MADONNA HEAT

I’m not in the habit of defending Robert Hilburn, but Dawn Dirksen’s rude and insulting letter went beyond the bounds of constructive criticism.

Comments about Hilburn’s “broken-down old-man’s libido� and suggestion that he retire “to the Palm Springs/Las Vegas junket set,� indicate that Dirksen is one of those immature “don’t trust anyone over 30� ignoramuses.

Perhaps someone should remind Dirksen that some of us in our 30s, 40s and 50s can boogie with the best of them; that it was us “old-timers� who were responsible for making rock popular; that Janis Joplin would have been well into her 40s if she was alive and that one day (with luck) Dirksen will be “broken-down� and “old.�

CAROL FOX

Tarzana