LETTERS

Rip It Up, Issue 41, 1 December 1980, Page 23

LETTERS

Post to RIU LETTERS . PO Box 5689, Auckland l. Best wins an LP Voucher.

The venue for the Elton John press conference is one that I have never heard of. Called Greydene, it turns out to be an old villa in Takapuna. A quick glance at the assembled faces, and the battery of microphones tells me that this is no ordinary press conference, this is a place to be seen. Ten minutes later, three limousines pull up the drive. Mr John and party have arrived. Looking like something out of Dallas, Elton strolls into the room wearing a black tasselled, embroidered jacket and a huge stetson. Since his last visit, in 1974, Elton has been through a slight watershed in his career. Only recently has chart success again become standard for his albums. Why has he come back to a place he is rumoured to have left for good? “I never said I had no intention of coming back,” he says. "I would have loved to have come here on my two-man tour with Ray Cooper, but I was too tired. That show with Ray started as a small thing and blossomed into a full world tour. It was that which helped me get the confidence back to do the tour we are on now.” It was on that tour that Elton played his much-publicised visit to the USSR, an experience he will never forget. “On the first night, all the kids got up and danced to the music. The second night, however, was totally different. About half-way through the show we began to wonder why all we were getting was polite applause. Then we found out that throughout the crowd were men in blue suits. Every time that a kid got out of his seat, a man in a blue suit pushed him back into it. I’d like to go back to Russia, but not under the present circumstances.” This tour is scheduled to last well into next year, with a break for recording a new album that should be released around July. Two of the members of the band have solo careers in their own right. Drummer Nigel Olsson has recently released an album titled Changing Tides. Olsson sees the tour as a chance to play to much larger crowds than he could draw on his own. During a costume change in the middle of the show Olsson gets a chance to show case two of his songs. Unfortunately, guitarist Tim Renwick is too recent an addition for a similar chance for him to do material from his first, self-titled, album. Renwick is not disappointed at this, and says just being in the band is ample reward for his efforts. After the conference, the band go out to do a polished show at Western Springs before one of the largest crowds of the tour. The average has been around 10,000. Just in case you might think that's a sign of waning popularity, you should know that they played to a crowd of around 400,000 at a free show in New York’s Central Park. Now that is pop. Mark Phillips

I was deeply moved by Jimmy Page’s letter, decrying Rip It Up’s meagre John Bonham obituary. You’re so right Jimmy, why don’t we go all the way? Let’s have a John Bonham national day of remembrance. Let’s have John Bonham badges, ties, endorsed drum sticks, posters, pinball machines, scooters and colouring books. Let’s have a nationally co-ordinated funeral march . . . LET’S WALLOW IN IT. Martin Quinn Remuera I looked forward to getting the November RIU, expecting to see Thin Lizzy on the front. There was not even a mention of them on the front and not even a live review inside. I know you are new wave oriented, but Thin Lizzy did score fifth best group and third best album in the 1979 RIU poll. Come on, how about something in December. Lizzed Off Where is Mark Phillips coming from? In his attempt to rip the Steroids apart, he only succeeds in blowing his own credibility. Firstly he states that they are musically and visually drab and uninspiring, and then goes on to say that their Gang of Four and Cure covers are perfect in every detail. Well any band that can cover the Gang of Four and the Cure perfectly, can’t be going wrong as far as I can see. Secondly he states that they lock into '77. It's obvious that he never even made it to 1977, by stating that the Steroids show flashes of lyrical genius on ‘Stay Glued To Your TV’. The song is in fact a Wire song off the album Pink Flag and is titled 'Ex-Lion Tamer’ (one of Britain's top selling LPs in 1977). C’mon Mark, remember the old proverb, people in glasshouses don’t get undressed. Ulritch Robin Dunn Lyall Bay If you do not persuade EMI to release the Dexy's debut soon, dire consequences will result. You have been warned! A Young Soul Rebel Papakura P.S. I hate Toy Love and Mi-Sex. In your October issue you mentioned a group called Relax. Who are they? Also what happened to Craig Emery of the Aliens? Curious Auckland EDITOR: Relax is now known as Youth For A Price and Craig is in Australia and now known as Rocky. How could anyone in a band like Rebel Truce, call themselves “Bones II”, it’s an insult to the name. Rebel Truce, putting it mildly, are a load of s**t. I think the real Bones is adorable and I hope to see the Swingers back in NZ, to bring a bit of interesting music back on to the scene. More Talented Music Please Auckland