 Aitken began his career in New Zealand, performing with the band Rogers Dodgers and later Heathen Grace.In 1975 he formed Gratis Kinetic with Stephen Galvin, John Mcrea, Greg Mooney and Murray Watt which released the single 'Taken All' on PYE Records written by Greg Mooney.Gratis Kinetic toured throughout New Zealand and appeared on TV1's Grunt Machine.