LETTERS

LETTERS

DEPARTMENTS

Please send your letters tor' Mail Dept., CREEM Magazine P.O. Box P-1064 Birmingham, $1,48012.

DAVE MARSH: "PARANOID MORALIST” OR ONE HECKUVA BUY?

Dave Marsh has over the years, rightfully established himself as a firstclass rock journalist. But I’m getting quite tired of his growing obsession with becoming the official conscience of—so far as I can tell—the entire world.

Jjm referring specifically tp his letter in the June issue accusing Barbara Pepe of “shame(ful)” behavior for reviewing the Sun City record in a manner divergent fronfi current “political correctness.’’ The letter casts Marsh as a paranoid moralist, leaping to stamp out every flame of thought which dares to flick at points of view he has sanctioned in his self-appointed infallibility. I would think that as an on-record advocate of free speech (for instance, he’s led the fight against the PMRC), he would be able to let other thoughtful adutts voice their ideas and make their points without him slapping their wrists. It should be enough for his sense of responsibility to pontificate that he haslthe following forums of expression at his disposal: Rock & ROUT Confidential (his own newsletter), his several books, the Village Voice, CREEM (a founder and contributing editor no less) and formerly Record. As one of rock’s most widelyread writers, he51 should ’be secure enough in his ability to communicate to and influence readers that he doesn’t have to prove to us wno aisagree with him (on some things) that we’d better shape up or we’il have him to answer to. His attitude in this regard reminds me, by way of an admittedly strained analogy, of President Reagan’s belief thel.it, is the responsibility of his administration to set to rights every nation in the world that won't bend under U.S. power (but that’s another letter...).

interestingly, Jackson Browne, a Marsh-alike in many ways (and a participant in the Sun City sessions), in a recent interview, had only* respectfully open-minded things to say about a certain well-known opponent of the boycotters: "I had a great conversation with Linda Ronstadt...she’s...played Sun City and not only doesn’t believe in glhe boycott, but thinKsitcould hurt. But she’s read a lot of South African literature and knows a lot of people there...I was impressed that Linda was more familiar with the issues than most of the people who take part in the boycott.” I know I would find Marsh’s position on apartheid

more credible if he were able to accord people like Pepe similar dignities. That’s not asking too much.

Arsenio Orteza Seattle, WA

DADDY, DON’T YOU WALK SO FAST I disagree with Bill Holdship’s opinion of Julian Lennon’s Stand By Me video.

I adore Julian and think that he is the greatest in his own right. I know a lot of people went to his concerts because of who his father was, but they all walked out respecting him for who he is. With articles like the one you printed, he wilt never be able to overcome this.

Jenni Gladis Rocky River, OH

PATHOS, RUSH FOREVERMORE LINKED Being a fan of Rush, I read your reviewer’s comments about their latest album, Power Windows, with interest and growing disbelief. Then, finally, I had to laugh. The truth is his comments, except for most of the sixth paragraph, tell more about his own limitations than about Rush.

Rush is imaginative, sensitive and articulate, both musically and lyrically. They are versatile and run the gamut emotionally from humor to ecstasy. What more could anyone ask? I see and hear Rush as bringing excitement and hope to a jaded world.

Joe (Powerless Windows) Fernbacher’s review is, for the most part, pathetic and wrong! I suggest you leave Joe to his booze, his boredom and his flies...

J. Zalarick Marathon, FL

HISTORY OF SHAMELESS THIEVERY MADE PUBLIC!

CREEM is great, but after five years of reading one erroneous fact over and over, I’ve got to set the record straight. Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue most definitely “borrowed” his stage name from a bassist/lead vocalist with the Southern California band Squeeze, which played the Orange County/Riverside club circuit between 1976 and ’78. Squeeze’s Nikki (whose real name is Jeff Nicholson) dated a female rock singer named Angie Saxon. Angie was later the live-in lover of our Motley Crue boy, shacking up with him in Beachwood Canyon, Hollywood from 1978 until 1980. During that time, he once rummaged through some of Angie’s old photos of Nikki #1 and announced he was going to “take” the name because he liked it.

So, CREEM, bastion of rock history— please don’t ever let me read again that Nikki claims that’s his real name (his real name is Frank Carlton Feranna). People who know the real story would like to see it read right. There’s plenty of Nikki #1 and Nikki #2 photos and memorabilia to prove it. Just ask Jeff or Angie (who’s currently lead vocalist of the L.A. band Camouflage). Then you can ask her about Halloween, 1979, when she came home to find her bathtub black from Nikki #2’s newly dyed hair (it’s really just plain old brown).

