John Baker

ROCKHAPPENZ Public Collection

John Baker  —  original drummer with City Lights, Decision and Murray Wood's Harvest .....

Circa late 1968/early 1969 John Baker was playing in The City Lights, resident at The Marine Hotel which was managed by Cecile and Dion Murphy.  From there (in early 1969) the group moved to The Halswell Tavern, and subsequently on to The Club Tavern (on the corner of Colombo and Battersea streets).  Late in 1969 or early 1970, The City Lights moved on to Checkers (Embassy Hotel) after 10:00pm finishes at The Club Tavern.  At that time Mike O'Dowd was too young to play at Checkers whilst still at high school and furthermore his parents prevented him from remaining with the band which was probably very sensible.  As a consequence, Don Findlay rapidly taught himself to play keyboard and The City Lights took on Rob Jones on bass guitar.  The Findlay, Baker, Jones line-up settled in, and eventually the wonderful Selena was hired as a late night bonus for the punters.  Rehearsals were relentless, but the group just could not find the exact music to back her with, and was making incredible blunders that just had to be ironed out over many takes!

The original City Lights group which was resident at The Marine Hotel
Don Findlay (Guitar), Bill Derrett (Guitar) and John Baker (Drums)

City Lights  —  at Checkers (The Embassy Hotel), Manchester Street, Christchurch
Robin Hope (Guest Backing Guitarist), Don Findlay (Guitar), John Baker (Drums,
Cecile Murphy (Vocals) and Mike O'Dowd (Keyboards)

The original Harvest outside Christchurch Post Office, Cathedral Square, Christchurch
Peter [Clogs] van Roy (Drums), Gary Sammons (Bass), Mike Mitchell (Guitar),
Murray Wood (Keyboards) and John Baker (Drums)

Murray Wood and Harvest at The White Heron
The group ultimately had an extremely long residency at The White Heron
Murray Wood (Keyboards), Wayne Allen (Drums) and Rob Carpenter (Bass) circa 1982

Circa 1971/72 John had changed his day job, which forced him to leave The City Lights and join George Gerrard's Group as back up/casual drummer doing events and pub gigs, and eventually working with Dyan Bamford who was just launching her career as a vocalist.  Circa 1972 through to 1980 John was with Murray Wood and Mike Mitchell at The White Heron Hotel with Decision, and circa 1981, Mike and John formed a new iteration of that group with various drifting base/keyboard musos, doing events in residence at The Old Orchard for a couple of seasons.  Around 1983 John joined Bryan Bruce on keyboard as a duo called Baker and Bruce doing residences at The Avon Motor Lodge, The Chateau on the Park and The Coachman Inn where (working as a duo) Bryan did 20 minute solo stints wearing a dinner suit in the cocktail bar, and then 20 minute stints in the public bar wearing street gear.

Decision  —  at The Old Orchard, Port Hills Road, Opawa, Christchurch circa 1975
Ledlie Cleland (Hammond), Rob Carpenter (Bass), John Baker (Drums) and Mike Mitchell (Guitar)