Paul Tregilgas
In about 1989 Paul Tregilgas auditioned for Cygnet Committee and was shot down, which soon became something of an in-joke as he went on to become one of Hamilton's most respected drummers in the early '90s in various dark and moody alternative bands like The Haunting (1990-1992), A Crown Of Wild Myrtles (1991-1993) and Haunting/Book of Martyrs offshoot Hapukalypse Now (1992-1993).
It was in Hapukalypse Now that Paul T (which he became more commonly known as on account of local papers and various bands' liner-notes always spelling 'Tregilgas' wrong) began playing with (among others) bassist Paul Oakley and guitarist Stan Jagger - both recently of Book of Martyrs.
Stan was at this time also a member of the folk/blues inflected King Biscuit, and following the demise of Hapukalypse Now in '93, both Paul T and Paul Oakley also joined King Biscuit. Jagger, Paul T and 'Oakley' (as he was now known, in order to differentiate between the increasingly inseparable Pauls) remained in King Biscuit until about 1995.
Later that same year Paul T also joined former members of Requiem, Cygnet Committee and Book of Martyrs to form the short-lived post-punk/punk-pop project Gas (1995-1996).
Also around either 1995 or 1996, Paul T and regular cohorts Oakley and Stan Jagger were persuaded by former Avant Garbage frontman Dominic Worthington to form self-proclaimed "ROCK'N'ROLL" covers band Johnny Fist; who have (bizarrely) now been in existence for over a decade.
In 1996 the usual 3 suspects also teamed up with ex-Nerve frontman Jamie Stone to form a more serious indie-rock originals project, but could not agree amongst themselves whether or not to call their new band Mother Trucker or Father Trucker and thus ultimately settled for Trucker. Some say Trucker were formed in 1997, but let the record show that they came second overall in the Battle of the Bands 1996. Paul T was with Trucker until about 1999/2000, when he was briefly replaced by Terry Edwards prior to Trucker's split in 2001.
In the year 2000 Paul T also became the drummer for the popular live ska/reggae outfit Cosmic Ska Child with former members of Boil Up and Tsunami Band (among others). CSC have continued up to the present-time and Paul T is still their drummer.
In 2004 Trucker released the post-humous EP Wasted In Heaven and reformed briefly to play shows featuring all former line-ups of the band. By this time Paul T had also become a member of the abstract Sausuage, and played briefly for Rose Petals and Confetti as a stand-in in for Bregiz.
From early 2005 - present Paul T (and yes, Paul Oakley and Stan Jagger) formed the live line-up for the newly reincarnated Disjecta Membra when project founder Michel returned to Hamilton without a band, after several years based in either Wellington or Auckland.
Most notably in 2005, however, Paul joined The Shrugs in March of that year following the departure of drummer Natalie McKelvey. The Shrugs have become Paul T's primary focus in that time and he has been touring extensively with them ever since the release of their An Awkward Silence EP.
As of 2006 Paul T remains a member of The Shrugs, Johnny Fist, Cosmic Ska Child, Disjecta Membra and possibly others. During the period recounted above he has also at some stage or another featured as a regular or semi-regular member of Tsunami Band and/or The Mike Miller Band, was probably in the Webclaw Four/For/Flaw and undoubtedly untold others.
He is also a keen collector of obscure Hamilton recordings, and an avid astrologer.
Bands
The Haunting
A Crown Of Wild Myrtles
Hapukalypse Now
King Biscuit
Gas
Tsunami Band?
Johnny Fist
Trucker
Cosmic Ska Child
Webclaw Four/For/Flaw?
Sausuage
Rose Petals and Confetti
Disjecta Membra
The Shrugs
Releases
Releases featuring Paul Tregilgas:
- Incubator Babies cassette by A Crown Of Wild Myrtles (1991)
- Doubtful Ancestry CD album by King Biscuit (1992?)
- HUM Sampler 92 compilation CD features Get A Life by King Biscuit
- Discordia Concors compilation CD features Underbelly by A Crown Of Wild Myrtles and What Is Love? by King Biscuit (1993)
- Crazy Dreams single and Bum Hits the Floor single by King Biscuit (both released 1994)
- Green Eggs and Hamilton compilation features Vatican by Trucker (1997)
- New Music Compilation (free with Rip It Up) features Up Your Tempo by Trucker (year??)
- Jude CD by Trucker (1999)
- Year Zero compilation CD features On the Rocks by Trucker (2001)
- Wasted In Heaven EP by Trucker (2004)
unreleased recordings featuring Paul T by The Haunting, Hapukalypse Now and Gas among others are also known to be in circulation somewhere
