RUMOURS

Rip It Up, Issue 42, 1 January 1981, Page 2

RUMOURS

UlK| |& USA

"Without John Lennon, most of us would be in a different place tonight," said Bruce Springsteen to his Philadelphia audience, the night Lennon was shot dead. Springsteen then performed the first recording he ever purchased, the Beatles ‘Twist and Shout'. Woody Allen’s latest, Stardust Memories has been screening in New York for several months, and in the film a celebrity named Simon Bates is approached by an autograph seeker who later in the film shoots Bates ... Tom Verlaine was dropped by Elektra Records but Warners have signed him. He is working with Television bassist Fred Smith and Patti Smith drummer Jay Dee Daugherty ... to prove he is in good health, Bob Marley will tour the USA in January and record in Jamaica in February ... Undertones have left Sire Records. From Sire, expect David Byrne and Brian Eno album My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts in March ... next Iggy Pop is entitled Here's Iggy. Watch out Meemees, the man is doing 'Louie Louie’ on stage ... top single at Xmas in UK was 'Stop The Cavalry’ by Jona Lewie ... K-Tel UK have released a Bowie hits, 1969-1980 ... Joe Strummer plans to release tapes of Clash forerunners, the 101ers. (The world’s first triple single?) NME fashion writer, Nick Kent reckons Sandinista! is “strong testimony that- Clash have lost their bearings and find themselves in a cul de sac” ... ex-Squeeze keyboardist Jools Holland has a new band called Millionaires ... new live Magazine album is Play and was recorded at Melbourne Festival Hall September last year. Robin Simon has left the band. Original Magazine guitarist, John McGeoch is back just for sessions for the next

studio album ... Flying Lizards have played their first gig ... John Lydon was acquitted on his Irish assault charge. The hearing lasted only five minutes ... new Specials B-side is Bob Dylan’s 'Maggie’s Farm' ... Chic man Nile Rodgers is producing some tracks for Debbie Harry ... expect new Stones album about March. Mick may produce next Peter Tosh Rumour man Martin Belmont is guitarist on the Carlene Carter USA tour ... the Carl Palmer/Rick Wakeman band has been scrapped ... Police have recorded a Japanese language version of ‘De Do Do Do’ ... Genesis man Phil Collins has signed a solo recording deal with Virgin Records. By the way, Genesis won Melody Maker's Readers’ Poll. Led Zeppelin were 'Band of the Year’ in 1979 ... Devo single 'Whip It’ is the best selling single in the LA area ever ... by the way Bat Fasterlyb on last Feelgood album was not producer Nick Lowe but was ex-Rumour man, Bob Andrews ... Adam Ant’s real name is Stuart Goddard ... Generation X are now Gen X with Terry Chimes (Tory Crimes on first Clash album) on drums and Jamie Stevenson on guitar. New album is Kiss Me Deadly ... other new albums in foreign places include, Blues Brothers Made In America, James Carroll (a male Patti Smith) Catholic Boy, CSN Replay (best of), Residents Commercial Album (NZ release soon), Zapp Zapp (Warners band produced by Bootsy Collins with hit single ‘More Bounce to the Ounce’), Visage Visage (Polydor hobby album by Ultravox’s Midge Ure and Billy Currie with Magazine’s Dave Formula and John McGeoch), Rita Marley Who Feels It Knows It (Trident), Yes Yesshows, Jimi Hendrix Woke This Morning And Found Myself Dead (1968 New York’s Scene Club performances with guests Jim Morrison, Buddy Miles and Johnny Winter), Linton Kwesi Johnson LKJ in Dub, Jam Sound Affects, Stevie Winwood Ace Of A Diver and Slade Slade Smashes (Polydor hits).

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Yet another independent recording from the Capital. Out now is a limited edition of the Subjects’ ’Book Theatre’/'ln So Many Respects'. The band reformed for few Xmas gigs in hometown, Taupo ... likely to provide the second in a series of limited edition singles are Protons who are looking for a synth player (phone 845-598)... the Red have also recorded and mixed tracks intended for release. They have replaced drummer Matthew Gordon with Steve Emery (ex-Wonders). Jason Sad has lost his new band after only one performance. The ex-Backstreet component have been demoing songs and a mark 2 version of the band is in the offing ... the vexing question of turning or not turning professional threatens to split the Mockers right down the centre. Current polling is one yes, one no, two undecided ... still gigging with stand-in drummers are Hot Spoons. After Sweetwaters Reel to Real will split ... big crowds for Eels/Newz show as it heads

North ... new around town are Spirit Level, Barry’s Boys, Rejects and A-Front. The majority of these on the punk front suggesting that the 'imitate-a-pom-a-day' fad will continue to provide unrelieved tedium well into ‘Bl. In town soon at either Last Resort or Terminus will be Blams, Knobz, Androidss, Knobz, Red Mole, Knobz, Tigers, Knobz and of course numerous actual Wellington bands ... special mention to the Evening Post copywriter who altered Last Resort ad to read Coup D'Etat and you should see what they do to the news. Les Crew

