RUMOURS

Rip It Up, Issue 129, 1 April 1988, Page 4

RUMOURS

UK & USA Prince’s new album Lovesexy will be out April 25. Annoyed at Warner Brothers’ leaking the Black album, Prince is keeping tapes of the new one away from the company. Black has been shelved, not because of its risque content, but because the new material is more commercial. First singles could be 'Alphabet Star' or 'The Sex of It,’ and Prince is preparing for a “Lovesexy’’ US tour . . the manager of Bon Jovi and Motley Crue recently pleaded guilty to charges of importing 20 tons of marijuana (that's 627,000 ounces) into the US in 1982 ... Gil Evans, the noted jazzer who recently worked with Robbie Robertson, has died at age 75 of complications after prostate surgery. Taking part in a huge benefit gig at Wembley Stadium marking Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday on June 11 are Dire Straits, Simple Minds, Whitney Houston, Sly & Robbie, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Maxi Priest Cher now earns as much on the cabaret circuit as Frank Sinatra Linda Ronstadt has recently been performing concerts completely in Spanish Motown Records insists it’s not for sale . . . ÜB4o's Earl Falconer is facing reckless and drunk driving charges following a car accident which killed his brother Roy, the group’s sound engineer John Cooper Clarke is now plugging honey puffs in a TV ad . .. the Jean-Paul Sartre Experience received a rave review in the NME for their self-titled album . . Memphis Slim, the American blues pianist who cancelled a NZ tour earlier this year, died in Paris in February at the age of 72. Slim composed the B B King standard 'Every Day I Have the Blues.’ Bruce Springsteen is doing three-hour shows on his current US tour, opening by throwing roses at the crowd and playing many new songs. Patty Scialfa, backing vocalist on the last tour, is taking a more prominent role, and the E Street Band is augmented by fivepiece New Jersey horn section La Bamba and the Hub Caps Anthems such as 'Badlands’ and 'Thunder Road' have been dropped, but he's still doing 'Born to Run’ and ‘Rosalita’ — and finishing with ‘Devil

With a Blue Dress.’ Sly Dunbar co-produced Gwen Guthrie s recent safe sex anthem ‘Can’t Love You Tonight’ b/w ‘The Surgeon General’s Funky 4/4 Beat’ Mick Jagger is touring Japan, with Stevie Ray Vaughan as opening act. . . Tom Petty is working on a solo album with Jeff Lynne . . their contract with IRS up, REM is looking for a new label. Bidding starts at $2 million . . . Brian Wilson has been in the studio putting finishing touches on the legendary Smile LP that the Beach Boys abandoned in 1967. Auckland The After the Flood concert held at the Mt Smart bigtop on Good Friday was a great success, with the audience approaching 8000 and the proceeds going to East Coast flood relief. Opening the show were Hawaiiki and Billy T James who i MCed along with some radio jocks. The Nares gave a big, tight performance of their hits, plus their next single, ’Everybody’ (out soon on RCA) with spirited acoustic guitar added by Melanie Forbes of Mango. The Chills were full of energy, playing through their most memorable songs, with Martin Phillipps projecting well on 'Wet Blanket’ particularly. Graham Brazier and the Corner Boys are on a roll, and they romped through his recent material plus ‘Fugitive for Love' with aplomb. Then it was a Johnnys onslaught. A last minute addition to the bill when Noiseworks couldn't make it (that probably suited the crowd) the Johnnys were full of spirits (champagne on an 8.30 am first class flight from Sydney) and bravado. Their cautionary tales came over in a wall of noise, and they're still doing the Clean's 'Anything Can Happen.' Compared to the cow-punk cacophony, Herbs were delicate and crystal clear. Morris Watene’s 50s’ sax and ‘Nuclear Waste' particularly standing out. When the Cats Away whipped by like a tornado, knocking the crowd out with ‘Free Ride,’ their acapella spiritual, and an epic ‘Only Women Bleed’ from Margaret Urlich Dave McArtney took over for 'Gutter Black' and a wonderful ‘Darlin’ before the Cats finale ‘lt’s Raining Men' and a 120 bpm (at least!) ‘Respect.’ Credit is due to the Cats’ band, who shone through their set then battled through supporting the final two acts with only an afternoon's rehearsal. Jenny Morris was irrepressible,

her set of hits proving once again she is in a league of her own. The band were by now running away with their own enthusiasm but her powerful, true voice shone through. Then it was Dave Dobbyn's turn, and he chose to unveil many songs from his new album. With his own band, ‘Two Fast Cars’ and ‘Defying Gravity’ will be killers live, and no one could fail to be moved by the

delicacy of ‘Loyal.’ Peter Warren on drums provided a lynch-pin for Dobbyn's stunning vocal performance. The finale? Well, a slow 'Be Mine Tonight’ at the request of Gary Verberne . . . and of course the final number was a shambolic 'Slice of Heaven,’ with-everyone involved on stage, audience and musicians revelling in the spirited shambles. Congratulations must go to Kim Hegan who organised the event, plus last year’s great Greenpeace benefit.

