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Fred Dagg
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Fred Dagg is a fictional character from New Zealand created and acted on stage, film and television by satirist John Clarke. Clarke appeared on New Zealand TV screens as Dagg during the mid to late 1970s, "taking the piss" out of the post-pioneering Kiwi "blokes" and "blokesses". The sense of the name "Dagg" is associated with the slang term dag. The Fred Dagg character is a stereotypical farmer and New Zealand bloke: clad in a black singlet and gumboots, hailing from the isolated rural town of Taihape, and attended by numerous associates (or sons) all named "Trev". One memorable expression was uttered whenever there was a knock at the door: "That'll be the door." When Clarke first unveiled the character of Fred Dagg in recordings and on New Zealand TV in 1975, he became a national star. He also recorded a series of records and cassettes as Dagg,[1] as well as publishing several books.

In 1977, Clarke moved from New Zealand to Australia, where he went on to establish himself as a top script writer and personality.[2]

He appeared regularly on Australian television delivering political satire sketches with actor comedian Bryan Dawe until his death in April 2017.[3][4]

Influence

[edit]

Clarke stated that the inspiration for Fred Dagg came primarily from his uncles who would talk in such a way, using intonation and speech rhythm, to cause laughter without the standard telling of jokes.

Much of the comedy coming into New Zealand at the time was British radio and this was an inspiration to him.

Works

[edit]

John Clarke slowly refined the character of Fred Dagg in short comedic interview segments that screened occasionally on the New Zealand current affairs show Nationwide throughout 1974. In December of that year the character was the subject of a satirical mockumentary spoof episode on the NZBC farming show, Country Calendar. Fred Dagg went on to become a household name in New Zealand in 1975 with further comedy skit appearances on the Television One news programme Tonight at Nine and with the release by Clarke (as Dagg) of two singles with EMI, "Traditional Air"/"Unlabelled", and "We Don't Know How Lucky We Are"/"Larry Loves Barry", with the latter making it to number 17 on the national music single charts.

An album called Fred Dagg's Greatest Hits followed and was a massive seller.[5] Thirty years after its release this album remains one of New Zealand's all-time biggest selling records.

Another single recorded with Diamond Lil was an even bigger hit in 1976. "Gumboots"/"Save The Last Dance For Me" climbed to number 6 on the charts. "Gumboots" was a modified version of Billy Connolly's "If It Wasna For Your Wellies", itself an adaptation of the old song "The Work Of The Weavers".[6]

A second album, Fred Dagg Live was released in 1976.[7] Following on in the style of the first, it was also a huge seller.

1977 saw the release of the film Dagg Day Afternoon, co-directed and co-written by John Clarke and Geoff Murphy, and starring Fred Dagg. The film, under 45 minutes long, is essentially a series of sketches tied together with a loose narrative about Dagg's secret mission to find a "bionic sheep" (or 6 million dollar ram) which has been lost by the government.

By 1978 John Clarke and his young family had settled in Australia but he briefly commuted back to New Zealand during that year to create a Fred Dagg television series for South Pacific Television (TV2). The Fred Dagg Lectures on Leisure consisted of 20 five-minute long episodes which screened Sunday nights from September 1978 through to February 1979. The programmes featured Fred holding forth on a variety of diverse subjects such as golf, photography, how to write an autobiography, UFO spotting, saving whales and tree-felling. The original master tapes of all these episodes no longer exist and are thought to have either been wiped or lost by SPTV when the company was dissolved and amalgamated with Television One in 1980.[8]

A third and final album was released in 1979 called The Fred Dagg Tapes.[9]

In 1998 the Fred Dagg Anthology CD was released by Columbia.[10] It contained most of Dagg's best-known material. A lot of the second half of the Anthology isn't genuine "Fred Dagg" material, having been created by Clarke after he'd retired Fred Dagg and moved to Australia. A number of mock interviews were first broadcast on Australian current affairs television, and lampoon prominent people (such as businessman Alan Bond) who would not be familiar to a New Zealand audience. There are also six "farnarkeling" reports, which parody sports news and were first performed by Clarke on the ABC's The Gillies Report.

"We Don't Know How Lucky We Are!" was re-released in 1998 with revised lyrics. This re-recording was driven by Graeme Hill, and Sky TV's SportsCafe.

