Letters

Rip It Up, Issue 22, 1 May 1979, Page 22

Letters

Mar chi Girls ’ We're playing now! The first time was a support to Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons. There were 600 in the audience. After a 4 month holiday,', we were a little nervous at first but got a good reception. .. Audiences have been really good, quite a lot different from NZ. They actually, think of us as musicians, probably 'cos they don’t read Sunday flews. ■ ■ .. . , ' We are doing a theme song for a movie with a guy called Derek Hambly on vocals and harp, and may be in the movie. It's called Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover. We’ve got a couple of gigs, one this weekend, with NZ’ers The Tourists. Thanks for the Rip It Up, its much better than the local ones.

Johnny Volume Carlton, Melbourne.

Hi, how are you? I am fine, well not exactly fine, in fact I am closer to completely pissed off. After getting all psyched up and having a bath! (Yes I actually got my balls wet). I set off on my intrepid journey to the Christchurch Town Hall for some Homemade Jam. But to my horror a few people had the same idea and after standing in the line for five minutes a wee lady came out saying it was sold out. Well, after kicking the Pakistani in front of me in the crutch, I stormed off completely irate (pissed off, for those less educated). To all CB fans who missed out, what a waste of a bath, eh? Little Dix Christchurch VOUCHER WINNER How about giving the real musicians a chance. All Rip It Up readers seem to hear about are those thread bare ego-tripping new wave bashers who are giving the whole music scene a bad name. Granted there are some flattering articles on top NZ acts Split Enz, Street Talk, Hello

iSailor and Sharon O’Neill, who (to quote Ham'mond Gamble) have all "paid their dues". I and 'many others think Rip It Up is very one-eyed. What do most of the punks that have been given a rave-up in this mag know about music? Most of your new wave reading is for under 14 year olds and I think the music (or should I say clamour/clatter/din/racket) is for the same age group. You only have to go as far as your local clubs or pubs to hear tighter acts than you see and hear on the big stages. If you can handle it, let’s have some intelligent reading about some of the Steely Dan / Doobie Bros / Al Jarreau / Stanley Clarke musicians who are in many of your clubs and hotels.

Club/Hotel Musician Auckland

Dudes PA Blues An hour before showtime, Th’Dudes made a public announcement of their decision not to appear at their heavily booked State Opera House concert, in Wellington. Th’Dudes are particularly aware of their responsibility to their paying public regarding the quality of their sound, and after an afternoon of sound tests, negotiations and fruitless efforts on the part of the promoter to procure the type of professional sound system that should have been provided, the group made their decision. Promoters be warned. New Zealand rock groups, as they become more professionally aware will no doubt become capable of similar strong and resolute action. Charley Gray Manager of Th’Dudes Ed. Only days before Th’Dudes show, Shotgun were forced to leave the Radio Hauraki concert stage without finishing their set, due to continual PA problems. There will be more comment on the PA scene in June Rip It Up: pink V. D u sco. The other night I had the misfortune of being dragged to a disco by my olds, who I am sorry to say are disco freaks, and when I got home I was so tensed up I put on Patti Smith in order to relax, got out my copy of Rip It Up and collapsed only to find the first article was on Rod Stewart. However the rest of the mag brought me back to sanity and I was able to rest in peace.. In reply to Mrs McLean, Otahuhu where I come from disco freaks drive by and hit over the head (usually with a beer bottle) anyone who' is obviously punk. Luvly eh! , While I’m at it I may as well have another groan. Why must the majority of the radio stations play disco almost continuously. I haven’t listened to the radio for months, I gave up. I don’t appreciate having my ears abused and my brain f**ked by mindless repetitive noise.

Prissy Punk Rotorua