news

Press, 9 December 1976, Page 18

news

• Rick Wakeman has rejoined Yes and Patrick Moraz has embarked on a solo career. Wakeman only recently discarded his English Rock Ensemble and formed a new three-piece group with John Wetton (bass) and Bill Bruford (drums), to be set up more or less as rivals to the reemerging Emerson. Lake and Palmer. However after initial rehearsals the idea was scrapped and Wakeman went back to Yes. He

is already working with them on a new album in Switzerland and .Moraz, who left over “musical differences", starts work on a new album of his own in the New Year.

• Tommy Bolin, 25-year-old guitarist for Deep Purple until they disbanded this sear, died of a drug overdose, probably heroin.

according to early medical reports. He was found dead in a Miami hotel on Saturday and according to medical examiners, had recent injection marks in his arms.

• The two old mainstays of Deep Purple, meanwhile, Jon Lord and lan Paice, have formed a group with

lony Ashton on extra keyboards and vocals, to be called Lord, Paice and Ashton (Whatever happened to interesting group names?). Bernie Marsden. (guitar) and Paul Martinez (bass) complete the line-up.

• Christchurch Rollers fans have got nothing on their sisters in Sydney. More than 300 of them managed to collapse through hysteria and heat exhaustion during the group's Sydney concert last week. Many were so overwhelmed they couldn’t breathe. Eighteen were taken to hospital afterwards with injuries caused by kicking, punching and stampeding. What a sight it must have been. • Marc Bolan has reformed T. Rex with (good grief, what’s happening to respected musicians, etc.) Herbie Flowers on bass. Other members are Tony Newman (drums), Dino Dines (keyboards) and Miller Anderson (guitar) and they’re off on a British tour in February.

• Police placed a heavy guard around the home of Bob Marley in Kingston, Jamaica, following a terror-

ist attack at the week-end in w’hich Marley and three of his troupe were shot. Marley was wounded in the left hand, his estranged wife, Rita, was shot in the head, and two other members were still in hospital at last report from other injuries. The attack is believed linked with Government opposition groups, following a free Government-sponsored concert Marley and the Wallers were scheduled to perform the next day. • More rock stars moving into the movie front: Wings, John Denver and Peter Frampton. Wings have teamed up with “Star Trek” producer Gene Roddenberry to make a sci fi film that will feature them as themselves. Frampton stars in a film version of “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, which starts shooting in the States in the New Year. And John Denver is a supermarket manager in “Oh God”, in which George Burns plays God. Honestly. • Genesis release a new album, ‘Wind and Withering”. in Britain on New Year’s Day.