THE PEOPLE SPEAK...THE EDITORS SLEEP
Wintertime, and the ballots are stacking... Norton’s jumping and DiMartino is high...But despite the odds, the ballots in this, the CREEM 1980 Readers’ Poll, are counted and the results printed here for your instruction. We’d like to thank our Art Dept. (Robots Grimshaw, Cartmell, etc.) for ruining their eyes and chances for future employment along with us, the ever faithful Eds., in counting these thousands of documents.. The ballots are stashed in the back of a 1972 Dodge Swinger in CREEM’s back lot, in case any concerned reader wishes to audit them.
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THE PEOPLE SPEAK...THE EDITORS SLEEP
FEATURES
"Fix my head, I don't wanna be dead."
-Mike Zavala Lawndale, CA
Wintertime, and the ballots are stacking... Norton’s jumping and DiMartino is high...But despite the odds, the ballots in this, the CREEM 1980 Readers’ Poll, are counted and the results printed here for your instruction. We’d like to thank our Art Dept. (Robots Grimshaw, Cartmell, etc.) for ruining their eyes and chances for future employment along with us, the ever faithful Eds., in counting these thousands of documents.. The ballots are stashed in the back of a 1972 Dodge Swinger in CREEM’s back lot, in case any concerned reader wishes to audit them. On to the trends:
NEW WAVE: As so many of you astute readers noticed. we omitted the New Wave categories altogether this year, reasoning that it had assimilated itself into the mainstream by now. Of course, “New Wave” in 1980 consists of the Clash who sound more American than we do; the Pretenders rooted in middle America as firmly as any spud, and others like Graham Parker and Devo who really don’t belong in the same category, whatever it is. The Clash re-digest the rhythms of white 5Q’s rockabilly, black 60’s soul and come with London Calling, a limey valentine to the American roots of rock ’n’ roll. How could if miss in Peoria?
EDWARD VAN HALEN: A tip of pur John Deere caps and a free beer at Lili’s is promised to Mr. Van Halen, who toppled 1 Jimmy Page from the Best Guitarist throne for the first time since we’ve been polling our readers (1973). Led Zeppelin still held steady at the top of most categories, but the Van Halen win indicates the end of a particularly long era.
RICK JOHNSON MAKES ROCK CRITIC OF THE YEAR: So what’s with all you Rickhaters who constantly write to us, huh? THE PRETENDERS: That they copped ’’Best New Group” isn’t such a surprise but the Pretenders’ consistent strong showing (Chrissie clocking in at 2 in the Best Female Singer category) surprised even us. Does that mean we get a free trip to Akron? DiMARTING PLACES IN MOST PATHETIC OF YEAR ABOVE RICK JOHNSON; The facts speak for themselves, don’t they?
AC/DC: OK, you readers were right; we’re wrong. We promise to wear our denim jackets with "AC/DC" on the backs for 40 days and 40 nights...
Finally, the death of John Lennon isn’t accurately reflected in this poll as a good deal of the tabulating was done before December 8th. After the 8th, of course, we were deluged with Lennon mail. If you feel it got short shrift well,. sorry.
The Few .. The Proud.. The CREEM Editors