PIUIN eTdTT n

The Clean have recorded some of their own material and sent it to Barry Jenkin. They are saving to buv a van for future Nl and SI tours. The Chills, according to Clean drummer Hamish Kilgour, are worth watching. They consist of Rachael Phillips (keyboards), Alan Haig (drums), Peter Gutteridge (ex-Clean guitar) and Martin Phillips (ex-Same bassist). Drummer Neville Anderson (ex-After Dark, ex-Tears) has joined Strictly Blues who depart in February for Palmerston North ... Axis are breaking up because of conflicting personal interests ... Jim Taylor has joined Cruze ... Knobz will spend first few months of ‘Bl in Auckland and will possibly record their debut album. George Kay

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Newz are off to Australia on February 9. They will work in Melbourne for about three months until they find suitable management. Their single, ‘Accident Prone’/'Motor Marriage’ will be released by Mushroom Records to coincide with their arrival. The band are working on new material. Look out for ‘Nothing Ever Happens In My Life' and ‘Animal Kingdom’. • There is a possibility that some of Playthings may join a forthcoming Jane Walker/Paul Keen venture ... Gordons will tour Nl after Sweetwaters with new songs like ‘Spick and Span’ ... at Gladstone in Feb are Techtones (11-14) and Pop Mechanix (20-21). Local bands in early weeks will include Syphoners, Dodgers, Solatudes, Strand, Orggies and Charles Atlas ... Confirmed for 3ZM concert on Feb 6 at QE2 are Top Scientists and the Techtones. Yo Yo and Zerobars will be playing the Aranui for six weeks from February. Then Yo Yo tour . 25 Cents did a good support for Blam Blam Blam. Cents are writing material and looking for a guitarist/vocalist ... Alan Park's Old Denis are playing the British but is off to LA soon ... Bill Devine (ex Vacuum, Kaziportico) is back in town soon ... Wolf City are now the Spacers. The PA situation is continuing to deteriorate. Mike Lewis and his rigs leave for Auckland in April... Hillsborough is available again for local bands ... Jason Wawati is replacing Vonny Fowler on 3ZM. Laura Mitchell & JW

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There is lots of local vinyl to look forward to in 1981. Dave Dobbyn has his first post-Dudes 45 out. It’s 'Lipstick Power'/'Behind A Painted Smile' ... Newmatics and Screaming Meemees will record for Ripper. In February the same label will release the Swingers’ Aussie 45, ‘Counting the Beats’/'One Good Reason’ and a solo single by Enz drummer Malcolm Green. Next do-it-yourself on the market will be a four track Shoes This High 45 featuring 'The Nose One', ‘Foots Dream', ‘A Mess’ and 'Not Waiting’. The tunes are recorded and pressing will take place soon ... Herco Pilots may indulge too. They have recorded four tracks at Harlequin. The Propeller man, Simon Grigg, has his Class Of ‘Bl in production. Tracks on Side One are Ainsworths ‘Danger Man', Bombers ‘Dance’, Newmatics 'Five Miseries’, Rebel Truce ‘The Man Inside', Killjoys ‘l’m Normal' and Moderns ‘Day Has Ended’. On Side Two you get ‘Screaming Meemees ‘All Dressed Up’, Youth For A Price 'Oh Yeah Oeee Baby', Blam Blam Blam ‘Second World’, Rhythm Method ‘Carousel’, Newtones ‘New Way' and Vivid Militia 'Let’s Go To Australia’. After Sweetwaters, next gig for Split Enz tinkle king Eddie Rayner is as producer of next Pop Mechanix hit single ... new Knobz 45 is ‘KGBTLiverpool to America'. The latter is a tribute to John Lennon ... entering the singles scene soon are the Furys with 'Auckland Fun’ and Penknife Glides are recording at Mascot with Alastair Riddell producing. A side is ‘Laugh And Cry’. Flip is ‘Taking the Weight,off‘. Early in 1981 CBS Records will release the original 'She’s A Mod’ by Ray Columbus, in a pic sleeve and release the first two La De Das albums in a 2LP set. Neat, neat, neat! A big shake-up in the Crocodiles line-up leaves Tony and Jenny still standing, Rick E. Morris (ex Crocs and Dudes sound) on rhythm guitar, Wellingtonian Barton Price on drums and manager Mike Chunn temporarily on fat bass ... in March Paul Hewson will leave Dave McArtney’s Pink Flamingos. Hewson will return to Australia but the planned Dragon reunion tour is off. Hewson may be replaced by a guitarist.

Look out for the Broken Dolls starring two ex Valentinos, Dave Spillane and Simon Lynch and two ex Dudes, Les White and Bruce Hambling. They will record several Spillane/Lynch songs in February ... New Entrants are now called Entrants and are booked by Muchmore Associates ... Hammond Gamble Band will record in March. Bruce Lynch is now playing bass ... Class of 'Bl will be in stores by late February. Blam Blam Blam track will now be 'Motivation'.

