Swellfoot's Assembly
Swellfoot's Assembly (commonly misspelled Swellsfoot Assembly) was a brass rock band, active in the late 1960s, and again in 1973 or 1974.
The second version evolved out of a band called 'Ziffel', who lost their lead singer (Paul Harris) in a car accident. The band featured Ray Thomas (electric guitar), Ken Thomas (vocals, alto saxophone), Paul Middlebrook (keyboards), Mike Abbott (drums), Mike Booth (trumpet), Carl Reinsfield (tenor saxophone), Paul Baxter (bass; later of 1953 Memorial Society Rock'N Roll Band) and Marion Arts (vocals; later of 1953 Memorial Society Rock'N Roll Band and the Red Hot Peppers).
John Dix’s 1988 book on New Zealand music 'Stranded in Paradise' (and various websites) have stated the band included Garth Porter, later of Australian group ‘Sherbet’. While Arts has stated this was not the case, it appears the early version of the band did exist with Porter, the Thomas brothers and a drummer called 'Ging'.
The band played at the Hillcrest Tavern, clubs (including Granny's), University 'splurges' and concerts, and at private parties. Swellfoot's Assembly was a covers band, playing songs by Tower of Power, Chicago, Sly and The Family Stone, Family and more.
