Letters

Rip It Up, Issue 68, 1 March 1983, Page 2

Letters

Post to ‘RIW, PO Box 5689, Auckland 1. A Fan Writes In response to Duncan Campbell's Sweetwaters reviews: Firstly, I realise a rock criticism is one man's opiniomand therefore not very important, except maybe to himself, but surely a major rule for a critic is honesty. DC reviewed the Meemees did he actually see them? He claims they made little impact beyond the front row. What bollocks! I stood next to the soundtower and they made a tremendous impact with the crowd between me and the stage. I have spoken to people who were halfway up the bloody hill who've told me of the enthusiastic response from that section of the audience. Obviously DC is a fan of the "old school", the Legionnaires, DD Smash etc, and he's entitled to be. He's even entitled to think the Meemees monotonous, but to suggest they were not well received is a downright lie. C'mon DC, own up! Were you blind or just blind drunk? Finally, I'd like to see DC write and perform "copybook pop music" half as well as Dance Exponents. Paul Rose Propeller Records

Jailhouse Rocked On Sunday, February 27, the Furys proved to be a band of gentlemen when they gave up their time and lots of energy to entertain the inmates at Paremoremo Medium Security Prison. This audience would probably be the most critical and least vocal any band could face. The' Furys did and got lots of applause. They did Doctor Feelgood R&B, a couple of sixties remakes/remodes, a spot of C&W, a great version of 'Shake Some . Action' ’ and their own 'Auckland ‘ Fun'. JjWitmMlli A very mellow ’• jail grooved along. This band deserves'a big mention for. a' display of musical altruism and honest playing. All they got in . tangible terms was a jug of orange juice, and that ain't enough in anyone's language. The local audience are never capable of displaying their enthusiasm but we loved the band and wish them every, success and hope that this concert was the first of many. Eric Android, Glen Dalton, Baine Hugget • Our spy on the inside tells us that Eric took over the drums for a finale of the Feelgoods' 'SheDoes It Right' (an old 'Droidss cover) and Chuck-Berry's 'Route 66'. Pig Youth I declare the Psychedelic Furs to have been the best British band to appear at Sweetwaters. Hanx to the Labour Youth

member whose sleeping bag I grabbed, to put over me head . during DD Smash Battle of the Cans. Extra Hanx to him for the joint which made me unaware of Shit Enz. Extra Hanx to Trish of /Napier for free use of double sleeping * bag -on Saturday night and No Hanx to Nigel Griggs who didn't dedicate a song to me when he promised he would. •• Blam Blam Leader "Chris Keating Sucks" Party In Memoriam * Died, Feb. 6, Steve Paul Gray, Highway 6lMpBp|HH£S The skies are blue, but we turn Ito[Gray3HMp Graham , and the Legionnaires Knox Again • Although I am destroying the intentions 'of. this letter by writing it, I would like to nominate Chris Knox for the Noodle of the Year award. Not content with being merely the most talentless musician in the country, he has had to progress to making lower class Bob Jones-type j journalism which, it appears, is aimed at insulting anyone with an IQ of 20 or over. If you're pretend tious enough you can- seem imposing to a bunch of school kids. Chris Knox is to the arts what cannabilism is to missionary work. Dave Cohen Wellington Peter ? I'm in Australia. love Peter . Bloody Intellectuals As readers of Rip It Up and avid Enzed band fans, we would like to] know what Russell Brown is doing abusing an up-and-coming band like Rome. There's nothing harder than trying to make a name in the band world when a critic is pouring shit on you. We're referring to the cynical drivel he wrote about Rome's debut single in the January issue of RIU. He seems jto think that because the band originates from Tauranga, they are a bunch of outback fuckwitsTfl^^JpE^pH Tauranga is not Tawa or Eketahuna. Some exceptionally good bands come from fTaur, - new ones including ' Zeros, Ulster and Steel Breeze. Don't forget that members of Mi-Sex came from Tauranga. : So if Russell thinks his comments on Tauranga were humorous, we are not amused! Erica and Tania Tauranga Intellectuals