SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE NUMBER 39
The South African Rock Music Digest
is a free, subscription e-mag, edited
by Brian Currin and Stephen "Sugar"
Segerman and delivered direct to your
e-mailbox.
Established January 1999
To unsubscribe: reply to this issue
with "unsubscribe digest" as subject
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INTRODUCTION
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This e-mag is a discussion forum for rock and pop music --
South African and International -- past, present and future.
...and in the third millennium, the crowded madness came...
-- It Started Out So Nice, Rodriguez, 1972
And as we hurtle towards the end of the year/decade/century/millennium
(pick one), the Digest will become more erratic, less regular, still irreverent and always éRocking!
All e-mail contributions to the SA Rock Digest need to be in plain text and with no attachments, please
Also, e-mails in HTML format (Outlook users, please note), all in lowercase, or all in CAPITALS, tend to take quite a while to fix, so will often be ignored.
Contributions and comments:
http://www.rock.co.za/files/contactme.html
or email Brian Currin:
mailto:brian.currin@new.co.za
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SA MUSIC FANS AROUND THE WORLD
The SA Rock Digest now has subscribers in the following countries...
(now updated)
Australia
Belgium
Botswana
Brazil
Canada
Central African Republic
Czech Republic
England
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Guam
Holland
Hong Kong
Ireland
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Ivory Coast
Japan
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
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Scotland
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Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
USA
Zambia
Zimbabwe
If you live in a country not mentioned above, please let me know.
mailto:sarockdigest@crosswinds.net
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NEWS
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LITTLE SISTER WEBSITE LAUNCHED
http://www.rock.co.za/littlesister
The new homegrown official Little Sister website
was recently launched on the World Wide Web.
This is a fan site with input and messages from Debbi and Jenni Lonmon themselves.
Listen to MP3 excerpts, buy their CDs, post messages on their webboard, vote for your favourite album, join the Little Sister fanclub and find out all you ever wanted to know about South Africa's own premiere female pop-rock group.
The sisters are doing it for themselves!
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OFF THE EDGE REVIEWED ON DUTCH WEBSITE
Dutch on-line music magazine Strutter'zine recently reviewed Off The Edge's 'On The Run' CD.
Strutter'zine website:
http://www.angelfire.com/ma/strutteraor
The review is reprinted below with kind permission of the editor (and new Digest subscriber), Gabor Kleinbloesem.
OFF THE EDGE
Finally I am able to review an AOR band out of South Africa. I know so little bands out of this country that I was already excited to hear from a new band. In the past we had CLOUT, TREVOR RABIN and of course STINGRAY, but that's about it as far as we know. Now the band OFF THE EDGE can be added to the small list of South African melodic rock/aor bands. The band consists of guitarist/keyboardist Peter Hanmer, vocalist/bassist Tony Groenewald and the beautiful female lead vocalist Judy Marshall.
The CD contains 11 tracks of which 5 feature the female lead vocals and male vocalist Tony sings the other 4. The remaining two tracks are instrumental. The sound and production of the CD is pretty good and the AOR/Melodic Rock of OFF THE EDGE is sounding pretty nice. Personally I prefer the lead vocals of Judy, but the male lead vocals of Tony aren't bad either. The CD takes off with "If there is love", a lovely semi AOR ballad with Tony on vocals.
Next track "The critics" is a nice melodic rocker with Judy on lead vocals. Tony can be heard again on "Just another band", a nice semi melodic rockballad. "Free and easy" is the softest song on the CD and is a bit acoustic westcoast typed song that has some JAIME KYLE/PATTY SMYTH kinda sound. "It ain't fiction" follows with Tony on vocals again. The song is an o.k. melodic rocker that reminds me of CONEY HATCH.
Following track "Take it on the run" (not the REO SPEEDWAGON song) features Judy on vocals and this song is a fine melodic rockballad. Tony sings "Running" and this is one of the rockiest songs on the album. "Running" is a nice early 80s typed melodic rocker that sounds like a cross between UFO and AXE.
The final two tracks are the best tracks of the whole album and they take the rating higher than I was attended to give them. These last two song are both sung by Judy, the female vocalist. She has a very good voice and it really shines through on these two wonderful AOR tracks. "Breaking away" is a very good semi AOR rocker that can be compared to old TONE NORUM, DANTE FOX, WITNESS... And "Evil in her eyes" is the best song of the whole album. This song is a classy 80s uptempo AOR rocker with a superb memorable chorus similar to mid 80s HEART.
