Home / Arts and Entertainment / Shayne Carter's Doc: Indie's Troubled Heart
Shayne Carter's Doc: Indie's Troubled Heart
2 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Documentary explores Dunedin's influential 1980s indie music scene.
- Features Shayne Carter's memoir, detailing personal and band struggles.
- Highlights the Straitjacket Fits' potential for global success.
"Life in One Chord" is a documentary that delves into the tumultuous history of Dunedin, New Zealand's pivotal 1980s indie music scene, centered around Straitjacket Fits frontman Shayne Carter.
The film, drawing from Carter's memoir, navigates the personal losses and internal band dynamics that defined this influential era. It captures the raw energy of bands like the Straitjacket Fits, who once stood on the precipice of global recognition before internal strife and external pressures took their toll.
More than just a band history, the documentary is a portrait of Carter's complex journey, marked by resilience and self-sabotage. It explores his roots in punk and his ongoing reconciliation with life on the fringes, culminating in a powerful depiction of the band's defiant performances.
