Location: 299 Selwyn Street, Spreydon
Spreydon, Christchurch 8024, New Zealand
Current Status: Demolished post-earthquake
Active as a live music venue: 2000’s
Bar Manager: Andrew ‘Ox’ O’Connell
Capacity: About 20
All-Ages: Yes
Notorious local rock’n’roll vocalist and Downhill Mountain Bike clothing entrepreneur Andrew ‘Ox’ O’Connell ran a small clothing retail shop on Selwyn Street in Spreydon before the Earthquakes claimed it in February 2011.
As the long-standing vocalist of Palace of Wisdom, Ox utilized the shop as both a practice and occasional performance space for the group, along with several other groups that fit in with his specific aesthetic.
Over the years that meant Rockstar Clothing hosted impromptu shows by Palace of Wisdom, The Hi-Tone Destroyers, The Transistors, the Stefan Van Soest Hit-Machine and several others.
Additionally, back in 2001 Ox released a compilation of rock’n’roll groups on his own Rockstar imprint (he also ran ‘Gone Magazine’ an online rock’roll publication), accurately entitled ‘No Thanks To New Zealand On Air‘ as a dig at the local New Zealand Creative grant system.
History
- 2001: Rockstar release ‘No Thanks to New Zealand on Air‘
- 2011: Rockstar Clothing is damaged in Canterbury Earthquakes, Ox is forced to move out