The Rockets

The Rockets success story is one of determination, hard work and dedication.

The Rockets have always had a definite and precise attitude to their career right from its inception, and now more than 3 decades later they are still there (albeit with changes and additions to their line-up), having survived both apartheid and the fluctuations of the music business.

Although humiliated, harassed and hindered substantially by the apartheid laws they persevered using their music to break down racial barriers.

During the apartheid years:

• They grew up in poverty, in homes without electricity and proper sewerage systems.
  
• When bands of ‘colour’ could eventually play in ‘white’ venues The Rockets were unable to mix with the clientele and were instead confined to the kitchen in their breaks. Humiliated further by the fact that ‘permits’ had to be issued allowing them to play in a ‘white’ venue.
  
• They were forced to live far from venues because of the ‘group areas act’. – at times forced to sleep outside venues or at petrol stations in their vehicle.
  
• The top hotel groups in South Africa brought in ‘white’ bands from the United Kingdom paying them substantial fees instead of using the more talented South African groups of ‘colour’.
  
• Unable to play in the better equipped town halls (reserved for whites) instead forced to perform in the lesser equipped ‘coloured’ township venues.
  
• Treated like ‘2nd class’ citizens. Venue owners often ill-treated them offering only a mattress on the floor and a blanket in the heart of winter or placing them in cockroach infested rooms. Meals would often be inferior.
  
• Lost many international opportunities due to the embargo placed on South Africa.

The Rockets sheer guts and determination saw them through these years. They were responsible for many breakthroughs in the South African music industry which included:

• Opening the first multiracial nightclub in South Africa (Club New York City in Johannesburg). Clientele from all race groups enjoyed The Rockets exceptional entertainment and mixed with ease.
  
• Being the first band of ‘colour’ to appear on top TV music show ‘Popshop’.
  
• They were the first South African group to play with an international act at the Sun City Superbowl, situated 1 ½ hours from Johannesburg, supporting British artist Leo Sayer. Many famous artists have appeared at this venue, including, Queen, Rod Stewart, George Benson, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, etc.
  
• The first band of ‘colour’ to perform at the prestigious “State Theatre” in conservative Pretoria.

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