Coconut Rough were a short-lived

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

pop/ new wave band formed in 1982. Despite their 1983 first single, "Sierra Leone", hitting the top five, and the band being named ''Most Promising Group of the Year'' at that year's RIANZ Awards they split up in 1984.

History

The band was formed in 1982 by lead singer Andrew Snoid, formerly with New Zealand bands the Whizz Kids,

Pop Mechanix Pop Mechanix is a New Zealand-based pop music band that played in New Zealand and Australia from 1979 to 1988. Their single "Jumping out a Window" reached number 87 of the all-time top 100 singles for APRA NZ, and number 12 in the all-time top 50 ...

and Australian-based New Zealand group

the Swingers The Swingers were a New Zealand rock band who were together from 1979 to 1982 and whose biggest single was the song " Counting the Beat". Background Formed out of the remnants of the Suburban Reptiles, the founding members were Phil Judd (gui ...

, and guitarist Mark Bell. Bell later joined Snoid in a reformed Pop Mechanix. Other member were bassist Dennis "Choc" Te Whare, keyboardist Stuart Pearce and drummer Paul Hewitt, and later bassist

Bones Hillman Wayne Stevens (May 1958 – 7 November 2020), known by the stage name Bones Hillman, was a New Zealand musician best known as the bass guitarist for the Australian alternative rock band Midnight Oil, which he joined in 1987 and remained with un ...

. They decided on the name "Coconut Rough" based on a type of sweet treat popular in Australia and New Zealand. The band's biggest hit was also their first single. "Sierra Leone" reached number five in the 1983 New Zealand pop charts. The song was aided by one of the first New Zealand music videos with special effects. In 2001, Sierra Leone was voted the 94th best New Zealand song of all time by members of APRA. They were an opening act for

the Police The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). The Police ...

at their Western Springs concert in 1984,"Police file – The Police", kiwirock.co.nz
/ref> but had folded before the end of that year.

Discography

Awards

References

External links

* The AMG profile for Coconut Rough
Coconut Rough at thebigcity.co.nz

Sierra Leone music video
courtesy NZ On Screen {{authority control APRA Award winners New Zealand new wave musical groups Musical groups established in 1982 1982 establishments in New Zealand 1984 disestablishments in New Zealand Musical groups disestablished in 1984