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Maybe you never thought you would see Bryan Ferry on a farm at Ngaruawahia. (Have they got tennis courts?) Anyway the stars are all heading for the countryside this year. Roxy Music, Split Enz, Cold Chisel, Flowers, Jo Jo Zep, Reels, Mi-Sex and INXS to Sweetwaters and Charlie Daniels Band, Dizzy Gillespie Quartet, Kevin Borich & Dutch Tilders and Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee to Nambassa. Tons of kiwi talent too, have fun. To plan your three, one or five day excursion here are the lists of acts appearing on each day. Firstly SWEETWATERS in order of appearance. Friday: Flying Doctors, Newmatics, Flyte X-7, Ariel, Steroids, Knobz, Mockers. Saturday: Penknife Glides, Otis Mace, Push, Jos Hodzelmans, Garage Crawlers, Rhythm Method, Crocodiles, General Public, Techtones, Pop Mechanix, Split Enz, Jo Jo Zep, Tigers, Kim Hart. Sunday: Screaming Meemees, Meryl Yvonne & Jess Hawk-David, Blam Blam Blam, Midge Marsden, Local Heroes, Gloria Gibson, Top Scientists, Pink Flamingos, Coup D'Etat, Mi-Sex, Roxy Music, Hammond Gamble Band, INXS, Clive Wilson. Monday: Gordons, Herbs, Reel to Real, Taste Of Bounty, Spys, Rodents, Valentinos, Flowers, Cold Chisel, Reels. Acts on the NAMBASSA main stage are listed below: Thursday: Spirit Level, Chief Oren Lyons,. Christian Borleis, Digorie, Slick Stage, Sunny & Paul, Mangaweka Viaduct Blues Band, Lee Connolly, Kris Hines, Coackroach, Zazen Dancers, Chicane, Mahana, Radha Wardrop, Matthew Brown. Friday: Hui Mai, Maranga Mai, Divyanand, Gary Whitcombe, Steven Gaskin, Chaos, Zig Zag, Smokestack, Soularwind, Limbs, Apocalypse Postponed, Hattie & the Havana Hotshots, Axis, Auckland String Quartet.

[ Saturday: Ram Das, Steve ITullochl Willie Dasent Blues Band, Steven Gaskin, Protons, Limbs, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Gary Whitcombe, Dizzy , Gillespie Quartet, Top Twins, Bill Walker, The Charlie Daniels Band, David Hollis, i Kevin Borich & Dutch Tilders, Tribrations, Rattan Thakurdas. Sunday: Jim ( Cairns, Grant Bridger & Band, 1860 Band, Lee & Rob, Rodger Fox Big | Band, Gray McCormick, Graeme Gash, Sonny• Day ' & the Blue Boys, John Mayall ]&' f Band, Billy TK & the Powerhouse, Furys. Monday: Touch Of The Times, Bruce 1 Bissett, Matthew Brown, Hattie & the Hotshots, Red Rox, Steamshack, Gloria Gibson, Meryl ; Yvonne, > Jess ; Hawk-David,' Prisoner, . Bye Bye ’Jam, Midnight Oil have cancelled from Nambassa as they were , not willing to play the last night of the Festival (Monday): and could not arrive in time to play Sunday after a Saturday night gig in AustraJianßgpnppm . The Reels, the band Split Enz chose as support 'act for their recent- Aussie concerts, will do an extensive North Island Tour after Sweetwaters. Though best known for their hit ‘Prefab Hearts’, their. debut album The Reels is also released in New Zealand. Dates are: Jan 26 Sweetwaters, Jan 30 & 31 Gluepot, Feb 2 Framptons Hamilton, 4 & 5 Last Resort, 6 & 7 Mayfair Hastings, 11 Hillcrest Hamilton and Feb 13 & 14 Auckland’s Mainstreet. Flowers do two nights at Mainstreet on January 27 & 28. Support acts will, be Pop Mechanix and Flying Doctors. The Willie Nelson, Little River Band and Australian Crawl epic hits Western Springs on February 6 and Athletic Park two . days later. Both concerts commence at 2 pm. Australian 'Downhearted’ Crawl are releasing a new single, 'Beautiful people' to coincide with the tour. Police; (who recently headlined at Madison Square Gardens New York) will play Wellington Town Hall | Feb 10 & 11 and Auckland's Logan Campbell Centre on Feb 13 &T 4. Not many tickets remain, so don’t delay. . John Mayall will | return late February to tour New Zealand. Dates are Christchurch Town ■ Hall Feb 25, Regent ] Dunedin 26, Opera! House Palmerston North 27, -.Wellington Town Hall 28 and Auckland Town Hall | MarchV^BWBBD What will the future hold? Sister Sledge and the Pointer Sisters will tour early 1981. Magazine will support Police in Australia but no NZ dates have been confirmed. Both Clash and Bruce Springsteen have announced plans to tour downunder but no dates have been set?