Described by New Zealand musical legend Chris Knox as ‘the best band that ever lived’, the Clean were formed in Dunedin in 1978 by brothers Hamish (drums) and David Kilgour (guitar). They were joined by bassist Robert Scott in 1980. The Clean were early proponents of what was dubbed the ‘Dunedin Sound,’ a mix of jangly guitars and slightly off-key vocals. Like others in the emerging local indie scene, the Clean were influenced by punk and 1960s psychedelic rock, offering an alternative to the steady diet of ‘pub rock’ bands, often doing covers, that dominated the local rock scene. ‘Anything could happen’, from the 1981 EP Boodle, boodle, boodle, showcases Hamish’s drumming style, which evoked a never-ending drumbeat. The EP reached number 5 on the New Zealand music charts.