Chosen by the listeners

Chosen by the listeners

4ZZZ Hot 100
Through Shock Records

Review by Mike Byrne and Lynda Hansen

BRISBANE — Community radio 4ZZZ was born 23 years ago, the first FM station in Queensland. Stations like 4ZZZ were set up from funding from the Whitlam government to encourage diversification of media ownership and to pioneer FM broadcasting.

Since funding was slashed by the successive governments of Fraser and Hawke, 4ZZZ has increasingly relied on subscriptions and fundraising.

4ZZZ made national headlines on October 19, 1996, when a large peaceful crowd at Market Day — a major fundraiser for the station — was brutally dispersed by riot gear-clad police assisted by military police. Several people were injured in the assault.

Complaints were made to the Criminal Justice Commission, but not one police officer present at Market Day was reprimanded, despite overwhelming community support for the peaceful conduct of the crowds at the 4ZZZ event.

The Hot 100 CD is an opportunity for the public to a hear a selection of songs voted by 4ZZZ listeners, not play lists dictated by record companies. The two-CD pack contains an impressive line-up of local, interstate and international artists.

The pace is set from the first track by Brisbane band Escape from Toytown with "Fish and Chips Bitch from Ipswich", a must for all anti-racism activists.

The interstate flavour is added by Insurge, Frenzal Rhomb and Spiderbait.

Of special note are Alien Virus, who appear for the seventh time in the Hot 100 with a powerful attack on the United States war machine, "Napalm Sticks To Kids".

Sales of the 4ZZZ Hot 100 CD have already exceeded the first pressing, to the delight of Radio 4ZZZ staff.

From GLW issue 317