Give It A Whirl 2 - The Swinging Sixties (Episode Two)

The second episode from this series about the history of pop music in New Zealand begins in June 1964 as four Liverpudlians touch down at Wellington Airport. Beatlemania heralded a golden era for bands; teens wanted to dance and venues sprung up in every Kiwi city. This episode includes gritty R&B influenced groups like Larry's Rebels, The La De Das and Christchurch's Chants R&B. Prime time TV music show  C'Mon was hugely influential and became a launchpad for Kiwi acts like Shane, Mr Lee Grant and The Chicks. Songwriter Wayne Mason shares the creation story behind The Fourmyula's 1969 hit 'Nature'. 

If you want to ask for a word to describe the early feeling of rock n' roll for me, it's actually the word 'joy' I reckon. It's like the exuberant joy of the music: that absolute exhilaration, excitement of it.

– Musician Wayne Mason on the way rock music changed his generation, at the start of this episode

Key Cast & Crew

Colin Hogg

Writer, Story Consultant

Michael Higgins

Writer, Research, Associate Producer

Bernie Allen

Subject

Kevan Moore

Subject

Wayne Mason

Subject

Mark Everton

Director, Writer, Interviewer