It’s fair to say I’ve been planning this for a little while. The first time I landed in Los Angeles was in 2006 and I passed a billboard overlooking the freeway in my taxi that I’ve never forgotten. It was advertising a radio station that played “everything from Marvin Gaye to Alicia Keys”. “They’ve stolen…
The End Of The Purple Reign: Prince Dead At 57
This morning I woke up to a text message that read “Noooooooooooo” and had a link to an article. Half asleep and thinking I’d probably click on whatever the link was and read it later, I felt wide awake as soon as I clicked. Can’t believe it. Prince is dead at the age…
Mangarara Eco Lodge, Hawke’s Bay: My Top 50 Photos From A Very Different Sort Of Farm
Standing with my head dangerously close to the cow’s buttocks, I’d been assigned the task of attaching the suction cup apparatus to the teats. I hadn’t milked a cow since the 80s and it was oddly satisfying how each cup would so neatly swallow their assigned teat. Equipment attached and with a brief surge of…
Barry Gibb: “I’m the man who does it all or nothing” – Analysis Of His New Recording ‘The Home Truth Song’
Barry Gibb. Originally published this time in 2015, as fans countdown to the release of Barry Gibb’s first album project since 2005’s Guilty Pleasures collaboration with Barbra Streisand, here’s the article again: Sandwiched between a couple of classic early-period Bee Gees recordings, Barry Gibb unveiled a spirited new song during his 12-song set at the…
Elton John’s 69th Birthday – My Top 5 Elton Songs
Elton John celebrated birthday number 69* this Easter so I thought I’d put up a list of my top five Elton songs ever, which considering the depth of that back catalogue could be tough. But then off the top of my head, I realised my absolute favourites have been pretty much set in stone for the…
My Trio Of NZ Herald Articles About Intrepid Travel’s 16-Day ‘South India Unplugged’ Tour – Top 15 Photos From The Trip
Mayhem. I always think of “mayhem” as a positive word and if there’s one word that sums up my time in India on Intrepid Travel’s 16-day ‘South India Unplugged’ tour then it would have to be that. Mayhem to me is thrill of riding a tuk-tuk at night through the crowded, narrow alleyways of Madurai….
Why ‘Bayview At 91’ Is The Place To Stay In Whitianga + My Top 40 Coromandel Photos
You’d think there’d be more of a song and dance about one of the initial landing spots for Captain Cook in New Zealand. After the first-placed Cook Landing Site Historic Reserve on Kaiti Beach Road in Gisborne, the evidently humble, picturesque spot of Simpsons Beach in the Coromandel is right up there historically for the adventures…
2 Brilliant Non-Beatles Songs To Remember Sir George Martin By
Not just for the sake of being different, but mainly because it’s an another excuse to showcase two lesser-known songs I love, here’s my non-Beatles tribute to the great Sir George Martin. The man so frequently referred to as “the 5th Beatle” has died aged 90. As a producer it was Martin who suggested to…
My NZ Herald Tribute To Martin Crowe – How He Used To Request Michael Buble Songs On My Radio Show
In case you missed it, click here to link to my New Zealand Herald tribute article to Martin Crowe. I wrote the piece in less than 90 minutes in the emotion and shock of hearing my great mate had died. If I’d had more time it might’ve been more refined, more eloquent. But sometimes writing in…
Tauranga’s French Country House: Why You Don’t Need To Be Beachside – Top 50 Photos Including Waterfalls, Forests & The Mount
The view towards Mount Mauganui from the French Country House, Tauranga. I wanted to stay by the beach. It was January, the middle of the Kiwi summer, and not only that, I was going to be in one of the most iconic seaside destinations in New Zealand – Tauranga / Mount Maunganui. Only problem was, everybody…
NZ Herald Intrepid Travel South India Article #3 – Historic Fort Kochi & The Jungles Of Periyar National Park – Top 50 Photos
Last week the New Zealand Herald published the third and final chapter of my southern India adventure from October 2014. Based on Intrepid Travel’s 16 day “South India Unplugged” tour, this was one of the most intense, wild, mayhemic and beautiful travel experiences of my 10-year travel writing career. The events of the article…
In The Presence Of Genius – Reflections On Prince’s Auckland Concerts, Plus A Live B-Side Classic
Prince at the American Music Awards, 2015. We toss the word “legend” around fairly willy-nilly in New Zealand. I guess if we call our mates “legend” when they buy us a drink or give us a ride somewhere then it’s little surprise we extol far too many musicians with two albums and three hits with…
