Man Down Benefit Gig

Opshop perform the “Man Down” Benefit concert at The Good Home Ferrymead this May 21st - for One night only. All proceeds will go to a high school friend, who recently suffered a stroke that has left him unable to work. The five times Tui Award, and Silver Scroll Award winners will also be joined on stage by the band that helped three of its members hone their musical skills in the early-90s, local legends Gorilla Biscuit.

“Sixty per cent of the best New Zealand musicians are from Christchurch" - Neil Finn (Vicki Anderson stuff.co.nz 6/8/2016)

Christchurch in the 90’s was a breeding ground for some of Aotearoa’s best beloved music artists. Bic Runga, The Feelers, Zed, The Stereo Bus, Anika Moa, Stellar, Shapeshifter, Salmonella Dub, Tiki Taane, and Opshop – are all artists who cut their teeth in Christchurch during that time.

Christchurch is also where the hugely successful High Schools music competition Rock Quest originated and is where the future members of Opshop & Gorilla Biscuit first crossed paths.

Opshop's Bobby Kennedy and Clinton Harris were members of the Hornby High band The Outer Control, that won the very first Rock Quest in 1989, and Aubrey Tupai and Jason Kerrison led their Hillmorton High School band Defunk Express to the winning spot the following year when the competition went National for the first time.

Christchurch’s vibrant live music scene in the early 90s saw revellers flocking each weekend to venues like The Palladium Niteclub, Lochinvar, The Loft Bar and The Dux de Lux. It was at the Dux de Lux where Gorilla Biscuit held court each Friday & Saturday night.

Gorilla Biscuit’s members are, Jason Kerrison (Opshop, The Babysitters Circus, The Marley Allstars, Fungi); Jason Fa’afoi (The Stereo Bus, Good Laika); Jason “Koko” Kokiri; Aubrey Tupai; Clinton Harris (Opshop, The Feelers, Automatic 80’s, Carly Binding); Leighton Faulkner; Bobby Kennedy (Opshop, The Stereo Bus, Neil Finn, Automatic 80’s); Vahid Qualls.

The roots run deep with Opshop and Gorilla Biscuit, and the hometown connection is as strong as ever. Whilst they’re now spread across Aotearoa, the guys have remained life-long friends and maintain their close connection via a private Facebook Group chat. When the news recently hit the chatroom that there was a man down, that a member of the close-knit group had suffered a stroke, everyone rallied around, sharing immediate updates and messages of love and support.

Gorilla Biscuit bassist and soundman Jason Kokiri (affectionately nicknamed Koko because there are three Jason’s in the group), had suffered a stroke.

“Hearing about another really good mate having a stroke hit me pretty hard. I can't imagine what Koko and his family have gone through and it saddens me that it happens too often it seems these days. I think through his experience we, all his mates, have had a bit of a wakeup call. We're doing this for him because he’d do the same if one of us were the Man Down." Jason Kerrison (singer - Opshop & Gorilla Biscuit).

The road to recovery will be long and while he’s in the early stages of the journey, Koko is unable to work. The members of Opshop & Gorilla Biscuit have stepped-in to help get him back on his feet.

The ‘Man Down’ benefit concert will be held this May 21st at The Good Home Ferrymead featuring Opshop and local legends Gorilla Biscuit, doors 7pm, Opshop are onstage at 8pm.

Tickets on sale now at Eventfinda.co.nz.

This page has been set up at the request of many people who can't be at the event but would like to contribute to the Koko and his whanau.

Thank you for your support in this cause.

We love this fella - OPSHOP and Gorilla Biscuit