Legendary Kiwi singer-songwriter James Reid, whose iconic band, The Feelers, are playing Arrowtown on January 11 during their 17-gig Reimagined — Greatest Hits tour, admits he has looked at buying property in Queenstown.
‘‘I just didn’t make the move, I bloody should have.’’
Ironically, his dad John was a prominent local developer back in the day, developing Kelvin Heights in the ’60s and also carving up land in Dalefield and Bob’s Cove.
John also owned Walter Peak Station and the tourist operation by the lake, which Dianne and Lindsay Westaway ran for 37 years.
He remembers helping on the farm in the summer holidays and visiting in the August holidays to ski Coronet Peak.
Now 49, he and neighbour Hamish Gee started The Feelers — arguably New Zealand’s most successful rock band — 30 years ago.
In ’94 they got their big break, winning Battle of the Bands in Dunedin.
They then put out the first of five number-one albums, Supersystem, 25 years ago triggering their Reimagined album, which also explains the timing of their upcoming tour.
James, who’s back in Christchurch after a spell in Auckland, says he still pops down to Queenstown whenever he can.
For their upcoming tour, for which they’ve rearranged some of their hits,
The Feelers are also selling VIP tickets to exclusive three-song performances of songs they don’t play in the main set.
Tickets for the Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall gig are on sale at eventfinda.
