In the early 1980’s the ex-vocalist from Morrinsville Band ‘Gaffa’, Doug Barker, teamed up with Hamilton guitarist Murray Coombes to form ‘Velvet Bulldozer’. A blues band leaning more to the rockier edge of the genre. There were few changes along the way before they settled on their longest lasting line up including keyboard and harp maestro, Herbie Mason, Drummer Kevin Smith and me, Bassist Phil 'Mother' Walsh, and for the next several years played pubs, clubs and festivals around the North Island as well as becoming huge favourites of the Motorcycle Club circuit.

But all good things got to come to an end and in the mid 90’s Velvet Bulldozer disbanded and the members all moved on to other bands, careers, adventures and got busy raising families.

In Sept 2016 the entire line up reformed for the first time in 25 years to headline at the Roadhouse Bar & Cafés ‘Woodstock Revisited’ event to help raise money for a local muso doing it a bit tough.

With only a couple of rehearsals it was evident that the magic was still there and the night was a great success. It didn’t take much for the boys to decide that this wasn’t going to be just another one-off and to get back out there and spread our brand of hard rockin’ blues. We became regular favourites with The Hamilton Blues Society and performed at the Tauranga, Pirongia and Bay of Plenty Blues Festivals, the 2018’s “GEMINI’ party, (an annual rockfest organised by Paul Martin from The Axe Attack), a stonking set at the 2020 Waikato Rockers Reunion at the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival as well as having twice opened for the NZ AC/DC Tribute show.

In 2022 we were joined by Drummer, Adrian Barnett, and the boys were showing no signs of slowing down, Velvet Bulldozer were back and out to party.

Sadly in early 2023 we lost our Frontman and Founder, Doug 'Min' Barker and Velvet Bulldozer finally called it a day after 40 years of delivering  blues thunder in Waikato.  Here's few pics.