Discography

[edit]

Studio and live albums

[edit]
List of albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[11]
Fred Dagg's Greatest Hits
  • Released: 1975
  • Label: EMI (DAGG 1)
  • Format: LP, Cassette
 -
Fred Dagg Live
  • Released: 1976
  • Label: EMI (DAGG 3)
  • Format: LP, Cassette
 -
The Fred Dagg Tapes
  • Released: 1979
  • Label: EMI (EMC 159)
  • Format: LP, CD
 36

Compilation albums

[edit]
List of compilation
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
NZ[12]
Fred Dagg Anthology
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Columbia (489885-2)
  • Format: CD, Cassette
 2
The Taihape Years
  • Released: August 2008
  • Label: Jigsaw
  • Format: CD, DD
 34

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Fred Dagg

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from Grokipedia
Fred Dagg is a fictional satirical character created and portrayed by New Zealand comedian John Morrison Clarke, representing a quintessential rural Kiwi farmer known for his dry humor, philosophical musings, and commentary on everyday life and national identity. Dagg first appeared in 1971 during Clarke's university revue One in Five and gained prominence on television in December 1973 through a on the current affairs program Gallery, where he stood on Lambton Quay in holding a . Dagg's signature look included a shearer's singlet, , floppy hat, and gumboots, which became iconic symbols of his persona. He featured in numerous television sketches, including a memorable 1974 spoof on the rural program Country Calendar alongside "six sons all named Trevor," and around 40 installments of Tonight at Nine from 1975 to 1976. Notable recordings included the 1975 album Fred Dagg’s Greatest Hits, which achieved gold status, and the single "Gumboots" (also known as "The Gumboot Song") that charted for three months in 1976. Other hits like "We Don’t Know How Lucky We Are" captured Dagg's blend of self-deprecating wit and patriotic pride. Dagg's popularity led to a 1976 national tour, a 1977 television special Fred Dagg Live with musician John Grenell and the Big Dagg Band, and the film Dagg Day Afternoon that same year. Clarke, who moved to in the late and died in 2017, largely retired the character after 1977 but revived elements in later works, such as the 2006 compilation The Dagg Sea Scrolls. Dagg's influence endures as a pioneer of New Zealand , earning Clarke the Feltex Award in 1976 and preserving artifacts like his outfit at museum, while inspiring later comedians through his understated, eloquent style.

Creation and Character

Origins and Inspiration

John Clarke, a New Zealand-born satirist, created the character Fred Dagg in the early 1970s as part of his burgeoning career in local comedy and media. Clarke first developed the persona during university revues at Victoria University of Wellington in the late 1960s and early 1970s, where the character debuted in the 1971 revue One in Five, and he honed his satirical style through performances that mocked everyday New Zealand life and language. The character's television debut occurred on 18 December 1973, in a segment for the current affairs program Gallery, where Dagg opined on daylight saving time and duck shooting in his distinctive rural drawl. This appearance marked the breakthrough for Clarke's alter ego, quickly establishing Dagg as a vehicle for gentle yet pointed humor. The inspiration for Fred Dagg's speech and mannerisms drew heavily from Clarke's personal observations of New Zealand vernacular. Clarke cited the laconic, rhythmic patterns of rural talk he heard from "a couple of very amusing uncles" and other Kiwis with "obvious and surreal" delivery styles, which he exaggerated to create Dagg's flat, nasal twang and evasive storytelling. Additionally, Clarke's comedic sensibilities were shaped by British radio traditions, particularly the absurd wordplay and surrealism of The Goon Show, which influenced his generation of New Zealand humorists and informed Dagg's satirical edge. These elements combined to form a character whose visual simplicity—a black singlet and gumboots—belied the nuanced parody of national identity. At its core, Fred Dagg served as Clarke's satirical commentary on the stereotypical "Kiwi bloke" and rural archetypes amid 's urbanizing 1970s, when rapid social changes highlighted tensions between traditional country life and modern development. Clarke, who had already gained traction in media through stage revues and early television sketches, used the character to affectionately skewer the self-reliant, no-nonsense farmer figure that embodied a fading pastoral ideal. By 1977, as Dagg's popularity peaked, Clarke relocated to for expanded opportunities in and broadcasting, though the character's roots remained firmly tied to his experiences.

