Alastair Riddell
Alistair Riddell is a New Zealand singer with a glam rock image who fronted the group Space Waltz. They had a no. 1 hit in New Zealand with "Out on the Street".
Background
Riddell is a musician and a film maker. He had a singing style that was likened to a combination of Bryan Ferry and David Bowie. Prior to 1974, he was in a band called Orb with Eddie Rayner. Then later, the two of them were in Space Waltz.In the 1980s, having played music in both the United States and the United Kingdom, he met English model Vanessa whom he married. With her, he returned to New Zealand and raising his family of 4 children in the West Auckland suburb of Titirangi.
Career
Orb
In 1972, he fronted Orb which consisted of Tony Rayner on keyboards, Paul Crowther on drums, and Paul Wilkinson on lead guitar. They played the Art's Festival in 1972.Space Waltz
The group appeared on Studio One New Faces and created a bit of a stir with their image. They lost out in the finals but went down well with rock fans. They were noticed by EMI and promptly signed up. Their single "Out On The Street" went to no 1 in New Zealand.The album Space Waltz, which was released by EMI in 1974 featured Riddell, Eddie Rayner, Greg Clark, Peter Cuddihy, Brent Eccles, and The Yandall Sisters.
Post Space Waltz
In 1977, the single "Wonder Ones" bw "Oh Ron" was released on the Mandrill label. The following year, his self titled album Alastair Riddell was also released on the Mandrill label. Around mid 1979, two members of his band, The Alastair Riddell band, guitarist John Treseder, and bassist Gavin Beardsmore joined up with Gary Havoc & The Hurricanes.1980s
In 1987, he contributed electronic drums to the hit "Poi E" by Patea Maori Club. Incidentally, The Yandall Sisters who sang backup on the Space Waltz album appeared on another track of the album that the hit was on.Later years
In 2012, Riddell's film The Last Stop, which featured his wife Vanessa was submitted to the Your Film Festival, which an online festival. The festival is promoted by English director Ridley Scott. Their project involved cinematographer Dean Carruthers. also that year he released a single "Last Of The Golden Weather".Discography (selective)
| Title | Catalogue | Year | Notes # |
| "Wonder Ones" / "Oh Ron" | Mandrill M 10005 | 1977 | |
| "Smile" / "Eyes Of Love" | Mandrill DRILL 9 | 1978 | |
| "Zero" / "She's In Love" | WEA Z10047 | 1981 | |
| "Do You Read Me" / "Passion & Love" | WEA 2599317 | 1982 | Engineer: Graeme Myhre |
| "Let Her Know" / "Futura" | WEA Z10070 | 1982 |
| Title | Catalogue | Year | Notes # |
| Alastair Riddell | Mandrill MAN 3 | 1978 | |
| Positive Action | WEA Z20027 | 1982 | |
| Space Waltz | RPM Records RPM 306 | 2005 |
Film work
| Title | Role | Year | Notes # |
| Desert | sound mixer: festival version | 2010 | |
| The Last Stop | director, editor, sound editor | 2012 | |
| Colliding Lives | director | 2013 | |
| Broken Hallelujah | director, producer, cinematographer, actor | 2014 | |
| West of Eden | director, editor, composer | 2015 |