SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE NUMBER 28
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The South African Rock Music Digest
is a weekly, free subscription e-mag,
delivered direct to your e-mailbox.
Edited by Brian Currin and
Stephen "Sugar" Segerman.
Subscription and back issue
information at the end.
Established January 1999.
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INTRODUCTION
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This e-mag is a discussion forum for rock music --
South African and International -- past, present and future.
Read it, digest it, enjoy it, send in your comments
and tell your friends....
"Rock" is a very general term encompassing rock and roll,
pop, folk, rock, ethnic-rock, prog-rock, jazz-rock, country-rock,
soul, R&B, metal, indie, alternative, new wave, reggae, etc, etc.
Don't get hung up...if you want to say something about the music
YOU like...go ahead, say it.
Contributions and comments:
http://www.rock.co.za/files/contactme.html
or...
mailto:brian.currin@new.co.za
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NEWS
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SAVE THE WINSTON
Dave Campbell
Final band line up confirmed for the Save the Winston benefit concert.
Friday 20 August 1999:
Dust
Staine
Midnight Sun
Anarchy
Jimmy 12"
Logan Stone
Azraella's Sorrow
Saturday 21 August 1999:
Roly Struckmeyer
Myrrh
Jane Doe
Fruit Fly Navigators
Switch
Mike Hunt
Honey Jumpers
Shows will begin at 20:00 and will go through to about 03:00 the next morning. Happy hour from 20:00 - 21:00. Cuervo Gold will be doing promo's and give-aways.
We are still looking for a sponsor to come in with PA gear for the weekend. We can make arrangements to buy the equipment from who ever supplies gear that weekend. We are also looking for a sound engineer. CD give-aways would also be appreciated.
ALL BANDS HAVE DONATED THEIR SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE TO KEEP THE WINSTON ALIVE.
SPONSORED BY WINSTON CIGARETTES
For more info please contact Dave Campbell 082-8998729
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THE AWAKENING
The Awakening has a 3rd new full length album called "Ethereal Menace" which was released on 26 July. The Album is to be released in the USA and Europe in September this year. First single "The March" also available as CD single already play listed on radio stations nationwide. The Awakening is distributed by Intervention Arts in SA.
Kelly
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SAMPLE DIVISION
My name is Bev and I have a company called "Sample Division". Sample Division is the largest distributor of audio music samples in Africa distributing for all the main players in the industry, Time & Space, East West, AMG, Big Fish Audio, Mixman Technologies to name a few.
We have jukebox facilities at Turnkey Strydom Park and Marshall Music Woodmead in Johannesburg and Bothners Claremont, Bothners Bellville and Take Note at Tygervalley Centre in Cape Town. These jukeboxes are loaded with a selection of 50 cd's, so can be heard before being bought.
http://www.sampledivision.co.za
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NEBULA NEWS
Nebula BOS has just signed a deal with East West TIS Germany -
a Warner Music Group company. Nebula will be launching a bunch of their
titles from the Indie Music Explosion in Germany. East West approached
NebulaBOS in December 1998 and decided that they were the one record
company/distributor they felt they could work with in SA.
The artists/CDs to be released in this lucrative market are:
ARTIST TITLE
1) Bad 4 Real Ses' Fikile
2) Black Noise Hip Hop Wont Stop
3) Boo Boo! (Pyneapple Flava)
4) Colorfields Incidents
5) Dantai Operation Lahlela
6) Fetish Fetish
7) Jorge Carlos Trip Of Africa
8) Trans.Sky Killing Time
9) Wendy Oldfield On A Pale Blue Dot
These artists represent the cream of SA indie music. The respective
labels and artists will benefit greatly (as will surely the German
music fans!).
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DUNCAN FAURE
DUNCAN FAURE and his new band THE BLUEBOTTLES,wiil be embarking on an extensive tour of North America,coinciding with the release of his latest CD "PRONOUNCED FOUR-UH". The tour covers states such as New York :Illinois: Missouri :Nebraska :Colorado :Massachusetts : and Toronto in Canada.
There is at this stage huge excitement from fans in the states, already, and for those who would like to check out their website and links they can do so on:... <http://www.insidetheweb.com/messageboard/mbs.cgi/mb90679>
The Bluebottles consist of: Mark Townsend (Guitar), Mali Sewell (drums)
and Gavin Muller (bass)
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STREET LEVEL
Having recently negotiated successful joint ventures with BMG Records International for The Usual and Black Diamond, Street Level Records is proud to present three new artists who are being groomed for similar success.
