Hot News Rip Itd Up Hot News

Rip It Up, Issue 12, 1 June 1978, Page 2

Hot News Rip It d Up Hot News

The rock'n'roll horizon is brightening for us boring old farts who still have a little faith in some of the relics of the 60's. Over the next few months several old wave heavy-weights are weighing in with new LPs. Number One on the eagerly awaited list is Bruce Springsteen’s newie, now titled Darkness on the Edge of Town. With the album safely delivered, Springsteen kicks off an 80 date, 4 month tour of the States . . . Dylan (as you can read elsewhere in this issue) delivers his new album, Street League .. . and the Rolling Stones also have an album completed and awaiting release. Although track listing and release date have now become uncertain, early July release in Enzed seems likely. Title is Some Girls and it was recorded in Paris, and mixed and mastered in New York. It’s all Jagger-Richard’s compositions, except for a cover of the Temptations' song "Just My Imagination" . . . and following in the footsteps of Margaret and Tony, comes news that after seven years of marriage, Bianca Jagger has filed for divorce from Mick . . . The Who had an album reportedly released in the States on June 4 and will continue to concentrate their efforts on a movie that will be a combination of rare film, TV programme footage and new material shot this year all featuring the Who. The movie’s to be titled The Kids Are Alright and, for inclusion in the film, the Who are planning a one-off secret gig somewhere in Britain . . . Rod the Mod Stewart will start work on his next album as soon as they can drag the lad off the soccer field. Recording plans have already been postponed in order to allow Rod to write and record the official single for Scotland’s World Cup Squad, titled "Ole Ola", and also to enable Rod to attend the World Cup in Argentina in June. Then Rod’ll begin recording in L.A. with his eye on September release for the finished product just in time for Christmas, of course . .. the return of Johnny Rotten is also imminent. Seems Sex Pistols’ Svengali, Malcolm McLaren, is now something of a nuisance to Mr Rotten. Said Johnny: "i’ll form another band as soon as I

get him off my back. Until then I can't do a thing without him taking a big fat share of the profits.” Rotten also stated that he did not intend to form a reggae band and neither does he intend to quit the music game, "it’s the only business I was ever any good at." And on being questioned on the material for his new songs, he replied, "The same sort of thing . . . misery, depression,

self-indulgence all those petty little obsessions” ... Mmm, yes we see .. . meanwhile, ex-Pistols Steve Jones and Paul Cook have been performing with ex-New York Doll Johnny Thunders. It’s unknown if this alliance will be permanent . . . some other returns: Lindisfarne have reformed with their original line-up Alan Hull, Ray Jackson, Rod Clements, Ray Laidlaw and Simon Cowe ... Chicken Shack have reformed with original guitarist, Stan Webb . . and John McLaughlin returns to the electric guitar for his next album entitled Electric Guitarist. He’s aided by a few mates, namely, Carlos Santana, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham and Jack Bruce . . . and rumours are floating about suggesting Creedence Clearwater Revival are to reform . . . and rumours are also in the air about a Blind Faith revival since the news that Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton are recording together ... now here’s a strange one. Seems that that reclusive genius of the recording studio, Phil Spector, called a press conference in L.A. He announced that he will host a syndicated TV show that will be a kind of Battle of the Bands, in which amateur groups will

