I know I've recently posted something about 80's 'pub' band "The Narcs", but the news that member, keyboard player and songwriter Liam Ryan is returning to his hometown Christchurch to work at CPIT is worthy of a revisit.

The Narcs started out in Christchurch as a raucous 3 piece band-guitar/bass/drums. Liam joined just before the 1984 album "Great Divide". That album contained the song that they are probably most remembered for, "Heart and Soul", which attained 'song of the year' status. Liam co-wrote that with lead singer Andy Dickson.

As well as adding a new dimension to the band with his fine keyboard skills, he also contributed heavily to the song writing. His other great moment from that album is "Missing in Action" which he wrote, and was released as a nice picture cover single.



He also wrote "Diamonds on China" which was one of the big songs from the 1985 self titled album.

 

As with many Kiwi bands at that time, they deserved more financial success. They produced two albums and a small collection of singles and EP's, but it is a shame they didn't have a longer career as a band, as all members were capable of writing some great songs.