New Zealand Music Features — Roger Shepherd

"He had strong anti-establishment sentiments and non-status quo views, sentiments and views that were usually spot on. I will fondly remember him as a kind of New Zealand beatnik, a confident and colourful personality whose life revolved around music and art."

This week we were sad to hear of the passing of a significant figure in the Australian (and New Zealand) music industry - Michael Gudinski. In the late 1990s one of his companies - Mushroom Records - purchased 49% of Flying Nun, eventually taking entire ownership of the company. Flying Nun founder Roger Shepherd charts his relationship with Gudinski, Mushroom Records, News Corp and more.

William Daymond may be the most enthusiastic and learned Bats fan known to humankind. Here he spares no details charting the ins and outs of the band, spanning 38 years and 10 albums from go to whoa.

Jay Clarkson has been recording and performing music in New Zealand for many years, and she continues to do so. We asked Jay to give us the back story on a number of photos and letters we've unearthed from the archives, as well as what she has in the pipeline.