The Human Instinct

The Human Instinct are a New Zealand blues rock band that has been active since the late 1960s. The band currently consists of Maurice Greer (lead vocals and stand-up drummer), Phil Pritchard (guitar), Joel Haines (guitar) and Tony Baird (bass). The band has had more than 25 members and has changed lineups several times since its formation under the leadership of Maurice Greer.

They have released a total of seven albums and thirty singles. Their most recent album, Midnight Sun, was released October 2010.

The band is best known for their single "Black Sally" and their album Stoned Guitar, which features the Jimi Hendrix-inspired guitar work of Billy Te Kahika, professionally known as Billy TK.

The band emerged from a 1950s pop band The Four Fours, formed in Tauranga in 1958 by drummer Trevor Spitz. Lead guitarist Bill Ward joined in 1959, former police cadet Dave Hartstone became rhythm guitarist in 1960, and Frank Hay was enlisted on bass. The foursome rapidly became one of the most sought-after bands in the country.

In mid-1966 Maurice Greer, then fronting his own band The Saints, was invited to audition. He had his first group at the age of 14 and was billed as "the teenage wonder drummer". In 1964 he began experimenting with his drum kit, converting it into a stand up-unit, which he claimed was better for his vocals. As well as his drumming ability, the Four Fours were impressed with his ability to harmonise and hit high notes, talents valued by chart-topping bands of the time. He joined just in time to record their biggest hit "Go Go"/"Don’t Print My Memoirs".

The band, featuring Maurice Greer as vocalist and stand-up drummer, toured as support band for The Rolling Stones' 1966 New Zealand tour and sailed to the UK in August, changing their name en route to the Human Instinct.

The band won a recording deal with Mercury Records in 1967, releasing "Rich Man" (which New Musical Express described as a "pounding up-tempo piece with ear catching lyrics and some weird sounds"), "Can’t Stop Loving You", and a re-recording of the Four Fours' "Go Go". The band then signed with Deram Records to record "A Day in My Mind's Mind", described 30 years later by English critic Jon Savage as "a blurring of the real and fantastic, aurally reproduced by untuned raga-style guitars and a few voices".

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