The lead singer [of Enuff Z'Nuff] is Donnie Vie and not Chip Z'Nuff [Livewire, December 17]. Chip is the bassist who tried to get Donnie off the stage. Chip is one of the mellowest people you could know.
It should also be pointed out that Donnie was on cold medication, and the medication, mixed with some tequila shots right before the show, took its toll halfway through the set. Obviously, we offer no excuses for Donnie's actions, but we do offer our apologies to the audience for a less-than-professional show and for the berating that they took from the stage. Anyone who has known the guys and has seen their shows throughout the years knows that this definitely was not a typical EZN appearance.
Tom Feeley
Senior director, Enuff Z'Nuff tour management
Enuff Said
This letter is to set the record straight regarding Bill Gibbs's so-called concert review of Enuff Z'Nuff [December 17]. While his assessment of the opening bands being insufferable rings true, the accuracy stops there. The man is obviously only marginally familiar with Enuff Z'Nuff, since he doesn't even know the name of the lead singer. (Donnie Vie, for the record; Chip Z'Nuff is the bass player, not the lead singer!) In addition, he incorrectly named almost all of their songs. It's kind of hard to respect a review that is this sloppy--at least do some homework!
As for Donnie berating the audience, the reviewer should have taken the time to share a drink at the backstage bar with the band after the show. If he had done so, he would have found what we did: down-to-earth guys who hold their fans in the highest esteem. Chip Z'Nuff apologized for the band's onstage antics, attributing them to the show being the last one on its Ohio tour before the holidays.
Enuff Z'Nuff is the most underrated band in rock and roll, and years of playing in dives to small audiences can make even the most seasoned musician a little burned out. Those of us who are true fans enjoyed the concert, warts and all, as well as the fellowship of the bands and fans afterward. Rock on, boys!
Terry S. Thomas
Cleveland Heights
The Real Meaning of Rock
Now, with a sigh of relief, it's safe to say that rock and roll is still alive and well--at least in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. After watching Norman Nardini and his band rock the stage at Wilbert's Saturday, December 19, it's a relief to know that Norm is a diamond in the rough, and he deserves the radio exposure denied since the 1970s. It's refreshing and optimistic to find a band that never quit but kept on fighting for something better. Nardini can be praised for never giving into the bland commercialism of today's alternative music that will hopefully die soon. People like Norman Nardini are the heart and soul of real rock and roll. Norm's guitar and vocals along with his soul-grabbing rapport with the audience celebrate the real meaning of rock and roll.
Rob McDonald
Middleburg Heights
Sowd Stung by Urban Legend
What little credibility David Sowd had is quickly eroding away, week after week. Sowd's column "Death Be Not Proud" [December 10] recounted the tale of the German zookeeper who was smothered by elephant poop while trying to administer a laxative to the animal. It is a very amusing tale; unfortunately, it is completely untrue.
To quote from the urban legends website at www.snopes.com: "There is no zoo in Paderborn, Germany, and a check of that town's phone book fails to reveal listings for either the victim Riesfeldt or detective Erik Dern. Moreover, no reputable news agency carried the story of the unfortunate Friedrich Riesfeldt's demise." The site also says that "no creature willingly submits to an enema. A lone zookeeper attempting to administer one to an elephant wouldn't get very far; the animal would easily brush him aside." It is a shame that Sowd and Scene don't take the time to check what is and what is not real on the Internet.
Steven Berger
Beachwood
Sowd Stung by Malthusian
As is probably obvious to any of your readers who occasionally open a book, David Sowd, Scene's resident intellectual fencepost, is wrong again. Darwin never said, or perhaps even implied, "survival of the fittest."
This dubious distinction belongs to Malthusian philosopher and capitalist rationalizer extraordinaire Herbert Spencer. Maybe it's time for Dave to move on to a more willing and similarly eviscerated audience at, say, Modern Maturity magazine.
Stutz Bearcat
Lakewood
Lowdown From the Highland
We enjoyed and appreciated Sarah Tascone's review of the December 11 John Gorka concert at the Highland Theatre [December 17]. Although our art-deco movie house/concert hall is actually sixty years old, we will be celebrating two years of operation under this regime on December 26 (who'da thunk it?). It's not been an easy road, but we believe the Highland can be a viable and successful venue for a wide variety of concert events, as well as a repertory film site for classic, art, and off-the-wall film festivals.
I only take exception to Tascone's comment about our popcorn being served from bags. Highland Theatre popcorn is popped fresh! However, you can't accommodate 800-plus Gorka fans with one popper (it just ain't possible), so we cheated and pre-popped several bags that afternoon. To quote Tascone, "God willing"--many more concerts to come!
Patti Eddy and Ron Syroid, co-owners,
Highland Theatre
Akron
