Letters

Rip It Up, Issue 5, 1 October 1977, Page 13

Letters

RIP IT Up P.O. Box 5689, Auckland.

Scavengers are Tighter! I would like to take this opportunity to air my views on a certain article in your August issue written by Mike Chunn dealing with two Auckland punk bands The Scavengers and The Suburban Reptiles. To begin, Mike Chunn is a moron. Secondly, The Scavengers and The Suburban Reptiles are the only bands brave enough to throw themselves in at the deep end by playing totally new music with a totally different style (in New Zealand, at any rate)

and one should admire them for that. Chunn states that he would prefer the bands to have no potential. Is this possibly because he is afraid that these bands do, in fact, have a very great deal of potential and are threatening his own little realm? Perhaps too many are no longer interested in listening to apathetic, luvvy-duvvy Split Enz lullabies and would prefer something new, different and exciting. Chunn seems to have some of his facts wrong as well. He is right about The Scavengers being a four-piece and The Reptilesa six, which goesto prove that even a moron can count, but then he goes on to say that The Reptiles are more together than The Scavengers. Anyone who has heard these two bands can vouch for me when I say that it is actually the other way round The Scavengers being tighter by far. In closing, I would Hke to compliment you on a fine publication that I’m sure anyone interested in the New Zealand music scene would be happy to see. Mark Halson Mt Eden, Auckland It's not my fault that your mother made you learn the violin at school - Mike Chunn.

Illegal Recordings We draw your attention to an advertisement that you recently published at the bottom of page 4 in the August edition of your rock paper. Of particular concern to us was the following statement: "Taping Deal Vi refund on albums you buy to tape and return” We have to advise that it is an offence to copy a record on to blank tape, either direct from the record or indirectly by means of any other media such as radio or television broadcasts of records, and regardless of whether it is for a person's own private use. As you are no doubt aware the unau-

thorised copying of copyright sound recordings is a major problem facing the New Zealand recording industry and in respect of which it is our policy to take appropriate action in respect of any party who in any way promotes the suggestion that sound recordings may be copied. For this reason we seek your co-operation in not accepting for publication any advertisements which could imply in any way whatsoever that the copying of records on to tape is permissible.

We would be pleased therefore if you

would publish this letter in the next edition of your paper so that readers are properly informed that it is an offence to copy rei cords on to tape.

We would add that we are making every endeavour to inform the public of the illegality of home taping and the gravity of the problem it posesforthe recording industry, and your co-operation in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

GA. Chance N.Z. Federation of the Phonographic Industry