RUMOURS

Rip It Up, Issue 26, 1 September 1979, Page 6

RUMOURS

WELLINGTON Tracks for Sharon O’Neill’s new CBS album are being recorded at Marmalade Studios, September 3-14 with Jay Lewis producing. Musicians working on the album are Clinton Brown (bass), Wayne Mason and Sharon (keyboards), Lewis, Steve Robinson and Brent Thomas (guitars), Ross Burge and Steve Garden (drums). Sharon's new single, “Words” was produced by Steve Robinson and mixed in LA by Lewis-, as were the four completed tracks. The album is set for Nov/Dec release. The Wellington Jazz Festival over Labour Weekerld will be staged at Victoria University and feature many top musicians and guest, exNZ saxist Bruce Johnstone, who has played with Maynard Ferguson and Woody Herman among others. The Festival will raise funds for the Rodger Fox Big Band’s trip to Montreux next year. New bands on the scene young HM merchants Walking Corpse and purix Ambitious Vegetables with vocalist Crumbed Cutlet... the Normals are in Auckland, but not gigging while they sort out their membership... local support Dirt Cheap went down very well at the Last Resort, last month. Dragon will play the Winter Show building on Sept 30, in the afternoon, so as not to clash with Joan Armatrading that night ... The Rock Theatre is not now a regular venue, it will only open for name bands. Stiff Bix, a new troupe of professional actors, singers and musicians, do a six week cabaret run at the Rock Theatre from Sept 23. The backing band is the Wide Mouthed Frogs. Bands playing the Last Resort this month include The Plague (Sept 23), The Terrorways (Sept 20-22) and Toy Love (Sept 27-30). The Rodger Fox Big Band plays LR on Sunday October 7. GARY STEEL AUSTRALIA An early morning sojourn through Kings Cross turned up Mi-Sex and the Rockets sharing dinner. The Rockets are over here looking for work, fame and money but not necessarily in that order. And talking of Mix-Sex, the band continues to develop their following with the release of their debut album Graffiti Crimes. Expatriate Enzeders The Tourists (Brent Parlane, Andrew Kay etc) have changed their name to 33 South after the parallel which runs between NZ and Oz. The band have just been signed to Polygram and are going into the studio with former Fairport Convention player, Trevor Lucas as producer. Split Enz have been welcomed “home”, by enthusiastic crowds everywhere and look intent on staying in Oz for a while. They continue their full-house tour and are recording a live 12 inch EP, to be released before Christmas. John Hopkins, ex Split Enz manager has a new band under his wing. This time an electric country act called the Bushwackers. Ex-City Slitz guitarist Mike Molloy is now resident in Sydney where he is playing with avant-garde/new wave three piece called Seems Twice. Their first gigs have been as support to Thought Criminals at premier venues such as The Stagedoor and Rags (exchequers) ... other kiwi bands beginning to do well are Idiot Savant and Screamer. The Knack played to bemused audiences in Sydney while Mother Goose continue their local gigs to amused audiences... Th’Dudes’ singles get more airplay each week. JON ADAMS AUCKLAND There’s lots of local rockers heading back to Auckland in September to compete with the overseas acts hitting town. The big NZ gig is Citizen Band at the Auckland Town Hall, the hall’s sort-of-been liberated cos the tickets only cost you $3.80... also back in town are Street Talk, the Swingers and Toy Love. The Swingers play Liberty Stage, Sept 14 and 15... Street Talk have returned from their brief Aussie tour. Though they found playing a different venue