Not only NZ bands have trouble getting airplay from commercial radio. One Auckland FM station was reluctant to playlist U2's 'One Tree Hill’ at first, despite the local connection. (The song, perhaps they need to be told, is named after one of Auckland’s most prominent landmarks, and dedicated to the memory of U2's NZ roadie Greg Carroll). The most likely reason was that the song didn't appear in the programmer's Bible Radio & Record, which tells programmers worldwide what is safe to playlist for their format. But ‘One Tree Hili’ is a single only in NZ. Still, Ready to Roll came up trumps with their moving,

cobbled together video for the song, currently No 1. The Chills are still auditioning drummers in anticipation for Caroline Easther’s departure. Those interested phone (09) 398595. A new single ‘Wet Blanket’ will be out soon, also a 12" of ‘Blanket’ with the ’House of 100 Rooms' EP combined (as it was released in the UK) .. .

the Sunday Club for musicians, entertainers and associated trades operates at Wildlife from spm till lam.

Knightshade, who undertake a national tour this month, have signed with Mushroom Australia, and have been recording in Sydney, plus remixing ‘Out For the Count' . . . Shona Laing has got a US deal with TV Tunes, the company that released the Saints’ All Fools Day LP. Laing's South will be released after the ‘Soviet Snow’ single ... the Bats are releasing a remix of ‘North by North,' the RIU critics’ fave song of 1987. It will come out on a 12” with several unreleased tracks on the flip. Following a North Island tour in June, they're off to the USA and Europe . . . New Plymouth hardcore band Casualty have been recording at Writhe, to release a mini LP on Do this Distribution.”

From Flying Nun expect a reissue of the Gordons first LP and Future Shock' 12”, the Headless Chickens LP in May, and a Snapper EP "sometime in the future" . . . Musical Sounds in the West Plaza building are running a guitar solo competition. Each month $l5O of free credit will be given to the best

guitar solo, with the winners going into a draw to win the S2OOO Sharvel Jackson model six guitar at the end of the year. Judges include Taura Eruera of the School of Creative Music, Eddie Pausma of Satellite Spies and Grant Wells of Dark Harbour. Bass players are welcome to enter also.

The third issue of Alley Oop is out, with articles on Look Blue Go Purple, the Chills, Straitjacket Fits and the Dunedin scene. A classy mag for $1.50 plus p&p from Box 5164, Moray Place, Dunedin ... Al Hunter joined the Warratahs on stage during their March Gluepot gigs, singing 'Up on Cripple Creek’ among others ... the final blow for record production in this country happened last month when Academy Press announced they will no longer print LP covers. They’ll still do CD and cassette covers, but the decision means it will be that much harder for NZ bands to put out 12”ers and LPs. Chris Bourke Christchurch Hammerack and Terminator have both sorted out their lineups, so the local metal scene is thriving. Terminator have acquired the infamous (so I’m told!) Big Den from Destroyer, while Krome have just lost another vocalist as have Stormbringer. If you want details on the local HM scene Grunt Records/Ace Tshirts on Colombo Street is the place to go ... Audio Access have been busy over the last month with bands including Prodigies, Bel Air,

Smacc Riflemen and 3220 Blues Band. The studio is also working on a movie soundtrack and the latest Clean compilation for release on CD . . . keep an eye out for art exhibitions held monthly at Audio Access. The King George is now host to touring acts and occasionally local alternative bands ... promoter Geoff Tainui (470 Armagh St) is keen to hear from any interested acts and will have a compilation tape out soon on his alphabet label ... across the road from the King George, things are back in full swing now that Paul O’Brien (522376) has returned to the Subway . the Playroom is constantly under seige from resident band the Bratt Brothers, who have been finding interesting ways to entertain their strong following Clive Greenwood (McKenzie Hotel manager) has organised a South Island circuit for touring acts. Other bits: Blue Factory cassette distributors are looking at going vinyl Vice have moved from Caesars to the Underground .. . new fanzine to look out for is Sunbird', contents include an in-depth interview with Hamish Kilgour . new bands include Powerage and XRay Vision John Greenfield Wellington The Warratahs are to release a second single from their album, ‘Maureen,’ backed with the instrumental ‘East of Mt Eden.’ They even have TV advertising for the album . . . the Gordons first single and the ►

