Painters and Dockers win hearts of disbelievers

Press, 25 February 1988, Page 22

Painters and Dockers win hearts of disbelievers

By

NEVIN TOPP

Painters and Dockers, the Melbourne band to visit Christchurch next week, have had to face the music, as it were, from an evangelist who believes that their music is not divinely inspired. Chris O’Connor, the band’s guitarist, said that a television station flew Paul Stewart (vocals and trumpet) up to Queensland for a debate with the evangelist.

Apparently, the debate was not the most gripping television, according to

O’Connor, but the teenagers who had condemned Painters and Dockers music as “Satanic” later wanted Stewart’s autograph.

O’Connor said that the teenagers had condemned the music at the instigation of the Ipswich evangelist. Other than that the band’s world was normal — at least as normal as could be expected for a group that sings such songs as “Die Yuppie Die.”

Progress has been made on the album “Kiss

My Art” since the band last visited Christchurch in October, O’Connor said. It was expected to be released shortly on the Doc/White label, but the release would not coincide with the New Zealand tour. The LP would include remixed versions of “Nude School,” the video of which was banned in Queensland (it featured members of the band dancing about naked) and “Die Yuppie Die,” the video of which was filmed in front of the Melbourne

Stock Exchange (before the sharemarket crash). The Docs though, are not afraid to sing about issues. The new album includes the track “If He Beats You, Leave,” which is about wife-bashing. So in spite of the rather masculine image that the band has in its live clips, it does show off a caring attitude.

Painters and Dockers will play at the Carlton Hotel next Thursday, and the following evening at the University of Canterbury’s orientation festival.