Letters

Rip It Up, Issue 95, 1 June 1985, Page 32

Letters

Post to ‘RIU’ Letters, PO Box 5689, Auckland 1. On The Zine We’ve nothing personal against the editor of Garage 'zine but we don’t like what he’s doing one bit. Zines are and always have been for punks, until now that is. Fashion-mongers have stolen everything else from us (fingerless gloves, fishnets, stud belts, etc, and now even trendies are soaping up their hair) and now we can’t even call zines our own. We know there are no rules that say zines are for punks, etc, but just think what could happen in the future. Because of that more or

less advertisement on the TV programme Viewfinder telling people how to go about making your own zine (with help from the Garage Ed), some people may start zines that feature bands like Duran Duran, the Mockers and shit like that! Or, even worse, some dicks may do one just to rip people off and make profits. ZINES JUST WERENT INVENTED FOR THIS SORT OF THING! We hope this letter is printed because so many people are behind it and I’m sure many other punks that read this will support it. Twelve Punks Auckland What a load of bloody old rubbish. For a start, fanzines aren't exclusively part of some pat identikit punk lifestyle package try telling all the music (and sci-fi) fans who have been slaving to put 'em out for years that punk "invented" zines. Garage sticks firmly to the noble tradition by looking at what's actually going on amidst the grass roots not worrying about what it's "supposed" to be. And so what if a Durannie puts out a zine? It'd probably do them good and remember. THEY RAVE A RIGHT. You don't own the rights to individual expression. And I suppose you like to call yourselves anarchists... RB True ‘Confessions'? Dear S.J. Townshend; better lay off da Quinces they are making you fart. J. Clarkson Waikato Ways I have noticed in the past a tendency towards slagging bands from the Waikato area. Could this be perhaps professional (or lack of it) jealousy? Okay, I admit that some of our bands lean more towards commerciality than "cul-

ture’’ (?) and that we do have our share of cover bands, but I assure you that if there wasn't a consumer response they wouldn't be playing it. I personally feel that any band who play the covers circuit full time in order to pay for studios and videos for their originals rather than relying on day job wages are the true musicians in the full sense of the word. Anyway, back to the Waikato and its wealth of talent. In the past few months we have seen a good rock album from the Bronx, Step Chant Unit’s vinyl debut 'Painting Pictures’, a single from the Politicians which earned them a place in the Shazam Superock 85 concert and the recently completed “politically aware” album from the Wetbacks. Currently in the studio are Echoes with their first album and Maiden China with their debut single, The Day’. I could go further back with the Waikato’s musical achievements and mention people like Midge Marsden and those famous brothers who first split their Enz in Te Awamutu ... So how ’bout it, RIU, why not become New Zealand’s first music mag and not just another lackey to local trends. Phil Hamilton Morrissey’s Chop Congrats to the Smiths for yet another masterpiece in the form of Meat Is Murder, but where the —s7*! is the as yet unheard masterpiece 'How Soon Is Now? on the fuckin' brilliant tape? I can’t afford to cough up for Hatful Of Hollow and I ain’t got a turnie so what am I to do?! In the immortal words of Morrissey’s men: "I’d like to drop my trousers to CBS (NZ) /1 am a man of means /Of slender means ..." A Smiths/Depeche Mode Fan Palmerston North