Rumours

Rip It Up, Issue 112, 1 November 1986, Page 42

Rumours

UK & USA Cliff Burton, bassist of Metallica, was killed in late September when the group’s tour bus overturned in Sweden. The rest of their European tour was cancelled, and according to a spokesman, "The band is in a state of shock, and for now, everything is on hold” ...

Luther Vandross is half the man he used to be, having shed 120 pounds. His new LP Give Me the Reason is out early Dec ... Billy Bragg’s new LP Taxman features a duet with country star/gynaecologist Hank Wangford. In the Pretenders lineup for the Get Close LR only guitarist Robbie Mclntosh returns from 1984’s Learning to Crawl. New rhythm section is bassist T M Stevens and drummer Blair Cunningham ...

David Bowie is in seclusion in Switzerland working on his new album ... Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics hurt his back at a NY concert recently, causing the band to cancel four dates of their US tour... Charlie Watts is taking his big jazz band to NY for concerts in December, and a live LP is planned. Plans are underway for the NZ release in ’B7 of compilations from Creation ,(the UK indie that released Kaleidoscope World) including the Weather Prophets, Jesus & Mary Chain 'Upside Down,’ and the Subway label, with the Razorcuts (for whom NZ NME writer David Swift drums) ... on route to UK No Tag stopped off in San Francisco to see the Dead Kennedys and provided sweet backing vocals on three tracks for the Kennedys’ new LP ... former Exploding Budgies drummer

James Murray has turned up with the Turncoats, who are attracting attention with their debut EP Motor Ball Meltdown on Rough Trade. Murray has also drummed for Slaughter Joe and played guitar and vocals with a reconstituted Eight Living Legs. Expect autobiographies next year from James Brown and the Temptations' Otis Williams ... Stevie Ray Vaughan was hospitalised for exhaustion upon arriving in London for aUK tour... Lionel Richie needs some sexual healing: “I know more people make love to my music than anyone else’s,” he said recently, “but I have to admit that I’m no terrific lover."

Auckland Zulu Records wish to point out that, contrary to last month's comment in the Dance Exponents’ story, the Roy Phillips project has not been “shelved.” On the contrary, its release has been “delayed until early next year, as there are too many releases on the market prior to Christmas.” Apologies for any confusion... Wellington’s Brothers Gorgonzola, now called the Elementals, are playing the Cascade Room with Robert on December 5 and 6. Speaking of Robert, they’ve been working on several films and recording an LP for release later this month ... Maya (that’s Hindu for “illusionary”) are Marama Noakes (vocals), Stephen Watson (guitar), Danny Milligan (bass) and William Griffiths (percussion).

After their rare-but-well-received support for Shriekback, the Car Crash Set’s new Another Day is out on Nov 17; also available will be a five-track chrome cassette...

with the Netherworld Dancing Toys winning the Ampex Golden Reel Award, SIOOO is awarded to a charity of the band’s choice.

They chose the NZ music quota petition, to help pay for the organisers' telephone and postage expenses.

Playing at the Gluepot corner bar recently have been Working Holiday, with Lynne Campbell on guitar, Daryn Karaitiana (son of Billy Kristian) on bass (natch), Penni Bousfield singing, Brendan Power on harmonica, and Marty Vreede on drums; they’ve recently been recording... Dave Dobbyn will contribute guitar on Al Hunter's album, and possibly do a duet too

... Heartwarrior are a north Auckland reggae/rock band based around singer/songwriter Tony Littlejohn. Organisation is underway for a Women’s Festival at Mangawhai (two hours north of Auckland) from February 13-15, 1987. For further information, write Sandra Morris, Box 46-211, Herne Bay, Auckland ... Wellington’s Stonehenge visit Australia this month, playing 14 dates in 11 days in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney and promoting their Jayrem EP Wings of Steel. Chris Bourke

Palmerston North The Remarkables have gone into recess for an indefinite period. They gave their final performance to a full-house at the Superliquorman, with new band lota Quota supporting. The Superliquorman has been well supported in the two months it’s been open as a venue. Watch for the Warners, Bananamen, Cement Garden and Three Leaning Men in coming weeks ... Three Leaning Men have nearly finished recording their mini-album, for March ’B7 release. Also scheduled for Feb/March are debut LPs from Harry Death and Paul Campbell and the End.

Appearing at PN’s own Farm Aid

at Linton Farm last month were Iceland Bars, Fetch Jones, Harry Death, Goldilocks and the Free Bears, Three Leaning Men and Overdrive. Proceeds went towards paying for the marquee ... Meltdown Records have a one day, open air music festival set down for late March, featuring a couple of international bands, among others ... in New Plymouth, Brian Wafer’s Ima Hitt Records is soon to release a compilation of North Taranaki’s finest. Gerard Martin Wellington

The Trephines have been recording for a South Indies release early next year... Aotearoa have finished recording at Marmalade and their LP He Waiata Mo Te Iwi (“Singing for our people”) will be out on Jayrem soon ... after a successful foray north, rockabillies Junglemice are distributing their live cassette. Send $8 (plus p&p) to Junglemice, 178 Tasman St, Newtown, Wgton ... the Primates head south for dates in December; see the calendar for details. At Frontier studios have been Let’s Planet, Kiwi Zoo, Coldshot, Hammerack, Manson Family, and a new duo called Back and Forwards ... finally, the release of the long overdue Paras EP is imminent, Nov. 17 in fact. Andre Upston

Christchurch Recent Flying Nun releases include the Bats’ 12” single, the Headless Chickens’ LP and Jay Clarkson's self-titled EP ... the Expendables may be performing again in January ... the Jean Paul Sartre Experience are embarking on their first tour to include both the North and South Islands, starting at Chippendale House on

November 14 and concluding in December at the Gladstone. The band hopes to complete its next album while in Auckland.

Proving that there is life after the War of the Bands, Murder Inc should have their EP out by the time they’ve finished supporting the Johnnys in Wellington and Auckland ... such was the response to the Haemogoblins reunion to support the Builders at the Gladstone that they’ve decided to stay together... the Aranui has been taken over by lan McKenzie, and as the Playroom will feature only touring bands. According to the manager there are no local bands up to standard.

New bands include the Avengers, (Rhys Dagg, Brent Williams and co), Nux Vomica, Glorious Dead, Nameless Few and Eyes Have 1t... and the big question is, where do we all go if the Gladstone goes back to having a resident band? John Greenfield Dunedin Some doubt hangs over the completion of the Rip’s album with the imminent departure of singer/guitarist Alistair Galbraith to Australia ... meanwhile the This Kind of Punishment album that the Jefferies brothers have been working on with newly drafted member Michael Morley has been put on hold following Graeme Jefferies shift to Christchurch ... the Weeds are mixing four.tracks for prospective posthumous release, including a version of Hot Chocolate’s kitsch epic ‘Emma’.

Former Goblin Mix bassist Alf Danielson has teamed up with David Kilgour (guitar/vocals) and Jeff Huani (drums)... the Cactus Club are a new band having sprung from the seeds of Government Life ...the Bend Correctors

have reformed ... the new Verlaines album, nearing completion, includes a remixed version of the Dunedin EP classic ‘You Cheat Yourself' complete with new vocal. The Eskimoes, a conglomeration of such bands as the Idles and Martian Picnic, recently made their debut... Rational Records recently held a four-band weekend at the Oriental to celebrate the release of the new Dunedin compilation Art for Chart’s Sake which has been selling extremely well in the city. The Cartilage Family