A Sharp Left Turn: Notes on a life in music, from Split Enz to Play to Strange
Language: English
Published by Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand, 2019
- Hardcover
- Used

Seller: Bill & Ben Books, Faringdon, United KingdomBill & Ben Books
AbeBooks seller since March 3, 2025
Condition: Used - As new
£ 9.99
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Seller Inventory # 0107892
- Title
- A Sharp Left Turn: Notes on a life in music, from Split Enz to Play to Strange
- Author
- Mike Chunn
- Publisher
- Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand
- Publication year
- 2019
- Condition
- As New
- Binding
- Hardback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 198854713X
- ISBN 13
- 9781988547138
This is a gripping read that works on several levels. It's the sliding-door story of someone who might have become a world-famous pop star had he not suffered from a severe phobic disorder.
It's the story of an assortment of young musicians trying to find their feet as bands in the late 70s and early 80s with the associated euphoria and craziness of that life.
It's Mike's story of struggling with agoraphobia and eventually finding a way through.
Told in Mike's own words this is also a loving evocation of a 50s and 60s New Zealand childhood, and a beautifully written memoir that will resonate with anyone who loves a well-told story.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Mike Chunn is a music legend who has been involved at almost every level of the New Zealand music industry for decades. Along with Tim Finn and Phil Judd, he was a founding member of Split Enz, playing the bass on their first three albums. Though he loved the stage, he had to reluctantly leave the band after five years. Unbeknownst to the rest of the band, he suffered frequent panic attacks and debilitating anxiety, triggered every time he left Auckland. It was after eight years that he discovered what this illness was: the phobic disorder, agoraphobia.
He co-founded Citizen Band with his brother but left that band after three years for the same reason. He went on to be General Manager of Mushroom Records NZ, where he signed DD Smash and The Dance Exponents, and was the General Manager at Sony Music Publishing NZ. From 1991-2003, Mike was the Director of NZ Operations for the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), where he was instrumental in setting up NZ Music Month which was an integral factor in the increase of Kiwi music played on commercial radio.
In 2004, he co-founded Play it Strange, a highly respected and successful charitable trust which supports young New Zealanders in their songwriting ambitions. He is currently CEO of this trust.
Mike was awarded the Companion of NZ Order of Merit for services to NZ music and men's mental health in 2013. He is an observer trustee of the Sir John Kirwan Foundation. He lives in Auckland.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Bill & Ben Books
Faringdon, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since March 3, 2025
Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
| Item | 14 to 45 business days | 5 to 10 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 10.10 | £ 18.85 |
Payment methods
Store description
Specialty
New & second handSeller's business information
Bill & Ben Books ltd
Manor Cottage, Great Coxwell
Faringdon, United Kingdom SN7 7NB
Terms of sale
Name of business : Bill & Ben Books Ltd.
Form of legal entity : A Limited Company
Business address: Manor Cottage, Great Coxwell, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7NB, UK.
Email address: orders@billandbenbooks.co.uk
Telephone number: 07974 923385
Registered in England & Wales No: 13019028
VAT Number: GB 376238277
Authorized representative of the company: Jake Pumphrey
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Bill & Ben Books, Faringdon, Oxfordhire, United Kingdom, +44 1235833450, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Orders usually ship within 1-2 business days. Domestic Shipments are sent by Royal Mail, and International by Airmail. We are happy to accept returns upto 30 days from purchase. Please contact us directly if you wish to return an order