Norwest - Christchurch Rock and Blues Band

Stormin' Rock'n Blues

Meet Norwest: Rock and Blues Band

We are a passionate three-piece band from Christchurch, New Zealand, delivering classic rock and blues covers to entertain and engage our audience.

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Band Bio - Mack

John Mackie, whose blues name is “Mack the Bass”, from Glasgow Scotland, started his music journey at age 10 learning the acoustic guitar and by age 15 was out playing clubs and pubs as the bass player in a four-piece dance band led by Danny Roguska in the Waikato. He later went on the road full-time with the progressive rock band “Frenzy” in the ’70s, touring up and down New Zealand with a host of other bands at the time including, Split Enz, Ragnarok, Mother Goose and Spacewaltz.

After departing Frenzy, John joined a Napier band, "Zilch" who were working with entrepreneur, Phil Warren's nightclubs in Hawkes Bay (Bimbos) and Wellington (Slack Alice). He also took on a day job helping Peter Perreaux build high-end power-mosfet amplifiers and PA systems. The largest being built for Ragnarok at the time.

The lure of Dunedin led John back south to join the legendary blues band “Bluestone” in the early 2000s. He relocated to Christchurch in 2012 and joined the popular rock and blues covers band “Wired” with Steve, which remains the rhythm section of Norwest, now with Bob Antony's scorching guitar riffs.

Oh yeah, and he's an avid Beatles Fan, and one of 25 International Ambassadors for the Beatles Story, Liverpool.

Band Bio - Bob (Guitar)

Bob was born in Leeds England and his guitar playing started at the age of 6 when Santa gave him a cheap bolt-on-neck steel string acoustic which was terrible, yet playing guitar seemed natural to him, so his Dad bought him an electric guitar! And the rest is history. ‘My father was a huge influence in my musical education’ a drummer himself who dragged young Bob around every jazz & blues club in Northern England, feeding him with music & beer.

Bob is a predominantly self-taught guitarist, only having 1 year's tuition from a private guitar teacher (only known as Colin). Colin was a massive influence in Bob's playing, teaching the essential phrasing and techniques needed to be a great guitarist. Bob's guitar-playing career has seen him play in many bands, with some fantastic musicians over the years (you know who you are) with influences from Joe Bonamassa, Gary Moore, Greg Koch, SRV, Guthrie Govan, David Gilmore, Jeff Beck, to name a few.

Bob emigrated to New Zealand in January 2017 and has again played with some fantastic musicians in this short time. He also taught guitar as an itinerant guitar tutor in various schools in North Canterbury and gave some private tuition as well.

Bob's now teamed up with Mack Mackie & Stephen Leon in Norwest and they're excited to share with you their original sound and playing style.

Hope to see you soon 🎸💥

Band Bio - Steve (Drums)

Steve grew up in London, England, surrounded by fantastic music and great friends who introduced him to both alcohol and gigs. Bitten by the live music bug, and in common with 1000s of other teenagers at the time, they all decided they wanted to be rock stars and started learning how to play instruments.

Steve discovered he could hit things in more or less a rhythmic fashion so he became the drummer. Which was good really since he quite enjoyed it. And stuck with it. His first gig was with Sacrilege, a heavy metal band still touring today, and proceeded to play with a variety of hard rock and blues bands in the UK before a 10-year sabbatical in Copenhagen, Denmark!

Upon scoring gainful employment in Christchurch, New Zealand, he shipped his drums over and resumed his love of playing with various cover and tribute bands including Wired, where he met Mack.

Now in Norwest, Steve enjoys nothing better than laying down a solid but dynamic foundation for the band, with just a touch of flamboyance as inspired by his favourite bands of the 1980s.

Oh. He sings a bit too. Sometimes!