The Puffins

🎤 The Puffins: A Snapshot

The Puffins were a vibrant glam rock band that emerged in Christchurch during the mid-1990s. They gained recognition for their energetic performances and distinctive style. The band’s frontman, Lindon Puffin, was known for his dynamic stage presence and theatrical flair. Their music blended elements of glam rock with a unique New Zealand twist, earning them a dedicated following in the local music scene.

🎸 Lindon Puffin: From Glam Rock to Folk Punk

After The Puffins disbanded, Lindon Puffin transitioned into a solo career, evolving from his glam rock roots to a more introspective folk-punk style. His music has been described as a blend of heartfelt acoustic, country, rock, and folk, drawing comparisons to artists like Chris Knox, Elvis Costello, and Morrissey. Lindon has continued to be an active figure in the New Zealand music scene, performing at various venues and events.

📺 Media Appearances and Collaborations

Beyond his music career, Lindon Puffin has made appearances on television and radio, showcasing his multifaceted talents. He has also collaborated with other local musicians, contributing to the rich tapestry of New Zealand’s folk-punk scene.

🎶 Legacy and Influence

The Puffins left an indelible mark on the Christchurch music scene. Their fusion of glam rock energy with local sensibilities resonated with many, and their legacy continues to influence emerging artists in the region. Lindon Puffin’s evolution as a solo artist further cements the band’s lasting impact on New Zealand’s musical landscape.

Recordings from The Puffins, though they are relatively rare. The band was known for their energetic performances and unique style, and while they didn’t release a full studio album, their music has been featured in various compilations.

🎶 Available Recordings

  • “Love Christchurch” Compilation (2011): This compilation album includes a track by Lindon Puffin, titled “Outta Reach.” While The Puffins’ tracks aren’t specifically listed, Lindon’s solo work continues to reflect the band’s influence.
  • “Christchurch The Music” Compilation (2005): This double CD features 45 bands from Christchurch, New Zealand, including Lindon Puffin. Again, while The Puffins’ tracks aren’t listed, Lindon’s contributions to the local music scene are well-represented.
  • Live Performances: The Puffins were known for their dynamic live shows, and recordings from these performances may exist among fans or in private collections.

📀 Lindon Puffin’s Solo Work

After The Puffins disbanded, Lindon Puffin pursued a solo career, and his discography is more extensive:

  • Discogs Profile: Lindon Puffin’s profile on Discogs includes information about his releases and collaborations.
  • Music Platforms: Lindon’s music is available on various platforms, including Last.fm and his YouTube channel, where you can explore his solo work and performances.

Lindon Puffin

🎤 Background & Emergence

  • Lindon Puffin (born Lindon McCormack) first gained national prominence as the front‐man and songwriter of the glam rock band The Puffins in Christchurch in the mid-1990s.
  • After The Puffins’ run, he transitioned into a solo career.
  • He spent some years hosting radio/TV (for example at RDU 98.5fm) before returning to focus on solo music.
  • He is based in Lyttelton (Ōhinehou), near Christchurch, but has toured widely.

🎶 Musical Style & Influences

  • His solo work blends folk-punk, acoustic, country-rock, folk, and even glam-rock elements. For example: “His music has been described as ‘a blend of heartfelt acoustic, country, rock and folk music’ and with a sound that compares to Chris Knox, Elvis Costello, and Morrissey.”
  • He plays multiple instruments: guitar, keyboards, harmonica, ukulele, drums, backing vocals etc.
  • He has a reputation for being a strong live performer—energetic, engaging, with a lot of personality. For instance, he was twice voted “Best Live Performer” (in Christchurch & Victoria University) in the 2000s.

📀 Key Releases & Projects

  • Stuff Like That (2003) — his first solo album. It included singles like “Thing Called Love”, “Rock No More”, “Hazy Blue”.
  • Show Pony (2007) — his second album; awarded Album of the Year by Waikato Times.
  • Hope Holiday (2011) — his third studio album; produced by Wayne Bell and engineered by Oliver Harmer. The lead single was “Outta Reach”.
  • He also produced a feature-length documentary film Figure 8000 (2005) about a long New Zealand tour and his life on the road.

