Disco heavy metal from planet Palmy
Cortina was an art-punk band formed in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2002 by Bek Coogan, Matt Hunt, Richard Faulkner, and Tony Roeven. Musically, the group carved out a distinctive niche, fusing metal riffs and synthesizers into a psychedelic sound that drew on sci-fi alien visitation imagery and datura-dream haziness, all filtered through what’s been described as the “bog swamp bogan permaculture” of Palmerston North.
The band emerged as part of the early 2000s New Zealand punk scene, sharing stages and sensibilities with acts like Hell Fucken Rumble, Cherry’s Gemstones, and The Mufflers, while tracing its lineage back to earlier local touchstones such as ?Fog and Life In The Fridge Exists.
Beyond the band, its members built varied creative reputations. Vocalist Bek Coogan is also a visual and performance artist, known for work that tackles social and environmental issues with a distinctly bogan sense of humour. Guitarist and vocalist Matt Hunt has established himself as an accomplished painter, producing surreal work influenced by science fiction, religion, cults, and ‘trash culture’. Richard Faulkner has pursued acting in film and television, while bassist Tony Roeven was, by all accounts, a snappy dresser known for his nice cardigans.
Cortina released its sole album, Control Freaks Rule The World, in December 2005, celebrating with release parties in both Wellington and Palmerston North. By this point Roeven had already departed the band. Cortina continued to play sporadic shows into 2007 before entering a hiatus.
The band reunited in 2019 to perform at The Others Way festival in Auckland, giving fans a chance to revisit their singular blend of metal, psychedelia, and bogans in space sci-fi weirdness.
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| Origin | Palmerston North, Wellington |
| Genre | space rock, psychedelic punk, drugs |
| Years Active | 2002 – 2007 |
| Associated Acts | Cherry’s Gemstones Hell Fucken Rumble |
| Past Members | Rebekah/ Bek Coogan (vocals, bass) Ace Hurt/ Matt Hunt (guitar, vocals) Dreamboy/ Richard Falkner (drums, keyboards) Tony Roeven bass (1999-2003) |
Releases
| Title | Date | Label | Type | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punkfest ’03 | 2003, Oct | compilation | CD | |
| Control Freaks Rule The World | 2005, Dec 10 | album | CD |
Timeline
2002, July 5, Valve
2002, November 8, Valve/ Zebos
Hell Fucken Rumble, Pro Drag, Cortina
2003
2003, June 13, Kings Arms
The Mint Chicks, Cortina, Billy Rubin, the Tuesdays
2003, June 28, Valve
“WTF!? A feast of unique Welly sounds”: Cortina, The Blue Set, Idle Faction, The Occupants, with Scott Kendrick.
2003, October 24-26, Punkfest
2003, December 19, Valve
2004
2004, July 2, Valve
2004, September 9-11, Meatwaters
2005
2005, May 13, Indigo
2005, July 6, Indigo
2005, December 10: Control Freaks Rule The World
2005, December 10, Indigo
Cortina!! Album release party!!! With Knife Fight! Disasteradio! The Mysterious Tapeman! Cherry’s gemstones! Indigo Sat 10th December 2005 AD. Control freaks rule the world!!!
2005, December 17, FU Bar
Cortina, The Mysterious Tape Man, Vodafone Warriorz
2007
2007, December 8, SFBH
The Gossip (USA), Cortina, Knife Fight.
2019
2019, August 30, The Others Way Festival
