Musician Peter Gutteridge, a founding member in the late 1970s and early 1980s of Dunedin bands The Chills and The Clean, has died.
Aged in his early 50s, Gutteridge is considered one of the pioneers of the Dunedin sound - a style of indie pop using jingly jangly guitar-playing, minimal bass lines and loose drumming.
Gutteridge was also the brains behind Dunedin band Snapper, which released its debut EP on Flying Nun Records in 1988.
In a statement on its website, Flying Nun said: "We are greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Peter Gutteridge today.
"Peter was a Flying Nun original, a founding member of The Clean, The Chills and of course his own brilliant band Snapper. A great talent, he was also member of the Great Unwashed, involved in many Dunedin bands and went on to release beautiful solo material across the years.
"All of us, and so many people around the world, have been touched and affected by his music, whether it be the swirling fuzz of the guitar or haunting piano melodies, Peter was a true hero of New Zealand music, and will be deeply missed.
"Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends at this very sad time.
"Thank you Peter for all the music, may you rest in peace."
Wes Holland of Melbourne band The Sand Pebbles tracked Gutteridge down in Dunedin for an extended interview published in Mess and Noise in April 2013.
Gutteridge was back in the south after having lived in Auckland and being on an intense drug-treatment programme.
During the interview Gutteridge said he had become irritated with the Dunedin sound.
"People didn't think about the sound of things, people put on guitars and then clanged out stuff. I just got tired of a guitar sound that wasn't thought about."
Describing his own music he said it had "this hypnotic element that doesn't date". The basis of Snapper was something very old. All his music "encapsulated ideas going back to early Arabian and Indian music".
"Snapper has an honesty about it. There's something very genuine there. I never tried to copy other bands; I've just done what I've done. Followed my own course."
At that time Gutteridge had never been overseas, but was intending to go.
"I'd love to go to India - it's a spiritual heartland where much of the heart of the music I play comes from."
Gutteridge visited the US and played a show in New York in recent weeks.
