MAIL

MAIL

Please send letters to:

MAIL Dept., CREEMMagazine

P.O.Box P-1064

Birmingham, MI48012

LESTER

I know we haven’t had a lot of communication in the last few years, and it might just be out of line for me to write this letter. I’m writing it anyway. It’s been a few days since I heard the news about Lester, and it’s only at this early hour of the morning that I’m able to deal with it.

Ten years ago I wrote a letter to CREEM Magazine, addressed to Lester. In the letter was a collection of my first clippings, reviews and interviews for a local San Diego underground paper called The Door. Lester had been the first rock critic for the paper, I had followed in his footsteps. I wanted him to read my work. I received a quick reply from Lester saying my writing was “damn good.. .for a San Diego boy.” He passed my articles along to Dave Marsh, and the two of them gave me my first assignment for a national magazine—Humble Pie. I wrote the story, Lester edited it, and it ran almost immediately. I soon felt the difference between being a local writer and a CREEM published “journalist”. Lester helped me out with more assignments. His writing usually carried verbal dynamite, and the brutal truth, but his dealings in private were marked by compassion. Those early articles of mine were pretty bad, and Lester fixed them up.

The years went by, Lester moved on and so did I. I started writing a lot for Rolling Stone, something Lester didn’t quite view with the same enthusiasm that I did. He’d been through his Rolling Stone days. Something about giving a bad review to a friend of the publisher. Lester didn’t back down, and the magazine suffered the loss of his by-line. His articles in CREEM on Lou Reed and the Rolling Stones, and his piece in the Village Voice on Elvis’s death remain some of the finest music journalism put to paper. He was an incredible writer, a pretty decent rock ’n’ roll front man, and I owe him a lot. Even if he did rip me for writing one too many cover stories on Peter Frampton. I probably deserved it.

There are many who knew him better, and a whole lot of people who never had the pleasure. I guess I’m writing this letter in hope that CREEM gives Lester a fitting tribute. I’ll always remember what he said about sticking to a point of view, how to find girls in Lansing on a Tuesday night, and how to survive growing up in San Diego. I hope you guys are doing fine in Birmingham. Me, I’m putting on an MC5 record.

Sincerely,

Cameron Crowe

Los Angeles, CA

WIDE RIOT

Hullo Mates...

Joe Strummer of the Clash here, and I just want to let the whole world (or the state of Michigan—same thing...) know that I think AC/DC is the best band on the entire face of the planet Earth. Angus Young has me and the boys BEAT when it comes to guitar-manship...not to mention sex-appeal. Bon Scott (God rest his sadistic soul) was the epitome of rock ’n’ roll. I hide my head in shame. How can me and my mates attempt to call ourselves A BAND as long as AC/DC still has an ounce of high voltage left in their;^&**†. I am their humble servant. I would give up my house, limo, girlfriend, and dental-floss for Cliff Williams. Paul and Topper prefer Malcolm and PhilL.or does Topper and Paul prefer Phill and Malcolm????? See? Even the mere mention of those 5 lads... (oops! forgot Brian...) is enough to render me speechless. I love AC/DC. Won’t you accept them into your heart today?

(Power to Heavy Metal)

Love,

Joe “Live Wire” Strummer

Monterey, CA

P.S. If you need info, on the newly-formed AC/DC Church of Powerage, let me know... I’m President...

(So that’s where you went1—Ed.)

POISON GIRLS TOGETHER!!

IPECAC SOLIDS: For use in case of emergency poisoning to induce vomiting, repeat as neccessary.

Helen Reddy, John Denver, Mary Tyler Moore, Donny Osmond, John Davidson, Freddie Mercury,. Audrey Landers, Abigail Van Buren, Geddy Lee, Carol Burnett, Farrah Fawcett, Barbara Mandrel!, John Ritter, James Taylor, Andy Gibb, Merv Griffin, David Crosby, Brooke Shields, Loni Anderson, Barry Manilow, Neil Sedaka, Wally Rooney, Don Kirshner, John Travolta, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Ronald Reagan, Karen Carpenter, Lynda Carter, Rex Smith, Lee Majors, Henry Winkler, Olivia NewtonJohn, Stephen Stills, Kim Fowley, Bob Welch, Bianca Jagger, Betty White, Brian Wilson, Steve Miller, Paul Anka, Dion, Mickey Dolenz, Anita Bryant, Jimmy Dean, Pat Boone.

Stephen P. Walsh

Portland, OR

(Weren’t you conscious once?—Ed.)

BORN TOO LATE!!

Finally—after 7 long years—you put Joan Jett on the cover. Thank you. But I’m getting the feeling that, uh, maybe your heart wasn’t in it. Why do you wait until her second LP—and why is everyone suddenly “swept up” into this “I love rock ’n’ roll” phenomenon? Just because the radio stations have finally given JJ some airplay., .doesn’t mean that she’s “finally” good.

