Letters

Rip It Up, Issue 85, 1 August 1984, Page 35

Letters

Post to RIU' Letters. PO Box 5689. Auckland 1.

Just Wild About... Well there we all were, bummin' around school doin’ fuck all in the lunch hour when one of the lads returns from down town with the latest RIU. We all dive for it and each of us gets a page or so. After 10 minutes of intense reading someone yells out "Eh. ‘Arry's back!" So the poor kid gets mugged and there's a massive fight for the page with 'Arry on it. Well, all of us got shoved in a week's detention for fightin' in the schoolyard. And no one knows what 'appened to the page with Arry on it (we think one of the teachers nicked it). Well, all we can say is it's good ta ave ya back Arry. We mist ya. Hedgehog Spike Otorohanga

Just Wild ... Your magazine makes me sick. It is the most pathetic load of trash I've ever had the misfortune to lay eyes on. I got a copy hoping to find some articles or info on heavy metal groups and albums. Instead, I find it is packed full of crap about shitty trendy groups and pullers like Prince. It seems you're only interested in publishing things on homos like the Dunce Impotents and the Mockers. I'm fed up with hearing all about Duran Duran and Girl George and all their bum-chums. Get your arse into gear and get some decent metal info in it. At the moment I wouldn't even wipe my arse on your piss-pot magazine. Do something fast before it's too late. Bang your head. Metal Maniac You got us so scared we whipped up a Motorhead yarn for this issue Shit, hope we re not too late after all. RB

Unhipness Regained! I was just wondering why peoole stupidly continue to rave

about the "hipness" of Flying Nun. I wonder if these people have stopped to think that without Flying Nun there would be no, yes that's right, no Chills, Verlaines, Sneaky Feelings, Great. Unwashed, NDT, Children's Hour, Expendables and Gordons? All the bands are talented, especially the Chills, who must be one of NZ s most innovative bands, unequalled as yet. but without the support and encouragement from Flying Nun would probably not be around. Flying Nun deserves labels like "fantastic" and "appreciated" rather than "trendy" or "too hip. " So all those who refer to them as such should pull their fingers out. That's what I think. Sallie Wellington

Politicking Verrry disappointed to see that your man Russell Brown apparently failed to perceive and/or appreciate the finer points of social comment and political overtone in the new Politicians’ single 'Down In Baghdad'. Take the quoted line: "The weather is hot. like the girls/Down in Baghdad." I mean, for f... sake, did he think we were trying to be serious or something? Constructive criticism. negative reviews, we can handle. But how are we (or anybody) to gain some kind of insight into a song consisting of the word "Yeah?" Call it journalism if you must, you wouldn't even print the name I give it. A Politician Hamilton

Since publishing the letter from Simon Le Bon Fan' last month we have had a veritable flood of replies most in disagreement, a few supportive and almost all strongly worded. Excerpts of a few are printed below:

Dear SLB Fan: After seeing the sad decline of Le Bunny and co after the third album. I have wondered about the mental state of present Duranners. My questions have been answered. Anyone who describes as crap anyone or anything that does not agree with them must be akin to

an intellectual pygmy. The band with the arrogance to proclaim themselves (before the fact) the biggest barjd in the world in 'B4 must be about the only social evil George Orwell didn't predict. And as for Big Country ... ever hear of the Skids? As for U2 ... ever hear them before America did? As for Splitz Enz ... Tim Finn had the right idea. And as for you ... why not listen to something like Cabaret Voltaire with an open mind? A normally Mild-Mannered Midwest Reporter Kiwi music rules. If you want articles on Duran and friends buy overseas magazines. Don't get RIU (one of the very few magazines which tells of local talent). Also, as a dedicated Mockermania member I can assure you the Mockers are not jerks and they can sing AND play instruments very well, whether they are trying or not. Satisfied RIU Reader Beachlands I very much support the letter from Simon Le Bon Fan. Why can't you flaming print something decent about Duran Duran or Spandau Ballet? And get rid of some of the advertising trash. And I can't hack much more of the Exploding Budgies and all that rubbish. RIU is going down

brother. I suppose this doesn’t matter because I'm almost 13. Duran Fan Titirangi Why not have lots of Kiwi music? It is our only home-grown rock magazine and after all, don't we hear enough about Simon Le Bon in all those crapped-up American magazines? If you think no one would buy RIU if it was priced why do you bother picking up a copy for yourself? I know lots of people who have missed out because of silly farts like you. An NZ Fan Auckland Not all Duran fans are like SLBF. It seems as soon as you like Duran you are deemed to no longer be able to like any other musical group this is a terrible misconception of Duran fans (NOT Durannies as some people like to refer to us!). Sure, I like Duran, I might even go so far as to say they're my favourite group, but I like plenty of other artists too! That includes NZ groups like the Narcs, Dance Exponents, Blue Rock, etc. So shove your silly bigheaded opinion and let the rest of us get on with reading a decent rock mag we all enjoy. A Truly Appreciative Fan of Duran and Other Good Music Wellington

Firstly, you'd complain if you

had to pay for the magazine. I assume the reason for the large amount of advertising is to fund its publication. Fair enough don't you think? Anyway, I find most of the advertising informative, eg, tour dates, new releases, outlets and price ranges for instruments ... the list goes on. RIU Reader Dunedin To me pop music is like fibre: it passes straight through, does good while it’s there but it doesn't leave anything behind but a clean system. More serious music is absorbed into the mind and soul, like nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. It is contemplated on, it is everlastingly enjoyed and cannot be exhausted easily. Examples include Joy Division, punk and a lot of alternative music, including NZ music. I believe that until you've absorbed some serious music you haven’t got the whole gift of music you have the box and the wrappings but the present is missing. The boys from Duran Duran may look nice but their music gives nothing. JD & Campus Radio Fan Auckland

Yeah! Why can't RIU be a big. glossy, colour $5 mag with great shirtless pin-ups of our fave stars and real in-depth interviews about

their inner feelings and designer wardrobes and how they like their women? ‘ Thank You I Feel Much Better Wellington Idol Boasts I couldn’t help but reply to the letter from "Sid’ (350 pounds, 67”) in the July issue. I think you must have a real chip on your shoulder because of your terrible weight problem. Billy Idol arid Steve Stevens are great musicians and I'm sure thousands will go to their concert. Have you got a girlfriend who is madly in love with Idol or is it just an inferiority complex on your part? Ponde Napier If Billy Idol isn’t a Real Man where does that leave you? Your problem is that your’re jealous. Do women drool over you? I doubt it. Get your self sympathies together. mate Idol is the best thing that ever happened to rock. Idolist (Jill) Napier

Ripitup’s Believe It Or Not! It is not generally known that the name of the "pop" band "Human League" is in fact an anagram of the phrase "Hulamen Ague". Andrew “Clyde” Clouston Townsville