CHAINMAIL

CHAINMAIL

CHAIN MAIL is your forum...if you have any opinions, observations, secret knowledge or simply a godlike insight into metal, we’d love to hear from you. So, to become a force to be reckoned with in metal circles everywhere, send your letters to:

CHAINMAIL, CREEM Close-Ups, P.O. Box P-1064, Birmingham, Ml 48012

“BY CRACKY’S” FOR HOBBSIAN THINKING!

I’ve been waiting a long time (six years) for this to happen and it’s been worth the wait. Finally, somebody in America—a rock journalist by the name of Mary Anne Hobbs—has seen the light. Bernie Torme is without a doubt the best guitarist in rock ’n’ roll. There’s faster, flashier players like George Lynch, Gary Moore, John Sykes, Vivian Campbell—all great guitarists, but they don’t have the outrageous drive and total dive-bomb feedback power of Bernie Torme. No one has ever, I mean ever, controlled a tremolo bar with the genius of Bernie—that includes Hendrix himself.

I have followed Bernie’s career through Gillan, his solo projects and Electric Gypsies band. His solo albums are astounding works of guitar artistry. Now that he has Phil Lewis singing he can’t go wrong. I look for big things coming out of England this year: Waysted, UFO, Gary Moore, Phil Lynott, etc., are all on the loose, and Torme will be leading the pack. So get ready, America. There’s a new British Invasion on its way and the tasteful class of heavy metal is on the scene.

Mary Anne Hobbs, I salute you and thank you for the best article in CREEM history. May God bless you and Torme.

DEEP DISH STORACE

I’ve just finished reading your August ’85 issue of METAL ROCK ’N’ ROLL. Thanks sooooo much for the article on Carmine Appice’s new band, King Kobra. Every heavy metal/hard rock fan out there should go pick up on King Kobra’s debut album Ready To Strike. It’s up to us to put them on top where they belong. I recently saw them live at a local bar and they put on ONE HELL OF A SHOW!! Van Halen, eat your hearts out! Not only are they all excellent musicians, but all five guys are first-rate showmen. They give it their all even at a small bar when they should be headlining places like Madison Square Garden. Keep the King Kobra articles coming!

Also, I happen to find the captions on your photos rather amusing, not “disgusting and degrading,” as Rose A. Gordon chose to refer to them. C’mon— rock ’n’ roll is supposed to have a sense of humor. Obviously, certain so-called rock ’n’ rollers don’t.

Oh, I almost forgot, Rose. Ronnie James Dio—a very handsome man? Uh, excuse me! I’m not going to insult his musical talents, but you would have to agree that a good 99.9 percent of the female population would find his physical appearance more similar to that of a hideous dwarf! (It’s not your fault though— you could have serious cataract trouble. I mean it!!)

I will only leave your marvelous magazine with one minor criticism. Spare me the Krokus articles! Their lead singer (you can fill in his name, it’s too trivial for me to remember—Marc something, maybe?) looks like he should be working in a pizza parlor. Also, he sounds as if he has a serious phlegm build-up in his throat. He’s not only going to croak us, he’s going to choke us!

Laura Morgan

Great River, NY

VOICE O’ HUGO

I’m in a children’s home in Hugo, Oklahoma and I think it would be a great idea if you put in more photos and articles about “Ozzy.” And I think I’m speaking for everyone.

Darrin Burch

Hugo, OK (Why?—Ed.)

READ NEXT LETTER

A friend and I recently read a letter in your July ’85 issue of CREEM. It was written against each member of Motley Crue, except for Tommy Lee, from a girl in Ottawa, and in a very rude and crude manner.

If people don’t appreciate or respect the Crue for what they are then they should turn themselves around and mind their own (Deleted—Ed.) business!!

I wish people would:

1) STOP calling Vince a killer.

2) STOP making fun of their new appearances.

3) STOP talking about their make-up and hair.

4) STOP calling Vince, Vinnie and Mick, Micky.

And shut the (Deleted—Ed.) up. Another thing: If people don’t like the fact that they do drugs and drink then that’s tough (Deleted—Ed.)\\

TURN TO PAGE 58

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Motley Crue will always be our favorite group, no matter what they do!! Motley Crue: we love you and always will!! Keep up the good work!!

True Crues Wildflecken, Germany

READ PRECEDING LETTER

Don’t take this personally, but Motley Crue sucks! They are the worst band there ever was. Their music is noise and has no meaning. It’s not even rock. Their music is even worse than disco, punk and new wave (and that’s pretty bad!). Anyone who beats up women and kills people (by driving while drunk) should be locked up in a cage and whipped. (Although they would probably like that.) Tommy Lee is the only nice, decent person in the band. Vince Neil is an ugly, blond (Deleted—Ed.).