She’s always been good and you’ve just never picked up on it. Suppose the Blackhearts consisted of Lita, Sandy and Laurie? Then maybe the infamous Rick Johnson could have said something as equally classy as “These •' bitches suck.” {Rumor has it that he never even listened to the Queens Of Noise album). And he could tell Joanie that if she wants to beat him up to take a number. (The rock critic of the year award is easy to explain—RJ likes anybody so he was bound to win.)

The JJ article was decent. Some day I’d like to meet Iman Lababedi and we can discuss the Runaways over cocktails. I don’t think he ever heard the Runaways sing. Seriously, Joan Jett could always scream through the walls of electricity. But, then, nobody was listening. Joanie always was a true rocker, and she knocked herself out to do a great show...and nobody cared (well, I shouldn’t say “nobody,” I did. Me and about a handful of other old Runaway fans.)

If I sound bitter, it’s only because I’m bitter. It tears me apart to see these people jumping on the Joan Jett bandwagon who don’t even know who or what she is—and how long and hard she had to work to get there. I don’t want to sound possessive (groan). I’m not really—but I can’t stand the thought of her being referred to as Joan “I Love Rock ’N’ Roll” Jett for the rest of her life. That’s not where it’s at.

Joan Jett doesn’t belong in the “Top of the Pops” category.. .she’s much too good for that.

Kim

Westland, MI

P.S. If you print this,'I promise next issue I’D write in some really good Rick Johnson jokes.

(Rick has his “own” Joke. —Ed.)

SLADE!

Since I’m the only one around who still has some perspective on the admittedly dismal rock scene, I thought I’d clear up this confusion regarding Van Halen. Ready? OK—THEY’RE THE COOLEST BAND OUT THERE, JERKS. Ah, I can already hear you asking why—here ya go-

It’s NOT because;

a) Eddie married CBS’s pizza queen (she bites her nails and wears funny clothes).

b) Alex wears gloves and the rest of those clowns sound like they do.

c) David sounds like Noddy Holder on ’ludes.

No, folks, it’s simply because when Rock

Concert interviewed him, David Lee Roth came out looking like a 50-year-old Jewish drag queen who was routed out of bed three hours early. To compound this cosmic gross out, when he did manage to open those flabby lips, he spewed out the sort of dog drool that’d make Ozzy Osbourne sound like a professor emeritus of logic by comparison.

How can one fail to appreciate such total contempt for rock media? So, never mind if Van Halen are the most wretched bunch of incompetents this side of Black Flag. Never mind their lyrics almost make their music sound good by comparision. Never mind that the only claim filed against Roth’s paternity insurance was behalf of an alcoholic chihuahua going through menopause.

Since today’s music is, almost without exception, at an all time low, ATTITUDE EVERYTHING!! So hats off to the four stooges. If I were not supporting a fairly serious drug habit, I’d buy their albums in appreciation Roth’s low rent panache. Any questions?

Glad I Could Help,

Stumblin’ Jack

Arlington,

(“Pizza queen??”—Ed.)

QUACK AS A

In reference to any of you out there that think Journey’s Steve Perry sings like a duck, let sink in: have you made a million dollars singing? Have you sold five million copies of your latest album? Have you ever used your voice to sing front of an audience of 80,000? If you’ve done none of this and until you do, shut your beaks.

Signed,

An Infinity, Evolution, Departure, Captured and Escape lover, (not to mention Journey)

Binghamton,

(The “Pluto” concept is explained elsewhere. Ed.)

WATCH OUT FOR GOOFY!!

Chris Salewicz,

Regarding your article on the Police in April ’82 issue of CREEM, I have a serious complaint to make.

I think it was not only an insult to the talented and good-looking Stewart Copeland, but to his many fans as well when you had the audacity to describe him as “gangly” and even “bearing curious resemblance to the Walt Disney character Pluto.” Pluto wishes he had a body like that! think you’re the one who needs the contact lenses, come on now!

Not only is the man gorgeous, but he’s times more intelligent than you are—not mention a hell of a gifted drummer and a clever lyricist.

You entitled your article “Unstung Hero Worship.” However, the manner in which described Stewart is definitely not “hero worship.” I think you should get your together and give true compliments and your dues where they are most definitely earned!

An insulted

Karen Tocci

Yonkers,

(Goofy was “taken.”—Ed.)

SO FUNNY!!

A TRUE story: Rick Wakeman: Hey, Jon, what’s better than

three roses on my piano?

Jon Anderson: Gee, Rick, I don’t know. Rick Wakeman: Two lips on my organ! (This really happened!)

A Dedicated Yes and Asia

Chuck Vadun

San Diego,

P.S. Ever notice how much Carly Simon like Steven Tyler? Or Robin Gibb like Jimmy Page? I doubt it.

P.P.S. My mom likes Barry Manilow and aforementioned Carly Simon. Do you care?