Bones Hillman

Wayne Stevens (born 1958), known by the stage name Bones Hillman, is a New Zealand musician. He played bass guitar in his first band the Masochists[1], an early New Zealand punk act, formed with friends from the Auckland suburb of Avondale (they were alternatively known as the Avondale Spiders). In late 1977 he joined the Suburban Reptiles and appeared on their first single, "Megaton" (Vertigo, 1978). The name Hillman was coined by the make of car he drove. He left the band in early 1978 and joined the former Masochists in the Rednecks, a mainstay of the legendary Zwines punk scene in Auckland.[2][3]

Bones Hillman performing in a concert, Nashville, Tennessee

In late 1977 he joined the New Zealand band the Swingers with Phil Judd (ex-Split Enz) and Mark Hough (a.k.a. Buster Stiggs, ex-Suburban Reptiles). Their single "Counting the Beat" was a trans-Tasman number one hit before the band disintegrated in 1983.

Moving to Australia as part of The Swingers in 1980 and living there until 2002, he was a member of internationally known Australian rock band Midnight Oil, replacing Peter Gifford in 1987 as bass player.[4][3]

During the hiatus of Midnight Oil, Hillman returned to New Zealand, working as a studio and live musician with Dave Dobbyn and recorded the album Available Light. Hillman moved with his family to Nashville, USA, in early 2007 to participate in the more active musical scene there. In 2009, Hillman recorded albums for Anne McCue (Broken Promise Land) and Elizabeth Cook (Welder, produced by Don Was). In 2011, Hillman worked on the Musical adaptation of Diner recording tracks for Sheryl Crow.

In 2014, Hillman reunited with Midnight Oil producer Warne Livesey to record songs for his new musical project the Graysmiths.

In 2015, Hillman recorded and toured with Matthew Good.

In 2017 Hillman participated in a Midnight Oil reunion and tour.[5]

References
  1. "Bassist and singer Bones Hillman comes home". 9 July 2004. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  2. "Bassist and singer Bones Hillman comes home". The New Zealand Herald. 10 July 2004. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  3. Noted. "Bones Hillman looks back on his colourful career". Noted. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  4. Midnight Oil profile
  5. Fricke, David; Fricke, David (28 April 2017). "Inside Midnight Oil's Triumphant, Timely Return". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 June 2019.


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