Grant Gillanders


On a Saturday afternoon in late November 2014, Auckland’s Real Groovy Records held a record launch party. A private room overflowed with musicians, the cream of the New Zealand rock and pop scene of the 1960s. It was a gathering unlike any seen in New Zealand for decades.

More than that, it was a tribute to Grant Gillanders. There have been other compilers and archivists, but none have committed their lives, time and money to preserving and reissuing New Zealand music of the 1960s and 70s as much as Grant and his wife Carol. 

A Day In My Mind's Mind Volume 3 - Spinning Spinning Spinning
Carol Gillanders on camera one, 1989.
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Wired for Sound - The Stebbing History of New Zealand Music by Grant Gillanders and Robyn Welsh (Bateman, 2019).
Grant Gillanders, Larry Morris, Shane Hales and Judy Donaldson at the Wired For Sound book launch.
Photo credit: Jason Fell/Grant Gillanders collection
The cast and documentary production crew of the C'mon Again tour, late 1999, on their way to perform at Whanganui Opera House. Larry Morris is in the bus doorway, Shane Hales at left, The Chicks at front left. Ray Columbus is missing from this photo. Grant Gillanders (in charge of the stage projection) is at back left, next to him are Mike Donnelly and Peter Allison (documentary co-director). At front in white T-shirt, documentary co-director Sean Rundle, cameraman Mike Monten is to his right. Keyboards player Deryn Trainer is behind them sporting a buzzcut hairstyle. "It was a great night," says Sean Rundle, "Larry did an incredible version of "With A Little Help From my Friends" worthy of Joe Cocker at Woodstock."
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Grant Gillanders, December 1969 in Sgt Pepper mode, two years after the event.
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Grant Gillanders and Dennis "Nooky" Stott from Larry's Rebels with the group's master tapes.
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Larry's Rebels perform for the first time since 1969 at Real Groovy in Queen St, Auckland. It was a Record Store Day event for their vinyl compilation release 'A Study In Colour'.
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
A Day In My Mind's Mind - The Kiwi Psychedelic Scene (2014)
The 1991 Galaxie Reunion. Grant on camera with La De Da's members Trevor Wilson (left) and Kevin Borich (right).
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Grant Gillanders at the Auckland Museum Volume exhibition with grandson Liam. "I had walked past the 'A Day In My Mind's Mind' cover and Liam yelled out 'Hey G heres that record that you did - the one that you have the poster for that Nana won't let you put on the lounge wall."
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
A Day In My Mind's Mind Volume 2 - Fantasies, Polka Dots & Flowers
The Ray Columbus & The Invaders CD launch at Stebbing Studios, 2009. Back row, from left: Robert Stebbing, Billy Karaitiana, Ray Columbus, Dave Russell, Grant Gillanders. Front row: Vaughan Stebbing and Eldred Stebbing. "This was Eldred's last public appearance, he passed away six weeks later."
Photo credit: Leesa Tilley
Ches 'n' Dale, aka Gordan Hubbard (left) and Brian Borland. The duo was at Universal NZ just before they were to embark on a fun day of radio and TV interviews to promote the 'Kiwiana Goes Pop' double CD.
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Grant precariously working on the first chapter (1967) of the AudioCulture story on C'mon.
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Grant Gillanders, 2012. "I was working on about 10 projects at this stage including the 'Wired For Sound' book. This is taken in my second office, hence the tidiness. The larger downstairs office was at this stage full of research material and tapes."
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
The Ray Columbus & The Invaders CD launch at Stebbings on the morning of their induction into the Music Awards Hall of Fame. "I overheard Ray talking to someone 'G is so professional, He is the Invaders' biggest fan and we have known him for so long and he has never asked for a photo or autograph'. Five minutes later there was a tap on my shoulder and standing there are Ray, Billy Karaitiana and Dave Russell with Leesa Tilley in front with the camera. And yes, they all signed my CD."
Photo credit: Leesa Tilley
A Day In My Mind's Mind (CD, 2005)
Montage of releases from the Frenzy Music label.
A Day In My Mind's Mind Volume 4 -  Hurt, Love and Fire
Grant at 95bFM with Murray Cammick (left) and Ron and Gaye Brown, talking about the vinyl release of the Cleves/ Bitch double vinyl album.
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
The storyboard for the 'Complete Fourmyula' four-CD collection. "The 6'x4' storyboard was left by the previous and original owner of our house. We always presumed that he was an architect as we noticed an architect styled drawing desk when viewing the house. I found out on the 50th anniversary of him moving into the house (10 April 1968 - Wahine disaster day) that he had his own advertising agency and I had unknowingly just (same day) included several of his productions on my CD 'And Now A Word From Our Sponsor'."
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Grant and Carol Gillanders at the John Rowles Anthology CD launch, SkyCity Auckland. "We were able to access all of John's UK and USA master tapes for this release. This was the first time any of John's original masters were used in NZ."
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Robyn Welsh & Grant Gillanders at the 'Wired For Sound' book launch, Stebbing Studios, Auckland, November 2019.
Photo credit: Jason Fell
The Fourmyula's induction into the NZ Music Hall of Fame. This is the group with the team behind the 'Complete Fourmyula' CD set. Back row from left: Colin Linwood (produced the vinyl version of' Turn Your Back On The Wind'), Grant Gillanders (CD producer), Jim Pilcher (road manager, 1968-70), Wayne Mason, Nick Bollinger (wrote the CD's liner notes). Front, from left: Carl Evenson, Martin Hope, Ali Richardson (Chris Parry is absent).
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
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