MAURICE GREER |
For more than 40 years, Maurice Greer has been vocalist and drummer for the legendary New Zealand band Human Instinct, originally called The Four Fours.
In mid-1966, Palmerston North-born and raised Maurice was fronting his own band, The Saints. Called ‘the teenage wonder drummer’, he had developed what would become his trademark: a stand-up drumming style that was better, he says, for his vocals. He was asked to audition for The Four Fours and won the job both for his drumming and singing.
The Human Instinct's cover of the Byrd's
Renaissance Fair, February 1968
As The Four Fours, the band played support for The Rolling Stones' 1966 New Zealand tour and then headed for the UK, changing its name to Human Instinct en-route. While based in England, Human Instinct performed at the Tiles Club, The Marquee and Hugh Heffners Playboy Club. The band was support for Small Faces, Cat Stevens, The Moody Blues, Roy Orbison, Jeff Beck Band, Spooky Tooth, The Troggs and Spencer Davis Group.
In 1968, Maurice Greer declined an offer to join the Jeff Beck Group. Human Instinct returned to New Zealand and while other members left the band, Maurice – back in Palmerston North – rebuilt it with fellow Creative Giant Billy Te Kahika – Billy TK. With Billy TK on board, Human Instinct adopted a heavier rock sound and it was during this era that Human Instinct released the single for which it is best known: Black Sally.
More than 25 musicians have been involved with the band which has released 24 singles and seven albums – the latest Midnight Sun, was in October 2010.
Human Instinct
