SOLO RIDDELL OUT

Rip It Up, Issue 18, 1 December 1978, Page 4

SOLO RIDDELL OUT

It’s ironic that for a name as well-known throughout New Zealand as Alastair Riddell, the touring he’s undertaken in the past four months has been the most protracted live work he’s ever done.

As Alastair admits, “I’ve only ever been a television artist in this country and you can suffer from that. People just get sick of seeing Alastair Riddell popping up on television once every two months.”

Riddell’s manager Patrick Cox frames the problem like this: "The nature of TV is that it’s an electronic medium, it’s untouchable. Because of the presentation he gave on TV, it made him just that little bit untouchable.” The return of Alastair Riddell is, however, a message that many Aucklanders apparently feel they’ve heard once too often. Auckland’s cynicism towards the Alastair Riddell Band has meant that the band have deliberately avoided the city. Instead they’ve set about establishing themselves throughout the rest of New Zealand. A strategy that Alastair assures me has been remarkably successful. The tactics are, as Riddell puts it, "to get the whole of New Zealand used to the idea that Alastair Riddell can perform live and do it well.” Cox explains it as showing that Alastair is "flesh and blood”. This approach extends beyond Riddell’s return to the boards. It involves something of an image change too. He now dresses onstage in jeans and tank tops, sand shoes and short hair.

The tour is also to promote what Alastair calls his debut album. A self-titled album that’s due for imminent release. Those of you with longer memories may recall the Space Waltz LP that came in the wake of Riddell’s overnight success with "Out in the Streets” four years ago. But that’s a project Riddell recalls as a "pretty rushed and confused affair”.

“I put a lot of time into writing the songs but what came out was pretty disillusioning. That was one of the things that got me disillusioned about rock music that long ago.” But along with his image change, Riddell has given up carping about the New Zealand music scene. The new album was recorded over more than a year at Auckland’s Mandrill studios and includes all Alastair’s “solo” singles "The Wonder Ones”, “What Good Does It Do Me”, “Smile” and “Through Eyes of Love”. “It’s a mixed bag,’ Alastair confesses, “I wrote a lot of songs and that’s what it is, it’s not a concept album. It’s a beginning, a restarting and that’s the way I feel about it." It’s a tribute to Riddell's creative energy that he’s already written the material for the next album and chosen the title. But for now he's content to know that he’s winning an audience and to hope that this audience also buys records. Alastair Dougal Wanted keyboard player with creative rhythmic and melodic ideas for original song band. Own gear essential but vaste previous experience not necessary. Phone Phil 370-742. Wanted Band to share practice room Phone Phil 370-742. For Sale Flamin Groovies "Flamingo’’ & "Teenage Head". Jessie Winchester Box 6841, Auckland 1. For Sale 1963 Gibson 335; Fender Pro Reverb amp; Jansen 640 twin amp. Phone Alan Auckland 603-320.