Rip It Up

Rip It Up, Issue 183, 1 October 1992, Page 2

Rip It Up

Editor: Murray Cammick Assistant Editor: Donna Yuzwalk Design & Production: Jonathan King Minder: Shirley Charles Postal Address: PO Box 5689, Auckland 1 Street Address: 15 Williamson Ave, Grey Lynn, Auckland Phone: 376 3235 Fax: 376 1558

DUNEDIN Operation Music Storm 1992 has wrapped up. Over 70 bands played over five weeks in Christchurch and Dunedin. The first saw Dunedin’s Polyps, Munky Kramp, Travis, Thromityurch and 147 Swordfish come in third with top honours shared by Munky Kemp (Dn) and lurch (Chch). As always the final decision was not unanimously popular but that's mostly those who see the band war as • the be all and end all it isn’t. . . Radio One last month staged their very first 24 hours a day seven days NZ Music Week. A major feature was ‘live to air’ featuring Peter Jefferies, Tin Soldiers, Polyp and the new sound Verlaines who are now fianlly a four-piece, with the addition of guitarist Paul Winders. Funhouse’s Darren Stedman has taken over the drums. Verlaines played their first Dunedin gig since Orientation at the start of the month ■and are looking to record album number five towards the end of the year. . . Andrew Brough’s new band debuted with Verlaines, Tumble, which also features members of Funhouse and Isolation Backlash Someone Else's Dream is the latest album release from this far south. The 12-song CD is a self-release by the now-more-guitary Glovepuppet who created Punch Records for the event. . . the Empire is back to life, following the formation of Empire promotions. New stage and in-house PA. If interested contact Geoff 4790632 or Vivienne 4737749 . . . the Crown is booked pretty solid over the next weeks, including a good dose of Irish Thursday nights, Able Tasmans, Puddle, My Deviant Daughter, Chugg, JPS Experience . . . also returning to the Crown stage, 3Ds for a weekend with new-ish Nowhere Fast. 3Ds have lost a (distinctive) RCF speaker and cabinet. According to one member (who prefers to remain anonymous) "some idiot in the band left it inside the foyer of Vogel house practice rooms". This was not realised til 3Ds were in the air heading to Ak to play with SJFits. The sheepish D would be grateful for the return as would four other bands in Vogel House who have suffered at the hands of those thieves. Who are going to find themselves in the hands of some very angry musicians once they’re discovered ... My Deviant Daughter are recording material to be ” . released in EP format sometime . .. quite hyped by their peers. King Loser debuted to Dunedin playing with SJFits, 3Ds, then Puddle and may live here .. . Snapper have come back to life playing their first gigs since Orientation with Jan Hellriegal’s band . . . following several complaints of violence and a threat of band boycotts, Sammy’s Niteclub have taken note and are toning down the use of overbearing bouncers. They will only be working when necessary which will not include most 'alternative” gigs. Once again — thanks to Sammy’s action — people can relax and enjoy gigs. About time too. NATASHA GRIFFITHS HAMILTON We’re looking forward to visits from the Able Tasmans, JPSE, the Puddle, the Tuffhalls and Blue Marbles. Anyone who is thinking of playing here and would like some information can ring me at (07) 8243733 . . . meantime the second edition of Zone magazine is now available. Zone is put together by a group of Waikato musicians to spotlight musical people and events in this area. It’s predominantly rock orientated with some fringe material: available at almost everywhere you go in . - Hamilton or you can write to Zone, PO Box 4398, Hamilton East or phone (07) 827 6681 . .. due to a successful debut Contact is going to host another NZ music week ' _ ’ (October 19-24). It features 22 hours of NZ music per day. with lots of NZ giveaways . . . local winners of the ' Smokefree Rock Quest best original song Death of a Monkey are planning to do some recording at Contact. . . tapes available at the moment: from Gimbimlyb (multigenre punksters) 8, $lO from Contact, private bag 3059, Ham ; Tsunami Band (Hamilton’s most experienced

bohemians), sl2 plus p&p from Orange, PO Box 11-031 Hillcrest; the Emersons (industro-garage motorcycle