OFF THE EDGE has released a good album that gets better towards the end. I would love to hear more female lead vocals on a future album and likewise more songs in the style of their last two songs which totally blew me away and are a must for the female fronted rockfan. Fans of JAIME KYLE will like these last two songs very much, but a listen to the rest of the album won't hurt because this is quality melodic rock from a country that hasn't brought us so many melodic rockbands. For more info, check out their site at: http://www.listen.to/offtheedge
Rating: 8/10
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STRUTTER'ZINE
My name is Gabor Kleinbloesem and I am the editor of Strutter'zine, a magazine and website from Holland which is based on Adult Orientated Rock and Melodic Rock.
Check the WebSite of STRUTTER'ZINE at:
http://www.angelfire.com/ma/strutteraor
I am very much interested in hearing and reviewing AOR/Melodic Rockbands out of South Africa. I know there are a lot out there, but I can't get in touch with them. For example I am very much interested in hearing and reviewing bands like THE LOUD, HOTLINE, LITTLE SISTER...
Now all I ask if any AOR/Melodic (Hard) Rockband out there in South Africa could please sent me an e-mail at:
mailto:gabor.fabian@wxs.nl
It doesn't matter if your band is independent or not, because I am willing to give every AOR/Melodic Rockband a chance to become more known in the world by reviewing it on my site. The review will be placed on the WebSite of Strutter'zine and in our printed magazine.
I hope to hear from any AOR/Melodic Rockband (readers and fans are also welcome) in the near future.
Greetings from Holland,
Gabor Kleinbloesem
Editor of Strutter'zine
mailto:gabor.fabian@wxs.nl
http://www.angelfire.com/ma/strutteraor
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NEW RELEASES
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INTERNATIONAL
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SANTANA - SUPERNATURAL
On the 30th anniversary of Santana's debut album - released in November 1969 - comes this stunning album from the 52-year old guitar genius, Carlos Santana. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Eric Clapton, Rob Thomas, Eagle-Eye Cherry and SA-born Dave Matthews are just some of the collaboraters on this incredible album which fuses Latin American rhythms with rock-god guitar solos.
Visit http://www.santana.com
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QUEEN+ - GREATEST HITS VOLUME III
Note the plus sign after the band name - this lets us know that this compilation not only features Queen tracks but also some solo works from Freddie Mercury and Brian May as well as some collaborations with the likes of Elton John and George Michael recorded after Freddie Mercury's sad passing on the 24th November 1991.
This CD is a superb collection of tracks to compliment the previous 2 Greatest Hits collections. There are also more than enough unique or hard-to-find songs to keep those Queen fans, who already have all of Queen's back catalogue, more than happy.
Tracks include Freddie's 'The Great Pretender', Brian May's 'Driven By You', Wyclef Jean's rap remix of 'Another One Bites The Dust' from the 'Small Soldiers' movie, Elton John and Queen performing 'The Show Must Go On' live in Paris in January 1997 and a new 1999 remix of the 1981 smash hit 'Under Pressure' featuring the vocal talents of David Bowie.
Also on this CD is 'Princes Of The Universe', from the original 'Highlander' movie, which showcases Brian May as a metal guitarist of note.
The plastic cover of the actual CD case has a printed picture of the three remaining members with the booklet featuring an action shot of Freddie. The combined effect is stunning.
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SOUTH AFRICAN
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FRANKIE'S PLAYGROUND
Released in May 1999 this hard-rocking "back-to-the-80s" album is now available from Indie Music Explosion. 'Evening Sunshine' is a rock ballad that Aerosmith or Bon Jovi could be proud of. 'Speedtrain' races along (sorry, I couldn't resist) while some of the other tracks remind me of Guns 'N Roses, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Metallica, INXS, etc.
"a must for your collection..." says 5FM's Barney Simon.
Visit http://www.indie.co.za/cdpage.asp?cdid=274
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JACK HAMMER
Piet Botha's famed blues-rock band is releasing a retrospective of their 4 albums on a new compilation CD early in December. Titled simply "Anthology" this CD will include 4 or 5 new songs plus a new re-recording of the classic 'Fort Lauderdale' alongside tracks from all 4 previous albums.
