Short version: Brooklyn State Hospital is a four piece rock/blues-pop band based in Palmerston North. Their name comes from a spoken word piece by Bob Dylan, they’ve just recorded their first full length record, "The Doctor Will Record You Now", and they’re available for pub gigs, parties and social functions, though probably not funerals or children’s birthday parties. They enjoy performing in hats.

Intrigued? Then please read on.

Long version: In May 15, 1982 (we did say this was the long version) Brooklyn State Hospital’s eldest member and eventual frontman Black Willlie Donnegan was born in Palmerston North. Then known as William Muirhead, for complex and ultimately erroneous reasons, he also suffered from the handicap of being born with a 50 year old’s mind in a baby’s body and a 17 year old’s lust for cheap liquor. Thus, when first discovering popular music in his early teens, he was instantly enamoured not with the Christo-pop of Live or the devastating social satire of Smashmouth, but with the more cerebral works of Sixties giants Bob Dylan, Neil Young and whatever that band was that George and Ringo were in. By his 20th year he’d discovered some slightly more contemporary and close-to-home sounds (spending an entire month once listening to nothing but The Verlaines’ “Bird Dog”) and so was ready to rip off early Lou Reed to a bunch of kids who’d never realize what a plagiarist he was.

Sadly, due to a complete inability to play anything or do anything, it was an additional 15 years before Donnegan was able to put his lyrical and rock conceptions into practice, despite co-writing a song called “I Like Lesbians” with his friend Matt in seventh form (“I like lesbians on TV/Wonder if lesbians will ever like me?”) and planning a two-disc rock opera called “Codjira!” So it was not until 2009, when over a casual pint and a bag of pork crackling, he and two friends – Richie “Emo” Higham and Harry “The Hamster” Caldicott – discussed jamming some time that Donnegan managed to lie his way into a beat combo on lead vocals and harmonica. Jam they did, and after brief stints as “Gingerbeard’s Penis Emporium” and “Epic Man Organ” – and countless changes to the band line-up and instrumentation – the survivors emerged as blues-rock ensemble Brooklyn State Hospital: unhumbled, unbowed, and typically unable to pass a blood-alcohol test.

Writing with Black Willie as well as playing guitar in the original formation of the group, Higham provided the framework for the band’s basic sound, combining an appreciation for an eclectic range of musical styles with a deep and abiding love for purist blues. Having been part of the original incarnation of international sensation Evermore (playing bass and contributing to the writing of many songs on their first album), Higham bought with him a wealth of band experience and musical ideas. With many of their first songs written late at night over an acoustic guitar and an ashtray, Higham – now exclusively known as Big Daddy Rich – and Black Willie developed a strange hybrid of blues, power-pop and confessional rock and began playing live (with “The Hamster” and others) at local venues and open mic nights.

Which is where they met eventual lead guitarist and musical guru, Rob "Switzerland" Taylor, so-called for his impressive stash of Nazi gold. (He still refuses to buy a round.) A friend-of-a-friend and, uniquely for the band, a trained musician (guitar, bass and keys), Rob jumped up and played a solo set one open mic hosted by the lads. Impressed by his chops and songwriting ability, and probably because he was willing to bend over provocatively, Black Willie acted in his usual manner (unilaterally) and invited Rob to join the band on lead guitar. As a full partner and chief songwriter in the current incarnation of Brooklyn State Hospital, Rob is utterly indispensable, but don't tell him that; the band is powered by bad feelings and insecurity.

Which leaves just Nick Potts, Barrel Cop. The latest addition to the group, only just confirmed as a full member of the band (but still on a three year probation period), Pottsy's main attributes are an unerring sense of timing, true rhythmic sensitivity to the needs of each song, and never having enough money to buy beer or cigarettes. From his early-twenties career tracking down barrel-thieves, Nick decided to follow a lifelong passion for percussion and ended up in 2010 playing in over two hundred local bands. After a massive deathmatch in the UCOL carpark, only Brooklyn State remains. 

So he was there in 2011 when Brooklyn State drunkenly decided to drunkenly record their first album at the stately beach palace of Dr. Harry Caldicott - yes, that's right, the very same Hamster you met at the beginning of this bio! Back in the fold in a production capacity, Harry shepherded the band through an intense Easter weekend and over two hundred bottles of beer. When they woke up four days later, there was an album, "The Doctor Will Record You Now". More importantly, after the same four days of intense competition, Pottsy was crowned smelliest band member, only one dump ahead of Rob and two belches ahead of Black Willie.

A fusion of sources ancient (ie. mid-20th Century) and modern (ie. modern) and musical roots ranging from Robert Johnson to the Velvet Underground to Pearl Jam and back to Cream, Brooklyn State Hospital offers a swelling catalogue of original compositions and a sound variously described as “electric”, “lyrical” and “grimy”, which they prefer to take as compliment. Now tighter, more productive and more focussed than ever before, with an album about to hit the streets and a hectic gigging schedule in preparation, the four members of Brooklyn State Hospital are looking forward to single- (or eight-) handedly bringing rock back to a world dominated by synth-pop and Bieber.

Interests include long walks on the beach, candlelit dinners and securing a record deal.


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