Please click here ( http://www.streetlevel.co.za ) for sound clips, pics, biogs and gig guides for The Shooflys, Skyminer and The Junglebook Vultures.
Regards,
James Stewart, Lee Glanville and Peter Cohen
Street Level Records
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ARTSMART
Caroline Smart
ArtSMart aims to promote the arts in Durban and KwaZulu-Natal.
Should you need to know what's happening down our end of the
world or wish to publicise any information, please contact me on
mailto:csmart@iafrica.com
Please take time to visit the website, you could do it now by clicking on
http://www.artsmart.co.za
then select the discipline of your choice.
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SNIPPETS
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DUNCAN FAURE
Visit the official Duncan Faure website and find out
what this ex-Rabbitt has been up to...
http://www.duncanfaure.com/index.htm
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THE USUAL - BORN IN A STORM
The 'Kings of Cape kwela-pop' finally release their sparkling debut album
and it's fresh, fun and world-class.
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SQUARE WINDOW - 10 SONGS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
An album that takes all the current trip-hop and drum 'n bass styles and
combines them into a solid and non-boring piece of work.
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SONS OF TROUT
Sons of Trout will be touring for the first time in eight months and fans can experience a "quiet, jazzy groove moving into an energetic afro jam that only Trout can deliver". The tour coincides with the release of a new funky remix EP.
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THREE FISH - A QUIET TABLE
South Africa and Seattle meet in North Africa.
Ex-Asylum Kid Robbi Robb and Pearl Jam bassist,
Jeff Ament along with drummer Richard Stuverud
have released an eclectic album of New Millenium Rock.
Excellent!
Visit the Robbi Robb website at:
http://www.vechte.com/robbi_robb/
We have a copy of this CD to give away
kindly supplied by Sony Music South Africa.
Question: What is the South African connection in this
USA-based band?
Answers to: mailto:brian.currin@new.co.za
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FORUM
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CLASSIC SONG OF THE WEEK
Brian Currin
HERE COMES THE SUN - HAWK (George Harrison) [4.27]
Dave Ornellas: Vocals, guitar, percussion
Mark "Spook" Kahn: Guitar
Brahm Malherbe: Drums
Richard Johnson: bass
Keith Hutchinson: sax, flute, piano
Before Osibisa (a Caribbean/Ghanaian hybrid) or Johnny Clegg's acclaimed afro-pop band, Juluka, Hawk were pioneering the combination of classical, folk, jazz, rock and traditional African styles into a unique and original sound. This track, a reworking of the George Harrison-penned Beatles classic, was number 78 in the LM Radio top hits of 1972. It was taken from their classic album African Day released in 1971. This album has yet to see the light of day on CD, more's the pity. In fact none of the Hawk albums are available on CD....maybe one (African) day.
Where are they now?
Lead singer Dave Ornellas is currently a pastor in the His People church in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town and his 2 children, Danny and Bashara are forging their own career in gospel pop/rock as Naked Lyric.
Keith Hutchinson and Mark Kahn are digest subscribers and hopefully will tell their own stories soon. Brahm Malherbe's brother, Dave, is also a digest member and will be able to supply some news on what Brahm has been up to.
For album covers and track listings visit:
African Day
http://www.rock.co.za/files/african_day.html
Africa She Too Can Cry
http://www.rock.co.za/files/africa_cry.html
Live And Well
http://www.rock.co.za/files/liveandwell.html
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USA FOR AFRICA
I did play about 45 minutes of SA music, continuous! - on my show last week, only
double playing Little Sister and Qkumba Zoo. Tic Tic Bang sent me 5 CD's,
including Tasche and Katinka, whom I played and got a great response as
well. I'm aiming for a solid 2 hour show one of these fine days!
Leigh Barrett, KRVM, Oregon, USA
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MORE USA FOR AFRICA
Kurt Shoemaker
I live in Blanco, Texas, USA, and after
cruising SA sites looking for 4 Jacks and a Jill
CDs, I've become curious about SA music. Out of
curiosity I've ordered The Best of SA Pop Vol. 2.
