Give it a Whirl - Episode 1
National Library Building, 70 Molesworth Street, Thorndon, Wellington
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"Give it a Whirl" is a six-part series tracing the evolution of New Zealand’s popular music tells its rock ‘n roll stories, from the fledgling sounds of the 1950s to today’s international music acts. Presents an engaging mix of interviews, news archive and music clips to tell the stories of the bands, songwriters and entrepreneurs and the role they played in creating the soundtrack to New Zealanders’ lives over the past 45 years.
Screening today: Episode 1 – "Causing a Commotion"
It’s 1955, and New Zealand’s post-war suburban slumber is rudely interrupted. Bill Haley’s "Rock Around the Clock" is a runaway hit in the UK and US and Wellington-based record company HMV quickly cash in by having country and western singer Johnny Cooper record New Zealand’s first rock n roll record. Johnny Devlin’s recording of "Good Lawdy Miss Claudy" follows and becomes New Zealand’s first pop hit. Despite civic elders concerns that rock 'n roll would destroy the very fabric of society, a new teen culture is born. In the South Island the new beat inspires local teenagers Max Merritt and Ray Columbus, who do their best to turn their conservative hometown into a hotbed of rock n' roll.
Screening as part of our Kiwi Music Film Fest season.
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