Rumours

Rip It Up, Issue 83, 1 June 1984, Page 26

Rumours

Auckland The first project to emerge from the breakup of Big Sideways (which happened, ironically, shortly after the signing of a contract with Mushroom Records) is Last Man Down, featuring Chris Green on sax. The band’s lynchpin is keyboardist Ross Mullins, who is well known as a session player. The band, completed by David White (ex Blues Busters) on bass and Mike Visser on drums, plays all original material. Meanwhile, Green is understood to have other projects up his sleeve.

New Great Unwashed bassist is Ross Humphries (ex Pin Group, Talking Horse Band). The Unwashed and Dunedin's fab Chills just might be popping over to Australia for a short tour in October, too ... meanwhile, across the Tasman. Split Enz have played a handful of shows without Tim Finn, as the older brother was in

Europe promoting his solo album. Younger brother Neil has had the odd sharp thing to say about Tim in the press recently... and Oz was not to the liking of Sonya Waters, who recently returned to Auckland after a few months there.

Les Wilson, the Gluepot's popular manager, was farewelled recently after 12 years' service which saw the pub develop into , the country’s most prestigious hotel venue ... Ja Ja Jackal have recorded their debut single 'Fun Supreme'/'Back and Beyond' at Mascot Studios with Phil Yule and are looking for a release deal. They are handled by the newly set-up Progressive Promotions, as are Nick Hanson’s new band Spare Messiah and Slice of Life, a five piece who have begun playing publicly after three years of playing together. Hello Sailor will reform for a single night to mark the closure of the Crypt nightclub, a frequent early venue for the band. The original lineup will play their farewell on July 1. The Crypt is to be redecorated and will reopen as a swept-up cabaret... lan Morris is working on some songs with the new Moving Targets lineup with a view to choosing tracks for a single ... Marginal Era have been in the wars lately, being dropped by their record company, Reaction, and having a tiff with the

people from Shazam. Their new single You Fascinate' will be the last on Reaction. The band walked out on Shazam filming, claiming that a promise from the director that they would not have to have a crowd of young girls dancing in front of them for the filming was broken when they were told they weren’t allowed to play without the dancers. Paul Agar and band will continue undaunted, however, and have a well-known face from the biz interested in taking over their management. Plans For A Building recently recorded their debut single 'Some Altar, Some Sacrifice' (at Echo Park the new name for Genesis Studios) c/w 'Heart and Soul' (at Last Laugh) for release on Hit Singles. They are: Tom Pound, vocals; Eric Paulston, keyboards; Philip Bishop, bass; Patrick Pound, guitars; and new member Roddy Carlson (ex Danse Macabre) on drums... Last Laugh has finished its CND Celebration cassette compilation. Featured are Miltown Stowaways, Marie and the Atom, Papakura PO, Martial Law, Otis Mace, Louise Brandt, Pamela Gray, Velvet Vipers and Dead Image. Prerelease orders, $6 from Box 6884 Auckland. Meanwhile the studio has been occupied with the recording of a debut LP for Peter Stewart and demos for ex Fla-

mingo Karen Hill. Marie and the Atom and From Scratch records begin soon. Former La De Das’ vocalist Phil Keys died aged 35 in Sydney recently, of heart disease. A La De Das' reformation of sorts was being postulated at the time ... and for those of you treasuring copies of the Mockers' LP, the band would like to correct some credits on the sleeve. The sequencer parts of 'Good Old Days' and 'You Only Live Once' were by Andrew Milne of Katango, not Simon Lee (who?)...

the Pleasure Boys are looking for a new drummer following the departure of Fred Soar to a respectable career. Phone 398-967:; 1^OT|gSi9igq| Adam and the Air Aces are the three scoundrels, poet Bruce Bisset and musicians Taranaki Sol and Ralph Bennett If you live anywhere in the North Island big enough to own a main street you'll probably catch them at some time on their extensive June-July tour.

The Kiwi Animal debut album Music Media is out now or thereabouts. You'll be able to hear it and other things on Campus Radio, 10pm-lam, Monday, June 18. Further info, song lyrics, etc, can be obtained from Box 6972, Auckland.

The Henchmen have begun

recording their second LP, Excelsior Obermensch at Progressive. Don't hold your breath though, release isn’t scheduled until January. Russell Brown

Wellington The big news this month is the Radio Active 89FM Band of the Year contest to be held at Victoria University Union Hall from 5-7 July. The first two nights will see four bands competing each night for places in the final plus a name act to close. The final, will be held on Saturday July 7, with a name act to close. Prizes include recording time at Marmalade Studios, a guaranteed release on Jayrem, •cash and free publicity.

Circus Block 4 have boxed on since the departure of their vocalist and will release a 12" single 'ln Stone In Steel’ in late June ... A heavy metal special was filmed recently at Ascot Theatre ’ for RWP. Acts involved were Strikemaster, Tokyo and Nightshade The Idles are recording a single at Mandrill about now. David Taylor Christchurch The Star and Garter is now the city's only live venue with regular band changes as the Gladstone now has Art Union resident six nights a week. Apparently the

management feels the lower door charges possible with a resident band will result in more cash Spent over the bar. The final nail apparently came when the 500 or so people who turned up to see the Mockers on a Monday night didn't spend as much as expected ... meanwhile the Star and Garter will be seeing the White Boys, Bats, Idles and various Dunedin bands in the near future ... Hardworking Aussie band Electric Lady may tour in late July/August. Lineup includes guitarist Eddie Hanson, once of Ticket.

The Edge (featuring Dick Driver) have an EP due out shortly. Three of the four tracks are Memories', 'Heels Over Head' and 'I Said Oi’ (the last being rather a party piece for the band, apparently). Timaru's Terminus is now being booked by Ezzy Promotions and an itinerary can also be arranged including Motueka and Blenheim. Call 482-590.

The Academy Cinema will present the classic 1930 s anti-pot propaganda film Reefer Madness on June 17. The film is being toured throughout the country by Pleasure Pak Promotions, run by local lad JohnE Leach. The film shows in Dunedin June 14,15, 16 and finishes on the West Coast at the end of the month. It tours the North Island in July. GG