Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The best kind of villain there is

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  • Keir Leslie,

    I love the image of someone listening to Venus in Furs and going: fucking Chris Knox, you sly dog, why did you think you'd get away with nicking that line?

    (Next up: Barry Hogan didn't come up with All Tomorrow's Parties...)

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Apropos of almost nothing - i am so trying to get rid of the banjopicking line of "Buffalo Girls"...arrrggghhh

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    why did you think you'd get away with nicking that line?

    I don't for a moment think he did

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    being 'led astray' by some kind of Nancy Spungen figure

    Simon Cowell in ripped tights

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    My eyes....zer goggles, zey do nothing..

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Sara Bee,

    Anyone else remember MM at the State Opera House Wellington some time mid-90s International Festival of the Arts doing a monologue-y, multi-media-y show? that went on and on and on... (ie post midnight), with even the then Chair of the Festival David Gascoigne not able to get him to stop talking...

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 67 posts Report Reply

  • webweaver,

    For me, a teenager living in England in 1976, punk was an entirely British phenomenon at the beginning. We weren't really aware of any American punk bands back then - it seemed to us as though it started in London with the Sex Pistols - and that Malcolm and Vivienne's Sex shop provided (in a massively important way) the "look" that went with the sound.

    All the bands we loved and pogo'd to and spat at at innumerable gigs in those first two or three years of punk were either English, Irish or Scottish (our discovery of American punks such as The Ramones and Blondie came a couple of years later) - and for us, the clothes were almost as important as the music - and the attitude was equally important.

    It was the classic teenage rebellion "fuck you if you're over 25" thing - but in addition (and this was something we'd certainly never come across in popular music before) - it was the DIY ethic. The idea that any one of us could pick up a guitar and form a punk band and that it would be good, and joyous, and wonderful, and angry, and rebellious, and political if we wanted it to be - this was an entirely new concept, and one which we all embraced with great enthusiasm.

    I think Malcolm had a lot to do with fostering and developing this ethic, whether he did it deliberately or not.

    He lit a fire in those of us at the perfect age to appreciate and adopt all the aspects of punk culture - and what a blaze it was! I'm so incredibly grateful to have had punk as my seminal musical influence. It was a wonderful time to be growing up, and a wonderful soundtrack to my teenage and University years.

    I can see shadows of that same DIY ethic coming through at many other times of my life - like travelling to the far side of the world straight after University when no-one we had ever met had even considered doing such a thing; eventually coming to live in NZ even though I didn't know a soul when I arrived; forming a world music band in Welli in the 90s; organising dance parties and eventually getting involved in The Gathering; making our own documentary about TheG; even the freelance and contract web design/dev work I do these days - it's all about making things happen yourself and not relying on anyone else to do it for you.

    I learnt when I first went travelling that "you can make anything happen if you want it badly enough" - and although I thought I'd figured that one out for myself, in retrospect I think it was a concept that was already sitting in my brain, planted there by all the punk bands I ever saw, and ever loved.

    Malcolm McLaren introduced me to the very first of those punk bands, and for that I am extremely grateful.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 332 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    This video was made by a fan, but isn't too bad, apart from the subtitles being out of sync, and wrong. Like the song though. Apparently caused some controversy, and was based on a 1964 Zombies song She's not there.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    I learnt when I first went travelling that "you can make anything happen if you want it badly enough" - and although I thought I'd figured that one out for myself, in retrospect I think it was a concept that was already sitting in my brain, planted there by all the punk bands I ever saw, and ever loved.

    Uhhh, yep, word....

    And that, as I was trying to say in my clumsy way earlier, went very quickly around the world. We were reeling with the possibilities in Auckland by the end of 1976. Pretty much everything I did musically over the next few decades grew from that seed.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Sometimes I wonder where the spirit's gone. The kids of '76 should've reached the heights of cultural power and influence by now but 34 years later mainstream NZ culture is -- barring a few obvious examples -- more anti-DIY, anti-local, anti-community and anti-political than it was then.

    Like the hippie dream before it, the Punk dream was just corrupted and commodified out of existence and all you're left with, out side of a very small clique, is the style.

    [I'm not sure if any of this is true, but thought it might spur a thought or two.]

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    the kids of '76 should've reached the heights of cultural power and influence by now but 34 years later mainstream NZ culture is -- barring a few obvious examples -- more anti-DIY, anti-local, anti-community and anti-political than it was then.

    I don't think there was any greater political meaning to '76 beyond 'you can do this' despite the posturing. Overwhelmingly it was just fashion and fashion moves on.

    But a lot of people did do things. The whole indie label boom which I think thrived and continues to do so, and in a way the ethic which defines the internet grew from that era.

    Besides, for most people growing up in the punk and post punk eras, their defining music was Pink Floyd and Dire Straits..y'know the people who now fill the National Party and scribble vicious little diatribes on KiwiBlog :)

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Besides, for most people growing up in the punk and post punk eras, their defining music was Pink Floyd and Dire Straits..y'know the people who now fill the National Party and scribble vicious little diatribes on KiwiBlog :)

    Me, I blame Supertramp. And Smokie. And Queen. Even Sailor, a little bit.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Me, I blame Supertramp. And Smokie. And Queen. Even Sailor, a little bit.

    and lets not forget that America didn't really get punk at all until they found Nirvana who were able to offer a nice corporatised version of it for the masses.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Besides, for most people growing up in the punk and post punk eras, their defining music was Pink Floyd and Dire Straits..y'know the people who now fill the National Party and scribble vicious little diatribes on KiwiBlog :)

    Me, I blame Supertramp. And Smokie. And Queen. Even Sailor, a little bit.

    Pink Floyd, never cared for it much. Dire Straits - love, love, love. And Supertramp. And Hello Sailor. Elton John is my favourite artist - always has been, always will be. I even went through a very long phrase of loving Rod Stewart. MOR music I love. Conservative politics, and Kiwiblog, not so much.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    I even went through a very long phrase of loving Rod Stewart.

    I can tell by your eyes that you've probably been crying forever.

    And Hello Sailor.

    No no no, this lot:

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Never heard of 'em - bit cheesy, but then I like Elton John, so who am I to talk?

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I can tell by your eyes that you've probably been crying forever.

    I truly think that his original version of that song (from Atlantic Crossings?) is heartbreakingly beautiful. Haters gonna hate, and all that.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    I truly think that his original version of that song (from Atlantic Crossings?) is heartbreakingly beautiful.

    Only a complete bastard would dare to differ. This ain't bad either:

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Dire Straits - love, love, love.

    Jackie, there is a line and you've just crossed it. We likely will never converse again.......

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    But since we're talking great cover versions by English divas (and since this thread has drifted downwards from Malcolm McLaren to Elton John and needs some help to stay credible and afloat):

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Khrist, that second video! Unknown to me until now. Never could raise much interest in the Joboxers back then.

    Most of Dire Straits' videos appeared to be directed by hairdressers. So did McLaren's, post Pistols.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Just when you are feeling good about Sandie:

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Just when you were feeling good about Sandie:

    Well f*ck me. If only she'd done it in blackface.

    It took nearly twenty years before I realised that her name was intended as some kind of pun.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    Well I gotta say there is a 12" version of this worth tracking down, very nearly broke my heart, and at that time I hadn't even met the lady.

    Goodness Mr Grigg you are a gem indeed.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

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