Eye TV
Eye TV was a New Zealand alternative, indie and pop rock band, founded in Auckland, New Zealand, and active from 1990 until 2001, releasing 4 albums, 2 compilations and 10 singles and cassette singles.
Eye TV was founded by lead singer and guitarist Sean Sturm, drummer Mark Pollard and bassist Mike Scott in 1990 in Auckland, New Zealand. Eye TV's last album, Fire Down Below, and respectively their last lineup consisted of lead singer and guitarist Sean Sturm, drummer Luke Casey, bassist Mike Scott and temporary keyboard player Grant Winterburn. Other featured artists included Caitlin Smith, who provided backup vocals for One Day Ahead and was later featured in the full release of One Day Ahead in the album Fire Down Below.
History
Formation (1990)
The band was formed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1990, under its original name Nixons, playing rock with an electronic edge. The band's original line-up was Sean Sturm on guitar and vocals, Michael Scott on bass and Mark Pollard on drums. In 1991 the band had the track "Song To" included on Flying Nun Records compilation album Freak the Sheep, but surprised their existing fans by signing with Pagan Records. At the time, Pagan records mostly published Pop and Roots music. Sean Sturm still signed with Pagan Records despite that fact, and in a statement: “We signed with Trevor Reekie because he seemed to understand what we wanted to do: complex pop music.”Eye TV (1993) and Special Downtime (1995)
Nixons recorded their debut album Eye TV at York Street Studios in 1993 and toured New Zealand. Student radio organisations broadcast their music videos on late night television, giving them a solid base of fans throughout the country. Pollard also arranged a jam band, which played a regular slot at Pelican Club. Sturm often played Rhodes electric piano where the trio experimented with soul grooves and classic R&B.In 1994 a van full of the band's equipment was stolen, valued at NZ$50,000. Instead of replacing the gear, the Nixons borrowed equipment and used acoustic guitars, leading to a darker, more atmospheric sound on their mini-album Special Downtime. The band's first two albums were released in America, which required the band to change their name as there was an American band called The Nixons. The New Zealand Nixons took the name of their album and became Eye TV. At this time, drummer Mark Pollard left the band and was replaced with Luke Casey.