The death of the founder of the band Snapper has prompted an outpouring on social media, and plaudits from local music industry figures.
The 53-year-old Dunedin resident had recently returned from the United States.
His family confirmed he died early yesterday.
Mr Gutteridge formed Snapper in 1987, and the band released an EP and two albums.
Dunedin writer and former music shop proprietor Roy Colbert said Mr Gutteridge showed both attitude and musical intelligence early.
''He'd come into my shop when he was at Otago Boys' High School; memorable, because he sounded off on anything.
''He had opinions on all the bands and music, but it wasn't nonsense. He knew what the right stuff was.
''He was very young so consequently, when he started creating his own music, obviously all the notes were in the right place.''
Mr Colbert said Mr Gutteridge was ''ahead of his time'', despite some difficult behaviour at gigs.
''He took a long time to tell you what the right notes were, in terms of tuning up at the start of [a gig].
''He was exasperating.''
Mr Gutteridge went overseas recently to the United States for the first time, ''He's a man who didn't travel, and yet he's influencing bands in Europe,'' Mr Colbert said.
Despite drug issues that meant he had played less for some time, both Mr Colbert and Port Chalmers venue operator Mike McLeod said that had changed recently.
Mr McLeod said Mr Gutteridge had ''cleaned up a bit in the last couple of years'', and had a productive period of playing after a long time not playing live.
That included up to eight gigs at Chicks Hotel at the port and in the North Island last year.
''He was suddenly playing, and playing really well, and playing quite frequently,'' Mr McLeod said.
''I think he's an amazing musician.''
New Zealand music label Flying Nun released a statement saying it was ''greatly saddened'' at the news. The label said it, ''and so many people around the world, have been touched and affected by his music''.
