Stranded in Paradise
(the original classic)
The ultimate Kiwi music nostalgia and
reference guide. Hard cover, glossy pages, heaps of photos, essential artist
information and discography.
Last copies of the limited edition book now available.
Stranded in Paradise,
first released in December 1988, quickly sold out its first print run of 9000 and
has remained largely unavailable since. However a delux, hard cover, case-bound limited edition
of 1000 copies was withheld from market. The remaining copies of
that limited first edition are now out of
stock."You can't really write about rock 'n roll you have to listen to it and live it. Well that's what I did," John Dix, March 2004, interview with Keith Newman for Musical Chairs, Radio New Zealand.
A 21st century re-write of Stranded was released in October 2005 by Penguin to coincide with the 59th anniversary of rock 'n roll (Below: John Dix signs the new version for Bruno Lawrence's sister).
"From cover to cover, the good times and the bad, the
drugs, the busts, the bust-ups, break downs, rip offs and cock-ups of
the
rock 'n roll life and times were chronicled, and in Dix's easy, writing
style, the weighty tome quickly became essential reading...Today Stranded
in Paradise Volume One is considered a classic and a collectors item.
Secondhand book shops shamelessly flog copies off - there were 10,000
printed - for up to $200 a pop," Judith Baragwanath, Sunday magazine,
October 2005
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK
An illustrated Who's Who of New Zealand Rock
'n Roll from 1955 - 1988
From Johnny Cooper, Johnny Devil & the Devils, Max Merritt & the Meteors,
Sonny Day, Tommy Adderley, Tommy Fergusson, Howard Morrison, The
Librettos, Peter Posa, Bill & Boyd, Ray Columbus & the Invaders,
The Underdogs, The La De Das, Fourmyula, Human Instinct, Larry's
Rebels, Barry & the Breakaways, Quincy Conserve, The Chicks, Mr Lee Grant,
Shane, Sandy Edmonds, Dinah Lee, Pete Sinclair, The Avengers, Simple
Image, Craig Scott, Billy T K, Ticket, Rick Bryant, Mammal, Sam Hunt, Blerta,
Corben Simpson, Shona Laing, John Hanlon, Sharon O'Neil, Mark
Williams, Space Waltz, Split Enz, Living Force, Dragon, Street Talk, Hammond
Gamble, The Dudes, Hello Sailor, Citizen Band, Rough Justice, Suburban
Reptiles, Toy Love, Misex, The Swingers, The Crocodiles, Jenny Morris, Midge
Marsden, Herbs, Tall Dwarves, The Bats, The Narcs, Netherworld Dancing toys,
Peking Man, Dance Exponents, The Mockers and dozens of others.
Caption: A series of eight outdoor concerts were planned under the title Kiwi Rock: Stranded in Paradise, celebrating 35 years of New Zealand rock 'n roll. It was to feature everyone from Johnny Cooper and Johnny Devlin to the Flying Nun bands. It had to be cancelled after the first concert as only a few hundred people turned up largely due to a free Kiri Te Kanawa concert the next night.
An encyclopedic, entertaining work, full of stories of heartbreak and heroism, of long forgotten bands and songs, but the period details and cautionary tales make it a very readable history. Stranded in Paradise has given us our musical heritage" - Chris Bourke, NZ Listener.
"Arguably the most authoratitive and comprehensible guide to NZ rock music. It is difficult not to use superlatives when describing this book," - Max Christofferson, Waikato Times.
Kiwi
Rock exports
Which bands and artists made an impact offshore
through touring or record sales. A living document. Help me build it?
Kiwi Music
gallery and links Human Instinct the cult Kiwi band
plus
The Legend of Jesse Harper
Billy
T K official Billy T K website
Evan Silva
Kiwi Motown man
Gav Collinge:
Composer,
guitarist, solo performer
Mahia Blackmore:
rhythm ' n blues
Tony Littlejohn:
tight
funk-reggae
Scoop de
Loop recording studio
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