Knightshade in tune for band’s final gig

After 35 years of making music, Hamilton band Knightshade is packing away their gear following a final concert in August.

In their prime, soft rockers Knightshade opened for A listers such as Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, ZZ Top and Deep Purple.

They have had several top 20 singles and have toured around New Zealand numerous times.

Band members have come and gone, and now Hamilton’s Altitude Bar will be the venue for their last live gig.

Three years ago lead singer and founder Wayne Elliot was diagnosed with an aggressive form of asbestos related cancer that affects the lungs.

He is currently going through intensive treatment which he said was pretty costly.

Despite this, he said he hasn’t ‘‘chucked in the towel’’.

‘‘I can’t guarantee where I’ll be in the future,’’ he said.

‘‘We’re trying to keep a positive note to it.

‘‘We’re not saying goodbye to Wayne.

‘‘This is Knightshade as a band saying we’re a bit long in the tooth and been-there-done-that.’’

Knightshade has a number of things lined up for their final gig to show fans their appreciation.

‘‘There’s a lot of friends coming who haven’t seen us for years.

‘‘All the old crew members and band members will be coming. ‘‘It’s just a thank you farewell.’’ Elliot said that the fans were ‘‘awesome, dedicated fans who 20-25 years later are still fans and know every song’’.

‘‘I couldn’t ask for anything better,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s a small world, don’t treat anyone like shit because it’s going to come back and bite you in the ass.’’

Old footage of Knightshade will be screened.

There will be a signing session as well as photo-oppourtunities and an after-party.

‘‘We hope to just have a good send off.

‘‘We’re trying to make it as special as we can,’’ Elliot said. ‘‘It’s quite sad in some ways. ‘‘A big part of what we do is playing live.’’

The vocalist said he will miss being on stage the most.

‘‘We were never rock stars we were just people doing music.’’

Knightshade will play their final concert at Altitude bar on August 6, doors open at 8pm.

Tickets for the gig are available on Eventfinda and are selling fast.