John William Dylan Taite (2 November 193722 January 2003) was a New Zealand rock music journalist. Born in Liverpool, he began working as a television journalist in New Zealand in the early 1970s. A passionate music fan, Taite established his reputation with eccentric interviews of famous musicians such as Bob Marley and Lou Reed.
Taite has been acclaimed at having a passion for highlighting up-and-coming musicians and presenting his material in a way that could engage general audiences. After the breakup of the Merseymen in 1965, Taite moved to Christchurch later in the decade.
After arriving in New Zealand, Taite took a job with the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC)'s television division. In this position, he initially rose to prominence after securing an exclusive interview with the Rolling Stones. Taite continued to work at NZBC, and its successor TVNZ, for three decades.
Interview style
Taite was renowned for his ability to secure interviews, even with subjects who were otherwise resistant to interviewing. In one such example, Bob Marley came to Western Springs for a 1979 concert and was refusing all interviews. Taite waited at Marley's hotel and joined a pickup soccer game with the touring musicians, using the opportunity to build rapport and convince them to allow the interview.