Heartbreakers: Simon Morris, Tony Hooper, Don Wilson, Danny Shaw and Steve Robinson.

Line-Up:
    Don Wilson (Guitar / Vocals)
    Steve Robinson (Guitar / Vocals)
    Simon Morris (Guitar)
    Danny Shaw (Drums)
    Tony Hooper (Guitar)

The Heartbreakers were a Wellington pop group, who along with a number of others, predominately played the hotel circuit during the mid seventies. The Heartbreakers evolved out of Ebony, Bulldogs Allstar Goodtime Band and Tamburlaine. All three groups were in the process of disbanding or had already done so.

Don Wilson from Ebony got together with fellow guitarist / vocalist Tony Hooper and drummer Danny Shaw from Bulldogs Allstar Goodtime Band and called in bassist Simon Morris from the recently disbanded Tamburlaine. Guitarist Rob Winch completed the initial Heartbreakers line-up but was replaced by Steve Robinson, also from Tamburlaine, at the rehearsal stage.

They decided that the best direction to take was being a pub band. For three years they had a residency at the Cricketers Arms in Te Aro, Wellington. Early 1976 saw a line-up change with Robinson leaving to work at Marmalade Studios. He was replaced by bassist Nick Theobald, and Simon Morris switched to lead guitar.

Unlike most of their pub circuit contemporaries, the Heartbreakers also did some recording and released five singles on the Vertigo label between 1975 and 1977. They were "Beachcomber"/"Heartbreak", "Computer Man"/"Holding On", "Just Like Romeo and Juliet"/"Move Over Casanova", Lightening Strikes"/"Down By The Bay" and "No Scene At All"/"Heartbreak".

Another line-up change saw Bill Beare replacing Tony Hooper for the band’s final months, but their time together had begun to run its natural course.

Heartbreakers: Simon Morris, Don Wilson, Bill Beare, Nick Theobald, with Danny Shaw at front.

New Zealand Music