Mozzie the cat toured with Gerry and the Pacemakers and was only discovered in the south when the group kicked off its New Zealand tour in Invercargill. On Friday (8-April) they returned to Hamilton to perform at the Founder Theatre, and reunite Mozzie with Mr de Bruin.
Group promoter Layton Lillas said Mozzie must have snuck into the back of their truck when they were loading it up in Hamilton before starting the tour.
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DON SCOTT/The Press STOWAWAY: Sound and lighting technicians Kyle Evelyn (right) and Scott Williams with Mr Williams' next door neighbour's cat, Mozzie, who is travelling with Gerry and the Pacemakers after he snuck into the road crew's truck. |
When unloading the truck the crew heard a "meowing" noise that was firstly mistaken for a ringtone on a mobile phone, he said.
The band started to make arrangements to send the cat back home, but with a such a tight schedule it was easier to take him along as a tour mascot, he said.
"He's loveable ... he's travelling around with some celebrities ... he's almost becoming a celebrity himself."
Mozzie's owners, who were neighbours of the sound engineer in Hamilton, were contacted and were happy for him to continue touring, he said.
In Invercargill, he roamed around the Civic Theatre stage before settling in his cage with a blanket, Mr Lillas said.
"The only thing the cat asks is that he is let out to the toilet and that we look the other way."
Mozzie will now accompany the band through to Wellington and will then be flown home to Hamilton.
Cat owner Hendri de Bruin said he noticed Mozzie was missing on Monday and had asked neighbours, the vet and the SPCA if they had seen him.
"In the back on our minds we had declared him dead," he said.
However, when he received the call to say Mozzie was safe and sound, and in Invercargill, he replied: "oh my gosh, are you serious?"
"It was sort of amazing ... we didn't expect him to go all the way to Invercargill ... that's just crazy."
Mozzie was a loving cat who enjoyed cuddling and slept on his chest every night, Mr de Bruin said.
The cost to fly him back would have been $170, which he could not afford, so they agreed to let Mozzie stay on the tour.
"He sounds very happy ... it will be pretty cool when we re-unite."
Civic Theatre operations manager Garnet Ashbrook said Mozzie was found tucked away in the truck under one of the speakers.
Until next time keep rockin'
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz
You would think they would be too old for that sort of carry on...
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