Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Music: Some deep belief

12 Responses

  • Doug Hood,

    Thankyou Russell

    Kingsland • Since Oct 2009 • 44 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Songwriters need people who believe in them. And that belief is its own reward.

    Too true. Artists generally are precious and fragile and they need our love and support. It's not like they don't earn it, but even if they don't, they should get it anyway.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Chris Familton,

    Great piece Russell. There seems to be a real collision of nostalgia, confession, death and celebration going on in NZ music at the moment. Really sad news about Malcolm. I didn't know him personally but by reports he was a wonderful guy.

    Sydney • Since Apr 2010 • 4 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Attachment

    Very sad to hear about Malcolm Black.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    I found it a bit frustrating that the documentary didn't explain how he conquered Hep C. He is shown finishing a very expensive course of a drug that doesn't work and then he is suddenly cured, presumably by something else? I understand that was because of the availability of a newly funded and very effective Hep C drug. It would have been helpful to have mentioned that.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    I saw the movie last night, there's a scene where they explain that he's tried a different drug now and it's worked ... they didn't go into details, but it wasn't just "you're cured".

    The movie was great, not some airbrushed hagiography, but also not a tell all assassination - something in between warts and all.

    It's also a bit of an homage to Dunedin, wonderfully quirky shots of everyday places made special, if you are from here you probably should go just for that

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Michael Thornton,

    This is very good Russell. BTW the version of "Night of chill blue" on the BBC Sessions LP is pretty good.

    Since May 2019 • 1 posts Report

  • Moz, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Yeah. I still remember seeing the NDTs in Nelson is a long, narrow bar with the stage in the middle. It was a weird venue, and having their full-on brass section in a tiny space was an experience.

    And trying to hitchhike out of Dunedin with "standing in the rain" in my head. It just seemed appropriate. "far distant hillside" and the weather...

    Sydney, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 1233 posts Report

  • Murray Hewitt,

    From W. Somerset Maugham’s short story “The Alien Corn”:

    She made a great sweeping gesture that took in the magnificent room with the beautiful things it contained and all of us. “If I thought you had in you the makings of an artist I shouldn’t hesitate to beseech you to give up everything for art’s sake. Art is the only thing that matters. In comparison with art, wealth and rank and power are not worth a straw” She gave us a look so sincere that it was void of insolence. “We are the only people who count. We give the world significance. You are only our raw material.”

    Maybe a rather bitter pill to swallow if you’re just a pleb like me, but I think she’s right.

    Wainui • Since Jan 2008 • 21 posts Report

  • Hugh Wilson,

    The Chills documentary got a write up in the Guardian - Australian cinema release in July apparently:

    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jun/14/the-chills-review-martin-phillipps-triumph-and-tragedy-told-with-extraordinary-candour

    Melbourne • Since Feb 2013 • 168 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Hugh Wilson,

    5 stars too!!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

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