Human Lawnmowers
Human Lawnmowers were a band from the mid- to late-1980s who evolved out of a late line-up of The Accessories. They were aligned with Flying Nun and took their name from a song on The MC5’s album Back In The USA.
The band had the song Razor Blade featured on the 1989 compilation Surf Music, and an album on Orange Recordings. Members included Martin Fisher, Joe Flynn (guitar/ vocals), Terry Edwards (drums) and Kent Ericksen (bass). Fisher departed and the group slimmed down to a trio (Ericksen, Flynn, Edwards) playing shows in Hamilton and Auckland in 1986. Gigs included support for Sneaky Feelings and Look Blue Go Purple at Orientation 1986, and Hunters and Collectors at the Metropole in April. An attempt to record an EP for Flying Nun Records in 1986 with former Chill Terry Moore was unsuccessful and plans for a South Island tour fell through.
Andre Schmidt, writing for AudioCulture in 2016, said of Hamilton: "There was only one group worth anything in the city in the early to mid-1980s. A snappy little guitar band called The Human Lawnmowers". They were described as having Velvet Underground influences to such an extent that in 1985 they played an entire set of VU covers.
Late in their time together, the band's van and gear were stolen.
Releases
- The Accessory b/w Friday Night (single, 1982)
- Spud and Veges (12” EP, 1983)
