‘The Walkman meant you had your own soundtrack to life’

Matt Elliott is the author of Good as Gold: New Zealand in the 1980s (Bateman Books, RRP $49.99), out now.

You were a teen in the 80s – what’s your favourite memory?

There was fun to be had. Going to the movies during the holidays, playing mini-golf, bumper boats or a day at a pool with water-slides was a good time! Later, doing the “dead ant” at inner-city intersections during student pub crawls was one of those silly stunts that the police would laugh off.

David Lange had a genuine quick wit, the pastel colours of fashion made things seem bright and positive and the Walkman meant you had your own soundtrack to life wherever you went.

On the downside, the Doomsday clock was ticking close to midnight. France was testing nuclear devices in the Pacific, and I can still remember hearing news on the radio of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Favourite story from the book?

I was a very keen tennis player, so I was captivated by Chris Lewis’s run at Wimbledon in 1983, making the final against John McEnroe. Arguably, it was the greatest sporting achievement by a Kiwi in the 1980s.

Seeing the partly sunken Rainbow Warrior at its mooring had a huge effect on me, as did the demolition of the historic His Majesty’s Theatre.

You listened to 80s hits while working on the book – what’s your favourite track?

I played 80s compilation records such as Hit Wave ’82, Chart Attack, Trackman, Solid Gold 34 and Solid Gold Hitbusters Vol. 2 In amongst the big hits from overseas there would be a local band or two: The Narcs, Mockers, Herbs, Prince Tui Teka, DD Smash and so on.

My favourite track to this day is New Order’s Blue Monday, the 1983 12” version. My favourite Kiwi track of the 80s would be The Chills’ I Love My Leather Jacket. Such a great song live, too.

Lastly, what are you reading right now.

I’m working my way through Bono’s autobiography Surrender: 40 songs, our story.

Recently, a friend and I were talking about how exciting U2 were in the early 80s. I had the cover of their album War on my bedroom wall. This book, however, is a bit dull.