The former frontman and songwriter of glam rock band the Puffins in the mid-1990s said he remembered his dad playing the Warratahs' first album, Only Game in Town, on tape in the family car and he had all the words memorised by the time he was 12.
"The first time I met Barry was at a festival and I had to go introduce myself. I was so starstruck and I couldn't really speak properly. So I go up and say, 'I'm Lindon Puffin, it's really great to meet you, Barry Crump.
"I said it and it was like, 'Oh no, I know he's not Barry Crump,' and he sort of smiled and I felt terrible about it afterwards. We ended up playing a festival years ago with Shona Laing and it went really well.
When you hang out with different musicians, some you feel a kinship with and there's just some honesty and integrity and authenticity about Barry and his writing that I admire."
Puffin, whose real name is Lindon McCormack, spread his wings as a solo folk-punk act and supported international artists such as Tenacious D and Billy Bragg.
He has fond memories of the Wakatipu, particularly from playing a regular slot in the Blue Door, Arrowtown.
Puffin called the Queenstown Times from his base in Lyttelton where he has lived for about 15 years. The port village near Christchurch had survived catastrophes before the 6.3 magnitude earthquake last February, and he was confident it would rise again, he said.
He lived and recorded in Auckland for about two years and came down to Lyttelton to make a music video last summer.
"I came down two weeks before the February quake and one of the main shooting venues was a pub in Norwich Quay, but that place fell down and it all fell apart.
"Then I was going to stay for a month with friends and family in Lyttelton and make sure everyone was OK, and a year later I still haven't got back to Auckland. I've ended up making a Harbour Union record and touring that around the country to raise some money.
"All my gear's in storage in Auckland, and I'm not sure when I'm going back."
Picks of the Week
TODAY
• 7pm: The Pirate and the Princess, also known as guitarist Noel Coutts and singer-flautist Ela Coutts, are back by popular demand in the Friday Jazz Club in Les Alpes. Free.
• 7pm: Port Chalmers artist Russell Moses unveils his latest sculpture-paintings in person in Nadene Milne Gallery, Arrowtown. His show "Night Fishing" runs until February 17. Free.
• 10pm: DJs Downtown Brown and Turbohag select hip-hop, drum 'n' bass and drumstep tunes in Subculture. Free before midnight.
• 10pm: Queenstown's DJ Pops brings drum 'n' bass to Dux de Lux. Free.
TOMORROW
• 10pm: Prolific Christchurch-based DJ and producer duo Joint Forces spin dubstep, drumstep and drum 'n' bass in Subculture. Entry $10 at the door.
SUNDAY
• 2pm: Young Queenstown singer-songwriter-guitarist Sarah Foley entertains in Dux de Lux. Free.
MONDAY
• 10pm: Queenstown covers band Mojo rocks the World Bar. Free.
THURSDAY
• 10pm: New Dub City, of Melbourne, hits Dux de Lux with songs from the quartet's debut album Home, an energetic blend of reggae, dub, hip-hop and dancehall. Free.