[Great choice, an ideal beginners guide - ed]
By the song titles and band names I thought it
might have a variety of styles: rock, psychedelic,
garage, and pop. So correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me
that Europeans use, or used to use, the word "pop" to mean all genres of
popular music, so that both The Who and Cliff
Richard were considered pop, whereas I think
Americans use it to mean more the Burt Bacharach
or Four Jacks and a Jill sound. And I wonder if
the European slant is what is meant in The Best
of SA Pop. I'm hoping the CDs will contain wild
rock as well as songs of harmony.
Was, or is, Rabbitt, a rocking group,
for an instance? And the Stockley Sister's
version of "Venus", is it a rocking cover
of Shocking Blue's version, or is it milder
than that? Anyway, I'm curious about South Africa.
I've read a number of books about the history
of the continent, mostly about the Victorian
exploration of Africa, but not much about South
Africa, except for the Long Trek. I hope to
learn more about your country, and about what
appears to be a dynamic music scene.
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DID YOU KNOW?
PJ Powers real name is Penelope Jane Dunlop.
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REQUESTS
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DOG DETACHMENT
Does anyone know what happened to the Armstrong Brothers who made up one
of the most under-rated band of the eighties: "Dog Detachment"?
I got their three vinyl offerings out the other day and it's still
brilliant, talented stuff. We never hear or see of any of their work being included on all the SA compilations being released. If any one has anything to offer on the "Dogs", please let me know:
Martin Probert
mailto:meprobert@rockfan.com
MORE DOGS....
I believe that Dog Detachment used to be one of the best, honest rocking punk bands in the country and yes, my parents did hate the stuff! I can't believe that no CD has been released. Both my albums were stolen, so I would love to find out where I could get hold of their LPs or, better yet, if their music could be released on CD.
Willie Jordaan
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POP SHOP
At the moment I’m trying to obtain the track listings of all the Pop Shop albums and would of course like to have the actual albums as well. If there is anybody out there who is willing to part with their Pop Shop collections, please contact me. I’m looking for the following volumes:
Pop Shop Spectacular Volume 1
Pop Shop Volumes 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29, 37,
38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 45, 46, 48, 49 & 50.
We can discuss how we are going to trade and ship them from SA to the
Netherlands.
René Mullenders
mailto:Rene.Mullenders@corp.ahold.nl
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CHARTS
Where can I get info on the "official" SA charts
based on record sales in the 1960s and 1970s? For
singles, the chart was "Springbok Radio Top 20"
and there was an albums chart published in your
television guide which I think may have been called "Personality",
during the 1970s. Is there a reference book containing details of
these or is there someone you know who has the old lists?
Also need to know if Jennifer Ferguson has a website?
I want to obtain her second album from 1990 and think it is not on CD. I wonder where I can find it? Perhaps in Durban, where I will be in about 5 weeks?
Chris Kimberley from Zimbabwe
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AROUND THE WORLD
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WOODSTOCK vs OPPIKOPPI
Stephen Segerman
The Woodstock Festival in 1969 was an event that summed up the music and attitudes of the '60's in a bright and shining package. The artists and music on display encapsulated the wide range of musical styles that had developed over the past ten years and provided a positive soundtrack to the peace and love ethic that had evolved out of the scars created by the Vietnam War. It was a celebration of the better aspects of the closing decade and a signpost of hope to the decade that was approaching. The Woodstock Festival of 1999 was nothing of the sort at all. The musical decade that it represented was best described as 'postmodernism in a blender' with the prevailing, popular musical style being the sonic hybrid of rock and hip hop as illustrated by bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit and Rage Against The Machine. Their music is nihilistic, aggressive and tuneless, perfect for the new breed of young Americans who moshed, crowd-surfed and eventually attempted to burn the whole place down.
But here in South Africa, the recent OppiKoppi Festival gave 13,000 local fans an optimistic message for the 'Noughties' decade that approaches. This four-day festival of South African music was well attended and few nasty incidents resulted. The huge range of over 90 contemporary artists on display satisfied even the most picky fans and illustrated how strong the South African music scene is at the end of this Millennium. The huge crowd that attended this festival has also been exposed to a decade of drama and, at times, despair, but the overwhelming message from the artists to the fans , and vice versa, was one of hope, celebration and optimism for the years ahead. So why didn't we see three nights of highlights from the Oppikoppi stages instead of that pessimistic and boring crap from Woodstock '99?
