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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 24, 1985)
The members of Johnson Unit, all avid “news magazine” readers, express dismay over the fact that, on the David Letterman show recently, a famous actress mistakenly attributed a recent article entitled “Famed psychic’s head explodes” to The Enquirer, when, they say, it actually appeared in the Weekly World News. The Enquirer, says John, guitarist for the Eugene based, three-piece band, “doesn’t even have the class” to cover such a story. Mtvf fpw bicycte in shape for spring =CAMPU$= —CYCLE SHOP— Specializing in Coltukm Repair fi Frame Painting 10% OFF ALL REPAIRS *nha ad (e«p«w June I3*h> ’Quality Repairs ’Low Rates *One Day Service *Convenient Campus Location* $12 Tu'ne-up Special (10-Speed) 'eg- *■' Open 10-4:30 M-F 11-3 Sat. 1128 Alder St. 343-738* s-jesmi-. MAIN DESK STORE SPRING SALE Chocoholic's Special 5th Avenu® Ghiradelli Choc. Chunks Cherry filled Chocolate Bars Hershey’s Krackel Bar Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies Chocolate Cherries Snh limltwd to lock on hand LIBRARY: PROJECT QC SENIOR CLASS GIVING The fourth annual fundraising effort continues its target on graduating seniors, in a senior class giving effort. The money collected goes into an endowment fund, used to buy periodicals and a computerized catalogue and research system for the library. Seniors, help encourage growth and excellence in our main library and its branches in Library: Project ’85. Call Elissa Pankratz at 686-5555 in. addition to John, Johnson Unit consists of Steve on bass and Robert on drums (none of the three will claim more than one name). According to the credits on the band's latest cassette-album release. "The Poor Get Poorer." John and Steve sing, and Robert "Just bashes the hell out of his drums.” John says the title of the cassette album is a comment on "Robert's financial situa tion." He adds, on a not necessarily-more-serious note, that “we thought we would jump on the bandwagon of. .what bandwagon were we hopping that time. Steve?" Steve explains that the title was found in a headline in the Weekly World News for an ar Staff' Editor . M Carlson • , Assistant hike Duncan Art Director hank Trotter Copy Editor Lauri Neely Pasteup 5usan Hawkins Photo Technician hank Trotter "1 TINO’S SPAGHETTI HOUSE PIZZA <?4», .1 cMU V. 342-8111 TINO’S • Full dinner menu • 23 varieties of Pizzas • Whole wheat and white crust • Pizzas to go -cooked and uncooked 15th and Willamette New Hours Mon.-Thurs. 11 00-Midmght Frl. 11:00-1 00 a m Sat. 5 00-1 00 a m Sun. 5 00-11 00 pm tide discussing the state of economic affairs since the elec* tion of Ronald Reagan as presi* dent. According to Steve, he and John.were cutting out headlines aiid putting them on cassette cases, since the Week ly World News pften conve niently displays headline type that easily fits on "spines of cassettes." A headline pro claiming that., since Reagan's election, "The Poor (Jet Poorer" held their attention. The article "certainly open ed, our eyes." John says. "Because we didn't know that." Steve adds (sarcastical ly). "We thought everybody was doing really good with this, economic recovery . It never occurred to us that there . were actually poor people out there.” So, what's the conclusion? Is Johnson Unit really a political band? Steve: "I think we're more social than political." "We're pathological," John laughs, then adds more seriously. "No, we have more of a personal viewpoint. We try to stay away from dogma. Politics ir just the art of per suasion, and if you.really want. to persuade somebody, you'll say anything." He quickly adds, "and We're not -wi.lling to.say anything. . .unless it helps cassette.sales." "We don't support.any political viewpoint,".Steve says.. "I .do contribute spray paint," Robert says, "for the Afghan rebels." But John and' ■ Steve emphasize.that this effort 6- is done "on hjs own time." The song, "Chemistry.” for example, perhaps one of the mote memorable of the original songs on the '.‘Poorer" . collection ("Poorer" contains ” .two non-original numbers. "Blitzkrieg Bop," by the Ramones, and. "The Story In Your Eyes," by the Moody • Blues), .is about relying on pharmaceuticals to "give you a quick fix and solve ail your problems, if not overnight, then in time for the.big party," John says., "Chemistry," he says, "decries the American predilection for a quick fix," and that the band wanted to point out that "all clangorous drugs aren't illegal." "I don't like playing in bars." Steve say*}. for reasons other than the fact that all three members of Johnson Unit are pretty much non-drinkers. "The first and most obvious reason is that people under 21 can't get in. 1 think it's terrible when live music is only available to people that are of drinking age and that the music is only available, in drinking situations." He adds that people who go to bars go there "to drink, not necessarily to listen to the. . . *' music. I know that depends on ’ the individual, but. ... However, John-'intorrupts, partially disagreeing..He.says"* that, while those under 21 may .. » feel excluded from "music in bars, there are probably many " who are over 21 who feel- ex- : * 'eluded froirt some of the other . • .** venues where .Johnson Unit • plays "and would-rather go 10' . ‘ someplace that has a restricted- * thing.. for some ihsatpi - * reason.” ’’ "As far as people coming to the bar to drink, as'opposed td ' seeing the music, we take care •**. . of that with a stiff COveV-charge at the door".’, he says. All three •' . . laugh.- • - ' 1 ".We care-a -lot about our.au- ' dience;-.” John'says. .’"‘or else •* ■ we wouldn’t sit'add'agdniie . .', * over whether or not to play .. . . bars or put out.these*tabes at: *.. cost. If we didn't actually care about our mukic and the pro-" • ■ .. duct that we’re inviting. .»!'-• • > '•* everybody to-buy, we'.d'cer- . tainly tako°a vastly different . ’ , ’ course than we have,‘-'.a • course that he- says has bperi ‘ "hardly enriching for ally of • u*.".- *• . ..*. • C , . "We're bcjsicajly•interested,'" . / he adds, ".in doing what feels . good to" us musically and In. ‘ * • growing as artists and human'. -beings"'-. • n ■ . johnson Unit wiJI be piaying at the Community Center far, ihe Performing Arts (W..O.-W. ■ Hall)' at. Eighth Avenue and . v ‘ •Lincoln Street'in flugene tonight .'"The P-dotClet * • . Pobror".is available'aHlpuse i..' • of Records (258.East l.ith-' Street)..Face the Music'JtiHti .-* East 13th-Avenue), and at .... . Earth River’Record.s and Tapes v (82 West Broadway).. <J ' . HAPPY HOUR 5pm-Cloaing 7 o&yii 860 E. I 3th 344-7894
