - by Murray Cammick, Real Groove May 2001
