Biography
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Years Active
2001 – 2010 (9 years)
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Founded In
Auckland, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
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Members
- Kody Nielson
The Mint Chicks were an experimental noise rock/power pop group from Auckland, New Zealand consisting of Kody Nielson (vocals, keyboards), Ruban Nielson (guitar, vocals), Michael Logie (bass) and Paul Roper (drums). Formed in 2001, they began by playing punk house parties and low profile shows before being discovered by acclaimed New Zealand independent record label Flying Nun Records.
They have since released five records under the Flying Nun banner: "Octagon, Octagon, Octagon EP" (2003), "Anti-Tiger EP" (2004), "F**k The Golden Youth" (2005), "Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!" (2006) and "Screens" (2009), as well as one EP under the label MusicHy.pe, "Bad Buzz" (2010) and a digital self release of "Mintunes" EP (2008) consisting of "8-bit versions" of both previously released songs and tracks from the album Screens. All were produced and recorded by the band's core members Ruban and Kody Nielson, with the exception of Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! which was produced by the Nielson brothers and their father Chris Nielson at two different home studios.
All four original band members met at Orewa College in Orewa, New Zealand, although the band starting moving between Portland, Oregon and Auckland, as the Nielson brothers have dual citizenship in New Zealand and the U.S.
Their album "Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!" has achieved huge success in New Zealand, winning several New Zealand Music Awards: Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Rock Album, Best Music Video and Best Album Cover.
In October 2009 the Mint Chicks performed a rendition of Ray Columbus and the Invaders' classic hit She's A Mod at the New Zealand Music awards as a four-piece band, later released as a standalone single. Shortly afterwards on October 16, 2009, it was announced Michael Logie would be rejoining the band in a post on the band's Twitter.
Shortly after the release of the Bad Buzz EP, the band played their final show on 12 March 2010. The show, originally a fundraiser for MusicHy.pe, ended in chaos after Kody Nielson attacked his brother Ruban, dismantled the drumkit and stormed offstage, imploring the crowd to "start your own f**king band". Since disbanding in 2010, Singer Kody Nielson is making music under the alias Opossom with former bassist Michael Logie and Bic Runga. Guitarist Ruban Nielson now fronts Unknown Mortal Orchestra with producer Jacob Portrait. Michael Logie continues his solo project F In Math.
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