Reprinted from Amuzine
http://www.cd.co.za
South African Music Zine
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REVIEWS
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THE JOSH SITHOLE MEMORIAL CONCERT
Brian Currin
Sunday the 1st of August was the anniversary of George
Harrison's 1971 Concert For Bangla Desh to help raise funds
for the people of Bangla Desh. Sunday night was also the
tribute concert for the late Josh Sithole, respected musician
and house-hold name among South African music-lovers.
The concert, hosted by the Barleycorn Music Club at the River
Club in Cape Town, saw over R10 000 being raised to help Josh's
family.
The atmosphere in the packed River Club venue was electric as band
after band payed tribute to Josh Sithole. An incredible evening of
singer-songwriter ballads (Gabriel Shai), rock and roll, blues and
Barry White-disco music (yes, really!) from Saber.
Highlights included Alvon Collison's tongue-in-cheek (how else?) version
of "the Click Song' and Brenton Blue's rock medley of 'Smoke On The Water',
'Locomotive Breath', 'Paranoid' and 'Born To be Wild'. Robert Drake's Blues Connection played some great homegrown blues and bouncy rock and roll from Dave Gommersall's Sudan got the people boogie-ing on the floor.
The Alpha Set have been going since 1965 and their Cliff Richard, Shadows and Elvis Presley covers were superb.
I had to leave before the final jam, but it really was a great evening of music and one I'm sure Josh would have loved, so to all the artists, sponsors, promoters, comperes, sound engineers, etc...
Thank you for the music.
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POP QUIZ
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FETISH - FETISH
Nebula BOS records, the home of the Indie Music Explosion
at http://www.indie.co.za supplied a "black cloth" copy of this 1997 CD
as a prize in the last issue.
Question: Name Fetish's lead singer (and its not Helen Hurricane)
Answer: Michelle Breeze
Thank you for the overwhelming response....
(insert fanfare here)...
...and the winner is...
Leigh Barrett from the USA.
This CD is available from One World
http://www.oneworld.co.za
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VOTING BOOTHS
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Visit these voting booths and cast a vote for YOUR favourite...
SA Rock albums, from the 60s to the 90s and beyond...
http://www.freevote.com/booth/sarock
All-time Great SA Pop and Rock songs
http://www.freevote.com/booth/sapop
McCully Workshop albums
http://www.freevote.com/booth/mccully
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LINKS
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SOUTH AFRICA'S ROCK FILES
The online archive for the History of South African Rock
http://www.rock.co.za/sarock/
TOO GOOD TO BE FORGOTTEN
Message Board for SA Rock
http://www.insidetheweb.com/mbs.cgi/mb311757
AMUZINE
News, views, reviews and interviews
http://www.rock.co.za/
ONE WORLD
Selling South African Music to the World
http://www.oneworld.co.za/
5% discount for Digest members!
Type "Digest Member" in brackets
after your name when submitting info.
POWERZONE
The Hub of South African Music
http://www.powerzone.co.za/
INDIE MUSIC EXPLOSION
The Ultimate Independent Music Site in South Africa
http://www.indie.co.za/
GALLO MUSIC
Supporting South African Music
http://www.gallo.co.za/
BACKSTAGE
The Musician's Resource
http://www.backstage.co.za/
THE GIG GUIDE
Whats on in Cape Town
http://www.gig-guide.co.za/
ZA@PLAY
What's on in Cape Town and around South Africa
http://www.mg.co.za/mg/art/music/listing/music-ct.htm
SLY
Online magazine
http://www.sly.co.za/
STREET LEVEL RECORDS
Cape Town's Independent Record Label
http://www.streetlevel.co.za/
MUSICADS
Free musical equipment classifieds ad website
http://www.twisted.co.za/musicads/
SA MUSIC DATABASE
Over 100 links relating to South African music
http://members.xoom.com/samusicd/links.html
RIESTER INTERNATIONAL RECORDS
South African independent record company
http://www.riester-records.co.za/
JOL
News, updated daily
http://www.jol.co.za
FRESH MUSIC
Independent multi-faceted music group
http://www.fresh.co.za
AFRICAN INVASION OF ROCK
News, reviews and opinions
http://www.air.org.za
MOUNTAIN RECORDS
Music from and about Africa
http://www.mountain-africa.com
STAGE
SA Music magazine
http://www.stage.co.za
SCREEN AFRICA
broadcast • film • commercials • video • music • interactive
http://www.screenafrica.com
ARTSMART
arts news from kwazulu-natal
http://www.artsmart.co.za
MP3.com
Listen to MP3s of South African artists
http://www.mp3.com/regions/africa/south_africa/
STRANGER THAN FICTION PRODUCTIONS
http://www.strangerthanfiction.co.uk
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ADVERTS
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ONE WORLD MUSIC
http://www.oneworld.co.za
One World has an extremely wide range of CDs including Afrikaans Volksliedjies, African Traditional music, music of the Kalahari Bushmen, Sounds of Nature, Kwaito, Johnny Clegg and a host of other genres, styles and artists.
