Children's Hour (2)

Whilst Chris Matthews was struggling within the pop-confines of The Prime Movers, Johnny Pierce (bass), Grant Fell (guitar) and Bevan Sweeney (drums) were forming their own brooding rock sound as Children's Hour. Matthews (vocals / guitar) consolidated the group in 1983, and it was this line-up that released two EPs on Flying Nun - and went on to tour New Zealand. They disbanded when Grant Fell left for Australia, and in 1985 Chris Matthews and bassist Johnny Pierce formed the International Headless Chickens along with Michael Lawry (guitar) and a drum machine. Following the sad death of Pierce, Grant Fell rejoined the group on bass, and Bevan Sweeny completed the lineup in 1987. The Headless Chickens then went on to become one of New Zealand's most successful bands. in 2005 the three surviving members of Children's Hour, with Failsafe Records Rob Mayes on bass, reconvened for a handful of reunion performances, culminating in the opening slot performance at the NZ Laneways Festival in 2011, playing a swag of material with many unreleased tracks. The first gigs coincided with the retrospective release of 'Looking For The Sun', featuring Children's Hour live material from 1982-1983 - part of Mayes' archival 'Retrogenic' series. Grant Fell passed away in January 2018.