Next night (8th) was the last in the Deep North, a set received in stony silence by the patrons of 'Sally's Restaurant' in Woolloongabba(!) Management sent News packing much earlier than they'd been paid for. Still - Brisbane had shown some encouraging reaction. One reviewer was moved to write in Roadrunner ('alternative' rock magazine) that: "They had their convictions and really stood behind them, but they never rammed politics down anyone's neck. They stand for fun, in fact they look like they're having a hell of a good time on stage. They're fast, danceable and original and I would guess 'Star' is a word missing from their vocabulary" [9.79].
Then came another stab at Sydney four gigs on this stop, including one at French's, possibly the most notorious punk dive (and bar) in Sydney's history. The audience that night were surprisingly positive about News (surprising to those who've experienced true dives). Another gig at a North Shore pub didn't go so well - the audience were affluent suburbanites that didn't want to know. News also dropped off a demo at EMI, who promptly passed on it. The lowest end of the tour occurred in Sydney when a local hustler filched $1,100 from the band. It was every cent that News had earned on tour. Immediately a savage blow, this incident impacted into something of a tragedy in ensuing weeks. At this point, the tour had been long, hard work, and tempers were becoming frayed: "A couple of members reached breakdown point during the tour. They'd never toured before and the band was a lot of effort for them in any case" [Gavin]. Against this background, losing the tour's proceeds in one fell swoop hit Russell and Kim particularly hard.
A two night stand in Canberra didn't improve anything. First up was the Union Bar (another true dive): "The Union Bar was really heavy. They didn't like us playing, it disturbed their drinking" [Gavin]. A University show the next night drew a mixed response.
Back in Melbourne, News were demoralised and bankrupt. The tour had left only debts to PA and Lighting companies, and no way to pay them. The single still didn't exist and it seemed News would have nowhere to go but back to the same gigs they'd been playing - which didn't make them any money. Dorland had developed enough belief to feel like going on but now Gavin also felt News had run its course: "When you get to the point where you're playing as well as you should be, and the songs are as good as they should be, and you know that every time you expose them to people they like them, and you still can't get anywhere 'cos you can't get the product out, and you can't see any way to change the situation; it becomes pointless and demoralising" [Gavin]. It was agreed that News would only honour a few engagements already in from places that had historically supported them.
Student Unions had been supportive from the start, hence a
Caulfield Institute Student Union show on July 26th, as a support
to Doctor Feelgood(!) Weirder still was that Radio Stars and the
Models, both arisen from the ashes of Teenage Radio Stars, were
on between News and the pom tourists. It all happened at Brighton
Town Hall - being there again, News looked nowhere near a spent
force to me. Engaging on stage and sounding very good, they were
largely ignored by an audience of pissed students.
August saw the single finally out. It was jacketed in black with
the red star logo used by this incarnation of News. Gavin also
had badges made featuring this symbol. Paradoxically in that News
were winding down the record began selling well. The first pressing
of 500 went quickly, a further 1000 were gone in a year. Critical
reaction was good all round, even as far as a public radio station
in San Francisco that sent fan mail. August also included some
session work for a few members as part of a band called the Traitors,
formed to record with music journo David Langsam. There were a
few gigs at Hearts and one at Bananas (St Kilda), on the 20th,
where management had also given News a few breaks. Around one
week later, it was all over.
News played their last stand at Melbourne Uni, then went their
separate ways. While the rest disappeared, Gavin and Dorland stayed
in music. Dorland joined the Benders and later became a foundation
member of Do Re Mi. Gavin was forming the Spies by the end of
1979 and later formed NEW 5.
Finally - News were about many things, important things. Always,
but especially then. I think they were as significant as the Saints,
much more so than Radio Birdman. But I'd rather let Gavin have
the last word: "What we achieved was the consolidation of
punk in Australia. I don't think punk in Australia could have
called itself that if not for bands like us, and the Saints. These
were the only bands presenting punk in Australia. On a more meaningful
level, there were people out there that needed to hear that music.
There was no one else playing music like that anywhere in Australia
or the world. And it was the music that I most wanted to hear
and that a number of people in the audience most wanted to hear.
That was worth it. Further to that, I'd say News were very successful
with the old rock establishment in Melbourne, 'cos they were forced
to confront their musical hegemony, which they resisted for so
long! People couldn't go on fantasising about being superstars.
It was important for the lifeblood of pop music. All the bands
from then played a part in that process".
Henry Vyhnal (14.9.88)
John Murphy (13.8.88)
Gavin Quinn (1.3. 89)
Inner City Sound, Clinton Walker [1982, Wild & Wooley].
Spurt, #1 & #2.
Self Abuse, #3.
Juke, RAM, Roadrunner, various.
Age, Melbourne Times, The Truth, National Student.
