As with the old joke about Captain Cook's original axe - "it's had three new handles and two new heads" - there were easy points to be made noting these three bands come up short on original members: just one founder in each, although within Skynyrd's ranks were many who've been there for almost three decades.
But, as the MC said, the bands were there to play "all the hits you know" and between them - an oddly mismatched billing of 70s pop-into-art rock from 10cc, Starship's mainstream FM rock of the 80s and Skynyrd's Southern roots blues-rock - they could boast a number of staples on rock radio.
From the opening chords 10cc announced their refined musicianship and effectively ticked off the familiar Wall Street Shuffle, The Things We Do For Love, Good Morning Judge, the expansive I'm Mandy Fly Me and the odd Life is a Minestrone. With an impressive Pink Floyd/David Gilmour-like playing guitarist Rick Fenn introduced Art for Art's Sake which sounded even more ironically art-rock after his contribution.
But thereafter the momentum sagged, not the least because although it was a beautiful day in a lovely and well-organised setting, a flat field - as opposed to an amphitheatre - is not conducive to a band connecting with a large audience (and vice-versa).
Their excellent rendition of I'm Not in Love proved again just what craftsmen they were, and this being New Zealand the reggae of Dreadlock Holiday had many on their feet.