every night demanding, the weather was good and they got TV and radio exposure. Hammond's happy "the short tour has gone better than we expected.” It had to happen, Dave McLean is back with the Furys and they don’t play disco or new wave. The line-up is Dave (guitar/vocals, exHookers), Mike Cooney (guitar/vocals, exSnipes), John Berkley (bass/vocals, ex-Hard Facts) and John Gray (drums/image, the original Hookers’ drummer)... and alive and well in Sydney are the Hookers who now have a manager and work. Johnny Batchelor writes, “the bands I've seen, although tight, have not been very impressive. We’ve been getting the right sort of reaction.” Our Tim, from Split Enz has hosted Aussie’s Countdown (4 million viewers) twice in recent weeks. Split Enz are more popular than ever in Aussie, getting crowds as big as Australia’s top acts the Angels and Cold Chisel and “I See Red” has remained in the top 40 longer than any other Australian single, ever. Enz are recording a new single (self produced) and will probably do an album in late October coproduced by David Tickle who Enz worked with on “I See Red". Tickle also engineered Get The Knack and the forthcoming Blondie album. Still self managed, and enthusiastic, Enz are looking for a UK or USA break, but says Tim, “we are making a good living here and feel that if we. have to stay for six months, or so, we may as well see if we can go from strength to strength.” Harry Lyon was back in NZ for a fortnight. He left Aussie the night Hello Sailor completed the recording of their new single, “Son of Sam” (producer Richard Lush). It had become apparent that Sailor would have to cancel two weeks work due to Graham Brazier falling ill (possibly hepatitis relapse). Lyon returned to Aussie Sept 2 to rehearse and commence work on Sept 5. Harry is confident that "Son of Sam”, "being a more current release and involving the local (Aussie) recording industry will help break Hello Sailor in Australia. The band’s manager Phil Mills reports that Sailor have some great new songs and a new album will be released in the next few months. How is the tour going? In Phil’s own words, "the Australian reaction to the Sailors was not initially favourable, but we are developing our own audience, and always have a guaranteed few hundred kiwis.” D. Tours (formerly Da Blitz) gig soon at the Cavern (Darby Street’s new 'new wave’ venue) and HQ rock cafe ... Auckland’s Mainstreet has dispensed with resident band Strange Brew and now feature three different bands a night ... as the Swingers did not make it back to Auckland in time, Primmers are the first act to be recorded by IZM for Bryan Staff’s new NZ half hour. THE CORPORATION

CHRISTCHURCH The Vauxhalls (not to be confused with the T-shirt of the same name) have returned from several action packed weeks in Wellington. Now back to a three-piece (the band and Richard, their sax player parted company prior to the Wellington trip). Sadly, Christchureh’s finest, Streets of Flowers have been forced into temporary retirement. Brent, their drummer will not be active for several months through illness. The band hope to play again early November at an Arts Centre gig with the Vauxhalls. Wayne Manor runs regularly at the Old Sydenham fire station, on Friday nights. Bands playing there include Vauxhalls, Vacuum, Androids, Nameless, Head Office, Vapour and the Trails. Its reputation was marred recently when some moron threw a bottle at a Trail hopefully it was an isolated incident. No band deserves that sort of treatment.

There are rumours of a split in the Vibes, with Julie (vocals, keyboards) departing. Can the band without her, avoid drowning in subMagazine excesses that have been evident recently? The Vacuum pulled off something of a coup recently when they had a tape of theirs played on 3ZM. The station is better known as a patrol of 23 piece jazz rock groups and toy new wave bands.

The Swingers have played to packed house at the Hillsborough recently... bands threatening to come out of the closet include Teenage Spots, Dreaded Hamsters, Pure Steel (formerly Imogen Quest) and Surplus featuring Richard (ex-Stanley Wrench and Vauxhalls) and Julie (ex-Vibes). JANIE JONES

DUNEDIN Shuffle are working on original material for airing on 4X0... After Dark are in the studio completing video material... Paul Hiakita, lead singer and rhythm guitarist, has left Back to Back and has been replaced by Kipa Royal from Springheel Jack. Paul is in Auckland trying to re-establish himself as a solo artist.

Citizen band played to a small (500) but eventually appreciative audience at the Regent. Roxylox provided a competent support 510 t... Young Guy’s Five O’Clock Shadow apparently failed to make an impression at the Hatchcover... Growing Pains formed only a few weeks ago by ex-Thoroughbreds Mike Churnside and Andy Combes have already broken up through personal differences GEORGE KAY