Rags to Richman

Press, 3 October 1985, Page 24

Rags to Richman

Certainly, the tension is building up for tomorrow evening’s performance by Jonathan Richman at the Gladstone Tavern. But it will not be a shield challenge. Whoever heard of a player singing sounds such as “Here Come The Martian Martians,” “I’m A Little Airplane,” or “Give Paris One More Chance."

Richman plays his last New Zealand show at the Gladstone, having booked a second show (really the first of his New Zealand tour) at the Three Month Club (formerly the Ace of Clubs) above Cook Street Market, Auckland, on Tuesday. He sets out for a three-week tour of Australia after finishing in Christchurch, be-

fore returning to the United States. The Boston-born musician began playing on stage in 1968, and is best known for his song “Road Runner,” and “Pablo Picasso.” Both songs included such luminaries as Jerry Harrison, now witb Talking Heads, and Dave Robinson, of The Cars. But Richman’s tolerance of loud music from the period of "Roadrunner” around 1977, began to decrease, and not surprisingly Robinson left when his drum kit was reduced to one snare drum and that was covered by a towel! The Modern Lovers (or as Doug Hood’s telegram announcing the New Zealand tour put it,

“Modern Mothers”) finally split in 1982 after run-ins with their recording company.

According to the publicity blurb on his impending arrival Richman’s ambition is to sing all over the world and have his records in the international section of “your” record store, not far from Charles Aznavour and Maurice Chevalier and guys like that.

Does the alphabet run from A to R?

Also attached to the press release is a review of his London show in July by David Swift, of “New Musical Express,” who formerly worked for “The Press,” including on this column.