engine music) $6 plus p&p from Orange and the Clap (surf-skate punk)C7un)A/zz sl2 from Contact. Expect forthcoming tapes from Black Noise Chorus, Frybrain ; and a Hamilton compilation entitledJurce Extractor. Bye bye. ADAM HYDE CHRISTCHURCH The death metal show at the Arena last month was popular enough for Propoganda to plan several more including Live Death II at the Chinese Cultural Hall on Oct 16 and Satanfest ’92 on Halloween at the same venue. Bands booked for these two include Cyrrhosis, Demise, Convulsion, Prestidigitator, Human and Youth For Satan. Halloween’s gig is being recorded for a Satanfest Satan Best album .. . Squirm are busy plotting a nationwide tour whilst looking for a sample player... Naked Lunch have split after a final gig supporting Bailter Space who played their farewell at Warners to a reasonably large crowd for a Tuesday night.. . the multimedia even Global Suicide packed the 223 Gallery featuring industrial heavies Cell. The show also included Emily Buttel, Nawe, Flux and heaps of visuals. The planned debut of the Invisibles didn’t happen due to the disappearance of their guitarist. . . Stick are looking for a new bass player after the departure of Franz ... 98 RDU is now broadcasting twenty-four hours a day . .. Christchurch fared well in Operation Music Storm with Lurch coming first equal and 147 Swordfish coming in third ... the Tribal Luvahs, Jody Lloyd and Lia Tauamiti cleaned up in the first Hellavuh dance and rap competition. Jeff Cavendish has just opened a new 24 track studio in Lyttelton ... the Waltham Arms have opened their doors to original bands. For bookings phone 03 366 3735 . . . new bands around include Rain, Van ~' Jasper and Freak Out Ethel. JOHN GREENFIELD AUCKLAND Star of the recent L 7 show had to be Rip It Up’s ex- - receptionist Mr Hans Hoeflich who executed a series of graceful stage dives whilst wearing a blue and white mini dress, the puffed sleeves and white lace collar providing a piquant contrast to his hirsute face and legs. L 7 even dedicated a song to him . .. funky power-pop threepiece Drinkwater have sold over a thousand copies of their demo tape and had tracks played on 89X. They’ve featured on TV3’s In Focus, a TV One documentary called First Hand and are planning to release a debut CD soon . . . five-piece hard rock band No Lyz release their debut single this month ... new ’zine Intravene features interviews with Fatal Jelly Space, Gnasher and Sindrome and a quick word with Big Boris the Ethiopian Lard Farmer ... Matthew Heine (ex-SPUD), Mark Petterson (SJ Fits, Meatboy), Andy Moore and friends have been laying down tracks for a One Hit Wonders compilation. They do unspeakable things to Freur’s ‘Doot Doot’ and the Vapour’s ‘Turning Japanese’ but Cameron of Supercar’s version of the Motel's ‘Total Control’ is genuinely heart wrenching. Matthew (who has been learning how to sing ip the city's Kareoke bars) says a CD release is possible . . . be sure to see the Scuzzbuckets, Christchurch's leading scum-rock losers, when they play Auckland on October 18 supported by ex-pats the Axel Grinders in a special, one-off reunion gig fronted by Miss Rita La Quesne .. . Cosmic Psychos tour promoter Greg is planning a Taranaki showcase later this month or next. . . good second hand records (lotsa 60s stuff) to be found in

Crawlspace, the record part of the Old Book Cellar comix shop off Fort Street downtown . . . Revival Records appear to be moving from Victoria Street to K Road, good move . . . Time Bomb mail order are bringing in copies of Boom Shacka lacka, "the baddest reggae read on the planet”. Write to Freepost 3254, PO Box 1869, Auckland 1 for a Time Bomb catalogue.

DONNA YUZWALK

Which Christchurch band calls a song 'Pork Stripper' and sets it to the tune of 'Day Tripper'? Or boasts a lead singer who looks (and sounds) like George Michael after one hundred days of hell-fire? Only the Scuzzbuckets, young purveyors of low down 'n' dirty, scumsuckin’ rock and roll. Released on a series of diabolical tapes and played to only a very few people so far but that's all going to change. The Scuzzbuckets are coming to Auckland for two shows this month, and in honour of the occasion RIU went to Dux De Luxe to meet lead singer Rob (greatest influence: Neil Diamond. Hence the lyric "I want to sit/ in Neil Diamond's arm pit") and guitarist Martin Henderson, whose career was launched by a brief but dazzling tenure with the Axel Grinders. Do the Scuzzbuckets have an aesthetic? "We're trying to put across the sensations that you get from taking a lot of cactus," replies Martin, "we formed this band in a cactus haze." Are you anti-heroes, I ask. "Put it this way," growls Rob,"we don't like anyone either." But they do. Enough to cover Screaming Jay’s 'Feast Of The Beast Of the Mau-Mau' and Duran Duran's 'Hungry Like The Wolf'. The Scuzzers call themselves a "funk-punk" band and pride themselves on their sense of humour. Like all sensitive people, they have their desperate moments, they just don't bother singing about it. Rob says he's pleased to be getting away from the "sex/ ego" thing in his lyrics, which, judging by their oeuvre to date, pretty much just leaves the Devil as subject matter. Why do so many Christchurch bands holler about said entity?