Description and Persona

Fred Dagg is portrayed as a quintessential rural farmer hailing from the small town of , embodying the archetype of the isolated Kiwi bloke through his distinctive attire of a black singlet, gumboots, and often a towelling hat. This everyday farming ensemble underscores his grounded, no-nonsense connection to the land, while his philosophical demeanor—delivered in an ultra-deadpan style—lends a layer of wry to his observations. Central to Dagg's character is his family structure, which amplifies comedic absurdity: he is the father of seven sons, all named and collectively referred to as "the Trevs," highlighting the multiplicity and eccentricities often associated with large rural households. This naming convention serves as a humorous device to exaggerate the uniformity and challenges of family life in remote farming communities. Dagg positions himself as a "freelance expert in matters of a general character," offering laconic, deadpan commentary on politics, culture, and everyday existence with a quiet outrage toward societal shortcomings. His satirical lens targets Kiwi self-deprecation, the solitude of rural isolation, and the shifting national identity during the 1970s—a period marked by economic pressures from global oil shocks and agricultural shifts, as well as social transformations like increased urbanization. Through this persona, Dagg critiques feelings of disenfranchisement among ordinary New Zealanders, using humor to reflect broader cultural anxieties without overt confrontation.

Media Appearances

Television and Radio

Fred Dagg's first television appearance occurred on 18 December 1973, in a sketch for the current affairs program Gallery on , where the character humorously discussed daylight saving and duck shooting. In 1974, Dagg featured in a satirical episode of the rural lifestyle program Country Calendar on , parodying farming documentaries by portraying the character as a laid-back farmer accompanied by his six identically named sons, the Trevs. By 1975, Dagg had debuted as a regular character in various sketches, including appearances on programs such as Tonight at Nine, where he offered comic commentary on everyday topics while interacting with journalists. In 1977, Clarke presented the television special A Bit of a Dagg (also known as Fred Dagg Live), which featured musical performances with John Grenell and the Big Dagg Band. From 1978 to 1979, Dagg starred in the series The Fred Dagg Lectures on , a 13-part series of short, five-minute segments aired on and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), with many episodes now lost; the content focused on instructional about leisure activities like and barbecues. Dagg also appeared in radio spots across and , often as a freelance expert providing satirical takes on current events, including segments on ABC Radio's The Show where the character addressed topics like government policy and science.

Film and Stage

Fred Dagg made his sole cinematic appearance in the 1977 Dagg Day Afternoon, a satirical directed by and written by John Clarke that follows the character's chaotic quest to recover a government-lost "bionic sheep," parodying action tropes like while lampooning rural bureaucracy and farming life. The production, shot over approximately five days, features Clarke as Dagg alongside his fictional sons—all named Trevor—in a series of interconnected sketches emphasizing absurd escapades on the farm and in the countryside, complete with military interludes and over-the-top rural humor. Released as a double bill with the film , it captured Dagg's persona through visual gags and delivery, highlighting themes of Kiwi ingenuity amid everyday mishaps. Between 1975 and 1977, Fred Dagg transitioned to live theater in , performing in variety shows and tours that brought his sketches to audiences in theaters and clubs across the country. A notable tour paired Dagg with John Hore and the Big Dagg Band, delivering monologues, songs, and comedic routines in towns nationwide, often at venues like Auckland's Ace of Clubs. These performances expanded on Dagg's radio and TV material with interactive elements, such as flea races and improvised farmer anecdotes, fostering a sense of communal laughter at small-town absurdities. In early 1977, Clarke reprised the role in the variety production Diamond Lil Meets Fred Dagg at the Ace of Clubs, running from January 31 to February 12, where Dagg interacted with performers like Erana Clark and Doug Aston in sketches blending vaudeville-style humor with rural satire. These stage outings, priced affordably at around $3.80 per ticket, solidified Dagg's appeal as a live act, drawing crowds eager for his gumboot-clad wit. The stage and film works centered on themes of absurd rural adventures, portraying Dagg's misadventures as a lens for gentle mockery of 's agrarian culture.

Music and Recordings

Discography

Fred Dagg's discography primarily consists of humorous spoken-word and musical recordings released during the 1970s and later compilations, reflecting the character's satirical take on New Zealand rural life. These works were produced under the guidance of John Clarke, who voiced and created the character, often in collaboration with comedian for backing sketches and performances. The debut album, Fred Dagg's Greatest Hits, was released in 1975 by in , featuring a mix of songs and monologues recorded hastily in a single morning session. It achieved immediate commercial success, attaining gold status (7,500 units) on the day of release and selling over 100,000 copies in , making Clarke the country's top-selling recording artist at the time. Following the debut, Fred Dagg Live appeared in 1976, also on , capturing live performances from a tour including a recording at ; it included 13 tracks of songs and monologues. The album was produced in with contributions from Dawe and the production team. In 1979, after Clarke's move to , The Fred Dagg Tapes was released by , compiling radio sketches and recordings made in both countries, with Dawe providing collaborative elements. This LP marked a shift toward Australian production while maintaining the character's roots. A key compilation, Fred Dagg Anthology, was issued in 1998 by , gathering tracks from earlier releases along with additional material featuring Clarke's later contributions as the character. It reached gold certification in on October 25, 1998.
Album TitleRelease YearLabelFormatNotes
Fred Dagg's Greatest Hits1975LPStudio recordings; over 100,000 copies sold in
Fred Dagg Live1976LPLive album from tour
The Fred Dagg Tapes1979LP, Sketches recorded in and
Fred Dagg Anthology1998ColumbiaCompilation with later additions

