Punk rock pioneer’s way with music remembered
‘He could play any instrument’
Well-known Levin musician and punk rock pioneer James Wilde Ingle died last week. He was 57.
Ingle, who had become a devout Christian in recent times and played music and mowed the lawns each week at his local church, was a popular figure in entertainment circles with a talent for any instrument he picked up.
He was a founding member of No Idea, a three-piece punk band founded in Levin in 1983 before basing themselves in Christchurch, then Melbourne, before breaking up in 1987.
Ingle played bass guitar and sang for No Idea with his brother Chris on drums. Nigel Cairns played guitar.
While the music was full of punk energy the lyrics were almost a contradiction, described as critical social commentaries with a leftist and anti-violence perspective, with titles like Class War and Hate Hate.
Back from Melbourne he joined cult pub band Filthy Business in Levin in the mid-90s, releasing a cassette album of classic originals, like Jim Beam Blues, Brain Teaser and Void of Feeling.
Grant Baker, the lead singer of Filthy Business, said the band had a reunion recently, and he had only talked to Ingle on the phone last week.
“He was the loveliest bloke — always willing to help, always willing to share. He was very humble and quick with a compliment,” he said.
Baker paid tribute to Ingle’s musicianship. He had initially played drums in the band before moving to bass guitar.
“He could play any instrument, from piano to drums, and would only need to hear a song once to be able to play it,” he said. “He was lefthanded, so would play the bass guitar
He was the loveliest bloke — always willing to help, always willing to share. Grant Baker
and six-string guitar upside down.”
“We might get a song we wanted to cover, and we would listen to it on a cassette. James only needed one listen and would have the whole arrangement.”
Baker said there was depth to Ingle. He was a history buff with a comprehensive knowledge of WWI and WWII, as well as an avid student of astrology.
“There was a lot more to him than just music,” he said.
Ingle was key figure along with the late Roy Trevethick in forming the Alternative Entertainment Bureau (AEB), which met regularly at Waitarere Beach and played punk music at the Scout Hall, inviting bands from Wellington to perform.
They performed in a band called the Ganomes.
Neighbour Cheryl Neilson said Ingle would often come around for a coffee and a chat.
“He was always chatty — loved his coffee — just one of life’s characters. He was a gentleman at heart,” she said. “He loved his family and his friends.”
A service was held for Ingle at the York Street Chapel in Levin on Tuesday. He is survived by his son Peter, his parents Anthony and Margaret, and younger brothers and sisters Chris, Paul, Esther and Susan.