LETTERS

Rip It Up, Issue 34, 1 May 1980, Page 27

LETTERS

Post to RIU LETTERS, PO Box 5689, Auckland 1. Best wins an LP Voucher. Last night at our place we had what must be known as a ‘rage'. The house got smashed good and proper, but I didn’t see any marching girls. Was this really a rage? Toy Lover Balmoral VOUCHER WINNER! Oh, so Phil Judd “could never play a cover version", eh? (Feb RIU.) Well, the other day me mum heard me singing "Certain Sound", the Swingers’ song from the AK.79 album. “Oh,” she said to me, “I ddn't know you liked Andy Williams.” Andy Williams? W HAT? So I listened foi myself. Andy Williams Greatest Hits, to be precise. Anyway, there it was, “Certain Sound" disguised as “Happy Heart" by J Last. Sussed, Phil. Pity, I used to think the Swingers could write. Next thing you know they’ll be blowing whistles on stage. Disappointed Papatoetoe I’ve always used album reviews as a guide to what to buy, but now that albums are $lO each, they take on more importance. So, what's a person meant to think when he's given two opposite points of view? For example, the Only Ones’ “Even Serpents Shine” gained approval from George Kay and Colin Hogg, but is consistently shunned by Barry Jenkin. Similarly, the Undertones received a good review from Dominic Free, only to be dismissed by Mr Hogg as “limp-wristed Ramones rip-offs”. Why doesn’t RIU feature several of the more important releases of the month, and print two or three reviews, giving a more complete picture, from more than one point of view? Confused Mangere Just a quick note to let you know that Rip It Up gets to Los Angeles and is really enjoyed by all of us here who are keen on the Kiwi scene. Mi-Sex were here a few weeks ago and they were great ... but when are we going to get to see Split Enz? They were here in '77 and they were great then! What with the Enz not playing LA since Secpnd Thoughts, I reckon they’ve got some catching up to do here.

OK, NZ has the best band there is, but instead of sending ’em back to Oz, send ’em back to LA next time! Ron Kane an Enz Frenz, Los Angeles Why don’t you guys print letters any more? If you want to stop printing something, cut that Auckland propaganda shit. Thank God for Radio U, and for the Damned reforming. Ricky Reject (A Christchurch Punk) P.S. Just send me AK (not for Auckland) 79 instead of the voucher. We thought you might like to know that our band, Green Acne, has split prior to forming, due to internal conflict. Sorry all you future fans. Ricky Legal, Stlg Prig, Scott Snot Christchurch P.S. If we had formed we would never have gone to Auckland. I would like to claim the record for writing the world’s smallest readable devo . The world’s smallest readable iDEvo was attained with the use of a microscope at 12.10, Tuesday April 17. It measured only 0.6 mm long. Bolt Christchurch Just an epitaph on the passing of one of the best rock and roll band NZ ever had, Hello Sailor. One of the few bands who could have made it big, killed by the greatest murderer of good NZ music. No, not smack, but good old commercial radio. I hope the boys up at Caltex House are pleased with themselves. Mike the Spike Papakura.

Glad you liked the Pretenders, Alastair Dougal, but don’t go overboard on the enthusiasm. "Very pleasant surprise" (March RIU ) the album is bleedin’ great, brilliant! And what an insult to Chrissie Hynde mentioning her name in the same paragraph as the revolting Stevie Nicks. Good on John Hood for playing and playing the Pretenders. C.J. Mazzoleni Herne Bay Really! Is Andy Partridge second best male vocalist? Colin Moulding does the honours on "Nigel”. Similarly Neil Finn upstages brother

Tim’s vocals. And fifth best NZ bassist and fourth best NZ drummer, Griggs and Green of

Enz are English. But full marks to RIU for showcasing the incredible amount of NZ talent that is around, just wish some more of it could call in at'New Plymouth. Please? Tomarse Waitara I think RIU is really neat! In fact I think that RIU is really, really neat. Why don’t other groovers write in and tell us how neat they think RIU is? J. Marsh Miramar

I just hope all you whining prats out there who moaned about Barry Jenkin when he was presenting RWP are quite happy with the replacement. I’ll pay a dollar for everytime PIL or Buzzcocks are on the present show, for sure. The Oracle Christchurch P.S. I’ll have the Toy Love Album Ta.

Why is it that your f**king writers can’t find the time, space and intelligence to write an article about the best band in NZ, the Snipes. Yet you write about wank bands like the Spelling Misteaks. 808 Push Button Paradise P.S. Don’t write any editorial crap underneath this letter, like, "in the 1979 June edition of RIU we mentioned the Snipes at least twice in one paragraph."

I am writing in an attempt to win one of your record vouchers. I recently purchased a S2OOO stereo system, and in so doing, I was forced to mortgage my house. Soon after I was laid off work. I am now living in alO xl2 tent, behind the house I onced owned. My wife and seven kids have left me and the only friend I-have in the world is my S2OOO stereo system, on which I have no records to play as I cannot afford them. AJ (member of the Put Neil Armstrong Back on the Moon Society) Cambridge

Why is it that Radio Hauraki can afford to give away cars, overseas trips and large amounts of money, but when Xmas or Easter arrive, they appeal for toys and Easter eggs from listeners, to give to underprivileged kids. Surely a radio station that can give away SIOO,OOO in prizes can afford to spend a few thousand at Xmas and Easter on underprivileged kids. > Batperson Blockhouse Bay P.S. Watch out for the VOGUES.