“Watch out young love!”. Even in black and white, Alastair Riddell’s pouting David Bowie riff brought a shock of rock'n'roll verve to the ‘New Faces’ talent section of Studio One — a popular TV show more used to singing families and novelty acts. The judges were mostly bemused by the glam rock onslaught and only grudgingly allowed Alastair Riddell's band Space Waltz to get through to the finals (where they buried them). But rock fans took notice of the x-factor and EMI quickly signed the band. Within weeks 'Out on the Street' had become the first local chart topper in three years.
In the 1970s there is no single image that did more to challenge the straitjacket stereotype of New Zealand maleness than seeing Alastair Riddell in full (glam) flight on Studio One/New Faces.– Ian Chapman
NZ On Screen acknowledges the performers and musicians for allowing NZ On Screen to reproduce this title on this website.
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