Recording as a solo artist in his own name, or under the pseudonym of Bernoldus Niemand, or
fronting groups such as Corporal Punishment, The Cherry Faced Lurchers (later simply called
the Lurchers) and Illegal Gathering, James Phillips challenged the Apartheid system. However
he is recognised here for making a lot of people realise that Rock music could be sung with
a South African accent, or better still in Afrikaans. The 'alternatief' Afrikaans movement
boasting such notable stars as Koos Kombuis, Valiant Swart, Johannes Kerkorrel and more recently
Karen Zoid owe a huge debt to James. Sadly James passed away in 1995 after a car accident.
PIET BOTHA
(Inducted 1/1/2002)
Piet was born on the 18th July 1955 and has been a stalwart of the SA rock
scene since the 70s when he started the band Raven. In the early 80s
Wildebeest combined African, Afrikaans and Rock sounds into one hybrid
mixture. His band Jack Hammer, first formed in 1984, defined good time rock
and played support to Deep Purple and ZZ Top on their SA tours. In the 90's
Piet helped solidify the Alt.Afr.Rock movement alongside artists like Koos
Kombuis and Valiant Swart. He continues to perform regularly in and around
Pretoria and at most of the festivals during the year. And he can usually
be seen performing unplugged at the coast during the summer months. Piet
(affectionately known as "Hammer" to his friends) is an intelligent, warm and sincere
person who is seen as a mentor and father-figure to young aspiring
musicians like Jonathan Martin and Not My Dog.
Cindy Alter is the first woman to be inducted into the SA Rock Hall of Fame.
With her powerful rock voice, she achieved huge success fronting the group
Clout. The band had a number 2 hit in the UK with an old Righteous Brothers
song 'Substitute'. The song went to number 1 in numerous countries including
SA. She also found fame with The Cindy Alter Band, which eventually became
Zia. Under this latter name, they toured Africa and Europe and after opening
for the Bee Gees in Paris, they were invited to join them on their US tour.
This offer fell through and Cindy soon quit the group and moved to Los
Angeles.
Born Ralph Rabie, Kerkorrel made the transition from journalist with ease.
His first live performance was at the Green Room in Cape Town in 1986, and he
soon developed a reputation singing politically astute songs like 'Wat 'n
Vriend het Ons in PW'. He met up and performed with Andre le Toit (later Koos
Kombuis) and formed the Gerefomeerde Blues Band. His debut 'Eet Kreef' was
released in 1989 and was followed by the groundbreaking nationwide Voëlvry
Tour. Alongside Koos Kombuis and James Phillips (then working under the name
Bernoldus Niemand), the tour brought this new Afrikaans rock to the masses
and has had long lasting repercussions on the SA music scene. Kerkorrel
released 5 other albums after 'Eet Kreef' and a greatest hits compilation
called 'Tien Jaar Later'. In November 2002 Kerkorrel committed suicide. His
legacy is seen in today's Afrikaans rock artists.
It has been argued that Koos Kombuis is the Bob Dylan of South Africa.
However we at the SA Rock Hall of Fame believe that he is, in fact, the Koos
Kombuis of South Africa. He has written a unique chapter in the annals of SA
Rock, spearheading the highly influential Voëlvry Tour and taking huge
strides in taking Afrikaans from the hands of the oppressors and putting it into
the mouths of the poets and artists. Koos is possibly the only living South
African artist to have a tribute album made in his honour and this shows the
respect he has earned during his career. Songs like 'Lisa se Klavier' and
'Johnny Is Nie Dood Nie' are covered regularly, again a sign of the impact of
his songs. Koos Kombuis is a national treasure and should be made a protected
species.
Capetonian, Steve Louw has, for the past two decades, quietly gone about amassing a very
credible discography as well as a list of distinguished music biz connections which
include producers Shelley Yakus (U2, Tom Petty) and John Rollo (Roberta Flack, Stevie
Nicks, The Kinks). He has worked with numerous luminaries of the local music scene
like Steve Newman, Rupert Mellor (McCully Workshop), Kevin Shirley and more recently
Simon ‘Agent’ Orange, Schalk Joubert and Willem Möller to name a few. His 2 groups,
All Night Radio and Big Sky have produced critically acclaimed albums with ‘Horizon’
by the latter helping him win the FNB Music Award for "Best SA Rock Act". In 1998 he
and members of Big Sky played with fellow inductee Rodriguez on his first tour of South
Africa.
Anton Goosen's songs had been widely recorded by artists like Sonja Herholdt and Carike Keuzenkamp, but it was
with his 1979 debut album 'Boy Van Die Suburbs' that he established himself as a solo artist. It is widely
acknowledged that 'Blommetjie Gedenk Aan My' off this album was the first ever Afrikaan rock song and has gone
on to influence a whole generation of Klank Rockers. Not only has he been prepared to take Afrikaans music in new
directions, but he has been a socially and politically astute musician. He was quick to realise the changes that
where happening in South Africa and in 1988 brought out the album 'Winde Van Verandering' (English: Winds of Change).
