''Stranded in Paradise: New Zealand Rock'n'Roll, 1955-1988'' is a book by New Zealand
music historian John Dix, published in 1988. An updated edition, ''Stranded In Paradise: New Zealand Rock And Roll, 1955 to The Modern Era'', was published in 2005.
Content
It has been described as It was the first proper history of
New Zealand rock
Rock music in New Zealand, also known as Kiwi rock music and New Zealand rock music, rose to prominence first in 1955 with Johnny Cooper's cover version of Bill Haley's hit song "Rock Around the Clock". This was followed by Johnny Devlin, sometime ...
and roll. It was originally published in 1988. It was published by Paradise Publications in 1988. The book covers how New Zealand's culture has developed, as well as early
Māori music. Acts such as
Dragon
A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
,
Split Enz,
Bruno Lawrence
David Charles Lawrence (12 February 194110 June 1995) known as Bruno Lawrence was an English-born musician and actor, who was active in the industry in New Zealand and Australia.
Initially notable as a musician and founder of 1970s ensemble Bl ...
, and
Hello Sailor are included.
Reception
John Dix wrote in 2014 that there was some criticism of the book as being "too subjective, and written by an immigrant at that".
According to the blurb of the updated edition, ''Stranded in Paradise: New Zealand Rock'n'Roll, 1955-1988'' "immediately became a classic. It was the first proper history of New Zealand rock and roll, told as a series of inter-linking, anecdotal stories. To buy an original on Amazon.com now costs at least $US150.00".
2005 edition
The updated 2005 edition, published on the "50th anniversary of first proper rock and roll recording made in New Zealand",
[ is called ''Stranded In Paradise: New Zealand Rock And Roll, 1955 to The Modern Era''.][
]
Author note
John Dix (born 1951), migrated with his family from Wales to South Australia in 1967. He was a fan of soul music as a youth, and frequented gigs in Cardiff and then in Adelaide and Melbourne, gradually coming to appreciate some Australian bands. He moved to Wellington in 1972, and four years later to Auckland, getting to know the New Zealand music scene.[ He went on to found the music and pop culture magazine '' Real Groove'' in 1993.]
References
External links
*
Stranded In Paradise: New Zealand Rock And Roll, 1955 to The Modern Era
' (2005), on Google Books
New Zealand books
Music of New Zealand
{{NewZealand-music-stub