# Queen City Rocker
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2012}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Queen City Rocker
| native_name =
| director = Bruce Morrison
| producer = Bruce Morrison
Henry Fownes
Larry Parr
Michael Sterling
| writer = Bill Baer
Richard Lymposs
| starring =
| cinematography = Kevin Hayward
| editing = Michael Hacking
| studio =
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|1986}}
| runtime = 90 minutes
| country = New Zealand
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
'''''Queen City Rocker''''' is a 1986 New Zealand film developed from a 10-page outline written by [Richard Lymposs](/source/Richard_Lymposs), a sixteen-year-old Auckland youth with no prior film or writing experience.[{{cite web |title=Queen City Rocker |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/queen-city-rocker-1986 |website=[NZ On Screen](/source/NZ_On_Screen) |access-date=6 January 2023 |date=1986}}][{{Cite news |date=12 February 1987 |title=Street kid behind movie idea |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19870212.2.95.7 |work=The Press}}] In 1981, Lymposs sold ''Queen City Rocker'' to [Larry Parr](/source/Larry_Parr_(director)), a budding Auckland film producer, and it was shot in 1985. It was directed by Bruce Morrison and starred Matthew Hunter, Mark Pilisi and Kim Willoughby. The screenplay was written by Bill Baer.[{{Cite news |last=Mackay |first=Janetta |date=19 February 1987 |title=New Zealand 'rocker' |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19870219.2.112.7 |work=The Press}}] The film was released as ''Tearaway'' on video cassette in the United States.[{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0143819/review/rw0534173/ |title=Queen City Rocker (1986) - secragt's review of Queen City Rocker - IMDb |language=en-US |access-date=2026-02-21 |via=www.imdb.com}}]
Musician [Dave McArtney](/source/Dave_McArtney) of [Hello Sailor](/source/Hello_Sailor_(band)) wrote most of the original music in the film, which also featured other artists including [Ardijah](/source/Ardijah), [Graham Brazier](/source/Graham_Brazier) and [Tex Pistol](/source/Ian_Morris_(musician)).[{{Cite news |date=10 August 1981 |title=Man hurt |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19810810.2.47 |work=The Press}}][{{Cite news |date=26 March 1984 |title=80 brawl when gang meets 'street kids' |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840326.2.45 |work=The Press}}]
The original story made statement to the paradox of friendship, where both youths were technically enemies, caught in amongst the lower socioeconomic times athwart with violence, in a racially charged environment, aligning with different gangs. (The Pakeha and Maori between the first generation Samoan youths). By the time ''Queen City Rocker'' was filmed the script had been softened for a potential commercial market, as had the soundtrack, and when the film was in the can the reference to real gangs had been lost and the two stars were buddies in the same "group": the term 'gang' had become unpalatable.
The film was shot mostly at night in central Auckland. The riot scene in ''Queen City Rocker'' was inspired by the [Queen Street Riot](/source/Aotea_Square),[{{Cite news |last=Bourke |first=Chris |date=1 January 1987 |title=Sound of the City: Queen City Rocker |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/RIU19870101.2.8 |work=Rip It Up}}] which took place on 7 December 1984 at Aotea Square in Auckland. A free outdoor rock concert turned into a riot in Queen Street that caused over [NZ$](/source/New_Zealand_dollar) 1 million in reported damage.[[https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/queen-street-riot-1984 Queen Street riot 1984] (from New Zealand History online, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage)][{{cite web |author=Russell Brown |date=2013-10-09 |title=Riot going on – Scene {{!}} AudioCulture |url=https://www.audioculture.co.nz/scenes/riot-going-on |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204012339/https://www.audioculture.co.nz/scenes/riot-going-on |archive-date=4 December 2017 |access-date=21 November 2017 |publisher=Audioculture}}] More than 1200 extras were needed for the riot scene. The extras were so worked up that during a rehearsal of the riot scene they destroyed a police car which was not supposed to be destroyed until the actual 'take'.[{{Cite news |date=31 August 1988 |title=Screen awards to be presented |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19880831.2.96.3 |work=The Press}}]
==Synopsis==
Ska is a streetwise 19 year old who is trying to escape from a lifestyle of petty crime and fighting. Ska's sister Fran is a masseuse working for Jay Ryder, a crooked concert promoter with underworld connections. Ska decides to 'rescue' his sister from the massage parlour, but is thrown out in the attempt. Ska and his street kid friends plot revenge by disrupting a big rock concert staged by Ryder, inciting the audience to riot.