In 1977 New Zealand arrives late to the punk party but its attitude shakes up the new decade, as this episode of Give It a Whirl shows. Maverick Chris Knox leads the charge with short-lived group The Enemy, while Aucklanders The Suburban Reptiles record a punk classic with ex-Split Enzer and pop genius Phil Judd. Th'Dudes cement their pub rock crown with riffs like 'Be Mine Tonight', but Australia proves a hill too far. Perseverance pays off for the Enz as 'I Got You' goes global and Dunedin becomes a hotbed of original, lo-fi music with the spikey pop of Toy Love, The Clean and a fledgling record label called Flying Nun.
Amazing record isn't it? It really is one of the great New Zealand singles. I think Phil Judd's production is phenomenal, the guitar at the beginning is just one of the crucial points in New Zealand rock and roll.– Music writer and manager Simon Grigg on The Suburban Reptiles 1978 single 'Saturday Night Stay Home'
Visionary Film & TV
Episode four dedicated to Barry Jenkin and Dylan Taite
Clearances for online viewing made possible with funding from the NZ Lottery Grants Board and NZ On Air
Original programme made with funding from NZ On Air
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