User:Dudsud/sandbox/The Pin Group

The Pin Group was a New Zealand post-punk group formed in 1980 in Christchurch, New Zealand. They were the first band released on Flying Nun Records, and featured Roy Montgomery, Peter Stapleton, and Ross Humphries.

Original formation
In November 1980, the Pin Group was formed in Christchurch, featuring guitarist and vocalist Roy Montgomery, drummer and lyricist Peter Stapleton, and bassist and lyricist Desmond Brice. The band debuted live at the Christchurch venue the DB Gladstone in mid-1981, which was becoming a key venue in the Christchurch alternative scene. Soon after their debut, Brice was replaced by bassist and vocalist Ross Humphries, but Brice let the group continue using his lyrics. Christchurch artist Ronnie van Hout became a close collaborator of the band, designing posters and covers for the group. Montgomery, who managed an EMI record store in Christchurch at the time, came into work and found "Roy Division" spray painted on the wall outside, a reference to the Pin Group's similarity to Joy Division.

Flying Nun releases
In July 1981, the band recorded two singles at Nightshift Studios in Woolston, Christchurch, "Ambivalence / Columbia" and "Coat / Jim". The sessions were engineered by Arnie van Bussel, who also owned Nightshift. "Ambivalence" was released in September as the first single on newly formed Flying Nun Records, a week before The Clean's "Tally Ho!". The single charted for a week in October, reaching #36 and achieving little radio play. "Coat" was released in November of the same year, with the initial run of 300 pressings for each single selling out quickly.

After the release of the two singles the group's lineup expanded, with Mary Heney joining on guitar and vocals and Peter Fryer on viola. In December 1981, the band travelled to Wellington to record a five song EP at EMI Studios with Frank Douglas. They played their last show in March 1982 at the Christchurch Arts Centre’s Jazz Cellar, with Montgomery departing for England soon after. The Pin Group Go to Town EP was released in May on Flying Nun.

Reformation and re-issues
In 1992, the band re-united to record a 7" single on Siltbreeze named 11 Years After, featuring a new version of "Coat" and their often-performed cover of "Hurricane Fighter Plane" by Red Krayola. In 1997, Siltbreeze issued a compilation album titled The Pin Group, featuring the band's three singles, the Go To Town EP, and a live cover of "Low Rider" by War.

In 2011, Flying Nun re-issued the band's discography in a remastered album titled Ambivalence, including a full live performance at the Gladstone Hotel from July 1981.

Peter Stapleton passed in March 2020, and Mary Heney passed in December 2020.