Hot competition for rock awards

Press, 28 July 1989, Page 11

Hot competition for rock awards

The musicians Lou Reed, David Bowie, Living Colour, The Bangles, Keith Richards, Robert Palmer, Ozzy Osbourne, and The Replacements are among those appearing on “The 1989 International Rock Awards” (tonight at 10.35 on Two. Staged in New York City at the end of May, the show saw some of the world’s greatest rock performers gather in the hope of receiving an Elvis Award. In the words of the promoters: “This life-like bronze replica of the legendary Elvis Presley stands 12 inches tall, weighs almost 12 pounds and captures the essence of his sexually provocative performing style.” Artists who had performed on a recording which charted in the top 40 or above in any recognised music publication between March 31, 1988

and February 28, 1989 were eligible to enter the 12 categories of these new awards. Competing for Album of the Year were Guns ‘n’ Roses (“Appetite for Destruction,”) Def Leppard (“Hysteria,”) Travelling

Wilburys (“Volume One,”) U2 (“Rattle arid Hum,”) Inxs (“Kick”) and Terence Trent D’Arby (“Introducing the Hardline.”) The Newcomer of the Year was between Toni Childs, Edie Brjckell and New Bohemians, The Jeff Healy Band, Hot House Flowers and Living Colour. Songwriter of the Year was a choice of Bono, Elvis Costello, Guns *n’ Roses, George Michael, Bruce Springsteen and Sting. Not everybody present at the Awards agreed with the judges who chose the lead Female Award, and the winner was booed while receiving her trophy. In contention were Tina Turner, Edie Brickell, Chrissie Hynde, Madonna and Annie Lennox. Competition was hot for Lead Male, with Jon Bon

Jovi, Bono, Michael Hutchence, George Michael and Axl Rose all nominated. Rock stars handing out the awards included Grace Jones, Hall and Oates, Alice Cooper, Tina Turner, Lita Ford, Jeff Healey and John Taylor from Duran Duran. The Living Legend Award went to Keith Richards, a rock superstar admired for many years by thousands of New Zealand rock fans. Introducing the Rolling Stone, Eric Clapton remarked: “Unlike me, he never sold himself down the river — he never did any beer commercials.” After receiving his award, Richards leads his band, the X-Pensive Winos through an electric version of “Whip it Up” and is joined on-stage by many of the performers and presenters for a big jam session.