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Band of Light were formed by in October 1972 by Phil key (vocalist and rhythm guitarist from legendary New Zealand band the La De Da's). Ian Rilen (later a key member of both Rose Tattoo and X) replaced peter Roberts (also ex-La De Da's) on bass after just 3 gigs. Master slide guitarist Norm Roue (later to join Buffalo) and experienced drummer Tony Buettel (from the Valentines) completed the line-up. Key's first mission was to ensure that Roue's stinging slide technique was put to good use. If you ever wondered what a nascent rose tattoo may have sounded like then this is a good place to start: On a good night, Roue could be matched with the likes of 'sleepy' Greg Lawrie from Carson and La De Das' Kevin Borich as one of the best slide players in the country, and at the bottom end, Rilen and Buettel always kept the rhythm firm and funky. By the time the 'Total Union' album appeared in august 1973, they were on a roll and it represented a definite peak in the band's career. Across the six tracks, the band's music is raucous and raw, yet simple and powerful, with Roue's unique slide explorations splashed liberally over the top.