Those of you who were lucky enough to see Piet Botha on his recent "Skopgraaf" tour would have heard a couple of the new tracks, including 'April'.
Piet Botha, Jonathan Martin and Tertuis du Plessis wowed the enthuastic audience at the Whammy Bar in Cape Town recently. Their set included Piet Botha solo songs, Jack Hammer tracks and some covers including a stunning version of Zeppelin's 'Tangerine' and Bob Dylan's 'All Along The Watchtower'.
http://rock.co.za/legends/pietbotha/
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WHATS ON
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BARLEYCORN MUSIC CLUB - CAPE TOWN
To get weekly updates on who is playing at the Barleycorn,
send a blank e-mail to mailto:barleycorn-subscribe@onelist.com
The Barleycorn website is http://twisted.co.za/barleycorn/
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JUST JINGER
Just Jinger are currently on their national tour to promote their new album 'Here's To You'. For more info and all those dates, see http://www.justjinger.co.za or http://www.bmg.co.za
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SQUEAL: "CIVILIZED?" ON TOUR
December 3rd The Jam Cape Town CD Launch
December 4th Purple Turtle Cape Town
December 6th Backdoor George
December 7th Tin Roof Knysna
December 8th Ricks Jeffrey's Bay
December 9th Venue to be confirmed
December 10th Bedford Pub & Diner Port Shepstone
December 11th Venue to be confirmed Durban
Louise
(Squeal Publicity - Bite Me Music)
011 477 1734
mailto:bitememusic@icon.co.za
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ALANIS MORRISETTE
Sugardrive will be the official curtain raiser for the 5FM Alanis Morrisette on her South African tour on the 3rd, 5th and 7th of December.
http://www.sugardrive.com
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THE AUTHENTIC SOUNDS CONCERT
A UNIQUE COOPERATIVE VENTURE
On 26 November 1999, Authentic Ideas and Pro Audio Network will attempt a new style concert for entertainment lovers, in the outdoor venue, Kloofendal Amphitheater. The Authentic Sounds Concert.
The Authentic Sounds concert will feature top South African artistes such as Sugardrive, Wonderboom, frank (sic) Opperman and Prime Time Addiction, Sshhh.., Ethel My Love, Plum, 57 and Ohm. Apart from the music, entertainment lovers can experience food stalls, crafts, liquid refreshments and above all, really accessible ticket prices. DJ's Jon Monsoon and Fokkelnonsens will perform between the bands, showcasing their particular brands of break beat, drum and bass and jungle.
The unique concept of this concert was borne through a lack of major live music venues in the country as a whole and specifically in areas outside of major city centres. Over the past three years, Authentic Ideas has attempted town hall and school halls concerts with much success. The growth to a larger area was a natural growth, but was always held back through financial restraints.
Now, in a cooperative agreement between Authentic Ideas and Pro Audio
Network, both companies have wavered all fees in order to provide the public with a quality event, and the bands with a strong platform to showcase their talent.
Many South African bands have never had the opportunity to work with top professional quality sound and lighting. Pro Audio Network has the agency for Australian Monitor in the country and is the supplier to many large sound companies.
Authentic Ideas have similarly staged many large events, such as the annual 5FM Easter Rock Festival and this year's three day music festival, Woodstock - the 90's Pop Culture Experience. The company has committed to providing another quality production for the showcase of it's bands. All the bands on the bill, with the exception of frank (sic) Opperman and The Prime Time Addiction are signed to The Authentic Agency.
By removing all production, publicity and hiring fees for sound and
lighting, Authentic Ideas is able to provide a high quality production at the minimal entrance fees of R35 and R45. An unheard of entrance fee for seven top artists. The money generated will cover band, staff and venue hire costs.
Tickets are available through Computicket, selected outlets and the gate.
R35 at Computicket, outlets and at the gate before 17H00. After 18H00,
tickets revert to R45.
All ages are welcome. Alcohol will not be served to under eighteens.
Tickets are limited to 5000 patrons only.
