Weekend Rewind: International rock stars caught on camera in NZ

Joni Mitchell. Photo / NZ On Screen

The recent round of summer rock concert announcements inspires NZ On Screen’s Nicky Harrop to dig out some performances from visiting international artists, captured on camera in New Zealand over the years.

The summer concert season will soon be upon us. New Zealanders are pretty spoilt for choice in their live music options these days, with a wide range of local and international artists on offer. In earlier years, tours from big overseas acts used to be a little less frequent, not to mention unable to be shared online via a hundred mobile phones. This collection of pre-internet performances captures some great on-screen moments from visiting acts filmed for various New Zealand television shows of the time.

U2 Live at Lancaster Park

In late 1989, U2 played to a crowd of 60,000 at Christchurch's Lancaster Park. This footage, shot for music TV show CV, features Where the Streets Have No Name and I Will Follow. Hints of the band's recent infatuation with all things American (refer Rattle and Hum) can be found in Bono's fringed leather jacket, and the cowboy hats favoured by both he and The Edge. A local audience member distinguishes himself when called upon to play guitar on a cover of People Get Ready.

Joni Mitchell

Despite nursing a cold, Joni Mitchell is in fine form during this Radio with Pictures clip, filmed during a 1988 promo tour. An interview sees her describe herself as a "neither/nor": no longer easily categorised by radio, but two striking acoustic performances demonstrate her relevance in spades. Number One is followed by the brand new Night Ride Home, which she doesn't yet know how she'll record. (It will turn up as the title track of her next album.)

Billy Bragg

In another great Radio with Pictures moment, singer Billy Bragg performs Valentine's Day is Over in the Victoria University Student Union Hall in 1987. The Bard of Barking is intercut with Wellington street scenes: pensioners, punks, and pigeon feeding, while the heart-wrenching lyrics seem unlikely to end up on a Hallmark card.

Emmylou Harris and The Hot Band

Emmylou Harris brings Nashville to New Zealand in this, her first ever TV special. Filmed in Auckland during a 1984 tour, Harris leads her seven-piece band through a set featuring Return of the Grievous Angel (which she originally recorded with Gram Parsons), Bruce Springsteen's Racing in the Street and The Crystals' He's A Rebel.

John Cale (and Tall Dwarfs)

Radio with Pictures also captured our first visit from former Velvet Underground member John Cale. The venue is Christchurch's Hillsborough Tavern, and the set includes the Velvets' classic I'm Waiting for the Man, and Cale's own Leaving it up to You. An interview sees him reflect on his early New York years and meeting Lou Reed, while an added bonus is footage of support act Tall Dwarfs.

Click here to see Radio with Pictures - John Cale and Tall Dwarfs

Kenny Rogers

He may know when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em, but Kenny Rogers had a hard time knowing where to find McDonalds in 1970s New Zealand. Documentary Rolling Through New Zealand with Kenny Rogers and the First Edition follows the country star and entourage on tour here, meeting locals, putting down a hangi, and taking to the stage.