15 April 2010
Napier's most famous Art Deco Hotel, once New Zealands most premiere Rock Hotel, dubbed by Midge Marsden to be 'the best gig in the country, NZs finest rock'n'roll finishing school' ,
Throughout the lucrative touring days of the 1970s and 1980s The Cabana earnt its legendary status and became 'the' place to play...
'Thru the Decades' is a chronicle , including many rare memories and stories, autographs, and photographs from an astounding amount of New Zealands finest musicians and entertainers , including Midge Marsden, Jordan Luck, Graham Brazier, Chris Knox, Todd Hunter and Sam Hunt to name but a few.
Lee Pritchard, once a patron himself , recognised the importance of preserving The Cabanas nefarious history , and has acheived it by presenting this 280 glossy page publication, which also includes a CD of rare Cabana recordings including unreleased Midge Marsden tracks from his 1982 tour.
The Cabana Hotel closed its doors in 1997 with The Muttonbirds playing the last gig there to a capacity crowd.
Since this books publication in May 2007 , The Cabana has reopened, Lee Pritchard teamed up with 6 other local musicians, including Ian Morris (Th' Dudes), and between them have voluntarily run the place for the last 2 years, just to keep the music in the walls, and to put Napier back on the touring circuit...The Datsuns, Little Bushman,The Checks, Ladi 6 , Phoenix Foundation, among the many to have stunned the crowds at the newly opened Cabana.
SPECIAL OFFER-This softcover edition book is available at a reduced price of $ 45 plus p and p for New Zealand Music Month only. Normal retail is $70.00
There are 15 LTD EDITION Hardcover books left from 200 printed , each handnumbered and signed, RRP $130.00, ....only $90 each during NZMM
Please contact Lee Pritchard at cabanahotel@xtra.co.nz