Letters

Rip It Up, Issue 98, 1 September 1985, Page 42

Letters

Mysterex Napier

Post to ‘RIW Letters, PO Box 5689, Auckland 1

The Backlash Backlash Backlash Dear Gary: re your reply, August RIU. Not another one of those “What a load of shit” letters. You’re boring. Charles Allison, Simon Bendali, Tim Robinson (and a lot of other self-opinionated bastards who think the same way) Auckland

• Gary McCalman's letter in defense of the Chills might not have been a literary masterpiece but it made rather more sense than the nice-sounding but nebulous and unsubstantiated charges of "vanity" in your previous letter. On the other hand, you and people like you have probably firmed in the Chills an almost overscrupulous integrity that will probably serve them well in the wilds of England. It's an ill wind... but go and see them live before they leave, okay? By the way, folks, the letters above and below were posted at the same place, same time. Hope y'all only get one RIU between you lads ... RB A Subjectivist

With regard to your letters (August), who the hell does does Gary McCalman think he is? Why does he have the right to criticise other peoples' personal viewpoints? And anyway, why support NZ bands if they’re shit? Music is surely a subjective art. If NZ bands are, as I and a lot of other people in NZ who think the same way believe, world class, why treat or criticise them in a different way to any other band from the UK or US or wherever? This is the big wide world ... As for the 'Fickled Pinkers’ (Letters, July) being self-opinionated, Jesus! If you don't have the courage of your convictions to state your opinion, believe it and stand up for it, then you must be a bland one-dimensional piece of shit. Though I may not necessarily agree with Charles, Simon and Tim, I salute them! At least they made you think ! Maybe you'll do it again sometime ... Billy Grey Lynn

Colin Comment I found Colin Hay pathetic and insulting in his recent RIU interview. His comment about Men At Work not being fashionable with

the press was sheer sour grapes. Does he really think Nick Kent or, dare I say it, George Kay, would give a good review to his teenybop tripe? His racist generalisations were equally sick. When Australia produces something worthy of consideration then well listen to it. Piss off you Aussie hack! Max Anderson Wellington

PS: Bryan Ferry was great after Plant’s tedious arrogance towards anything outside his thick skull. Keep up the good work RIU, you're only just pipped at the post by the NME in the Anderson best rock journal awards. • 7a Max, but let's not get carried away with "racist generalisations" and forget the Saints, Radio Birdman, the Birthday Party, the GoBetweens, the Easybeats, etc. RB

A Napier-Like Wit! (Urggh ...) Yahoo! I’ve just put down the best RIU I've read in ages. While in a second-hand bookshop I stumbled across a collection of old RIUs. This one, No. 17, Nov 1978, (which boldly proclaims 20,000 monthly on the cover) has got something worth reading on every page. A considerable contrast to N 0.96, 1985! This old issue is brilliant. Simple language and simple layout, but above all it captures the feeling of the times. Remember the Scavengers, the Clean, Suburban Reptiles and Citizen Band? People were excited about these bands and it was reflected in the Letters’ column. Interesting reviews of Devo and Blondie by Duncan Campbell and information on bands in the form of a Band File. (Why have you guys strayed away from this important piece of coverage? People need to know who and what are good up and coming acts.)

Admittedly things were happening pretty fast overseas, especially in the UK, but I fear we have lost a lot of that initial excitement and thanks to the likes of Phillipa Dann and Phillip Schofield we’re being fed acres of bland and boring local acts. However, I’m pleased to announce that Naiper has got a rapidly growing collection of exciting and energetic bands. It’s a shame very few will ever be heard on vinyl. It’s high time some of the independent record labels took a look into this neck o’ the woods. They may find a goldmine or may just stop becoming incestuous and self-indulgent like Flying Nun. Though fair dues, the Chills are definitely NZ’s best band. Keep It Up Rip It Up,