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), Zangiacomo's Eastern Tour (1990-1991), A Crown Of Wild Myrtles (1991-1993) Haunting/Book of Martyrs offshoot Hapukalypse Now and its side-project Big Audio Laxative(1992-1994).
It was in these early bands 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; both Oakley and Paul T were members of Zangiacomo's Eastern Tour and Hapukalypse Now - Oakley had also been in Book of Martyrs and Clambone.
From these circles Paul T and Oakley also knew Stan Jagger, who had played with Book of Martyrs (besides numerous others). Stan was at this time also a member of the folk/blues inflected King Biscuit, and in 1992, both Paul T and Paul Oakley also joined King Biscuit. Jagger, Paul T and Paul Oakley remained in King Biscuit until about 1995.
Around 1995, 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.
From 1995-1996 Paul T was also the drummer in the short lived but hugely popular Gas; fronted by Nicola Walsh of Widdershins and formed by Dave Whitehead of Cygnet Committee, Alan Deare of Book of Martyrs and Dave Lowndes of Requiem.
In 1996 the usual 3 suspects (Tregilgas, Oakley, Jagger) 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 2000 AD, when he was briefly replaced by Terry Edwards prior to Trucker's split in 2001.
Between 1999 and 2001, Paul T was the drummer for Hell's Belles and the Hamiltones, with then partner Maria Eaton and former Hapukalypse Now bandmates Chris Paki and Stan Jagger (and at least 6 others).
In 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.
At roughly the same time he also joined Alla Zingaro, described as "Gypsy music" and featuring former Book of Martyrs members Justine Francis and Stan Jagger, to name a couple. A-Z remained together until about 2005.
In 2004 Trucker released the posthumous EP Wasted In Heaven and reformed briefly to play shows featuring all former line-ups of the band. By this time Tregilgas had also become a member of the abstract Sausuage, and played briefly for Rose Petals and Confetti under the name of 'Tregiz' as a stand-in for Nathan 'Bregiz' Bregmen.
From early 2005 - present, Paul T Paul Oakley and Stan Jagger formed the live line-up for the newly reincarnated Disjecta Membra when project mainstay Michel returned to Hamilton 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
Zangiacomo's Eastern Tour
The Haunting
A Crown Of Wild Myrtles
Hapukalypse Now
Big Audio Laxative
King Biscuit
Gas
Johnny Fist
Trucker
Alla Zingaro
Cosmic Ska Child
Hell's Belles and the Hamiltones
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)
- Juice Extractor compilation features Lust Cat by Hapukalypse Now (1992)
- Doubtful Ancestry cassette 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 by King Biscuit (1994)
- Sun Hits The Moon CD Album by King Biscuit (1995)
- Bark Number One compilation features For This Moment and Sun Hits The Moon by King Biscuit (1995)
- In Love With This Town compilation features Give by Gas (1996)
- Green Eggs and Hamilton compilation features Vatican by Trucker (1997)
- New Music Compilation (free with Rip It Up) features Up Your Tempo by Trucker (1999)
- Jude CD by Trucker (1999)
- Year Zero compilation CD features On the Rocks by Trucker (2001)
- Alla Zingaro's self-title CD EP (2001)
- Wasted In Heaven EP by Trucker (2004)
unreleased recordings featuring Paul T by The Haunting, Hapukalypse Now, King Biscuit, Gas and many others are also known to be in circulation somewhere
External Links
Paul T's Hamilton Links Paul T's personal homepage containing pages and links about various Hamilton bands.
