Rumours

Rip It Up, Issue 98, 1 September 1985, Page 34

Rumours

UK & USA Vince Clarke has teamed up with yet another singer, Andy Bell, in a "permanent union" by the name of Erasure. Lucky Andy was selected from hundreds of hopefuls who answered newspaper ads ... expect Stiff Records to resume a higher profile now that managing director Dave Robinson has quit his equivalent position at Island to devote his energies exclusively to Stiff... Madness are back on the scene at last with new single 'Yesterday's Men' and album soon ... new Dexys Midnight Runners image is suits, ties and smart haircuts. The record accompanying the look is called Don't Stand Down ... that Michael Jackson role as Peter Pan will happen, and will be directed by Francis Ford Coppola; the catch is that the film we be only 13 mins long and will only be shown at Disneyland ... things were settled out of court when the ABC newscaster whose voice is used on the Paul Hardcastle single 'l9' threatened to

sue for s2m, claiming the record had ruined his career ... Stevie Marriot has gathered a bunch of past and present mods to record a version of the Small Faces’ hit 'All Or Nothing', the proceeds of which will be shared between the Band Aid and ARMS charities ... Everything But the Girl and Misty In Roots played at the recent youth festival in Moscow ... Pete Shelley is currently recording in the Cars' studio, but not with the Cars... possibility of more gigs by the "reconstructed" Led Zeppelin, with Chic man Tony Thompson drumming? Let's pray otherwise ... dem old codgers the Kinks played a quiet gig in Dublin recently; those in the know included the Frankies and others... former Cramps Ike Knox and Bryan Gregory are to play zombies in the noo George Romero flick Day Of the Dead. Wow! ... 'Wreckless' Eric Goulden is back with new band Captains Of Industry. Albums: Squeeze CosiFan Tutti Frutti, the Cure The Head On the Door, Stevie Wonder In Square Circle, Thompson Twins Here’s To the Future Days, Bronski Beat Hundreds and Thousands, ÜB4O Baggariddim (dubs

of previous stuff), Patti Labelle Patti, Sex Pistols The Original Pistols Live (with Matlock) and Live Worldwide, Flusker Du Flip Yer Wigg, Zeke Manyika Call and Response, Bobby Womack So Many Rivers To Cross.

Singles: Simply Red 'Come To My Aid', Lloyd Cole ‘Brand New Friend', Glenn Gregory and Claudia Brucker 'When Your Fleart Runs Out Of Time' (from Insignifigance soundtrack), Jesus and Mary Chain 'Just Like Floney'.

Palmerston North Radio Massey 92FM completes its 1985 year broadcast on Sept 25. Credit to Steven Joice, Lindsay Gregg, Nigel Corbett and 98 per cent of all other staff and those who gave their generous support and assistance. A new underage venue to be situated in the old Sports Centre in Andrew Young St will at long last give Palmerston North’s younger generation something to do at night. Spokesman Craig Wright is hopeful that the non-alcoholic venue will open in early October, initially Friday and Saturday nights Bpm-2am. The prospect that touring bands will perform at the venue is good news indeed. Notable recent band formations include Cement Garden and The Cockroach That Ate New York ... the former, along with Three Leaning Men laying down demos on a four-track with the assistance of Terry Chindler. Possible fruition will be a performance by both of these bands at the old City Council chambers in Square Edge. The End have moved to Auckland with the hope of doing some studio recordings... X-pose are to became resident band at the Awapuni... and Dosage B look set for stardom with their Excuse Me Big Nose EP selling well. David W.L. Reid

Auckland Latest offshoot from Campus Radio BFM is a planned Auckland compilation album. Provisional track listing looks exceptionally strong, with Bird Nest Roys, Chris Knox, Goblin Mix, Fetus Productions, Able Tasmans, Pterodactyls, Expendables, Not Really Anything, Nick Smith and Kim Blackburn and others all fairly likely to record a track each. Release is set for Feb-March, when all the stations get into gear again. This year’s Party Boys are Neil Finn. Dave Dobbyn, Mike Chunn and Peter Warren This time they’ll be getting as far south as Dunedin. Be sure to give the correct change... this year's NZ Mus-

ic Awards take place at the Michael Fowler Centre Monday November 11. This time it’s sponsored by United Building Society, who will have booths where public votes can be cast for the 'Song Of the Year’ category, which will again be run on a regional basis ... Charlie Gray is now financially divorced from the Last and First and has taken over the Capitol Cinema in Dominion Rd. He's having it remodelled with the interior done by Peter Rogers and neons by Paul Hartigan. As well as normal sessions he'll run late sessions on Friday and Saturday night. Upcoming attractions are the NZ film Kingpin, the American heavy metal spoof This Is Spinal Tap and the Argentinian film Funny, Dirty Little War. The whole idea is to make the cinema a friendly place to go, which after Midcity will be a bloody relief. Former lead singer for the Freudian Slips, Bayka, has gone solo. She’s singing jazz 'n' cruise at various city bars and has done a demo with a view to recording soon ... new about are the Love Brokers: Dave Ward (ex-Wait, vocals), Philip Clark (ex-Beat Souldiers, guitar and vocals), David Hartley (ex-Beat Souldiers, bass) and Ben Pearson (ex-Bell Boys, drums). They are recording at the Lab ... former Propeller Records boss Simon Grigg has returned to these shores from the UK full of the good soul music and has been guest disc-spinner at the Six Month Club a couple of times already. Our esteemed New Plymouth correspondent tells us: Loving Homes For Rotting Gnomes have called it a day, with the singer deciding he’s had enough ... new two-man band Glance Backwards is playing all-original material ... Hard Silence need a bass player, so anyone who wants to play original pop music and live in New Plymouth should phone NP 80-870 and ask for Terry. Meanwhile a debut single, the fruit of recent recording in Wellington ... Chinese Checkers bas-

sist Jocelyn Candy has moved to Wellington but band will continue with her returning for gigs... Ima Hitt will distribute the new single from the now Sydney-domiciled Henchmen

New address for the acquisition of Bill Direen-related “product" will be PO Box 4016 Wellington, cos he’s moved to the capital... Crystal Zoom has parted company with singer Bruce and dummer Yoh but they feature on several tracks of a new recording which may even be extended to album length by the remaining members. Russell Brown

Christchurch Ross Middlemass and Brian Reidy of the Radar Records shop have started their own record label. Radar Records After 23 years in the record business they decided to use their experience to provide an alternative to Flying Nun. First up on the label is a five track EP from Louie and the Hotsticks. The recording is being mixed by Tony Burns (Pelicans) and should be out early October. Also in the works is a live recording from Bushfire. Anyone wanting to find out more about the label contact Ross or Brian at the shop. The Prodigies are recording a three-track EP, likely A-side is 'Forever Dreaming. The six members hope to concentrate fulltime on the band next year, especially if the EP takes off... All Fall Down have just finished recording eight songs and are negotiating a distribution deal ... Queenstown-domiciled Cats 'n' Rats paid an early week visit to the Gladstone recently and will be back on a tour proper in November. The goodtime blues-country-

rock ’n’ roll band includes John Dodd (ex Midge Marsden) and Paul Hewitt (ex Coconut Rough).

Christchurch Arts Centre is running a percussion school starting early Sept. The six month course not only deals with percussion, but also covers other performing techniques and cul-* minates in a public performance. It’s a PEP scheme with limited vacancies, enquiries to the Labour Department ... things in town could start to liven up again with the Aranui opening its doors on Saturday arvos once more ...

most promising news though is that the Hillsborough might be back in action in the near future

... keep an eye on the United Services too ... John Greenfield