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He's certainly got a reputation for being a bit "difficult". My brother had an altercation with him a long time ago when he was living in Chch and the band were just starting to get big. Long story, but the words "massive" and "cock" could be used in a way to describe James.

Danger Mouse wrote: ↑Sun Aug 07, 2022 8:19 pm He's certainly got a reputation for being a bit "difficult". My brother had an altercation with him a long time ago when he was living in Chch and the band were just starting to get big. Long story, but the words "massive" and "cock" could be used in a way to describe James.

Many of us would like to be known for having a massive cock, not so many for being a massive cock

jeremyb wrote: ↑Sun Aug 07, 2022 8:30 pm

Danger Mouse wrote: ↑Sun Aug 07, 2022 8:19 pm He's certainly got a reputation for being a bit "difficult". My brother had an altercation with him a long time ago when he was living in Chch and the band were just starting to get big. Long story, but the words "massive" and "cock" could be used in a way to describe James.

Many of us would like to be known for having a massive cock, not so many for being a massive cock

Certainly wasn't the former.

James was very sober for the whole 2 hours 9pm - 11pm the whole gig, singing and playing his LP Custom and entertaining the crowd of about 500 ish? it was really a great night!

KNNZ wrote: ↑Sun Aug 07, 2022 8:57 pm James was very sober for the whole 2 hours 9pm - 11pm the whole gig, singing and playing his LP Custom and entertaining the crowd of about 500 ish? it was really a great night!

Thats great, glad he's back on the wagon!!

Danger Mouse wrote: ↑Sun Aug 07, 2022 8:19 pm He's certainly got a reputation for being a bit "difficult". My brother had an altercation with him a long time ago when he was living in Chch and the band were just starting to get big. Long story, but the words "massive" and "cock" could be used in a way to describe James.

Understatement, in my personal experience... total POS is a better description. I had a run in with him about 20 years ago when he used to frequent a local Ponsonby bar where my mate was the bartender. Took my rather fine lady at the time who was about 19 or 20 and saw old mate from the Feelers there, had a bit of a fanboy moment as was a fan of the band up until that point. I went to take a piss and came back to find him trying to cut in my girl, who was having none of it when he got a bit hands-on. Tried to interlude on things by coming in to intro myself and he got boisterous fast before the situation was defused by Greg Johnson, who was also a local at that bar (and in comparison, a bloody nice guy) before it turned into a biffo. At one point though, he literally told my girlfriend to "ditch the schoolboy" (I was 22 or 23 but looked all of 12) and come home with him for a bunch of descriptive activities I won't repeat.... nearly went to drop him at that point (I suspect he has a gin-fueled-glass jaw) but common sense prevailed and we left, despite him heckling us the entire way out.

Ironically, a few weeks later, I was at the bar having a drink after work with my bartender mate and he appeared again, clearly more sober and with no obvious memory of fact that I could tell. Seemed really surprised as I refused to shake hands when he went to introduce himself as he clearly saw I knew the bartender/his booze supplier. Didn't remember a thing. I decided to exit to avoid any drama but I saw him there several times over that period, always in some degree of inebriation and often lurking around attractive young women.

I wondered if his antics were just a one off, but over the years I've heard about his boozed performances / arguments with crowds and I know at least 2 other women who would confidently call him a 'creep" for all that implies . Totally put me off the band, although I have met two other members through gear sales over the years and they were good guys, so I know who the rotten apple is.



























Reckon I could have taken him though

Supersystem is a pretty decent album and Pressure Man is an underrated NZ tune IMO. Returning (and sober) bands from the early 2000s is a positive sign for live guitar music in general, too.

hercules wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 10:15 am Supersystem is a pretty decent album and Pressure Man is an underrated NZ tune IMO. Returning (and sober) bands from the early 2000s is a positive sign for live guitar music in general, too.

Maybe I'm jarred by personal experience, but I put these guys in the same camp as an artist like Michael Buble ... come out of hibernation once a year to run a nostalgia tour and relive the glory days/ride on legacy. For the fans that want that, all good. Here's hoping JR has got his act together these days for the sake of said fans.

I liked the Feelers back when they dropped Pressure Man around '97 but they were pretty much eclipsed for me by more interesting artists around that era like Dead Flowers, Breathe and the epically underrated Weta.

I never caught Breathe live ( in fact I can’t actually remember who they were) but Dead Flowers and Weta were fantastic Rock bands

I can’t remember any issues with James or the other lads

Yes James is known for liking the drink.

As far as I can recall a lot of Feelers grief was:
- the music is rubbish
- every station is playing Venus
- the Feelers got ahead by self-financial (rich parents)
- they supported National
- that RWC cover song

Now as standalone issues that’s manageable but all 5 together is a hard draw for credibility in the NZ Music scene

Anyone remember www.nzmusic.com

foal30 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:30 pm I never caught Breathe live ( in fact I can’t actually remember who they were) but Dead Flowers and Weta were fantastic Rock bands

They disbanded early 00's after their last album, Don't Stop The Revolution, which is on Spotify still. They were a bit more pop like many bands of that era i.e. stereobus, betchadupa but wrote some great tracks. Their first album Pop Life is a better listen in my opinion.

Saw Dead Flowers open for the Feelers at a south auckland pub in '99, got me into them.

I’ll have a listen, cheers

foal30 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 12:37 pm I can’t remember any issues with James or the other lads

Yes James is known for liking the drink.

As far as I can recall a lot of Feelers grief was:
- the music is rubbish
- every station is playing Venus
- the Feelers got ahead by self-financial (rich parents)
- they supported National
- that RWC cover song

Now as standalone issues that’s manageable but all 5 together is a hard draw for credibility in the NZ Music scene

Anyone remember www.nzmusic.com

To be fair, at least 4 of those points get scored against most North Shore AKL bands of the last 20 years

To me, The Feelers have been NZ's version of Maroon 5. Started off as a rock band that translate well in the pop market and then sllllooooooowwwllllyyy edged more and more into the pop rock.

jhyang549 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 2:13 pm To me, The Feelers have been NZ's version of Maroon 5. Started off as a rock band that translate well in the pop market and then sllllooooooowwwllllyyy edged more and more into the pop rock.

Saw Maroon 5 a few years back with an ex. Had low expectations, but they were all highly competent musically and they had more of a rock vibe akin to the Killers live. Their lead guitarist James Valentine is quite a good player.