Mikey Havoc and Charlotte Ryan Photo: Charlotte Ryan
Mikey Havoc has been many things but 'broadcaster' is what he writes on customs forms - a tip from his former TVNZ colleague Paul Holmes.
"He was one of a group of really cool people at TVNZ who looked at what we were doing [on the '90s TV show Havoc] and thought 'That's quite fun, those guys are having fun'."
The media presenter, musician and DJ talks to his old friend Charlotte Ryan about six songs that have shaped his life.
Mikey Havoc, lead singer of the '90s New Zealand hard rock band Push Push Photo: Simon Grigg
In the 1990s, Havoc fronted the "commercial hard rock" band Push Push, most famous for their 1991 hit 'Trippin'.
Later, In December 2019, Push Push secured a gig opening for Kiss at Spark Arena, but the glam rock band cancelled their Australian tour.
"That would have been a crowd that would have really appreciated [Push Push]. Imagine singing 'Trippin' to that crowd, you know?'
"The people that come up and talk to me about Push Push now say the coolest things… people were crazy about it, you know, and it's amazing."
Often found DJing at Auckland nightclubs, Havoc sometimes plays functions, too, where he loves to take people on surprising musical journeys.
At a recent 60th birthday party in Devonport, he mixed Fat Boy Slim into George Michael's 'Faith' into 'Waiting Room' by the hardcore band Fugazi and "the whole place went berserk".
Outside of presenting and performing, though, Havoc's life centres around co-parenting his non-verbal autistic son Kyuss.
Autism is a "mysterious, weird thing" that can be super challenging to manage, he says, but Kyuss is a sweet, lovely child.
"I just love him so much. All the things I presumed I'd be doing as a dad pretty much don't happen. I've been collecting toys all my life - he's not interested in any of them.'
"I've had to learn how to engage with him meaningfully… a whole different way than I would if he wasn't on the spectrum. Every single day I learn something about myself. You realise that they really don't have any time for your stories or your business. They've got so much amazing stuff going on in their own heads that they don't really care for [hearing about] who you met yesterday or what you are going to do next week. That doesn't impress them a jot, and that's quite good for me."
Havoc is very grateful for coming through a brush with bladder cancer in 2012, and says he can usually look on the bright side - unlike many New Zealanders he comes across lately.
"I don't like to diss the country, but man, everybody stop whinging and complaining. Start offering up suggestions of solutions, whether they're going to work or not. At least offer them up…. We are very very fortunate to be where we are in this world.
"When I think about my life up till now and the life ahead that I yearn to have I'm so grateful to have been doing my work. At this particular time in history in this particular part of the world. It's so interesting and cool and exciting. I understand depression, I've been depressed, but I still think it's a beautiful thing that we're alive.'
Mikey Havoc played:
'If You Want Me to Stay' by Sly & The Family Stone
"This is in the running for my favourite song of all time. It's just everything I love about music and everything I love about black music from this era. This song is a masterclass in what to leave out of a song … Sly & The Family Stone were amazing."
'Bring The Noise' by Anthrax and Public Enemy
As a teenager, Havoc worked at HMV Records in Takapuna, which was great for music discovery.
It was there he first heard the American rap group public enemy - one of his five top bands of all time - collaborate with heavy metal band Anthrax.
"[This song] is an absolute classic - there is no other. Then being able to put metal behind it and a metal band who obviously loves Public Enemy, as well … plus it's just relentless and powerful."
'Bells & Circles' by Underworld and Iggy Pop
'The Stooges are almost one of my favourite bands of all time."
'The Day Brings' by Brad
Shame - the 1993 debut by American band Brad - is one of the greatest albums ever, Havoc says.
'Slow' by Janes Addiction
Havoc was listening mostly to metal bands before the "Greatest rock band in the world" released their debut album 'Nothing's Shocking' in 1988.
"Suddenly I found a band where there was nothing about them that I thought was whack. Every second of music ticked all my boxes. Across the board, without any other competition, Jane's Addiction are my favourite band."
'Private Universe' by Crowded House
Havoc wanted to include a Neil Finn song in his mixtape and says it was a toss-up between this and 'I Got You' by Split Enz.
While 'I Got You' was the first song that moved him when he heard it on the radio, 'Private Universe' is the song he wishes he'd written.
"This particular song is another one that when I found it still stands out to me personally as Crowded House's best song ever.
"I travel to somewhere for a moment… and the sentiment of it is so beautiful. When I first heard it I remember thinking man, I'd love to write a song like that… it's a description of a feeling that is so beautiful and deep and awesome, and Neil wrote it.
"When it trails off you sort of go 'bye…. see you…"