He took this a step further in 1990 when he opened Houtstok (a show that he had thought up and organised) with the
highly controversial song 'Wit Kaffers Van Afrika'. He has continued making fine music, most recently with the superb
Bushrock Band and in 2003 he celebrated 21 years in the music industy with a concert at the Pretoria State Theatre where
a host of big name Afrikaans stars joined in to pay tribute to a man highly deserving of his place in our Hall of Fame.
Not a household name in South Africa, but Jethro has played guitar on more South African albums
than can be found in the average South African household. His name has been associated with Kariba,
Morocko, Steve Linnegar's Snakeshed, Roger Lucey, Lesley Rae Dowling, Little Sister and John Ireland
to name a few. Not afraid of diversity, he has even been heard on albums by Carike Keuzenkamp.
He is surely the hardest strumming man in SA Rock.
OTHER INDUSTRY PEOPLE
PATRIC VAN BLERK
(Inducted 1/1/2002)
Since the early 70's Patric van Blerk has stamped his mark on South African music. He has done so
by writing songs ('Long Days and Lonely Nights' for Lincoln and co-writing 'Paradise Road' for
Joy and 'Charlie' for Rabbitt), launching and running record labels (Joburg, Sonovision, PvB)
and most importantly produced records for South African giants like Rabbitt, Julian Laxton,
Margaret Singana and Radio Rats. He is still working tirelessly in the industry, and long may
he do so.
BENJY MUDIE
(Inducted 14/8/2002)
Of Scottish origin, Benjy Mudie started out in the music industry working in record shops. He
later became the A&R man for WEA records, signing such luminaries as Lesley Rae Dowling,
Baxtop and Falling Mirror. He has ventured briefly into the realms of songwriting, getting co-writing
credit for Little Sister's song 'You Got My Heart', but it is mainly for his running of record
labels, notably Tusk and more recently Fresh and Retro Fresh that he is honoured here. With these
labels he has tirelessly dedicated himself to putting South African music out there, showing an
unshaking belief in the quality of SA music.
LLOYD ROSS (Inducted 1/12/2002)
Lloyd Ross is the driving force behind the independent Shifty Records. The
label has been responsible for numerous influential and ground breaking
albums. Through the label, Ross has brought artist like James Phillips, Koos
Kombuis, Johannes Kerkorrel, Jennifer Ferguson and Tananas to the fore.
Essential compilations like 'A Naartjie in our Sosatie' and 'Voëlvry' have
also been put out by the label. Ross generally has a had a hand in producing
most of the Shifty offerings. Of late he has been working with the critically
acclaimed pairing of Matthew van der Want and Chris Letcher. Ross also
recorded the theme music to the popular TV prison drama series 'Vyfster'.
This beautiful guitar instrumental reached number 3 in the SA charts. The
name Lloyd Ross has become synonymous with challenging and quality music.
BARNEY SIMON (Inducted 1/1/2004)
Barney 'The Skin' Simon started out as an engineer to DJ Keith Lindsay on Radio 5's 'Saturday Shadow Show'. He soon worked himself into a position where he was co-hosting the show as one half of the Terrible Twins, ultimately ousting his other half and converting his show to 'The Powerhaus'. Barney's late night radio show became essential listening for all SA rock fans. His love of all things alternative meant that South African's were now being broadly exposed to the UK indie scene with bands like The Fall, Fields of The Nephilim, Bauhaus and many, many more. But Barney also embraced the South African alternative rock scene, championing such early local luminaries as Dog Detachment and No Friends Of Harry as well as a generation of SA bands and artists thereafter. As an ardent supporter of local talent, and the single most influential SA rock DJ of the past 20 years, it was only a matter of time before Barney Simon would be inducted into the SA Rock Hall of Fame.
NON SOUTH AFRICANS
SIXTO RODRIGUEZ
(Inducted 1/1/2002)
Known to his fans simply as Rodriguez, this unassuming Detroit, USA resident, quietly became a huge
cult figure as his album 'Cold Fact' made its way into thousands of homes, based purely on word
of mouth. His anti-establishment lyrics struck a chord with apartheid era teenagers. This and his
music had a profound affect on the South African music scene. Just Jinger may be the most obvious
in recent times to reflect the influence of the man, but there are many more who have picked up
a guitar with the urge to create after listening to 'Cold Fact'.
JAMES PHILLIPS
Cindy Alter is the first woman to be inducted into the SA Rock Hall of Fame.
With her powerful rock voice, she achieved huge success fronting the group
Clout. The band had a number 2 hit in the UK with an old Righteous Brothers
song 'Substitute'. The song went to number 1 in numerous countries including
SA. She also found fame with The Cindy Alter Band, which eventually became
Zia. Under this latter name, they toured Africa and Europe and after opening
for the Bee Gees in Paris, they were invited to join them on their US tour.
