Starting from now we'll be publishing opinions and comments about the closing of Giannis Petrides show on July 1. Below you will read many interesting views from musicians (Angie Bowie, Chris Eckman and Carla Torgeson of Walkabouts, Andy Gill of Gang of Four, Lester Square (Monochrome Set), Martyn Bates (Eyeless in Gaza), Hugo Race (ex-Bad Seeds), Clint Bahr).
As you can understand, we'll keep adding comments since we have requested the opinion of many people who in one way or another are connected with music. Before we go into these comments, I would like to stress that apart from Giannis Petridis, from July 1 will stop broadcasting in Kosmos Vasilis Stamatiou (one of the best producers of this station) and in the same plight are other colleagues. For sure, if you lose your job temporarily or permanently, it is bad for anyone.
But what we are emphasizing since yesterday, without undervaluing anyone in the same situation, is that Giannis Petridis is an "asset" of Greek Radio. He is a man who is a member of "Rock n Roll Hall of Fame" and magazines like Rolling Stone, Billboard, etc have written about him. I think it would not be difficult to come to an understanding with this man, in order to avoid all this.
Angie Bowie
Somewhere in the mid '70, David Bowie and Iggy Pop found themselves in the same car with Giannis Petridis on the road heading to Delphi (imagine that trip)...
Angie Bowie today agreed to tell Dimitris Antonopoulos a few words of great value about Giannis Petridis:
DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT 'TILL THEY'RE GONE..WHO HAS BEEN MESSING WITH CULTURAL ICONS? THE GOVERNMENT? I HATE IT WHEN THEY GET PATERNALISTIC AND DECIDE WHATS BETTER FOR US.
BRING BACK GIANNIS PETRIDIS 'ON AIR' NOW!!
DEAR DIMITRIS HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!
LOVE, ANGIE.
Chris Eckman (Walkabouts)
Chris Eckman of the beloved in Greece "Walkabouts" said to Dimitri Antonopoulos:
"That is not good news.more and more we loose media professionals that actually know something about music."
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 undoubtably to many, many people. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! love, Carla"
Andy Gill (Gang of Four) - producer of the albums for Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Stranglers, The Futureheads, Michael Hutchence, Therapy? etc. Currently preparing the CDs of the Peel Sessions
"A brilliant DJ , and we were always thankful for the exposure he gave 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 rhizomatic zietgeist 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 descibed 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 THE GIANNIS'! SAVE THE GIANNIS' - we need people like you now more than ever..."
Hugo Race (formerly of 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..."
Clint Bahr
"Please keep "The Greek Radio Wonder DJ...GIANNIS PETRIDIS" on the air!!!"
Hakan Soold (Plastic Pals)
"This is sad news indeed. I suppose it all boils down to Greek National Radio not considering rock music being important anymore - at least not worthy of being taken seriously. Sadly, when it comes to radio this is a highly contagious global trend. Greek National Radio, please reconsider your decision!"
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."
Maxine Dunn
"It is a sad time for music, when yet again a great man of music is taken from our airwaves, who truly believes in what he does! Seems like a regular occurance on radio these days! He will be really missed that is for sure!"
As you can understand, we'll keep adding comments since we have requested the opinion of many people who in one way or another are connected with music. Before we go into these comments, I would like to stress that apart from Giannis Petridis, from July 1 will stop broadcasting in Kosmos Vasilis Stamatiou (one of the best producers of this station) and in the same plight are other colleagues. For sure, if you lose your job temporarily or permanently, it is bad for anyone.
But what we are emphasizing since yesterday, without undervaluing anyone in the same situation, is that Giannis Petridis is an "asset" of Greek Radio. He is a man who is a member of "Rock n Roll Hall of Fame" and magazines like Rolling Stone, Billboard, etc have written about him. I think it would not be difficult to come to an understanding with this man, in order to avoid all this.
Angie Bowie Somewhere in the mid '70, David Bowie and Iggy Pop found themselves in the same car with Giannis Petridis on the road heading to Delphi (imagine that trip)...
Angie Bowie today agreed to tell Dimitris Antonopoulos a few words of great value about Giannis Petridis:
DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT 'TILL THEY'RE GONE..WHO HAS BEEN MESSING WITH CULTURAL ICONS? THE GOVERNMENT? I HATE IT WHEN THEY GET PATERNALISTIC AND DECIDE WHATS BETTER FOR US.
BRING BACK GIANNIS PETRIDIS 'ON AIR' NOW!!
DEAR DIMITRIS HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!
LOVE, ANGIE.
Chris Eckman (Walkabouts) Chris Eckman of the beloved in Greece "Walkabouts" said to Dimitri Antonopoulos:
"That is not good news.more and more we loose media professionals that actually know something about music."
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 undoubtably to many, many people. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! love, Carla"
Andy Gill (Gang of Four) - producer of the albums for Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Stranglers, The Futureheads, Michael Hutchence, Therapy? etc. Currently preparing the CDs of the Peel Sessions
"A brilliant DJ , and we were always thankful for the exposure he gave gang of four in Greece."
Lester Square ( Monochrome Set)
Lester Square is one of the most important guitarists of the post-punk period in Britain. In fact, he rarely speaks to the media. He spoke to Dimitri Antonopoulos.
"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 rhizomatic zietgeist 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 grassroots 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 descibed 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 THE GIANNIS'! SAVE THE GIANNIS' - we need people like you now more than ever..."
Hugo Race (formerly of 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..."
Clint Bahr
"Please keep "The Greek Radio Wonder DJ...GIANNIS PETRIDIS" on the air!!!"
Hakan Soold (Plastic Pals)
"This is sad news indeed. I suppose it all boils down to Greek National Radio not considering rock music being important anymore - at least not worthy of being taken seriously. Sadly, when it comes to radio this is a highly contagious global trend. Greek National Radio, please reconsider your decision!"
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."
Maxine Dunn
"It is a sad time for music, when yet again a great man of music is taken from our airwaves, who truly believes in what he does! Seems like a regular occurance on radio these days! He will be really missed that is for sure!"
The photo of the cover belongs to the Eleftherotipia.
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