Dylan Taite

aka Jett Rink, John Taite


The elevator doors shudder open to reveal the TV reporter. He’s dressed in a striped black and white T-shirt. Long straight hair drapes his face. He's lit in a lurid green, the sort of colour you’d get if someone threw up on the key light after a three-day binge on capsicum and fish tank scum.

The TV reporter lurches into and out of the camera like a goldfish on a bungee cord. And he’s saying things. Lots of things: “It’s a pleasure to be here. To body swerve freshly vomited. Ratburgers.”

Dylan Taite
Dylan Taite with Bob Geldof in the early 1980s
Nightline tribute to Dylan Taite - TV3, 2010
Chris Knox interviewed by Dylan Taite at the 2000 APRA Silver Scrolls
Dylan Taite writes to Phil Warren after The Rolling Stones gig in 1973
Photo credit: Phil Warren collection
One of these men has a certain je ne c'est quois. It's not Chuck Norris, the US martial arts actor, second from the right. Dylan Taite is on the far left. 
Photo credit: John Taite collection
The Merseymen on a TV set in Wellington c.1965; Dylan Taite aka Jett Rink, left. 
Photo credit: Ken Cooper collection
Dylan Taite on Rip It Up, 1987
Dylan on one of countless calls he'd take or make each day to the music community and record labels
Dylan meets Basil
Outside Real Groovy Records, Auckland, 2002
Dylan Taite's Sweetwaters 1980 documentary
Bob and Dylan playing soccer, Parnell, Auckland, April 1979
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
"Jett Rink"
The Merseymen catch up on their reading at the Auckland railway station newsagent, 1964. From left: Dave Moan (Jerry at School), Jim Newton (True Confessions), Jett Rink (Centurs), Bob Paris (Little Lulu), Mike Leyton (Man Annual).
Photo credit: Jarek Associates, Playdate, October 1964
Dylan Taite (aka Jett Rink), second from right, with The Merseymen. 
Photo credit: Ken Cooper collection
Dylan Taite filming Bob Marley's welcome at The White Heron Hotel, Parnell, Auckland, April 1979. The crew is David Baldock (director) and Wayne Vinten (camera).
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
Dylan Taite (aka Jett Rink) with The Merseymen
Photo credit: Ken Cooper collection
Dylan in the early 2000s
The intro script for the December 7, 1976, broadcast of Dylan Taite's September 1976 interview and live footage of the Sex Pistols. The interview was the world's first TV interview with the band and was shown in NZ on the TVNZ late-night current affairs show Tonight. It was shown again at the tail end of the 6 o'clock news in March 1977. The interview, filmed in front of Buckingham Palace allegedly inspired Malcolm Mclaren to film a signing ceremony of the band to A&M Records that month. 
Photo credit: Courtesy of Mark Hutchings, Ngā Taonga.
The Merseymen, featuring a young Dylan Taite (as Jett Rink) on drums, with their 1964 album A Visit To The Beatle Inn
Always the drummer - Dylan in the 1970s
Dylan with Bob Marley's percussionist Alvin ‘Seeco’ Patterson, Parnell, April 1979
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
Dylan Taite with Mick Jagger, Auckland, February 1973
Photo credit: John Taite collection
Dylan Taite filming in the 1970s
Photo credit: John Taite collection
Dylan Taite's ID card while at the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, the precursor of TVNZ and RNZ. Lionel Sceats was the NZBC director-general from 1970 to 1975. 
Photo credit: John Taite collection
Dylan Taite
Bob and Dylan playing soccer, Parnell, Auckland, April 1979
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
Playing soccer with the touring Bob Marley & The Wailers, Parnell, Auckland, April 1979
Dylan Taite drumming in the 1960s
Photo credit: John Taite collection

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