Lead Guitar: Mark Wenski
Saxophone-Synths-Vocals: Bruce French
Bass Guitar-Vocals: Dana Sulikosky
Drums-Vocals: Rick Warren
Above: Drummers are always obscured in photos - so here`s a good one of Topaz drummer Rick Warren taken one year earlier in the band "City Limits"
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TOPAZ 1979 - 1981 A versatile band playing a wide range of music, held several residencies during it`s existence, Te Atatu Tavern, Potters Wheel, Glenfield Tavern, White Horse Inn Pakuranga, Westward Ho Taven, Pioneer Tavern Henderson. Bruce French departed the band early 1980 for a saxophone solo career - Dana, Mark and Rick carried on as a funk/rock three piece band.
In between residencies Topaz went on regular road tours throughout the North Island of New Zealand and appeared regularly at the following clubs and pubs: Henry The Eighth Whangarei, Onekawa Hotel, Ahuriri Tavern, Albion River Bar and Sandown Park Gisborne where they backed Billy T James during 1981 Springbok Tour.
When "Topaz" came to an end Rick and Dana did a short term touring duo for around 6 months on the Lion Circuit, Mark Wenski teamed up with Gary Orme to form "Nightshift Duo"
When "Rick and Dana Duo" came to an end, Dana formed a duo with soloist Becky Bush named "Hi Heels". - By this stage Gary Orme had left "Nightshift Duo" so Rick Warren teamed up with Mark Wenski and stayed in Nightshift until the mid 1990s.
Topaz did not often use booking agents, but organized all residencies through trust offices and pub managers/owners, Waitakere Licensing Trust, Portage Licensing Trust and lion Breweries Head office Khyber pass Rd.
Things were truly great for commercial cover bands in those days, as musicians we had to front up at the Trust`s offices every Thursday to collect our pay, cash to each bandmember came in a brown envelope, and yes we all had to file our tax details at the offices, so in fact during the residencies we were employees of the Trust. (Information and pictures C/- ricko.co.nz NZ Circuit Bands and Musicians)
Below: Sound clips Recorded live at the Glenfield Tavern Auckland 1978.
Below: Early days of "Topaz" - Bruce French singing "Gold" Sound recorded on a standard cassette tape during a practice session .
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