"'Cos half of them are old junkies — been to hell and back," says Rob before adding, "living in a city built on a swamp, the scum always rises to the top." Here's looking at you, Scuzzbuckets! DONNA YUZWALK

Happy Mondays will take two years off after their UK tour. There’s tension between singer Shaun Ryder and the rest of the band... due to the cancellation of the Chills European tour Martin Phillipps has disbanded his “hired" line-up and will see to business-matters in Los Angeles and then return to NZ ... next Jesus & Mary Chain album will be mainly acoustic with a guest vocal from Lee Hazelwood ... the Sex Pistols will play and outdoor UK reunion concert in 1993 .. . Faith No More have left the USA Guns N Roses I Metallica tour and have been replaced by Ice-T and Body Count for several shows but the Los Angeles promoter has refused to have Ice-T or Body Count play... Lemonheads have recorded the Simon & Garfunkel classic 'Mrs Robinson’... Eddie Kendricks (52), the falsetto Temptations singer has died of lung cancer... aftera remixes album Sugarcubes will split. . . reggae /ska singer Jackie Edwards who wrote Spencer Davis Group 60s hits ‘Keep On Running’ and ‘Somebody Help Me', died age 52... the Sundays cover the Rolling Stones 'Wild Horses’ on their second album .. . Los Angeles blues rockers the Red Devils (signed to Rick Rubin’s Def American) back Mick' on his new solo album. Rick Rubin produces... Grateful Dead have cancelled their tour due to Jerry Garcia having lung disease . .■. Living Colour’s Vernon Reid plus Flo and Eddie guest on the new Ramones album Mondo Bizarro. .. Mudhoney cover Motorhead’s ’Over The Top’ on their single ‘Suck You Dry'. / . bassist Adi has quit Swervedriver... Rob Halford has left Judas Priest, forced out due to objections to his also working in the band Fight. .. David Bowie has signed to record for BMG International and the Savage label in the USA. His upcoming album is produced by Nile Rodgers ... guests on the new Neneh Cherry album Homebrew include rappers Gang Starr and Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) .. . next from Nine Inch Nails is six track Broken... In The Beginning is a 1980 radio broadcast of Stevie Ray Vaughan live at an Austin Club... new Bon Jovi track‘Keep The Faith’ is being remixed by Mike Edwards (Jesus Jones) ... expect an out-takes album soon from R.E.M.... new album for Robert Palmer Ridin High is a collection of old standards .. . Shriekback are back with originals Barry Andrews, Dave Allen and Martin Barker... a coroner’s report says Jeff Porcaro (Toto) died of hardening of the arteries caused by cocaine use .. . Nick Cave will tour in December... due to mid-week 10.30 pm noise curfews, the Red Hot Chili Peppers shows will start early. Head Like A Hole will be on stage at 7.30 pm both in Auckland and Wellington.

HOT & HUMID Texan guitar ace Bobby Mack is on tour currently, supporting the release of his Red Hot & Humid: Live from Austin Texas album. He follows in the footsteps of other Texan guitar greats such as Freddie King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He has previously left his Austin base to tour New Zealand with Midge Marsden. Mack knows why the Capital City of Texas, Austin, is a hot music town: "It’s a University town (University of Texas), there’s 75 live venues and 300 bands or more." Austin is now the base for the annual South By South West Music Convention, a showcase for unsigned bands. Mack played regularly at the famous Austin blues club Antoines, where he met blues greats such as Albert King, Otis Rush and Buddy Guy but Mack is also influenced by rock players such as Jimi Hendrix. "Primarily I'm a blues player. But what is inherent to Texas blues players is a wide open approach — no rules. It follows the Texas reputation of being boisterous and rowdy. It's a more guitar orientated sound." MISCELLANEOUS... Emulsifier have completed their debut LP for . Wildside... the first single for the upcoming Warratahs album is ‘Walking the Tightrope' ... Rugged Records of Whangarei will release a compilation Compression in November .. . techno-greebos from hell Hieronymous Bosch and zombie terroists Hellraiser play a Helioween party Oct 31 at Arcadia... a doco Solidarity of the 1990 Upper Hutt Posse visit to Detroit screens Sunday Oct 18 on TVNZ's Marae.. . funk aggregation D-Faction release debut album first week of November . . .