THE AUTHENTIC SOUNDS CONCERT WILL MARK THE BEGINNING OF A SERIES OF HIGH QUALITY OUTDOOR ORIGINAL SA CONCERTS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
AUTHENTIC IDEAS
NANCY HILLARY / BETH HILLARY
TEL: (011) 646-6467
FAX: (011) 646 6441
mailto:authenticsounds@authentic.co.za
mailto:info@authentic.co.za
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REVIEWS
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ON THE RUN - OFF THE EDGE
Kurt Shoemaker
Peter Hanmer, guitar and keyboards, says that he, Tony Groenewald, and Judy Marshall made this album just for fun. Well, it worked, it's fun for me, too, as well as impressive. I'm reduced to terms like "fantastic" and "wonderful". The album flows seamlessly from "Introduction", the first track, to "Reprise", the last. If you enjoy guitar rock, this is the perfect album for you.
Judy's vocals are beautiful with feeling, and Tony's bass is right there, constantly meshing just right with the guitar (and he sings well and sincerely, too). He guides the song along with his bass, but never blocks the highway. The drummer, not credited and whether man or machine I know not, is perfectly simple, minimal, and rock-steady. Great stuff, full of rich, rich lead guitar playing by Peter. My favorite song is probably the most "commercial sounding" song: "Free and Easy", I feel an emotional response from this song. It probably has extra meaning for South Africans, but for this American and Texan, the message is plenty meaingful. But all of the album is great. Every time a song comes on, I think, "Oh, this is a great song." Then the next song begins, and I think, "Oh, this is a great song, too."
There are stand-out tunes here, but the album is so unified in flow that it is best to put it on, like the Radio Rats' Into the Night We Slide album (which is an entirely different album musically), and let it go on playing from great song to great song until Peter has left the building.
The recently updated Off The Edge website is at:
http://listen.to/offtheedge
This and any other SA CD can be ordered online at One World, the best SA CD store on the pla-Net.
http://www.oneworld.co.za
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FORUM
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I work in LA USA in the music industry and have managed to spark some interest with US labels.
Mail all Bio's and demo's to:
Paradise Concerts
c/o Christian Mervyn Wiesendanger
P.O.Box 41227 Los Angeles
California
USA 90041
mailto:christianmervyn@hotmail.com
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ON THE NET
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DINOSAUR DAYS
http://www.geocities.com/dinosaurdays/
A tribute website to Phil and Leon's Sunday night radio show.
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SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK FAMILY TREES
http://www.rock.co.za/files/sarock_family_trees.html
Trace the roots and branches of some of South Africa's greatest rock bands, including Rabbitt, Freedoms Children and McCully Workshop.
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ALL-TIME SOUTH AFRICAN GREATS
http://www.rock.co.za/files/sarock_voting.html
Cast your vote for your favourite SA rock album or pop/rock song
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PIET BOTHA
http://rock.co.za/legends/pietbotha
See also:
http://www.afrikaner.co.za/tronk10/anarkans/piet/piet.htm
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PRIZE-WINNERS
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Nigel Berry wins the first ELP album titled 'Emerson, Lake and Palmer', also on Castle, for correctly naming Keith, Greg and Carl.
ELP Quick Guide
http://www.rock.co.za/files/elpcovers.html
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LINKS AND ADVERTS
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ARCHIVES:
THE LEGENDS OF SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK
Where SA rock legends still live
http://rock.co.za/legends
SOUTH AFRICA'S ROCK FILES
The online archive for the History of South African Rock
http://rock.co.za/sarock/
MESSAGE BOARD:
TOO GOOD TO BE FORGOTTEN
Post your message on the SA Rock message board
http://www.insidetheweb.com/mbs.cgi/mb311757
NEWS:
AMUZINE
News, views, reviews and interviews
http://rock.co.za/
AFRICAN INVASION OF ROCK
News, reviews and opinions
http://www.air.org.za
ARTSMART
Arts news from Kwazulu-Natal
http://www.artsmart.co.za
INTERTAINMENT
News, links, features, etc
http://www.intertainment.co.za
JOL
News, updated daily
http://www.jol.co.za
LOCAL BEAT
Entertainment news
http://entertainment.iafrica.com/localbeat/recommendedgigs
POWERZONE
News, classifieds and much more...
http://www.powerzone.co.za/
WALL OF SOUND
Up-to-date news on the International music scene
http://www.wallofsound.com
WHATS ON:
THE GIG GUIDE
Whats on in Cape Town
http://www.gig-guide.co.za/
ZA@PLAY
What's on around South Africa
http://www.mg.co.za/mg/art/music/menu-music.htm
SHOPS:
ONE WORLD
Selling South African Music to the World
http://www.oneworld.co.za/
5% discount for Digest members!