Also unique releases like Chris de Burgh's 'Live In South Africa' and the 'Cosmos' TV series soundtrack CD which are very difficult to find anywhere else in the world.
SA pop/rock compilations like Benjy Mudie's 'Sharp Cuts' series, the 6-CD
'The Best Of SA Pop' and the anarchistic 'A Naartjie In Our Sosatie'
are all available from One World.
If its Made In South Africa and its on CD, then its available at One World.
One World has also started introducing videos now as well.
Visit http://www.oneworld.co.za and remember SA Rock Digest members get a 5% discount off their purchases. Just put "digest member" in brackets behind your name when filling in the secure order form and they will do the rest.
Or e-mail your requests to mailto:sugar@cd.co.za and he will sort you out.
One Stop, One Shop, One World
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SPLASHY FEN BOOK
Chris Chapman
(031) 3036466
mailto:chris@artworks.co.za
http://www.splashyfen.co.za
Also available from Indie Music Explosion
http://www.indie.co.za
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VIBES MUSIC - N1 CITY, CAPE TOWN
An extensive selection of vinyl and CDs.
Big supporters of South African music.
Speak to Neil or Alan on (021) 5953220 or
email Neil at: mailto:vibes@fast.co.za
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OUTLAW RECORDS, CAPE TOWN
Vinyl and second-hand CDs.
Always something new.
Plenty of South African stuff.
10% discount for Digest members!
Branches at:
Cape Town Central:
55 Castle Street (off Long Street), Cape Town
Phone: (021) 4238145
Wynberg:
3 CHB Building (opposite the entrance to Wynberg Hospital),
Maynard Road, Wynberg
Phone: (021) 7972482
Claremont:
45 Main Road (next to Pick 'N Pay), Claremont
Phone: (021) 6717887
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RADIUM WRECKORDS
Looking for Radio Rats, Popguns, Chauffeurs or Glee Club recordings?
Contact Johathan Handley for a catalogue at:
Radium Wreckords
Suite 207
Postnet
Private Bag X10
Flamwood
2572
Klerksdorp
mailto:jhandley@aghs.co.za
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JEFF BECK: CRAZY FINGERS
by Annette Carson
The first and only definitive biography of Jeff Beck - published in South Africa
in January 1999 and available by mail order from the author.
Trade paperback format, 256 pages, with a comprehensive discography.
SA price R85,00, or R100,00 including registered p&p. International orders
by surface mail US$18.00 or 13 British pounds, by airmail US$30.00 or 20
British pounds. E-mail mailto:carson@global.co.za or call (011) 883 3619.
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BACK ISSUES
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All Digest back-issues can now be downloaded as one
small zip file (less than 300kb).
Go to: http://www.rock.co.za/files/sarockdigest.zip
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RULES
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For the basic rules of the Digest please visit:
http://www.rock.co.za/files/sa_rock_digest.html
or we can e-mail them to you.
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SUBSCRIPTIONS
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Reading someone else's copy of this e-mag?
Firstly thank the person who sent it to you, for being someone of
incredible good taste and perception...
...and then subcribe yourself by sending an e-mail to
mailto:brian.currin@new.co.za with any words or phrases that vaguely
indicate acceptance.
Y'know, like "I'm in", "That's great", "OK", "Here's R1000 send me a
copy"...whatever.
Or...visit http://www.rock.co.za/files/contactme.html and fill in the form.
--------
Want to unsubscribe from this e-mag?
Surely not, but if you really must, then just reply to this e-mail,
saying "I hate SA music", "I'm bored" or "get my out of here" or
"I've had enough" or whatever, I'll get the idea, eventually.
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