Notes

notes on a life in music, from Split Enz to Play It Strange
Mike Chunn.
388 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates
illustrations (some colour), portraits.
Summary: A roller-coaster yarn about being in the ground-breaking band Split Enz, but also the powerful story of how Mike Chunn dealt with a crippling mental health issue and went on to become one of our most influential music identities. This is a gripping read that works on several levels. It's the sliding-door story of someone who might have become a world-famous pop star had he not suffered from a severe phobic disorder. It's the story of an assortment of young musicians trying to find their feet as bands in the late 70s and early 80s with the associated euphoria and craziness of that life. It's Mike's story of struggling with agoraphobia and eventually finding a way through. Told in Mike's own words this is also a loving evocation of a 50s and 60s New Zealand childhood, and a beautifully written memoir that will resonate with anyone who loves a well-told story. (Back cover)