I Am Giant farewells NZ
An iconic Kiwi rock band is calling time on more than a decade of gigs, touring and chart hits on New Zealand shores.
Citing practicality rather than popularity, I Am Giant’s April tour of New Zealand will be their last in the country – at least until their next one, that is.
Drummer and former The X Factor judge Shelton Woolright was hesitant to nail the coffin closed for good, saying the band was on ‘‘more of a hiatus’’.
‘‘I don’t want to say never, and it’s not time to move on as such, but more to focus on other parts of music and life,’’ Woolright told The Press ahead of the ban’s final New Zealand shows in Christchurch tomorrow and Sunday at Sullivans Pub on Lincoln Rd.
‘‘The practicality of the band has become a little bit hard, and for us to all put 100 per cent into it was getting difficult.’’
Woolright said winding up the band meant he could focus more on his solo project Deadbeat, a concept band comparable to a drum DJ set.
‘‘For me personally, I’ll be spending a lot of time on Deadbeat, as well as my arts and other stuff, which I’ve always been doing but I Am Giant took precedence,’’ he said.
I Am Giant formed in 2008 after Woolright left Blindspott, another iconic Kiwi band.
The band had numerous public fallouts, culminating in Woolright leaving the band to form the new group.
A legal battle between Woolright and former members led to them reforming as Blacklistt.
I Am Giant recorded and released three studio albums and received extensive radio play in New Zealand, notably for their single City Limits.
Their debut album, The Horrifying Truth, was released in 2011, followed by Science & Survival.
Life in Captivity was their third album, released on March 16.
‘‘So we have this new album, and we’ve got some European tours coming up, so things are still happening, but I’m not sure when people in New Zealand will get to see us after this tour,’’ Woolright said.
‘‘We’ve been around for almost a decade you know, so people grew up with our music and our songs.’’
Performing to Kiwi audiences, who were passionate and enthusiastic, had kept the band going, Woolright said.
‘‘Christchurch has always been our biggest, most passionate crowds.
‘‘Even when I was in Blindspott, we had the best shows there,’’ he said.
‘‘For me, New Zealand is a cool place to tour because it formed me as a musician.
‘‘So if you’re interested in coming out, if I Am Giant ever played a part in your life, come and have a beer. It’s just going to be a big party.’’
"Christchurch has always been our biggest, most passionate crowds. Even when I was in Blindspott, we had the best shows there."
I Am Giant drummer Shelton Woolright