Jane Walker - Give It A Whirl Interview

Interview – 2023

Jane Walker was drumming for a Christchurch rock 'n' roll band when punk pioneer Chris Knox asked her to join his new wave band on keyboards. Walker remembers the brief but influential reign of Toy Love, their polarising effect on audiences, and the decision to call it a day after a gruelling Australian tour.

Walker passed away in October 2018. In this interview recorded for 2003 TV series Give It A Whirl, she also touches on:

Moving to Christchurch, and meeting fellow musician (and future partner) Paul Kean
Being "jumped on" by Chris Knox after sharing a gig with The Enemy (4 minutes in)
Planning an all-female band with Jay Clarkson (6 minutes in)
Toy Love's worst night in Australia, playing to a roomful of rednecks in an "enormous" rugby league bar (15 minutes)
Sensing a "sea change" in the Kiwi music scene after returning from Australia (21 minutes in)

Read more about Jane Walker and Toy Love on AudioCulture (NZ On Screen's sister website)

This interview was recorded for the 2003 season of TV series Give it a Whirl. All audiovisual content is copyright to Visionary Film & TV, and may not be reproduced.

...I just don't think they knew what had hit them ... they didn't quite know how to take it, and I think mainly it's just because Chris was...his humour for them was so strange. I think maybe they're a lot more used to seeing musicians taking themselves seriously, and being a proper rock band. I don't know.
– Jane Walker on how Australian audiences reacted to Toy Love