🛣 Touring & Collaborations

  • He has toured extensively in New Zealand, and internationally (in 2008 he toured 12 countries, 36 cities).
  • He toured on the “Lyttelton Rough House Revival Tour” in 2012 with folk/roots artists such as Delaney Davidson, Marlon Williams (of The Unfaithful Ways) and The Eastern.
  • He supported or performed alongside major names (NZ and international) including Billy Bragg, Tenacious D (Jack White & Kyle Gass’s comedy-rock duo) and others.

🌟 Notable Achievements & Highlights

  • His album Hope Holiday received critical praise (e.g., 4.5 stars from NZ Herald).
  • He was nominated for the APRA Silver Scrolls (a prestigious NZ songwriting award) for his song “Outta Reach”.
  • He’s been listed in the national library records: “McCormack, Lindon, active 1995-2017”.

🧭 Themes & Personality

  • He has been open about his early experiences: being “alienated and belittled” as a young glam-rocker in high school, which shaped his later outlook and commitment to authenticity.
  • His songwriting draws on life’s ups and downs: touring, relationships, resilience, the everyday world. For example in the Hope Holiday album the track “Outta Reach” expresses hope and possibility.
  • Though based in Lyttelton, he maintains strong ties to Christchurch, and is involved in community events, charitable performances (e.g., youth initiatives).

🤔 Why He’s Worth Following

  • Lindon Puffin balances accessible melodies with thoughtful lyrics and a strong live presence—he’s not just studio-polish but road-tested.
  • His journey from glam rock frontman (The Puffins) to solo folk/rock troubadour shows versatility and evolution.
  • He remains part of the NZ independent music scene: self-managed, touring hard, connected to grassroots.
  • His work has a local flavour (Christchurch/Lyttelton basing) but reaches beyond, so it’s both intimate and broadly relatable.

Lindon Puffin

When Sun Sep 17th, 2023

Lindon Puffin ‘A fisherman trapped in a musicians body’.


Lindon Puffin first rose to prominence way back in the 90’s as the manic frontman of an outrageous glam rock band called The Puffins. After the make up & costumes melted away, he became side-tracked hosting radio & tv for a few years before returning to his roots as a solo folk punk troubadour. Following the release of his first solo album ‘Stuff Like That’ in 2003, he embarked on a punishingly endless tour of NZ as captured in the tragicomedy film Figure 8000 and screened on TV3 and Sky’ TVs Documentary Channel.

With record company support, Puffin’s next album 2007’s ‘Show Pony’ garnered nationwide radio play and led to tour supports with Billy Bragg, Tenacious D, Dave Dobbyn but most importantly, his ole mates The Eastern! The stars appeared to be aligning. Dobbyn’s manager had taken him on. There was even a ‘budget’ and a producer in a big studio for his third album Hope Holiday. While shooting the video for the first single ‘Outta Reach’ in Lyttelton, the terrible February quake hit & priorities evolved very quickly.

With the album climbing the charts, Puffin should’ve been touring hard & riding high however all that seemed insignificant so instead he joined forces with The Eastern, Marlon Williams and Delaney Davidson to form The Harbour Union. A new album was recorded and an incredible spirit & fund raising tour followed. Meanwhile Puffin’s own album fell out of the top ten, he parted ways with his manager, moved back to Lyttelton and began building a house for his young whanau. Raising kids & restoring boats became the new priority while Puffin’s musical journey relocated to the bar-lands where he continues to make an ‘honest’ living playing other peoples songs from a dimly lit corner.

Every now & then though, his long suffering comrade Adam McGrath will drag him out of the shadows to play a festival here or a free gig there. Most recently Puffin produced McGrath’s amazing debut solo album ‘Dear Companions’ and has been making noises about getting back on the horse & recording a new album tentatively titled ‘Wind Against Tide’. With a backlog of songs to match his expanding dadbod, there is hope! As evidence, here’s the chorus from an almost completed new song called Drinking Tears…

I’m a loved & hated, medicated, armour plated ole fool,
I’ve been drinking tears long before it was cool.
I’m a make believer, heart on sleever, quiet achiever until,
The sun comes up and there’s no more blood to spill.

Lindon is said to be absolutely fizzing about his upcoming house concert; he promises new songs, old songs and not to talk too much!