ANONY MOUS GURU

Rip It Up, Issue 182, 1 September 1992, Page 2

ANONY MOUS GURU

Anonymous Guru used to live together in a huge old house with all the space they needed to make a noise. So instead of sitting round on their bums watching telly like most flats, they decided to form a band. "We were sick of going along to gigs and seeing all those other bands playing and thinking we could probably do that. So we did," explains guitarist Steve. Two years later they've mastered their instruments, held down a residency at Cameron's (even if everyone did get up and leave when they started playing) and released a tape of their eight best songs, BoringHippyLoveShit. They may not have made any conscious effort "to go anywhere" with their sound but they are about to go to a whole lot of places on their 17 date national tour, starting in Wellington on the 17th. What can punters expect? Lead singer Jason, who admits he used to be a spike-headed goth in eye makeup but now sports long hair and is into such 60s/ 70s sounds as the Pretty Things, Crosby Stills and Nash and Hawkwind, says he'd like people to feel uplifted at their shows. On stage, he "schizes out" on nervous energy, throws things about, destroys things etc so don't stand too close to him. Kathy is a Helmet freak who cites Ginger Baker as one of her favourite drummers and says that if New Kids On The Block could put out a record that sounded as good as their show in Auckland, she'd buy it. They all seem to love psychedelic 60s music, cover 'Sunshine of Your Love' on their tape, and say how amazing it would be to get a hot wax light show together with strobes and smoke machines and caged go-go dancers.

Of course they haven't quite got it together to that extent but check them out anyway in a town near you soon. DONNA YUZWALK