About Me
Dave Dobbyn (born January 3, 1957) is a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer from New Zealand. His first success came with a band, Th'Dudes, which he formed while still in school. Their hit Be Mine Tonight won single of the year in 1979 in New Zealand, while singles "Walking in Light" and "Bliss" became popular anthems.
Dave Dobbyn in the music video for LoyalAfter Th'Dudes folded, he formed DD Smash, and had a few hit singles during the 1980s, including Devil you Know, Outlook for Thursday, and Whaling. He went on to write the music for the Footrot Flats film in 1985, and had another two hit singles with Oughta be in Love and Slice of Heaven. After the release of the film, Slice of Heaven became frequently used in tourism advertisments aired on Australian television which encouraged people to go to New Zealand as a holiday destination. As a result, many Australians jokingly refer to the song as the New Zealand National anthem. Slice of Heaven's somewhat simple vocal riff "Dah Dah Dah d'd'Dah Dah Dah" was in turn adopted by New Zealand Rugby League supporters when playing Australia. After defeating the favoured Australians in the 2005 Tri-Series, the victorious Kiwis players led the chanting.
In December 1984, DD Smash were playing an outdoor concert in Aotea Square in Auckland. During their set there was a power failure. During the break in music, sections of the crowd became restless. Some of the crowd started throwing beer bottles and police started arresting them. The situation escalated and the riot squad was called in. Dobbyn made negative remarks about the police which spurred on the crowd. The concert was stopped by the police and sections of the crowd rioted smashing shop windows along Queen Street.
Prime Minister David Lange called a commission of inquiry and as a result Dobbyn was charged with inciting a riot. The criminal prosecution against Dobbyn began June 1985. His lawyer successfully defended him and he was acquitted on the charge of "behaving in a manner likely to cause violence against person or property and using insulting language".
From 1988 onwards he has released 6 solo-albums and a compilation, including the hit song Loyal (1988). At the 2001 New Zealand Music Awards Dobbyn won a Lifetime Achievement Award, and he had ten songs in New Zealand's Top 100 songs as voted by APRA members.
He has also produced albums for Grant McLennan and has contributed on albums by, amongst others, Jenny Morris and Bic Runga. He also went touring with Bic and Tim Finn, and a live album, Together in Concert, was released in 2000.
Dobbyn has a history of alcoholism, but no longer drinks and has become a 'born-again' Christian. In a break from Rock and Roll tradition he has been happily married to long time sweetheart Anneliesje for most of his career.
