Last night I struck some archival GOLD (did you see what I did there? Eh, eh? Lol). An online library of New Zealand music magazine, Rip It Up. I have seen the odd issue on sale on eBay but never took the plunge. A mix of the financial cost of getting music mags sent over from Oz/NZ, plus being bitten by my very early attempts of growing my own SM memorabilia and investing in a copy of Roadrunner from a record shop in Melbourne – and paying for it to be tracked – and it never arriving. I think that is why I was wanting to find and buy Sister Feelings Call in the way that I did when I was in Oz in 2015/16. I wanted it from the source location but make sure it was in my own hands!
Anyway! These copies of Rip It Up have been scanned at high resolution and have been archived fantastically.
Simple Minds appeared in two issues in a row in the latter half of 1982 – all things New Gold Dream about them. And…seeing as the anniversary is fast approaching, I thought I’d post these first two finds here on the blog.
Revelations/surprises?
The beautiful way in which Charlie talks about the emotional impact of the music and Jim’s lyrics. OMG! They really love what each does as a musical collaboration. Friendship – the greatest bond through the working partnership. It was enough for me last year to make a big thing about Jim talking about the effect listening to Seeing Out The Angel had on him. A reminder of it below…
This time we read Charlie being driven to tears by the line “walking in the soft rain” from Someone Somewhere In Summertime. The mutual respect these (at that time) young men have for each others art is just beautiful!
The other surprise was just how open and frank Jim is about the drug-taking in the second interview. Perhaps he felt safer to do so with a NZ music mag, as it was unlikely to be seen back in the UK? He never really seemed to be this frank and open with the UK press. It also definitely confirms what happened at Bingley Hall at Futurama 3 – the effects of not just the stage-fright, but the effects of Jim trying to overcome it too.
His catty comment on Martin Fry, “It’s written all over your face that you like to be with your mummy.” Fucking MEOW! ????
So, here goes! Here are articles from Rip It Up from October and November 1982 – plus a few fun extras – all things New Gold Dream.
Enjoy! (Don’t forget – click images to enlarge and read.)
