AK79 Live
Revisiting the influential Auckland punk rock scene of the late 1970s.
This independent, gut level short haired rock and roll was first documented on the defining compilation AK79, a record that has taken on a life of its own over the last three decades to become an internationally-known snapshot of New Zealand in 1979 - all the more astounding considering the youthful scene that spawned it represented merely a tiny subset of local popular culture.
So when The Terrorways, Proud Scum, Spelling Mistakes, Scavengers and the X-Features came together thirty years down the track, it was a bringing together of their historical import with the high-powered rock and roll fun that had earned this music a place in history in the first instance.
Over two nights in November 2008, Auckland’s Monte Cristo Room played host to shows that reconvened the key participants of the late 1970s local punk rock scene. Radio New Zealand National was there to record the performances and speak to the musicians.
Over two episodes, AK79 Live documents what happened on those two nights, and illustrates how pop subculture from the late 70s continues to impact on both the participants and the course of local popular culture itself.
Produced by Troy Ferguson and Andre Upston for Radio New Zealand National
Also included below are a stack of stories and live music related to AK79, and the people and labels it influenced.
The seminal New Zealand punk album was named 'Independent Music NZ Classic Record' as part of the Taite Music Prize in April 2014.
Collection items
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AK79 Live (Part 1)
14 Feb 2009Revisiting the influential Auckland punk rock scene of the late 1970s Proud Scum, The Scavengers. Audio
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AK79 Live (Part 2)
21 Feb 2009Featuring The Terrorways, The Spelling Mistakes and the X-Features. Audio
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Access All Areas: AK79 Live!
18 Nov 2008The album AK79 is regarded as the defining release of the thriving Auckland punk scene of the late seventies. Audio
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Taite Music Prize 2014
Winners from the Taite Music Prize Awards 2014, featuring Lorde's acceptance speech, via pre-recorded video link, and Ripper Records' Bryan Staff, who compiled AK79 - the 2014 Independent Music New… Audio
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The Sampler: Record Store Day 2014 Reissues
Nick Bollinger takes a listen to some of the special NZ reissues on offer for Record Store Day, which celebrates these shrines to physical product. Featuring: Spelling Mistakes, La De Da's and… Audio
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Access All Areas: Propeller Records 30th Birthday
10 Jul 2010Trevor Reekie celebrates Propeller Records 30th Anniversary - this iconic local label released a small avalanche of iconic bands including post-punksters the Spelling Mistakes, the Screaming MeeMees… Audio
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Playing Favourites with Simon Grigg
Former record producer, artist and record store manager, record label owner and compiler, and DJ and nightclub owner. Now based in Bangkok, Simon Grigg has been developing a New Zealand music and… Audio
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Access All Areas: Guitars from the Leafy Suburbs
Auckland's North Shore has been a musical breeding ground dating back to the 60s, 70s and 80s - when Screaming Mee Mees sold 4000 copies of 'See Me Go' in a week and went straight to number one. Now… Audio
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Playing Favourites with Jeff Smith
27 Aug 2011One time member of New Zealand bands Naked Spots Dance and The Newmatics, who has a new documentary out, Rumble & Bang, about the 1960s garage rock group, Chants R&B. Audio
AK79 album cover, design by Terence Hogan using an image of The Terrorways' Dean Martelli.
The Terrorways at AK79 Live in 2008. Andrew Tidball - Cheese on Toast.
LINKS
AK79 on Audioculture
Short Haired Rock'n'Roll in the Queen City.
Ripper Records, the label behind AK79 on AudioCulture
Radio NZ's Toy Love collection