Auckland venue Cactus Jacks are a Worst Guitar Player Competition in November ... inapplications for University Orientation bookings close Oct 30. Application forms are available from NZSAC, Box 27281, Wellington (ph 385-0214) . . . the Arts Council got a good response to their Musicians Survey regarding the New Artists Recording Scheme. A report will be issued later this year. Winners of the cash prizes were Lesley Paris (Olla) and Sid (Weetbix Boys) . .. correction: new boss of AMCOS in Australia is not Martin Fabinyi, it’s his brother Jeremy Fabinyi.

COAST COURSES The Tai Poutini Polytechnic in Greymouth is running two 34 week courses in 1993 — Audio Engineering & Music Production and the new course Contemporary Music, a how to work in the live industry study from marketing and mixing to taxation. Further info on courses and financial entitlements can be obtained from Greymouth 768-0411 or Freephone 0800-800-411. Compared to the major centres, the Greymouth Polytechnic consider the West Coast a less expensive and a more interesting environment in which to study. BLAMS & SCREAMINC MEEMEES Propeller Records are releasing compilation albums from past stars Blam Blam Blam and the Screaming Meemees in November. The release of the 19 track The Complete Blam Blam Blam will be preceded by the re-issue of the classic single 'Don't Fight It Marsha, It's Bigger Than Both of Us' complete with two previously unreleased live tracks. The Screaming Meemee's album Stars In My Eyes also has 19 tracks including unreleased material. The compilations on CD and cassette include the debut albums by both bands. WAIKATO ROCK AWARDS September was the month for the first annual Waikato Rock Awards held in association with Rock 93FM, Southern Comfort and the Hillcrest Tavern. Prizes were awarded for best band, original song, recording, music video and biggest contribution to Waikato music in 1992. Prizes for each category included SI,OOO cash and recording time at Rock 93FM's 16track studio. Winners were: Best Band: BLACKJACK. (Other finalists were King Biscuit, Tim Robinson & Kiwi Bandits.) Best Song: ACROBAT 'The Other Side'. Best Recording: NUT HOUSE JAM 'ln America'. Best Video: KING BISCUIT ‘What Is Love'. Biggest Contribution to Waikato Music: ZED BROOKES, producer.

NZ MUSIC SEMINAR Thirty-five industry experts will be addressing a three-day NZ music seminar in Wellington from 13-15 November. A brief sampling of topics up for discussion inclues: making cheap videos, latest technology, social responsibility in the music industry and "reinventing alternative". Speakers range from Colin Hogg, Chris Knox and Karyn Hay to Elizabeth Kerr from the QEII Arts Council and Brendan Smyth from NZ On Air. And, for all you wanna-be pop stars out there, Steve Morice, manager of Push Push. Topics being covered by the major Seminar sessions include Approaching NZ Indie labels, Copyright Publishing & Defamation, Legal Advice for Performers, Social Responsibility in Music, Let's Talk Politics and World Trends. Small group sessions include Band Management, Reinventing Alternative, Radio Technology, Touring, Making Cheap Videos, Music Reviewing, Funding, Record Deals, Maori Radio, Sponsorship and Meet Programme Directors. Write to 1992 NZ Music Seminar, Play Hard Management, Box 27-012, Wellington or telephone (04) 475 7012. APRA The Australasian Performing Rights Association has moved from Wellington to 92 Parnell Rd, Auckland, and is now managed by Mike Chunn. APRA is a non-profit organisation that acts on behalf of music composers and lyricists in the licensing of their music to broadcasters and venues. For example, when Greg Johnson has 'lsabelle' performed on the radio or the Exponents play 'Why Does Love’ at the Powerstation, APRA is responsible for ensuring that Johnson and Luck receive their fair share of the radio station’s income and the Powerstation's door-take respectively for their creative efforts in writing the songs. Says Chunn: "We hope to give our composer members a high level of service. The new Data Processing facilities in Sydney allow us to hold a comprehensive data base of NZ members and their works. In the not-too-distant future we will be on-line to this Sydney computer which will allow for much faster processing of enquiries." APRA SILVER SCROLL AWARD : Shona Lang won this year’s APRA Silver Scroll for her song 'The Mercy of Love', having '• previously scooped the award in 1988 with 'Soviet Snow’. The APRA Silver Scroll, now 27 years old, is awarded on creative rather than commercial grounds. Past winners include Dave Dobbyn, Ray Columbus and the Formulya in 1970 for ‘Nature’ — hitting the charts again courtesy of the Muttonbirds. CMJ NEW YORK The CMJ Music convention in New York will be attended by representatives from local labels Pagan (Sheryl Morris) and Flying Nun (Paul McKessar and Lesley Paris), assisted by Music NZ. Australasian acts playing the Music Marathon Live showcase include Tumble weed, the Cosmic Psychos, Celibate Rifles, Chris Knox, the Bats and Bailter Space but will Paul McKessar be able to ween himself away from Ween to see them?

