Peter Sowden

Full Name:   Peter Sowden
Born:   October 7th, 1940
Hometown:   Christchurch
Musical Background:   
Instruments Played:   Drums
Career Began:   Max Merritt and The Meteors
Groups:   Max Merritt and The Meteors, The Playboys
Groups:   Peter Sowden and The Embers, About Time
Television:   
Residencies:   
Career Highlights:   Far too many to mention !!		 ROCKONZ
Special Award
2007
PRESS
Readers Choice
(Max Merritt and
The Meteors)

ROCKONZ
Merit
Award
2007

Peter Sowden ...

Peter began his music career while still at high school by forming his own band with several school friends and playing the supper extras at various dance halls around Christchurch.  He quickly became recognised for his drumming ability and in 1956, the year that rock and roll music first reached these shores, Peter was approached by Max Merritt who was putting together a band (The Meteors) to play at the Christchurch Teenage Club being set up by Max's parents and local entrepreneur Trevor King.  Max Merritt and the Meteors quickly became one of New Zealand's leading rock and roll groups with their own radio show and a recording contract and toured the country extensively, playing the theatre circuit and at major rock and roll events.  The Meteors were to go through several personnel changes over the next few years before settling on the stellar line up of Max (lead guitar and vocals), Peter (drums), Billy Karaitiana (Kristian) (bass) and Peter Williams (rhythm guitar).  The group's success continued and in 1962 they were offered the residency at the new Top Twenty nightclub in Auckland.  It was at this stage that Peter decided to leave the band and focus on his day job.  It wasn't long however before he was lured back to the music scene to play with Dave Millar and the Playboys, the resident group at the popular Christchurch dance hall the Laredo Lounge and then formed his band Peter Sowden and the Embers for a season at the newly opened Safari night club.

artist In 2005, after a hiatus of almost 40 years, Peter teamed up with former Ray Columbus and the Invaders guitarist Brian Ringrose and formed ABOUT TIME with Trevor Wright (bass), Jim Phillips (saxophones), Don Mills (keyboards) and a group of leading New Zealand vocalists who include Peter Williams (The Meteors), Norm Bland (Village Gate), Kelly Ensor and Pat Kearns.  ABOUT TIME mainly performs at private and corporate events as well as at their hugely popular ROCKIN' IS OUR BUSINESS dance parties.