Tadpole (band)

Between the band's beginning and 1999, Tadpole went through many line-up changes. At one point, the members were all female except one.

Vocalist Renée Brennan and drummer/manager Dean Lawton have been stable members of the band since the late 1990s, just prior to their New Zealand rise to fame.

During that time, the singles "Blind" (Radio release only, 1998), "For Me" (single release, 1999), and "Backdoor" (also a single release, 1999), were released.

They said their song "Backdoor" was "about our struggle thus far to make it in the New Zealand music industry, and the initial frustration of trying to get our music played on radio, TV - or anywhere really. The 'backdoor' part came about because we felt we were never going to be accepted by the student radio stations, we'd just have to come in through the back door somehow. And yes - for those who want to know, the metaphor of anal sex is intended. I liken our struggle to getting buggered over, and over, and over again. In a very loving and tongue in cheek way." [1][2]

Their debut album The Buddhafinger, was released in New Zealand mid-2000, and proved to be a huge hit, debuting at #2 on the Official New Zealand Top 40 Albumschart.[3] The Buddhafinger had a distinctive pop/punkish slant to it, and featured part-time vinyl scratcher, DJ Kritikl (Kevin May), on most tracks. The 2000 line-up officially consisted of Renée Brennan (vocals), Dean Lawton (drums), Chris Yong (guitar), Paul Matthews (bass) and DJ Kritikl. DJ Kritikl would leave the lineup late in 2000, and the band reverted to a 4-piece.

In January 2002, Paul Matthews left to concentrate on work with fellow New Zealand band Stylus. After a few months' speculation, his place was taken by Hamilton bass player Shannon Brown, previously from the band Mama Said.

August 2002 came the follow-up album, The Medusa which was also a top 10 hit. In contrast with The Buddhafinger, The Medusa had "a much darker, at times menacing sound".[4]

In February 2003 came a large upheaval to the band. Citing musical differences, both guitarist Chris Yong and bassist Shannon Brown left. Both would go into other bands, Redline and 48May respectively.

For months after Tadpole played sporadically with temporary guitar/bass parts, before settling on two new members, Henry Penny and Ollie Gordon. This line-up kept a low profile during 2004-2005, playing 4-5 gigs at a time, rather than whole tours.

Tadpole toured several times in New Zealand and played gigs all around the world. In February 2005, their third album, Tadpole was recorded, however it took a year and a half for its release. During that time, the singles "Too Hard" and "Yesterday" were released to New Zealand radio and video stations.

As of May 2006, Renée announced on Breakfast that after 12 years together and due to a personal conflict between herself and drummer, Dean Lawton, Tadpole as a band were to go their separate ways indefinitely, effective 24 June 2006 after a final Auckland concert and self-titled album release, Tadpole. All have now gone their separate ways:

• Renée Brennan is a DJ on Kiwi FM, an exclusively New Zealand music based station.
• Henry Penny has returned to The United Kingdom and has founded the band A Quick Minute with Dave Phillips.
• Paul Matthews was the bass guitarist in the London-based New Zealand rock band I Am Giant since disbanded.
• Chris Yong has pursued politics, running as a member of the New Zealand Internet Party, and maintains a portfolio in the fields of IT and web design.

• MySpace Website
• AudioCulture profile