UPPER HUTT POSSE

' Those "undisputed pioneers of NZ hiphop" Upper Hutt Posse release their new single 'Ragga Girl’ on Tangata Records and by all accounts it's totally fabulous. Head Hutter Dean Hapeta has directed the NZ On Air video for the song which is described as "fresh and funky” and "an irrisitable summer anthem" with backing vocals courtesy of Teremoana and Acid Dread. INSIDETRACK A 30 minute radio doco series Inside Track, profiling albums by New Zealand artists, is airing nationally on student radio. The format is a mix of music and interviews and it is produced by Paul Casserly. Broadcast times vary in each centre but times include Christchurch Wednesdays 6.30 pm (and Sunday 10pm) and Auckland Tuesday evenings at 6.30 pm. Artists featured include: Jan Hellriegal, Head Like Hole, , Greg Johnson Set, Muttonbirds, Able Tasmans and Emulsifier. STRANGER THAN FICTION : In bookstores before Xmas will be a comprehensive Split Enz biography Stranger Than Fiction: The Life & Times of Split Enz an illuminating insider's viewpoint written by original bassist Mike Chunn. The 264 page book is heavily illustrated and is being published two decades after the band was founded in 1972. An extensive discography is contributed by Los Angeles Enz expert Ron Kane. FUTURE RECORDINGS: NEIL YOUNG, Harvest Moon; NINE INCH NAILS, Broken,- NENEH CHERRY, Homebrew; SADE, Love Deluxe; EMF, Stigma,- BODY COUNT, Bom Dead,- ROBERT PALMER, Ridin’ High; DAN BAIRD (ex Georgia Satellites), Love Songs for the Hearing Impaired; JULIAN COPE, Jehovahkill; STEVIE RAY. VAUGHAN, In the Beginning (live), INSPIRAL CARPETS, Revenge of the Goldfish; GUY CLARK, Boats to Build; JOAN BAEZ, Play Me Backwards,- MAXI PRIEST, Fe Real; PATTI LABELLE, Live; MALCOLM X, Spike Lee movie soundtrack; KEITH RICHARDS, Main Offender, THELONIOUS MONSTER, Beautiful Mess; SUGARCUBES, Itsit; JEFF HEALEY BAND, Feel This,- INFORMATION SOCIETY, Peace & Love, Inc; THE FARM, Love See No Colour, BETTY 800, Grrr, It’s Betty 800,- NONA GAYE, Love for the Future,- RONNIE WOOD / BO DIDDLEY, Live at the Ritz, THUNDER, Laughing on Judgement Day,- SHRIEKBACK, Sacred City; FUTURE REISSUES: BIRTHDAY PARTY, Hits (20 tracks); BARRY WHITE, Just For You’ (3-CD set, 39 tracks); EARTH WIND & FIRE, Eternal Dance (3-CD set, 55 tracks); JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, Love You (3 72min CDs, pre-1972, half unreleased tracks); BARRY MANILOW (4-CD set, 70 cuts); SPORTS, All Sports (best of); JO JO ZEP & FALCONS, Sound Of (best of); BAYCITY ROLLERS, The Col lection; RENEE GEYER, Faves; SKYHOOKS, Latest & Greatest; VARIOUS, Best of Southside Records.