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.
The Bedford was Christchurch’s premier large-capacity live music venue of the 2000s, a converted warehouse on Lichfield Street capable of holding around 1,000 people. Demolished after the 2011 earthquake, it was kept alive through a series of marquee pop-up venues by owner Wendy Alfeld — earning national recognition for keeping live music alive in the city through years of disruption.
Warners Hotel at 50 Cathedral Square was one of Christchurch’s most storied establishments, tracing its history from 1863 through to the February 2011 earthquake that led to its demolition. In the 1990s, its live music bar drew crowds of up to 800, hosting performances by Shihad, The Chills, Straitjacket Fits, Radiohead, and many of New Zealand’s leading indie and rock acts.
Hugely popular Christchurch hard-rock all-girl group with a very 90’s riotgrrrl sound and a line-up that changed quite a bit over time. Members have included: Reta Le Quesne, twins Joanne and Sharon Billesdon, Lisa Preston, Fleur Walden Ninakaye Taane-Tinorau and Carla Rotta .
They recorded 2 singles, then had an album and a music video held back by Festival Records in nefarious circumstances.
#nzmusic #snort
Christchurch-based shoegazey indie-rock group that started out as a studio project but became a fairly successful touring group with 2 albums and an EP on band member Rob Mayes Failsafe Recordings.
Biography Cicada were an Auckland based guitar-oriented band. Since forming in 1992, Cicada have recorded and successfully aired many demos on student radio throughout the country and have amassed considerable live experience, including support slots for touring international acts such… Read More »Cicada
Biography The SML was the combined forces of Shihad (later to become Pacifier) members Jon Toogood and Tom Larkin, with Head Like A Hole vocalist Nigel Regan – a combo that released an album, EP and split a release with… Read More »The SML
Biography Former Rip It Pp editor Murray Cammick formed Wildside in 1991, releasing material from Wellington acts Freak Power, Second Child and Rumblefish, but didn’t really become the icon of Wellington hard rock it was in the mid 90s until… Read More »Wildside
Biography One of the crop of great bands to surface for 1992’s Operation Music Storm competition 147 Swordfish made the finals coming second and impressing judges and audience with their well crafted sound and strongly melodic undercurrent. Songs like ‘love’… Read More »147 Swordfish