The previous post was the first one in Greek, after a long, long time. It was a matter between Greeks but, after all, I thought that it should be also delivered in English since it is also a matter that reflects the treatment that the contemporary politicians, led solely by financial figures, hold for cultural issues.
The Greek Ministry of Internal Affairs, under an attempt to lower the running costs of the Greek Broadcasting Corporation ("ERT"), decided that all its producers must pass exams in order to be re-hired. All employees would stop on July 1st, while nobody knows either when the exams will take place, or when (and how many of) the producers will be rehired. Under this situation Giannis Petridis a famous radio dj had announced that he would stop his radio program on July, 1. Petridis is the owner of one of the largest record collections in the world and among the members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame who vote for the annual inductions. He is often mentioned as "the Greek John Peel". His legendary radio program that takes place from 4.00 to 5.00 pm, aptly named "From 4 till 5" has been run by him and his collaborator Kostas Zougris from 1975, in the same radio frequency, at the same hour, making it one of the (if not the) longest running radio programs in the world. During all these years, he has developed a hardcore base of devoted listeners (one of whom is me) to whom he granted his love for music. Since his motto is "There aren't good or bad kinds of music, there is only good or bad music", you can easily understand that the variety of the music played in his program is enormous. The best thing though is that for whatever song is played, there is always a reason; it's not the kind of radio programs with songs played the one after the other just for the sake of it. Under the aforementioned circumstances, and although the treatment on him is totally unrespectable, he announced that he and Zougris will continue their broadcast without being paid until a solution is found!!!
Since Petridis is known among artists, many of them have shown interest on the case; here are some of their statements:
Carla Torgeson (Walkabouts)
"Greetings! I understand that Giannis Petridis was the first DJ in Greece to play The Walkabouts on the air! That had to be at least 20 years ago meaning that you, Giannis have been in the music industry for a long time and I tip my hat off to you! You have brought such pleasure undoubtedly to many, many people. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! love, Carla"
Andy Gill (Gang of Four) - also producer for Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Stranglers, The Futureheads, Michael Hutchence, Therapy? etc.
"A brilliant DJ. We are grateful for promoting Gang of Four in Greece
Lester Square (Monochrome Set)
"It is a sad and inevitable example of the Peter principle (now to be renamed 'Petridis principle'?) when those at the top become divorced from the real and become elevated to a point where they cannot distinguish between map and territory, or spot a rhizomatous zeitgeist from so high on the greasy pole. Just as the world, tiring of the accepted, the homogenous and anodyne, takes a step forward in re-evaluating the limits imposed by the corporate canon, the ERT suits take two steps back. Talent and experience will out though. The grass roots will find a niche for experience and expertise. Petridis will prevail."
Martyn Bates (Eyeless in Gaza)
"Here in the U.K. we know you as the 'Greek John Peel'. I really hope that this is 'ok' for you to be described this way - because John Peel was very very well loved for his fantastic radio presence, and for all the amazing music that he introduced to generations on the airwaves. Mr Petridis - you ARE indeed like this, and I say 'SAVE GIANNIS'!! SAVE GIANNIS' - we need people like you now more than ever..."
Hugo Race (ex member of the Bad Seeds)
"Dark times indeed. Corporate music eliminates the best boundary-pushing djs from the airwaves, world-wide. The absence of real music content is the issue! Free the airwaves..."
Sean Price (owner of Fortuna Pop Records)
"This sounds like another example of a government trying to save a little money without understanding the value of what they are getting rid of. It's the same thing here in the UK with the radio station BBC 6music. Good luck with your fight, what you're doing is important. If we lose people who genuinely care about music in radio then the major labels and bland music win."
Today's upload is one of the many brilliant releases that Petridis compiled. Do not object on the title regarding the release year of some of the songs; it's obviously a compilation that attempts to depict the post-punk scene along with some bits of the UK punk of the late 70's. Its first release was at the beginning of the 80's and some years before it was reissued for the first time in cd format.
Tracklisting:
cd1
01-Devo - The Day My Baby Gave Me A Surprise
02-The Records - Starry Eyes
03-XTC - Making Plans For Nigel
04-Skids - Working For The Yankee Dollar
05-The Flying Lizards - Money
06-Human League - Empire State Human
07-Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Electricity
08-Martha & The Muffins - Echo Beach
09-Motors - Love And Loneliness
10-Ruts - Babylon's Burning
11-Killing Joke - Wardance
12-Ultravox - All Stood Still
13-Gang Of Four - I Love A Man In Uniform
14-Spandau Ballet - To Cut A Long Story Short
15-The Vapors - Turning Japanese
16-The Stranglers - (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
17-The Buzzcocks - Orgasm Addict
cd2
01-Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Enola Gay
02-Human League - Only After Dark
03-Martha And The Muffins - Saigon
04-Motors - Metropolis
05-Devo - Whip It
06-Skids - Goodbye Civilian
07-Public Image Ltd. - Theme
08-XTC - Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me)
09-Records - Hearts In Her Eyes
10-Talk Talk - It's My Life
11-Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science
12-Heaven 17 - Let Me Go
13-The Stranglers - Strange Little Girl
14-Wire - 1.2.X.U.
15-Penetration - Don't Dictate
16-Blondie - One Way Or Another
17-999 - Homicide
download link: here (for cd1 - reuped) and here (for cd2) (links removed)
PS You can also visit the Don't Stop Giannis Petridis show! facebook group.
