Auf wiedersehen, pet

Press, 12 July 1984, Page 10

Auf wiedersehen, pet

NENA “99 Luftballons” (Epic ELPS 4425). The “99 Luftballons” released in New Zealand is a kind of compilation album, if you like. It incorporates some of the German group’s first album, also called “99 Luftballons,” and their second album, "?” Of course, most of you struggled to translate the single, “99 Luftballons,” but the English version, which was released in the United States, opens this album, and the original song (in German) closes it. The whole of side one is in English, and side two in German.

German rock bands generally favour English for songs, but the members of Nena admitted that they preferred using German because it was their native tongue. Personally, side two does not lose anything for being in German, although an insert with an English translation might have helped. But, best of all, Nena is just not a one-hit wonder. “99 Red Balloons”- is in itself an interesting track,

an anti-war song, inspired by a Rolling Stones concert in West Berlin where balloons were released. It is not surprising that the song was a hit in Western Europe, considering the controversy about nuclear armaments and the recent deployment of U.S. cruise missiles. However, the song is not anti-U.S.

In a “Melody Maker” interview, lead singer, Gabrielle Susanne (Nena) Kerner, said the band didn’t like the avant-garde German bands like Einsturzende Neubauten or X-mal Deutschland, but Nena’s more MOR approach does not destroy the band. The English songs on side one are most impressive. “?” raises as many queries as it answers about life, even Nena’s vocals are ambiguous and lazy, but is a successful song, ending on the high notes of a saxophone. “Hangin’ On You*’ is another delightful song, again with a simple riff and easy keyboards, and “Just A Dream” easily shows Nena to be better than Pat Benatar, in a song that is reminiscent of Blondie. -NEVIN TOPP.

To show that there is true equality in music, Louie and the Hotsticks (above) are holding a special “Blues Brothers and Sisters” show at the Marine Tavern, Sumner, next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.

The band’s rhythm guitarist, Alan Park, believes that the “Blue Brothers” starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, has become a cult film, and it was decided to make a special show and allow people to dress up for the soul, and rhythm and

blues, occasion. The show itself will last for about one and onequarter hours, and includes special guests backed by Louie and the Hotsticks. These include an all-women vocal group, the Throaties, consisting of Tralee Denegrie, Sally Davison, and Barbara Fox, who was formerly lead singer with the Torpedoes, they will also be joined for the Chif-fons-style act by the Hotsticks vocalist, Helen Mulholland.

Other guests are John

Lloyd, who played keyboards in the Cowboys, Simon Darke, formerly the lead singer of the Newz, and Stu Primmer, who will add a second saxophone to the Hotsticks line-up. The show is expected to run between 9.45 p.m. and 11 p.m., and there will be prizes for the best dressed people, who fit in with the “Blues Brothers” theme. A demo tape of a Hotsticks song, “Living On My Heart,” has been getting some airplay on the ZM

network, and there are hopes that a record contract is in the offing. The Hotsticks will also be making an excursion to the Bine Pub at Methven on August 10 and August 11. ® Louie and the Hotsticks get together above. At the rear, from left, are: Danny Wilson (saxophone), Wayne Beecroft (drums), Wayne Jamieson (bass), and at the front, from left, Jimmy Walmsley (lead guitar), Helen Mulholland, and Alan Park.