Cripple Mr Onion were a progressive metal band from Christchurch, New Zealand, formed in 1996 by Mike 'Fud' Fudakowski and Andy Woodd. Their name was borrowed — with Terry Pratchett's blessing — from the fictional card game in the Discworld novels. Active until 2016, they were known for a sound described as spellbindingly beautiful one moment and violently cataclysmic the next.
Zebedees was Christchurch's only all-ages, alcohol-free live music venue, operating from a 400-capacity hall at 479 Blenheim Road, Sockburn from approximately 1998 to 2014. Run by Steve and Jennie White as a charitable trust for sixteen years, it hosted hundreds of local and touring bands for teenage audiences and was widely regarded as one of the best youth music venues in the world.
The Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand — MAINZ — operated in Christchurch from 2002, training audio engineers, live sound technicians and electronic music producers at its High Street campus. Alumni include Joel Little, The Naked and Famous and Gin Wigmore. Its programmes transferred to Ara Institute of Canterbury on 1 January 2026.
Auckland black metal group lead by bassist/vocalist Rigel Walshe. From 1997 till 2017 the group went through several line-ups and produced a number of well-received, polish albums; touring across the world.