David DC Cohlmeyer Ninja/Rage Records North Hollywood, CA

PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE Here I sit in the music room of Rutger’s Community Mental Health Center in Piscataway, New Jersey, listening to Bruce Springsteen on the radio, dressed in my CREEM sweatshirt (which has so far elicited the response of "Oh, how cute!” and “Isn’t that named after the group Cream?”). A staffer just came in and asked if he could borrow a couple of magazines, one your Rock '86: The People’s Choice, the other People (sorry). So far he hasn’t put your mag down, which sez a lot don’t it? I’ve been hospitalized for suicidal thoughts (my third time) and this place is a drag. Just wanted to say your magazine is much appreciated around here, to say the least. Keep up the good work.

Barbara Delnegro Piscataway, NJ

ALTMAN/BENATAR NUPTIALS NOW IN DOUBT!

I read Billy Altman’s article about Pat Benatar’s video, “Le Bel Age.” In the article, he made it seem like Pat Benatar goes out of her way to make fun of Lenny Bruce. He shouldn’t write that unless he personally heard Benatar say that was her intention. That is just his opinion of the video, which doesn’t mean shit. If “Le Bel Age” is the only music video

CONSTITUTION REVOKED, MENDELSSOHN CITED! in the June ’86 issue of CREEM, John Mendelssohn made some remarks about Stevie Nicks in Eleganza which outraged me. First of all, he called Stevie Nicks “undertalented.” As a big Nicks fan, I feel that she is ultra-talented. She has survived 10 years of rock ’n’ roll and is now considered one of rock’s leading ladies, not one of the "two or three weakest singers in rock today.”

If Mr. Mendelssohn does not like her and feels that she “doesn’t deserve the most thrilling drum sound in the history of rock,” then I suppose that he should not find himself liking her song. (For his information, "Talk To Me” reached the Top Five.)

As for his feelings of the song lyrics, he should not criticize Ms. Nicks, as she did not write it, but should criticize Chas Sanford, who did write it.

Also, if Mr. Mendelssohn thinks that her voice and trademark sinuses are not good enough, how come all of her solo albums have gone platinum? If Mr. Mendelssohn does not like Stevie Nicks, there are certainly millions of people who do. I believe that those are the people who do have the right to criticize her, if she deserves to be criticized.

Dave Martin

Yonkers, NY

which morally offends him, he d better get some serious help. And to answer the question under her picture: yes, we have missed feature coverage on her. Caroline O’Connell Linda O’Boyle Lynn Gilson Margaret Devane Bronx, NY

BATTER UP!

My husband and I are having a disagreement. In your June issue, on page 78 (Backstage), there’s a woman’s picture. Under it it says, “Then it is preordained I’m to marry the Pillsbury Dough Boy?". I say it’s Chrissie Hynde (whom he loves) and he says it’s one of the Bangles. Who is right?

Teresa Armstrong San Francisco, CA

(Oddly enough, neither Is the Pillsbury Dough Boy.—Ed.)

HATED IN AMERICA...

I just thought I’d write you to tell you that your magazine sucks. You must put out the most boring issues. Compared to Circus, Hit Parader and Faces your magazine is nothing. Why must you put stupid captions under the pictures in your dumb magzine? Is that the only way you can make your magazine interesting? You call yourself a rock ’n’ roll magazine? Then why don’t you focus on some real bands and artists? Like Led Zep, AC/DC, Metallica, Ozzy, Priest and Randy Rhoads. Do you know what I do with your magazine? I put it on the bottom of my bird cage. That’s the only thing it’s good for—to be shit on. You guys really suck—why don’t you go out of business?

Ruj

Clifton, NJ

(Didn’t work last time.—Ed.)

...BUT OH, YOU SWEDES My name is Ulrika and I live in Sweden. I’m very interested in: musik and boysl! I’m 16 years old, blond hair, blue eyes, 163 cm. What else do you want to know?

Will somebody send letters to me, it will be welcome. You must live in Los Angeles and love Motley Crue! If you do that I answer your letter! My address are: Ulrika Backman Enrisvagen 15 94144 Pitea, Sweden