Max Merritt (30 April 1941 - 24 September 2020) was a New Zealand singer-songwriter and guitarist. Max started to learn guitar at age 12, and at 15 he founded the group Max Merritt And The Meteors in 1956. The band we’re considered one of NZ's earliest Rock'n'Roll bands, and made a name for themselves playing to US servicemen based in Christchurch for Operation Deep Freeze. They signed to HMV in 1959 and recorded an album before moving to Zodiac and Viking. Their early recordings have provided an source of inspiration for several generations of New Zealand garage bands, and are often compiled.
Links to Peel[]
The band relocated to London in 1971 and were based there for five years until 1976, when they disbanded and Max Merrit relocated to America. During their time in London, the group performed the UK circuit, but it is not known whether Peel saw them perform, but he did like them to the effect of inviting them to do three sessions for his show, which they did. After 1976, punk emerged and the music style of Max Merritt became almost redundant and rarely was played by JP.
Sessions[]
1. Recorded: 1972-04-18. First Broadcast: 05 May 1972. Repeated: 16 June 1972
- Morning Glory / Good Friend Of Mine / Ain't You Glad / Everybody Try
2. Recorded: 1975-10-23. First Broadcast: 27 November 1975, repeated 21 January 1976
- King Size Rosewood Bed / Wrong Turn / Long Time Gone / Slipping Away
3. Recorded: 1976-05-18. First Broadcast: 11 June 1976
- Let It Slide / Rosie / Tell Me Mama / Midnight Man
Other Shows Played[]
- 29 December 1975: Slipping Away (7") Arista 28
- 1976
- DE Tape 2 Peel January 1976: Slipping Away (7") Arista 1C 006-99 497 possibly above play
- 08 April 1976: Let It Slide (7") Arista ARISTA 49