Notable Songs and Performances

Fred Dagg's music featured a folksy, acoustic style characterized by simple guitar accompaniment and vocal delivery, emphasizing satirical humor rooted in rural life and culture. This approach allowed the songs to blend seamlessly with comedic sketches, enhancing their appeal in both recordings and live settings. One of the character's most iconic tracks, "We Don't Know How Lucky We Are," released as a 1975 single on , satirized national complacency through patriotic lyrics that ironically highlighted ' good fortune while poking fun at their understated attitude. The single, backed by "Larry Loves Barry," reached number 17 on the New Zealand charts, with "We Don't Know How Lucky We Are" becoming a staple of Dagg's repertoire for its witty commentary on everyday Kiwi blessings. Its B-side, "Larry Loves Barry," offered a political lampooning public figures through absurd, lighthearted scenarios, further showcasing Clarke's talent for topical . In 1976, "Gumboots" emerged as another hit single, peaking at number 6 on the charts and serving as a humorous to the essential rural footwear symbolizing New Zealand's farming lifestyle and resilience. Adapted from a tune and recorded with collaborator Diamond Lil, the song celebrated gumboots' practicality in muddy paddocks, resonating with audiences through its playful exaggeration of country pride. Dagg's live performances during his 1976 national tour integrated these songs with comedic sketches, often featuring the character's fictional sons, the Trevs, in ensemble numbers that amplified the folksy, communal vibe. The , which sold out venues across the country, culminated in recordings like the album Fred Dagg Live, capturing blended musical and spoken-word segments performed with acoustic simplicity and dry wit.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Influence on New Zealand Humor

Fred Dagg, the satirical farmer persona created by John Clarke, played a pivotal role in shaping distinctly Kiwi humor through its style and focus on rural-urban divides. This laconic approach, characterized by understated wit and , critiqued provincial life while celebrating its absurdities, influencing subsequent works like the comic strip , which drew on similar rural comedy traditions. In the cultural context, Dagg's commentary resonated deeply amid economic turmoil, including the oil crises of 1973 and 1978–79, political shifts, and high rates driven by and . Skits addressed these issues directly, such as Dagg's humorous take on discovering on his property, satirizing national anxieties over energy shortages and the "great brain drain" of Kiwis leaving for better opportunities. This resonated particularly with working-class audiences, offering affectionate yet pointed relief from the era's challenges. Dagg's impact extended to inspiring later comedians, including , whose sketches similarly tuned into the national mood with character-driven satire, and modern satirists who adopted similar observational styles. Academic analyses, such as the 2019 Daggliography study, catalog 81 appearances across five prolific years, underscoring Dagg's foundational role in resetting New Zealand's sense of humor toward satirical self-reflection. Following Clarke's relocation to in 1977, after Dagg's grew too politically pointed for television, the character helped popularize Kiwi tropes like the laconic rural across the Tasman, influencing broader Australasian comedic perceptions of identity.

