Legendary Kiwi band refuse Legacy Award
Salmonella Dub have refused an offer to join the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame over a clash with award organisers.
The legendary dubstep band were approached to be given a Legacy Award at the New Zealand Music Awards in November and were told they could select a band or performer who had influenced them to perform at the awards ceremony.
But organisers deemed their selection, Wellington post-punk band Beat Rhythm Fashion, too obscure for TV audiences and rejected it. In response, the band then turned down entry to the NZ Hall of Fame.
Recorded Music NZ chief executive Damian Vaughan did not directly answer questions posed to him regarding the induction.
‘‘Our conversations are private with artists and I am unable to share details with you ahead of the announcement,’’ he said.
Salmonella Dub, whose pioneering approach to roots reggae won them legions of fans around the world, are celebrating their 25th anniversary with a tour of New Zealand this summer with Tiki Taane.
Frontman Andrew Penman refused to confirm the band’s involvement in the dispute.
‘‘Salmonella Dub are a young band not yet deserving of a legacy award. We feel it would be more fitting to be invited into the NZ music industry’s award ceremony in 2043 when we celebrate our 50th birthday,’’ Penman said in a statement.
‘‘Our plan over the next 25 years is to further foster and assist the artistic development of our collective Aotearoa musical voice.’’
Under a joint initiative between Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and Recorded Music NZ, two artists, bands or songwriters are inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame each year.
One is at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards and the other at the Vodafone Music Awards, run by Recorded Music NZ.
Anthony Healey, the New Zealand head of operations at APRA, said each organisation chose their inductee in accordance with the ‘‘agreed criteria’’.
Launched in 2007, the Hall of Fame now boasts 20 Kiwi music legends including The Exponents singer Jordan Luck, the Topp Twins, Hello Sailor, Shihad, Dragon, Toy Love and Herbs.
Flying Nun band The Clean have rejected the Hall of Fame accolade twice in the past five years.
Bass player Robert Scott said acceptance would have created the impression the band had forgiven an industry which had shunned and dismissed them in the past.
The APRA Silver Scrolls are being held in Dunedin on September 28.