Albums·Music·Recordings·Thought Piece John Hanlon – Naked Truths (Ode) – Simple songs for complex times October 18, 2021 Gary Steel 'Damn The Dam' man John Hanlon has a new album and as the title suggests it's full of naked truths. GARY STEEL takes a Read More
Film & TV·Interviews·Life·Music The Faded Glories – when the carnival is over September 2, 2021 Gary Steel In March 1994 GARY STEEL wrote an epic feature in which he tracked down Kiwi notables whose celebrity star had faded or been truncated. Read More
Albums·Music·Recordings The Witchdoctor Q&A – Bruce Aitken August 30, 2021 Gary Steel Veteran Kiwi drummer Bruce Aitken has a storied career and an avalanche of incredible new music released this month. We subject him to the Read More
Albums·Interviews·Music·Recordings The Witchdoctor Q&A: Grant Gillanders, expert in NZ pop music history August 25, 2021 Gary Steel Grant Gillanders deserves a medal for his services to New Zealand music. The archivist/label owner submits to the great Witchdoctor Q&A. Read More
Concerts·Interviews·Music The Witchdoctor Q&A: Andrew Beer August 24, 2021 Richard Betts He's our best classical artist and concertmaster of the Auckland Philharmonia. RICHARD BETTS has a wide-ranging conversation with Andrew Beer. Read More
Concerts·Music Thrilling The Arabs – The Cure in NZ 1981 August 23, 2021 Gary Steel Still a cult act when they toured NZ in 1981, The Cure were down-to-earth enough to “hang” with their Wellington fans and even jam Read More
Interviews·Music Meemees hit the top August 20, 2021 Gary Steel Forty years ago the Screaming Meemees were a genuine pop sensation in NZ. GARY STEEL marks the occasion with two stories from 1981. Read More
Interviews·Music A Wellington band not like the others – The Digits August 17, 2021 Gary Steel GARY STEEL pulls yet another mouldy 40-year-old story out of his considerable behind. This one’s about an obscure Wellington group called The Digits. Read More
Interviews·Music Before Flying Nun there was… Bunk? August 13, 2021 Gary Steel New Zealand was a different planet back in 1981. GARY STEEL dips into his bulging archive with this piece on Wellington record label Bunk. Read More
Albums·Interviews·Music·Recordings Snakefinger’s 1981 NZ tour that wasn’t August 12, 2021 Gary Steel GARY STEEL excavates a thing about Snakefinger for a tour that never happened from his mouldering vaults. Originally published 12 May 1981 Sometime Read More
Interviews·Music Penknife Glides – Sharpies Stab At Success August 9, 2021 Gary Steel GARY STEEL pulls another piece from his oozing back catalogue - 1981 story about Auckland band Penknife Glides. Read More
Albums·Interviews·Music·Recordings La De Da man – Kevin Borich July 31, 2021 Gary Steel Freshly disinterred from the festering annals of Gary Steel’s back pages, yet another obscure interview that time forgot. Today, it’s a 1981 story about Read More
Concerts·Music·News Real good, for free July 10, 2021 Richard Betts Auckland Chamber Orchestra presents its usual array of interesting music. And it’ll cost you nothing to attend, writes RICHARD BETTS. Read More
Albums·Concerts·Music·Recordings·Thought Piece Mind the gaps – Dimmer classic toured 20 years later! July 5, 2021 Gary Steel Prompted by its 20th anniversary and an upcoming tour to mark the occasion, GARY STEEL reassesses Shayne Carter’s greatest album. IMPORTANT NOTE: This Read More
Concerts·Music·News Dimmer reforms for 20th anniversary tour July 5, 2021 Gary Steel A reconstituted version of Shayne Carter's band Dimmer will perform the entire I Believe You Are A Star album for its 20th anniversary in Read More
Interviews·Music The man who fired the Sex Pistols June 24, 2021 Gary Steel Bob Mercer signed Kate Bush and The Sex Pistols and then fired the band. GARY STEEL spoke to the industry legend. Read More
Albums·Music·Recordings·Thought Piece Slikback – Quoios/Klout (Byrd Out) June 22, 2021 Gary Steel GARY STEEL stumbles across a tantalising snippet of greatness in a new EP by Kenyan electronic artist Slikback. Read More
Albums·Music·Recordings Frank Zappa – Zappa ’88: The Last US Show REVIEW June 20, 2021 Gary Steel GARY STEEL reviews the latest release from the Zappa vaults and reveals both its strengths and weaknesses. Read More
Concerts·Music·News NZSO springs into winter June 18, 2021 Richard Betts RICHARD BETTS previews a clutch of performances by the NZSO this month. Read More
Albums·Interviews·Music·Recordings Dianne Swann – The Witchdoctor Q&A June 17, 2021 Gary Steel Dianne Swann is an under-sung legend of Kiwi pop with the finest album of her career online and in the shops. Read More