25/05/2026
HE MAIMAI AROHA: DAME JOOLS TOPP
Trailblazing musician, singer, songwriter, activist, and Aotearoa country music pioneer, Jools Topp, half of much-loved and multi-talented duo The Topp Twins, has died.
"If you want to sing something about a really strong issue you have to feel it in your gut before it comes out any good as a song," said Jools in 1985. "Everything you experience in your life is political … It’s just being aware of what is around you, what’s happening to you."
Jools' work leaves a powerful legacy across music, activism, and performance. Their songwriting, their satire, and their unwavering stance for unity and justice, continues to inspire new generations.
Anthony Healey, Head of APRA AMCOS Aotearoa, said: "Today we are all indescribably sad. As a songwriter and entertainer, Jools was utterly unique - a true original whose loss is felt deeply across the entire Aotearoa music whanau. Almost twenty years ago, APRA had the honour of inducting the Topp Twins into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. They were among the very first to be recognised, as they embodied the very best of who we are, and the incredible impact that our music could have."
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📸 - Thanks to AudioCulture.
