I Met Her Yesterday - Beat Tribute CD Pop Attack - Australia 1994 I Met Her Yesterday (Collins)

Steven Deal - vocals, guitars, percussion

Recorded at Animal Five Studios, mixed at Sutphin Studios

NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE -- JULY 6, 1995.

CAPTION: "SNIVELING SHIV"
As a member of the musical organization Shiv, I was flattered and humbled to be mentioned by Geoff Wilson in both recent articles about his new rock & roll unit "F'n Colleen." However, I must ask you to discontinue your practice of alluding that the musicians (and I use the term lightly) of Chopper are possibly in the same category as Shiv.
Let it be known that Shiv DOES NOT condone the type of bubble-gum, pansy-pop perpetuated by Steve Deal and company. I think we speak for many in the New Haven music scene when we express dismay at any press coverage of these pretty-boy posers. Please be considerate of our musical integrity before printing anything so outrageously inappropriate in the future.
Evan Gamm
SHIV -- New Haven, CT.

NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE -- JULY 13, 1995.

CAPTION: "BATTLE OF THE BANDS, PART II"
Although I must admit I was pleased to see my band Chopper's name mentioned for the second time in the ADVOCATE (in reference to our past musical affiliation with multi-instrumentalist Geoff Wilson of the local band 'F'n Colleen' on June 29),I feel the need to express my dismay over the insinuation of our indirect connection to the unsophisticated punk rock trio 'Shiv.'
While I've always been an enthusiastic booster of homegrown talent, I must take exception to being mentioned in the same context with such talentless, foul-mouthed louts. Please consider my view on this subject and see to it that the situation does not reoccur!
Steven Deal
CHOPPER -- Milford, CT.

NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE -- JULY 27,1995.

CAPTION: "ROUND THREE."
I would like to take this opportunity to personally respond to Evan Gamm's letter in which he slammed the members of Chopper ("Sniveling Shiv," July 6). Mr. Gamm, if you do not care for Chopper's music, that is understandable. However, it is not your place to "condone" anyone's particular style of music or to brand the members of Chopper as "pretty-boy posers."
Artists such as Chopper are often looked down upon because they choose to play melodies and not mayhem. For this they are often unfairly labeled "posers" or "sell-outs," when all they are doing is performing a style of music they have grown up with. In my own experiences, I have often been ridiculed because I choose to emulate artists such as the Raspberries, Badfinger and Big Star.
Because Chopper has taken a different direction than Shiv does not make them "posers." I am sure that both Chopper and Shiv work equally hard at their craft. This attack was uncalled for and unwarranted. If there truly was a "scene"in New Haven, then you would have been more diplomatic in your letter.
Or perhaps you are merely angry that you were lumped in with "wimps," causing you to lose the respect of your peers. Remember neither style of music is right, but neither style is wrong.
You have proved why there may never be a real "scene" in New Haven.
Rob Gallo
New Haven, CT.

NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE -- JULY 20,1995.

"The oldest guys on the list, Shiv, got a nasty-looking EP out into the world last year, toured and starved, and GOT BENT OUT OF SHAPE WHEN MENTIONED IN THE SAME BREATH AS CHOPPER!"
-- Quote from "Best Punk Band" contest winners in reader's poll.

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