Tributes and Revivals

John Clarke, the creator and performer of Fred Dagg, died on 9 April 2017 at the age of 68 while hiking in the Grampians National Park in Victoria, Australia. His passing prompted widespread tributes across New Zealand and Australia, recognizing his contributions to satire and comedy. New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English described Clarke as a "national icon," tweeting his sadness at the loss of the man behind Fred Dagg and highlighting his enduring influence on the nation's humor. Colleagues, comedians, and politicians he had satirized also paid homage, with outlets like the BBC noting his "sharpest wit" and the profound impact of his work on both countries. Following Clarke's death, scholarly interest in Fred Dagg revived through a 2019 special issue of the Journal of Comedy Studies dedicated to John Clarke's , which included a "Daggliography"—a comprehensive cataloging Fred Dagg's appearances in Television (NZTV) archives. This academic effort, coordinated by humor scholars, detailed 81 Dagg appearances from 1973 to 1978, preserving and analyzing the character's cultural footprint. Occasional revivals have appeared in media, with classic clips from the 1970s shared on platforms like NZ On Screen, including skits from Tonight at Nine and Nationwide, keeping Dagg's laconic style accessible to new audiences. Podcasts and radio segments on RNZ have also revisited his routines, often in discussions of comedy history. Modern references to Fred Dagg persist in cultural events and media. The annual Gumboot Day festival in , the rural town immortalized in Dagg's 1976 hit "The Gumboot Song," continues to draw crowds with gumboot-throwing contests, races, and Dagg-inspired parades, a tradition started in 1985 that celebrates the character's connection to everyday Kiwi rural life. Merchandise such as T-shirts, books, and replicas of Dagg's iconic black singlet, shorts, hat, and gumboots remains available, while his original costume from the 1970s is on permanent display at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum in , underscoring his status as a . In the 2020s, Dagg has featured in cameos and homages in media, including rural comedy sketches on social platforms and a 2025 documentary, Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke, directed by Clarke's daughter Lorin, which explores his legacy through archival footage and family insights.

References

  1. https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/6c13/clarke-john-morrison
  2. https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/john-clarke/biography
  3. https://tepapa.govt.nz/about/past-exhibitions/very-sensible-fred-dagg
  4. https://www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/fred-dagg
  5. https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/114956519/late-comedian-john-clarke-and-his-muchloved-alter-ego-fred-dagg-subject-of-major-academic-study
  6. https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/tonight-at-nine-fred-dagg-1976/background/ian-pryor
  7. https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/news/2017/04/remembering-john-clarke
  8. https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/1981/fred-dagg
  9. https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/91565080/taihape--where-the-legend-of-fred-dagg-lives-on
  10. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/john-clarke-alias-fred-dagg/US3JQESP745X4CYBXRKZYEZGXM/
  11. https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/45675/fred-dagg-adjusts-the-aerial-for-tv2
  12. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/aug/11/john-clarke-daughter-lorin-documentary-film-but-also-john-clarke-miff
  13. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/tv-review-cmon-tvnz-rattle-your-dags-for-fred/FHB4EL36KPME25GWVU7VGNDCUA/
  14. https://sydneyanthology.wordpress.com/2016/08/24/from-a-complete-dagg-1989/
  15. https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/47902/fred-dagg-on-country-calendar
  16. https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/country-calendar-fred-dagg-1974
  17. https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/fred-dagg-skits-1975
  18. https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/tonight-at-nine-fred-dagg-1976
  19. https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/a-bit-of-a-dagg-fred-dagg-live-1977
  20. https://www.kiwitv.org.nz/index.php/tv-shows-mainmenu-42/49-comedy/3160-fred-dagg-lectures-on-leisure-1978
  21. https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/18039/fred-dagg
  22. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/scienceshow/more-dagg/9188360
  23. https://www.abcalumni.au/celebrating_50_years_of_the_science_show
  24. https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/dagg-day-afternoon-1977
  25. https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/dagg-day-afternoon-1977/background
  26. https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/F951/
  27. https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22354270
  28. https://digitalnz.org/records/37963667
  29. https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/42563/gold-and-platinum-new-zealand-albums-to-2013
  30. https://www.discogs.com/artist/327753-Fred-Dagg
  31. https://www.sergent.com.au/music/freddagg.html
  32. https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/35309/roadside-stories-taihape-gumboot-capital
  33. https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/91406272/what-a-dagg-the-day-john-clarke-came-home-to-palmerston-north
  34. https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/37539/footrot-flats
  35. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/2040610X.2019.1592331
  36. https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/the-1970s
  37. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/fred-dagg-creator-john-clarke-dies-at-68/XBENYFITL47F5ZBK4NYWDZF7HU/
  38. https://www.cracked.com/article_32073_what-we-do-in-the-shadows-and-the-origins-of-new-zealand-comedy-success.html
  39. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/today-in-history/muchloved-satirist-john-clarke-was-a-dagg-with-sharp-wit/news-story/e42f98249f9feec7ce7a193089d762ea
  40. https://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2017/04/10/meeting-john-clarke-and-cleaning-fred-daggs-gumboots-for-customs/
  41. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/tributes-roll-in-for-satirist-john-clarke/j7y2p0de8
  42. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-39524202
  43. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/2040610X.2019.1592310
  44. https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/not-only-fred-dagg-2025
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