Pleazers - 1965 - A Midnight Rave with The Pleazers

Baby Jane/Thou Shalt Not Steal/I'm Moving On/Bald Headed Woman/Don't Give Me No Lip Child


The Pleazers were an Australian-based rhythm and blues musical group  that was popular in New Zealand in the mid-1960s.

The band began in Brisbane as the G-Men, before moving to Sydney, changing their name and going professional. In Sydney, they were noticed by Eldred Stebbing of Zodiac Records, who brought them to New Zealand in 1964, where they soon appeared on the Let's Go show. The initial release, "Last Night" / "Poor Girl", did poorly but the follow-up release, a cover of Them's "Gloria" broke into the national charts. The band eventually released seven singles, one EP and one album, called Definitely Pleazers. The band went through several personnel changes and, in March 1965, moved back to Australia, only to break up six months later. 

Originally an Australian band from Brisbane, known as the G-Men. They were joined by Bob Cooper, whose actual name was Bob London (brother of Billy) and decided to change there name to the Pleazers (not to be confused with NZ band The Pleasers). They then went professional and at this point Vince Lipton decided to leave and was replaced by Bruce Robinson (Bass). The band moved to Sydney, losing Jim Cerezo on the way, so Robinson moved to lead guitar and Ronnie Peel joined on bass.

 It was while playing in Sydney that they were noticed by Zodiac owner, Eldred Stebbing, who brought them to New Zealand in 1964, with a promise of guaranteed work and unlimited studio time. They started playing at the Shiralee and also appeared on the TV show "Let's Go". They looked to be set to take the nation by storm, but fell out with TV producers and were subsequently banned from the airwaves. They started looking scruffier and seemed more comfortable with this image.

 Their first single, "Last Night"/"Poor Girl", got minor response. It wasn't until they released their follow-up song, a cover of Them's "Gloria", with "That Lonely Feeling" on the reverse, in February 1965, that saw them get any action on the charts. Seven singles, one EP called "Midnight Rave", and one album called "Definitely Pleazers" were released on the Zodiac label. The other singles were "Like Columbus Did"/"Sometimes", "Is It Over Baby"/"Hurtin' All Over", "Guilty"/"Can't Pretend", "Here Today"/"La La Lies" and "Three Cool Cats"/"Security".

Eldred Stebbing took over the Shiralee in 1966 and renamed it the Galaxie. He installed as resident bands, two of the raunchiest R&B groups around, the La De Da's and the Pleazers. The La De Da's fitted in well with the image of the club, but the Pleazers wanted to continue their rough looking image and Bob Cooper was soon replaced by Shane Hales. Cooper showed up with Hubb Kapp and the Wheels.  Ronnie Peel left the group in 1966 and was replaced by Gus Fenwick from the Layabouts. The Pleazers  went back to Australia in June 1966, but returned in March 1967, without Peter Newing, only to split up 6 months later.

They were one of the premier groups on the New Zealand scene, but their behaviour was far from acceptable in a staid New Zealand society. Peel spent a brief period with the La De Da's before moving to the UK and a stint with  Thunderclap Newman. He later changed his name to  Rockwell T James and performed well in Australia. Gus Fenwick also continued his career in Australia, before joining Shane Hales in the Shane Group, which evolved into the Apple. In Australia Gus was a member of the Bootleg Family Band, Band Of Talabene, Healing Force,  Nightflyer, Swanee and The Joy Boys.

Shane Hales had a short stint with Jamestown Union, before forming the Shane Group, and after that had a very successful solo career, while Bruce Robinson went on to join Troubled Mind, then Flinders and Rockinghorse.

 Line-Up: (Original)     Jim Cerezo (Lead Guitar)
     Peter Newing (Rhythm Guitar)
     Vince Lipton (Bass)
     Dennis Gilmore (Drums)
     Billy London (Vocals)



Line-Up: (New Zealand)
     Billy London (Vocals)
     Bob Cooper (Vocals)
     Bruce Robinson (Lead Guitar)
     Peter Newing (Rhythm Guitar)
     Ronnie Peel (Bass)
     Dennis Gilmore (Drums)



L to R: Dennis Gilmore, Ron Peel, Peter Newing, Shane Hales, Billy London and Bruce Robinson seated.