OUTLAW RECORDS, CAPE TOWN
Branches at:
Cape Town Central (021) 4238145
Wynberg (021) 7972482
Claremont (021) 6717887
10% discount for Digest members!
VIBES MUSIC - N1 CITY, CAPE TOWN
Phone (021) 5953220
mailto:vibes@fast.co.za
RECORD COMPANIES, LABELS & STUDIOS:
BMG
Home of some great SA bands
http://www.bmg.co.za
FRESH MUSIC
Independent multi-faceted music group
http://www.fresh.co.za
GALLO MUSIC
Supporting South African Music
http://www.gallo.co.za/
INDIE MUSIC EXPLOSION
The Ultimate Independent Music Site in South Africa
http://www.indie.co.za/
MELT2000
Independent label
http://www.melt2000.com
MOUNTAIN RECORDS
Music from and about Africa
http://www.mountain-africa.com
RADIUM WRECKORDS
The home of the Radio Rats, The Glee Club, the Chauffeurs
and the Pop Guns
Radium Wreckords
Suite 207
Postnet
Private Bag X10
Flamwood
2572
Klerksdorp
mailto:jhandley@aghs.co.za
RIESTER INTERNATIONAL RECORDS
South African independent record company
http://www.riester-records.co.za/
STRANGER THAN FICTION PRODUCTIONS
http://www.strangerthanfiction.co.uk
STREET LEVEL RECORDS
Cape Town's Independent Record Label
http://www.streetlevel.co.za/
TEQUILA MUSIC
The Home of African Music
http://www.tequila.co.za
RESOURCES:
BACKSTAGE
The Musician's Resource
http://www.backstage.co.za/
PEDRO THE MUSIC MAN
Music teacher
http://users.iafrica.com/m/mu/musicman
SA MUSIC DATABASE
Over 100 links relating to South African music
http://members.xoom.com/samusicd/links.html
SHOW VILLAGE
sound - lights - dance
http://www.showvillage.co.za
MAGAZINES:
SCREEN AFRICA
broadcast • film • commercials • video • music • interactive
http://www.screenafrica.com
SLY
Online magazine
http://www.sly.co.za/
STAGE
SA Music magazine
http://www.stage.co.za
BOOKS:
THE HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Garth Chilvers and Tom Jasiukowicz (TOGA, 1994)
http://www.rock.co.za/files/book_order.html
KOOS se SONGS
Koos Kombuis
http://www.oneworld.co.za
CLASSIFIEDS:
MUSICADS
Free musical equipment classifieds ad website
http://www.twisted.co.za/musicads/
TRIVIA:
CLIMB UP ON MY MUSIC
A site dedicated to Rodriguez, the Sugar Man
http://www.rock.co.za/files/rodriguez.html
IMAGES OF ROCK
Your Ultimate Rock And Roll Experience
http://www.imagesofrock.com
SPACE HYMNS
The only known website for Ramases
http://rock.co.za/ramases
VAGABOND'S MUSIC TRIVIA
a rock music trivia site
http://rock.co.za/vagabond
VAGABOND'S WORLD
music links in an e-zine style
http://www.zinezone.com/users/vagabond
PIOTR'S GREEN PAGES
Discographies and lyrics for the legends of rock
http://orion.venco.com.pl/~piotrus/greenpages/
FESTIVALS:
SPLASHY FEN
The festival, the CD, the book, the website
http://www.splashyfen.co.za
OPPIKOPPI
http://www.oppikoppi.co.za
MUSIC ON-LINE:
CDDB
CD Database Online
http://www7.cddb.com/
CDMAX
CD player for accessing the online CD database http://www.mindspring.com/~clark_tisdale/CDmax/
DIGITAL CUPBOARD
African music, MP3s and more...
http://www.digitalcupboard.co.za
MP3.COM
Listen to MP3s of South African artists
http://www.mp3.com/regions/africa/south_africa/
MP3 SOFTWARE
Links to download sites
http://www.rock.co.za/files/mp3software.html
MUZE
Online music database
http://www.muze.com
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BACK ISSUES AND RULES
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SA ROCK DIGEST ON-LINE
http://www.crosswinds.net/~sarockdigest/
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excellent results.
For the basic rules of the Digest please visit:
http://www.rock.co.za/files/sa_rock_digest.html
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