Ishtar

Ishtar is a band moniker for Transgendered Guitar Goddess Simone Whitlow’s musical outlet over the last decade. A Hard Rock group based out of Auckland, Ishtar is Musically cinematic, mixing stadium-esque riffs, big hooks and often disparate elements into their songwriting style. Ishtar’s music draws comparisons to bands like Led Zeppelin, Queen, Van Halen, Kansas, Styx, Iron Maiden, Nightwish and Dream Theater, to name a few.

Ishtar have had numerous highlights including playing to a packed out Aotea Square during New Years & releasing 2 EPs (South of Sanity (2006) and the internet only release Ambigram (2007). They scored airplay on numerous indie and student Rock stations across NZ, featured on a Tsunami charity CD ‘Reconstruction’ & filmed a yet to be released Video for their song ‘South of Sanity’

The band has seen numerous incarnations. Mk 1, Featuring Simone (then Simon) on guitars also consisted of Angel & Johnny Walker (A Beautiful Chaos, vocals and drums) and Warren Keene on Bass. This incarnation was a proggy affair also with elements of Black Sabbath and hair metal. In Mk 3, Simone was joined by Mel Wright (vocals), Dave Cannon (drums) and Jamie Denton (bass) This version of the band forged the Ishtar sound and also recorded the bulk of Ishtar’s material. Collaborative and still heavy but a more commercial, rock orientated approach, the band crossed the line from Metal to Rock, while also indulging their musicality beyond that typical of Rock bands of the day. In 2007, just prior to folding Ishtar Mk3 (at this point Mel, Dave, Simone and bassist Matt Farley) filmed a video for their song ‘South Of Sanity’ since disregarded due to the fact Simone featured on it while still ‘Simon’.

In 2007, with Mel Wright having left to concentrate on her studies & Dave Cannon due to fly out to the UK Ishtar booked into the Rock Factory for a quick live recording session. In what came to be known as the Cardenio Sessions (with vocalist Lou Theobald in Mel’s place) Ishtar recorded a dozen live tracks, walking away with the finished product the same day.

Following the break up of Mk3 Simone took time out to transition.

The latest incarnation started off with Simone (now very much the Transgendered guitar goddess) collaborating with Lou Theobald on unplugged versions of Ishtar’s songs. This soon became a full band with Jamie Denton re-joining on bass. The lineup was complete with legendary drummer Greg Page. Ishtar Mark 4 contained all the elements of MK3 but showed more versatility, performing unplugged sets also featuring Simone on mandolin. This time also saw a leaning towards bands like Muse, Black Album era Metallica and, a growing 60’s Rock and Roll and R&B influence. With 2 part harmonies added the material took on an extra dimension live, at times Simone and Lou working as co-vocalists on songs. Ishtar Mk 4 split amid acrimony among the band members.

The band is currently in down time though Simone is currently performing unplugged as ‘Simone_Ishtar and hopes to have a full band lineup ready to go in 2012.