Knightshade

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Knightshade is a New Zealand rock band formed in 1982 in Te Puke. They later based themselves in Hamilton and became a prominent part of the New Zealand rock scene, known for high-energy shows and several successful releases.

Band history
- Original members: Wayne Elliott (vocals), Rik Bernards (guitar), Paul Martin (guitar), Jon Bell (bass), Alan Grady (drums). Paul Martin left later, Gavin Lind rejoined, and Craig Pollock joined in 1991.
- The group built a reputation with multiple top-20 singles and by supporting major touring acts such as Deep Purple, ZZ Top, Bon Jovi, Jimmy Barnes, The Angels, Iggy Pop, and Guns N’ Roses.
- Releases included several EPs, a live album, and a best-of studio album in 1995. The band stayed based in Hamilton for much of its career.
- Breakup and reunion: Knightshade split in 1997 and regrouped in 2010. They released a new single, Rough at the Top, in 2011 and played a well-received show in Hamilton in 2014 at Altitude.
- 2015 onward: The lineup settled around core members Wayne Elliott, Rik Bernards, and Craig Pollock, with Scott Williams (drums), Neil McDonald (bass), and Kingsley Smith (keyboards) joining later. They played the Gemini party in 2015 and continued performing and writing new material through 2016, including a final 2016 gig that was filmed for a live DVD. A new single, U Say, appeared in 2017.

Wayne Elliott’s passing and aftermath
- Wayne Elliott died on 4 December 2018, one week after his 67th birthday. His funeral was held on 10 December near Hamilton. Plans for posthumous singles and the release of the live DVD continued, with fans honoring his legacy.

Discography (highlights)
- Compilation albums: 3 Points of Metal (1984), Attack From Downunda (1986), Vicious Vinyl (1987), Bark Number One (1995), Old Skool of Rock: Vol 2 (2008), Simply The Best: 80s Rock Ballads (2008), No Peace For The Wicked (2011).
- Albums: Out For the Night (1987), Knightshade (1995) – a best-of style release.
- EPs: Out For The Count (1986), The Physical You (1987).
- Singles (notable NZ chart success): Out For The Count (1986) reached #26 in New Zealand; The Physical You (1987) reached #14; You Don’t Need Me (1988) reached #14; Last Night In The City (1989) reached #9; later singles include Television Eyes (1995), Rough At The Top (2011), and U Say (2017).
- Videos and performances from 2014 onward captured the band’s later live work.

External links and references
- Knightshade remains a noted part of New Zealand rock history, remembered for energetic shows, charting singles, and a dedicated fan base.