be judged by the audience. When one reporter enquired why Spector had come out of hiding to host such a show, Phil replied, "Why not?" ... Now. Some departures ... Tommy Ramone, drummer in the infamous Ramones, has decided to quit touring with the band, although he will continue to work with brudders Ramone in the studio. He will work as an independent producer under his real name of Tommy Erdelyi . .. British band, Deaf School have split. Seems they were unable to get enough work to keep the 8 person unit going . .. and Mannfred Mann has fired most of the Earth Band. Departing members are guitarist Dave Flett, drummer Chris Slade and bassist Pat King. This leaves Mannfred and vocalist Chris Thompson. New members will be recruited to get, said Mann, "a fresh approach" ... and Hot Tuna the band formed in 1969 by Jefferson Airplane members Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen have also split. Both of the main members will now concentrate on solo projects . . . Last month also saw a few rock’n’roll casualties. Up-and-coming CBS recording act Meatloaf was thought to have broken his leg when he tripped during a show and sent his 250 pound frame crashing off the stage. But it turned out he’s merely wrenched his ankle . . . but Fee Waybill of the Tubes was not so lucky. One segment of the show on the Tubes’ British tour required Fee to leap to the front of the stage with chain-saw in hand in his role as punksatirist, Johnny Bugger. But Fee misjudged the distance and fell off the stage. Result: one broken leg, one sprained wrist and one cancelled British tour ... all four members of Kiss are working on solo albums which (gulp) will all be issued simultaneously . .. Still if you can’t wait for that, the next Kiss LP will be a greatest hits package called Double Platinum .. . Biondie have severed their connection with producer Richard Gottehrer and are to work with an as yet unnamed British producer in future . . . some more albums due for release in the fairly foreseeable future include Iggy Pop’s TV Eye: 1977 Live (recorded on last year’s US tour it features David Bowie playing keyboards on four tracks); Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd delivers his first solo album under the title David Gilmour; the Moody Blues eighth is Octave; Talking Heads More Songs About Building and Food; Van

Morrison Wavelength; The Stranglers Black and White; Neil Young Comes A Time (recorded with Crazy Horse, all Young compositions except a version of lan and Sylvia’s “Four Strong Winds) . . . and now some news from the Australian front . . . Dragon have completed their 52 date Aussie tour which included such highlights as Marc Hunter unveiling his new hair cut which was greeted by a standing ovation. The boys also found time to prepare material for thier new album on which they’ve just started work . . . more expatriot Kiwi news. Ex-Beech members Brent Parlane, Andrew Forrer, and Andrew Kay have formed a band in Melbourne under the name Tourists. Others in the band are NZ guitarist Co Tipping and Australian drum-

mer Phil Smith ... and Ocker band Sherbet have just signed to prestigious RSO label in America which should guarantee them big things. The band are currently gigging with Andy Gibb . . . and an anecdote to finish the evening . . . Seems the editorial staff of rock paper Rolling Stone challenged the Eagles, wellknown country-rock band, to a baseball game. The loser to donate SSOOO to UNICEF. Well, the Eagles cleaned up, beating the journalists 15-8. But what really hurts is that there was a side bet, made before the game to the effect that if the Eagles lost, they’d grant the paper a short interview (something their manager, Irv Azoff, does not commonly allow them to do). But if the Eagles won, they were to be allowed to write up the game and Rolling Stone would print it unedited. How embarrassing . . . and as the sun rises slowly in the East, you’ll be pleased / amazed / disgusted to learn that this is Rip It Up's first birthday. All presents will be gratefully received.

Bob Dylan’s new album was due for American release on June 5 under the title, Street League. The album is reportedly produced by veteran studio man, Jack Nitzche, and engineered by Biff Dawes. And with Dylan now playing dates in both America and Europe, it’s enough to make New Zealanders thankful that he played outdoors here. In London, 98,000 seats for six shows at Earls Court sold out in eight hours, with a limit of four tickets per person. Those near the front of the huge queue for tickets had camped outside the box-office for two days. Similar scenes occurred in Los Angeles when one show at the 35,000 seater Coliseum went on sale. The concert sold out in two hours. The band Dylan will take on his European tour remains basically the same as the unit which toured NZ. However, Jerry Scheff replaces Rob Stoner on bass (Stoner is reported as saying that his role in the band had become obsolete), and Carolyn Dennis takes over from Debi Gibson in the back-up vocal trio. The other change will be that Dylan intends to premiere many new songs, some of which will be on the new album. South Pacific Television has purchased the Bob Dylan TV special Hard Rain which features Dylan with Joan Baez and the Rolling Thunder Review in a show taped at Colorado State University in May 1976. This special will screen in July, probably in the Wednesday 6.30 special spot.