Platinum Pictures

Rip It Up, Issue 60, 1 July 1982, Page 6

Platinum Pictures

Ann Louise Martin

Two Moving Pictures, complete with mirror shades ideal indoors visited Auckland early June to tell the story of a triple platinum album, and a single and album holding number one simultaneously for several weeks, in Australia. Present are Alex Smith (vocals), Andrew Thompson (sax).

The single What About Me' and album Days of Innocence were No. 1 the night Moving Pictures embarked on a support tour with Elton John. However 'Bustin' Loose' was their first single. We really wanted people to realize we were a rock and roll band first and foremost, whereas if we'd released 'What About Me' first, people would've seen us as another Air Supply," says Alex.

" What About Me' was released first in New Zealand because the song's success is proven, and it's probably not worth releasing a single that just bubbles under." 'Bustin' Loose' is strongly reminiscent of Springsteen, but Alex denies that the man has an overriding, dare I say, influence. We have keyboards and saxophone, and there are certain sounds I'm aiming towards. He's playing white rhythm and blues and it's basically the same thing I'm playing. People come and hear us and they see the line-up a big guy on saxophone and a little guy jumping around with a telecaster and they relate it to Springsteen, but there's just as strong an influence from Pete Townshend, Van Morrison and Graham

Parker. The importance of Springsteen to me is what he's done for rock and roll in bringing it back to the people, playing to an audience instead of over their heads."

Alex is the band's chief lyricist, although other Moving Pictures members contribute. What About Me' was written by guitarist Garry Frost. The songs are about romance, hard times and "stuff".

"It's just a silly phase I'm going through," Alex jokes. 'The songs are just things I see, have felt, or have watched other people go through. I try and write them in as universal manner as possible. 'The only theme I find through all of them is summed up in 'Bustin' Loose'. If you don't try, if you don't take that one step you'll just sit and think about it for the rest of your life, shake your head and say why didn't I do it when I had the chance." Part of the band's fame and glory must rest with their live performance. The most recent Moving Pictures tour with the Church was a huge success. Billed as an under eighteens venture they played to crowds like 8,500 at the Perth Entertainment Centre and to 12,000 in two shows at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion. In Alex's opinion the Australian scene is the healthiest it's ever been.

"It used to be that all the push went behind international product, but now local artists are being pushed just as much, if not more than the imported bands."

The band record their second album this month. They may do some NZ dates. I make the mistake of asking if they'll follow in Chisel's footsteps to the USA. "We'll make our own footsteps to the States/' Alex retorts. Days of Innocence could well be released there in September.