This offer fell through and Cindy soon quit the group and moved to Los
Angeles.
Born Ralph Rabie, Kerkorrel made the transition from journalist with ease.
His first live performance was at the Green Room in Cape Town in 1986, and he
soon developed a reputation singing politically astute songs like 'Wat 'n
Vriend het Ons in PW'. He met up and performed with Andre le Toit (later Koos
Kombuis) and formed the Gerefomeerde Blues Band. His debut 'Eet Kreef' was
released in 1989 and was followed by the groundbreaking nationwide Voëlvry
Tour. Alongside Koos Kombuis and James Phillips (then working under the name
Bernoldus Niemand), the tour brought this new Afrikaans rock to the masses
and has had long lasting repercussions on the SA music scene. Kerkorrel
released 5 other albums after 'Eet Kreef' and a greatest hits compilation
called 'Tien Jaar Later'. In November 2002 Kerkorrel committed suicide. His
legacy is seen in today's Afrikaans rock artists.
It has been argued that Koos Kombuis is the Bob Dylan of South Africa.
However we at the SA Rock Hall of Fame believe that he is, in fact, the Koos
Kombuis of South Africa. He has written a unique chapter in the annals of SA
Rock, spearheading the highly influential Voëlvry Tour and taking huge
strides in taking Afrikaans from the hands of the oppressors and putting it into
the mouths of the poets and artists. Koos is possibly the only living South
African artist to have a tribute album made in his honour and this shows the
respect he has earned during his career. Songs like 'Lisa se Klavier' and
'Johnny Is Nie Dood Nie' are covered regularly, again a sign of the impact of
his songs. Koos Kombuis is a national treasure and should be made a protected
species.
Capetonian, Steve Louw has, for the past two decades, quietly gone about amassing a very
credible discography as well as a list of distinguished music biz connections which
include producers Shelley Yakus (U2, Tom Petty) and John Rollo (Roberta Flack, Stevie
Nicks, The Kinks). He has worked with numerous luminaries of the local music scene
like Steve Newman, Rupert Mellor (McCully Workshop), Kevin Shirley and more recently
Simon ‘Agent’ Orange, Schalk Joubert and Willem Möller to name a few. His 2 groups,
All Night Radio and Big Sky have produced critically acclaimed albums with ‘Horizon’
by the latter helping him win the FNB Music Award for "Best SA Rock Act". In 1998 he
and members of Big Sky played with fellow inductee Rodriguez on his first tour of South
Africa.
Anton Goosen's songs had been widely recorded by artists like Sonja Herholdt and Carike Keuzenkamp, but it was
with his 1979 debut album 'Boy Van Die Suburbs' that he established himself as a solo artist. It is widely
acknowledged that 'Blommetjie Gedenk Aan My' off this album was the first ever Afrikaan rock song and has gone
on to influence a whole generation of Klank Rockers. Not only has he been prepared to take Afrikaans music in new
directions, but he has been a socially and politically astute musician. He was quick to realise the changes that
where happening in South Africa and in 1988 brought out the album 'Winde Van Verandering' (English: Winds of Change).
He took this a step further in 1990 when he opened Houtstok (a show that he had thought up and organised) with the
highly controversial song 'Wit Kaffers Van Afrika'. He has continued making fine music, most recently with the superb
Bushrock Band and in 2003 he celebrated 21 years in the music industy with a concert at the Pretoria State Theatre where
a host of big name Afrikaans stars joined in to pay tribute to a man highly deserving of his place in our Hall of Fame.
Of Scottish origin, Benjy Mudie started out in the music industry working in record shops. He
later became the A&R man for WEA records, signing such luminaries as Lesley Rae Dowling,
Baxtop and Falling Mirror. He has ventured briefly into the realms of songwriting, getting co-writing
credit for Little Sister's song 'You Got My Heart', but it is mainly for his running of record
labels, notably Tusk and more recently Fresh and Retro Fresh that he is honoured here. With these
labels he has tirelessly dedicated himself to putting South African music out there, showing an
unshaking belief in the quality of SA music.
Barney 'The Skin' Simon started out as an engineer to DJ Keith Lindsay on Radio 5's 'Saturday Shadow Show'. He soon worked himself into a position where he was co-hosting the show as one half of the Terrible Twins, ultimately ousting his other half and converting his show to 'The Powerhaus'. Barney's late night radio show became essential listening for all SA rock fans. His love of all things alternative meant that South African's were now being broadly exposed to the UK indie scene with bands like The Fall, Fields of The Nephilim, Bauhaus and many, many more. But Barney also embraced the South African alternative rock scene, championing such early local luminaries as Dog Detachment and No Friends Of Harry as well as a generation of SA bands and artists thereafter. As an ardent supporter of local talent, and the single most influential SA rock DJ of the past 20 years, it was only a matter of time before Barney Simon would be inducted into the SA Rock Hall of Fame.
SIXTO RODRIGUEZ