The Premiers were a rock and roll group from Wellington, whose beginnings were back in 1958 as the Swamp Dwellers. They changed to the Premiers and enjoyed a successful career in the Wellington area up until 1963. Neil Harrap was a highly accomplished lead guitarist for the band.

In 1961 they provided backing for Teddy Bennett's first single and again in 1962, backing for Lou Parun's second single, but the band wasn't happy being a backing group and they recognised that if they were going to further their careers, the band needed to relocate to Auckland. This they did in 1963, but Neil decided not to go. Instead he joined the Measles in a residency at Wellington's Sorrento Coffee Lounge, and worked as a session guitarist with studio band, the Blockbusters, before heading off to live in the USA in 1965.