Let's Planet / Band History

Let's Planet: About Us

Let's Planet was formed in 1985 but disbanded early in 1987. The band was then re-formed in 1988 by Alan Galloway and Caroline Easther following Caroline’s return to New Zealand from touring Europe and recording with The Chills. Let's Planet has since built a strong following through live work and through supports for international artists including Paul Kelly, R.E.M., The Proclaimers, and Throwing Muses. Successful supports for Crowded House’s Woodface tour led to an invitation to play the Wellington shows for the Split Enz 20^th Anniversary tour in 1993.

Pagan Records released their debut album, Favours, in December 1990. The album received good local and international reviews and airplay, and generated interest from New York label First Warning records. It also led to both Alan and Caroline being nominated in the Most Promising Vocalist category at the 1991 New Zealand Music Awards.

Jules Munro joined the band in 1992 and brought a harder guitar sound for the recording of the 2^nd album Loving Tongues, released through Pagan in November 1993. NZ On Air funded a video of Caroline’s song Arm and a Leg, and the album helped Let's Planet to secure the Best Original Band title in the 1993 Wellington Music Awards. A three-year licensing deal for South-East Asia was also signed for Loving Tongues.

Let's Planet headed back to Marmalade Studios in Wellington to record its 3^rd album with a new bass player, Mike Jansen. Another video grant was provided for Alan’s song Driving, directed by Greg Page for Flying Fish. Pagan released La Gloria in August 1998 to excellent reviews, and the band toured New Zealand to promote the album.

The Let's Planet line-up since 2000 has seen Caroline moving out from behind the drumkit and fronting on vocals, acoustic guitar, and keyboards. Drums have been taken over by ex-Sneaky Feelings drummer Martin Durrant, and Murray Costello, who played on Favours and Loving Tongues, is back on bass. Alan continues on vocals and electric guitar.

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