Radius & Seedie Coral Springs, FL

GIVE UP READING!

I’m writing this letter about the new Motley Crue album. I think it sucks. The album to me is religious; if I want to listen to this crap, I’ll go to church. I used to like the Crue but now I think they are sick. I don’t like their new looks or new sound, so tell the Crue for me that they are sick and I won’t even go to their concert when they come into the Twin Cities (Minnesota). So take it from a great fan—this album is really bad.

Jean Mishler Richfield, MN

PICTURES OF BLACKIE

I just bought your magazine and I just love the pictures of W.A.S.P. I think that W.A.S.P. are the best! I love them! Especially Chris Holmes. I just wanted to say to all those people out there who hate W.A.S.P. to [Very descriptive word deleted—Ed.] off. They are here to stay and they are always welcome in Canada, or should I say Halifax, Nova Scotia. We can really rock here and the girls here would give W.A.S.P. a warm welcome!

A W.A.S.P. Lover Forever

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Canada

OPINIONS OF THE GODS

I just finished reading the letters in your Sept. ’85 issue. I’d like to express my opinion on two specific letters. First, the one by Jeff S. of Miami.

I don’t listen to groups like Cream, Sabbath or Zeppelin (even though I’m sure they’re pretty good), but I do listen to groups like Motley Crue and (in my opinion) the kings of rock—Ratt. Anyway, I’m glad you’re giving some of the new groups a chance (which is more than I can say for the next person, whose letter I’m about to opinionize). Now for Rev. Rhythm (this is going to be fun):

First of all, those so-called creampuffs—Motley Crue, Ratt, Twisted Sister and W.A.S.P. being (sort of) new bands, have a lot of guts to get out onstage in front of thousands of people (which I’m sure is more than I can say for you, then again, I don’t think there is anything I can say for you) and play their music (which, by the way, happens to be some of the best kick-ass music around).

Be for real—Alice Cooper went out with bell-bottom jeans, besides he doesn’t even make records anymore. Let me give you some advice. Before you start putting down some of the best bands the music world has to offer, I suggest you start living in the ’80s.

Rodent Rocker

Colorado Springs, CO

You stupid imbeciles! You guys make me sick! Man, you guys have done it this time. How dare you say that Stephen Pearcy’s pants are specially made so he can stuff socks down them? LIAR, LIAR PANTS ON FIRE! (No pun intended.) Do you jerks believe everything you hear?! I mean, just because you teeny weenies are JEALOUS, is still no reason to put down Mr. Pearcy. Besides, how can you say that unless you really & truly know it, huh? Face it guys— Stephen Pearcy is BLESSED.

Sylvie Simmons should learn to keep her nose out of other people’s business (or in Steve’s case, his pants). Just because you have never really seen it and probably never will, is still no (Deleted— Ed.) excuse for printing LIES like that.

Hey, take it from someone who knows—Steve DOES NOT stuff socks down his pants, simply because he does not have to. Believe me, “It’s the REAL thing!’ And I know you idiots will find this a little hard to swallow, but it’s true. And Sylvie Simmons can take and shove her socks where the moon don’t shine.

The Cheese

Rhodesdale, MD

THE PIPER RANDY WRITES!

This is in response to the letter from Leslie R. Marini in your August METAL ROCK ’N’ ROLL mag. I say: right on! W.A.S.P. is really cool. I even made my dad drive me up to Wichita, Kansas from Oklahoma City (280 miles) just to see them. What made the two-hour drive back home {In what, the Batmobile?—Ed.) even better was that I got a guitar pick from Randy Piper. A week later, W.A.S.P. opened for Iron Maiden in Oklahoma City. The day of the concert W.A.S.P. was at the Record Bar signing autographs. Of course, I went to the Record Bar to get their autographs. The band patiently signed autographs and made faces for cameras for three-and-a-half hours. When I got up there, Randy Piper recognized me from the concert in Wichita (I was in front) and asked me if I was going to the concert that night. I said that I definitely was!! So he asked my name and told me there would be a backstage pass waiting for me at the Myriad (concert hall). After the concert I went with them to their hotel and we really partied!! They were so nice and I really had a lot of fun. Well, now I live in Wichita and I can’t wait until they come back here in concert. They weren’t offensive to me then, and I’m sure they won’t be this time, either.

The Red Rat

Wichita, KN