William Direen

Bill Direen is a New Zealand writer and musician. After graduating from the University of Auckland, Bill pursued a career in the music industry. He released his first album "Pe'a doh Fil'e" in late 1981 but received little acclaim from the general public and was therefore forced to seek employment as an elementary school janitor in order to find his costly addiction to methyl amphetamine. Direen is rumored to be one of the pioneers of the drugs use in New Zealand, but to this day has neglected to comment on press speculation that he was actually the same person who got Black Eyed Peas singer, "Fergie" hooked on ice during a preempted trip to antarctica in the early 1990's. Bill evidently overcame his addiction when the drugs turned on him in a bad trip, during which he heard an album that he claims "almost led me to ending it all". U2's Actung Baby and Bono's atrocious singing remain in circulation to this day. In the late 90's Bill was inspired by the courage of a prostitute who fought off a would-be attacker, on an episode of a current affair, to write the song " Prostitute's can do it, when armed with the fighting spirit of Bundy rum". Although the song was popular and even brought Queen Elizabeth the Second to tears during her taxpayer funded trip to New Zealand, most New Zealander's didn't have a bloody clue what the hell Bundy rum was and therefore the songs full potential was not realized. These days, Bill continues to make music, write poems and on the odd occasion, rub his erect penis against the rotting carcasses of dead animals he finds on the roadside. He also makes frequent trips to Ipswich, Queensland where he enjoys having sex with local slappers. He compares his Ipswichian experiences with going to a really mediocre beach and catching crabs when you were only looking for pussy.

Writer

*Enclosures Novel in five parts. (Titus Books). 2008.
*Percutio Annual journal (ed.). Poetry, fiction extracts, translations & versions, essays, reviews, history. Multi-lingual. 2006, -07, -08.
*Song of the Brakeman Apocalyptic vision of a future South Pacific. Science fiction novel. Titus Books. (2006)
*The French in New Zealand 1769-1938 (historical summary and transcribed oral history). Percutio 06.
*Nusquama German translation by Arno Loeffler of the pop-band road-novel (2006).
*New Sea Land. Poetry. Auckland (Titus Books). 2005.
*Coma Female voice narrative of a casualty at a rock concert. Novella. (Titus Books). 2005.
*Jules 24 hours in the mind of an art teacher in Paris. Novel. (Alpha/Addenda). 2002.
*Wormwood Yugoslavian refugee falls foul of the Berlin underworld. Novel. SPORT 1997.

Musician

Direen produced a variety of albums and EPs in the eighties, under band names varying from Bilderine, Builders, Bilders, Die Bilder, Bilderbergers, etc. One decade later many of these songs were reorganized and released on CD by Flying Nun Records. Powertool Records have now released "New York Sack" CD, an album of "bits and pieces", (1995-2006), a reissue of "Human Kindness", an EP of theatre songs using the words of NZ poet A.Brunton (d. 2002) and, this year (pending), an album of brand new songs. Direen continues to play and tour. The current Builders toured New Zealand in 2007 and recently recorded new material. Another tour is planned for the end of 2008 to promote the new Bill Direen & The Builders album.

Discography
*Bill Direen & the Builders - New Album Imminent. (Powertool) 2008.
*Bill Direen - Songs for Mickey Joe (Minialbum, CD, Powertool, 2008)
*Bill Direen - Human Kindness (NZ release with bonus track, CD, Powertool, 2007).
*Bill Direen - Yes Today, No Tomorrow (CD, Powertool, 2006).
*Bill Direen & Friends - New York Sack (CD, Powertool, 2006).
*Bill Direen - Human Kindness (Euro-release, CD, Corazoo).
*Bilders - Cut (CD, IMD, 1994) Full length album.
*Builders - Vol. 4 Pyx (CD, Flying Nun, 1994) A retrospective CD mostly covering the years 1985-1988.
*Bilderine - Vol. 3 - Split Seconds (CD, Flying Nun, 1994) A few songs of the original 1984 LP have been omitted and other ones added.
*Bilders Vol.2 - Beatin Hearts (CD, Flying Nun, 1993) Similar to the original 1983 LP, with the addition of 'Red Skies' and 'On the Beach Last Night', two out-takes from the original session at Progressive Studios in Auckland.
*Bilders Vol.1 - Max Quitz (CD, Flying Nun, 1993) This release combines 5 EPs from the eighties.

External links

* [http://www.powertoolrecords.co.nz/ Bills Label in NZ - Powertoolrecords]
* [http://titus.books.online.fr/ Recent writing Titus Books (publisher).]
* [http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/direenbill.html Profile on New Zealand Book Council website]
* [http://william.direen.online.fr/ Bill's own website]
* [http://publicaddress.net/system/topic,594,pa_radio_bill_direen_words_and_music.sm 2007 New Zealand radio interview]
* [http://www.archive.org/details/BillDireen_KimHill_RadioNZ_Interview Interview on France-NZ relations RNZ 2006]
* [http://www.powertoolrecords.de German Distributor- Powertoolrecords]
* [http://william.direen.online.fr/ Bill's own website]