Deadset refuse to stand idly by as Murphy exits

By ELIZABETH BINNING

Taupo band Deadset may have lost its lead singer, Michael Murphy, to NZ Idol fame but that's not going to stop the three remaining members from rockin' on.

Andrew Kerr, Peter Williams and John McCaffrey say they will stay together with or without 17-year-old Murphy, who this week signed a contract with BMG Records after finishing runner-up in the TV show.

The boys formed Deadset in 2001, an up-and-coming rock band which has won the Coke Smokefree Rockquest regional final for two years in a row and played with the likes of Elemeno P and Goodshirt.

While there has not yet been any official word on whether Murphy's BMG contract will include provisions for Deadset, backing vocalist and bass player McCaffrey, 18, said it did not seem very likely.

"There's basically no room for us. It sounds like a deal for him. Basically we have got to just stay together and keep going hard until we get better."

McCaffrey, who was in Auckland with Murphy for the final Idol show on Monday night, said the band were happy for their lead singer and supported him in every way.

Murphy's fame had even benefited the band, which found itself with a growing fanbase after NZ Idol began.

However, McCaffrey said the boys did not want to be known as the NZ Idol or Michael Murphy band.

"We are going to change our name and basically form a new band with just us three but there is always going to be an opening in case [Michael] wants to come back."

McCaffrey said the band had recorded a demo album but Murphy's contract meant that it would no longer be released.

And, much to the disappointment of dozens of hopefuls, the band will not be recruiting a new lead singer.