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.
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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
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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