Wellington's pioneering music scene back together to kick off NZ Music Month celebrations

Kiwi music stars celebrate opening of Wellington Museum exhibition paying tribute to golden days of rock and roll in the capital.

New Zealand Music Month is off to a rocking start after Wellington Museum opened an exhibition paying tribute to the golden days of rock and roll and pop music in the capital.

"I feel kind of blown away by that exhibition there, bit humbled by it," said Clive Cockburn, member of the 60's rock band The Avengers.

Not only was it a night to celebrate Kiwi greats from the sixties and seventies, but also an opportunity for rockers to reminisce.

"I felt like I'm the privileged generation really, our band would play as much in a week as some bands do in a year," said Cockburn.

In 1996 the hand-picked band exploded onto the world scene with hit 'Everyone's Gonna Wonder', hits like 'Love, Hate and Revenge' soon followed.

Cockburn's proud of the music they made, and the memories, like the time his friend stopped by with one of his idols.

"I came back to the door and there's Hank Marvin standing there, I just about fell over, it's like Jo Cocker turning up you know."

The band became known as Wellington's version of The Beatles, producing three successful albums and touring constantly between New Zealand and Australia, before the members went their separate ways after three years together.

Curator Benjamin James says it's important for Kiwis to celebrate our past musical successes this NZ Music Month.

New Zealand musicians including Chris Matthews, King Kapisi and Billy TK and the Powerhouse will be playing at the exhibition throughout Music Month.

"One of the biggest things that people should take away from New Zealand Music Month is that it's not all about new bands, it is about learning about bands of the past and supporting those bands," Exhibition curator Benjamin James said.

Mr James said he hopes the exhibition will help people learn about New Zealand's music scene in the 1960's and 1970's but also act as a 'hats off' to the efforts of the featured bands.

"I think the sixties and seventies is like the golden era of music, you cannot get any better than that... After that it's just repetition and people are just emulating that sound," he said.

Burning up Years: Aotearoa Music History  runs until 25 May, with free entry. 

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