Hotline (3)

Hotline was a meat 'n potatoes rock band that formed in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1980, with the original line-up consisting of PJ Powers (vocals), Alistair Coakley (lead guitar), George van Dyk (bass), Patrick van Rensburg (drums) and Geoff Sedgwick (keyboards). In 1983 the band changed their style to afro-rock, and that's when success really kicked off - not least of all by being popular with both black and white audiences (something rather unusual in the old days of apartheid, and frowned upon by the corridors of power). Larry Rose and also-producer Bones Brettell replaced members Patrick and Geoff respectively, and it was this line-up that went on to even greater heights. The band split in 1987, with PJ going on to an equally successful solo career while Larry Rose later joined Cinema and Alistair Coakley now plucking the strings for Folk & Celtic outfit Waldorf String Band.