New Zealand music was made on beer stained stages, in grimy toilets and smokey back rooms. Backstage Passes charts the stories of the countries most celebrated live music venues. First-hand accounts from musicians, fans and bar owners bring each chapter to life.

The beating heart of the book is the music and the spaces within which the music was played. Rock, pop, reggae, punk and hip-hop, every genre has its heroes and villains, its successes and casualties. Backstage Passes is a tribute to all the characters who sizzled up the stage, worked the doors, poured the beers and danced to the beat.

About the Author

Joanne Mathers is a freelance writer and editor. A passionate New Zealand music fan, Joanna has been attending live gigs for over 30 years. She knows the importance of live music to the warp and weft of Kiwo life, and is delighted to be bringing the hidden history of New Zealand venues to light.