► Future Shock EP are being released by German . label Normal, and available here through Flying Nun on CD and vinyl. Work has started on a new album, but will take a while as work on it is fitted in among other commitments . .. with Phil of Skank Attack postponing overseas travel plans, the band have been \ recording at Writhe and mixing live material for an album. Nigel Stone has been in Australia arranging the pressing of the Holidaymakers new single 'Sweet Lover,’ a Bill Withers cover that was recorded at Marmalade, produced by Stone, and will be released on Pagan ... the Living Daylights have a new tenor sax player Paul Kentall, replacing Neville Schwarbe, who after his brief stint with Ardijah has moved to Melbourne ... No 9 have been recording at Writhe for a new 12' release. They tour north in April .. . Putty in Her Hands have recorded demos for a new album to follow their successful EP of last year. The Wazzo Ghoti album has been delayed again with the band rejecting the test pressing from Oz. In the interim they have reissued their live tape Stuff What We Did and put out a Tshirt ... Caroline Easther is back in town having left the Chills because of recurring ear problems. She will continue parttime drumming and get back into - journalism . .. Flesh DVice have booked the Cricketers for a Friday the 13th Halloween gig in May .. . the Wart recently drove a lot of pun- , ters to the back wall and out the door with excessive volume at a Clarendon gig. Plans for the extension of the Pavilion Bar have been resurrected by . the new manager ... the Southern Cross is to be revamped into a real ale pub,'but will continue live bands. Meanwhile the Clyde Quay continues to stand empty months after its closing . .. and talking of empty buildings, how about Chase and others opening up some . of the vacated but still standing buildings around town. Demolitions have stopped and there are dozens of bands looking for rehearsal space ... the NZ Drama School have finally found a permanent home in, Vivian St '... the Superliquorman i, pub in Palmerston North is open to live gigs again, with No 9, the Jonahs and Wazzo Ghoti booked for April and early May. Congratulations to Danny Mulheron and his excellent Death of a Jazz Critic show at the Steinie Club.

A true fringe show, with the line of the year: “I’d rather rob a bank than go to a left-wing show sponsored by one," referring to the General Finance connection with the Three

penny Opera . ... Access Radio are looking for keen volunteers to do shows, particularly the Saturday and Sunday night open music shows. Call them on 741787 ... a word to those doing the sometimes brilliant cooking show on Radio Active lay off the cooking sherry ... despite good houses and booming bar sales, Orientation still lost money. • John Pilley Dunedin ' Straitjacket Fits have left. Backto back farewell gigs on a Thursday night were tangible reminders of just how good this band is. Sobbing in bedrooms continues citywide ... also, shock after Cactus Club announced an indefinite break from live performances after a big double bill with Doug the Warlock at the Oriental. Plan to record will continue, apparently. Doug are also looking at following up last year’s tape release. Mr Big Nose have split after (as they put on their posters) “a short but - explosive career." Mainman Ken Stewart's imminent travel plans and Robert Scott's commitment to a Bats tour were cited as reasons for a break. The band is to record at Radio One, but prospects of a release are uncertain. Support at the last gig was Steven (formerly Seed Cake and Spiritual Gas Station) . .. Dead C are also recording for a four track, 7” release on Expressway Records. An album on Flying Nun is due soon ... Sam Manzanza, a talented guitarist/singer/ songwriter from Zaire, has been playing regularly solo, and with his band (Simon Roughan, Scott Brown and Bevan Benfell). Rich and entertaining blues and rock, African style. . Hot new band practising is the 3Ds, with members from Look Blue Go Purple, Bird Nest Roys and Mr Big Nose . .. after so much promise last year, Tin Can Dread returned to the live arena with a gig at the Oriental. The band now has two guitarists, with Cactus Clubber Martin Downie joining encumbent six-strin-ger and vocalist Brian Baird, Gordon Baird (bass), Tony Dick (drums) and Barbara Carey (backing vocals) ...

fears of the loss of Craig Watt and the Dynamic Duo have been allayed with the arrival of a new drummer, Gordon Johnston, formerly of the Strut ... a new venue 99

Stuart St hosted its first band, Ahika of Christchurch last month. Small and friendly, the venue is smoke and alcohol free. Another new venue is the Nerve Centre, run by a member of Survivors of the Plague .. . local bad boy glammers KGB look set to split with guitarist Richard Van Plat deciding it’s time for a bit of travelling . . .

Johnny Mac and the Thrusters have been busy of late, with live shows most weekends. The band is preparing to film a video and is due to release its second cassette about May.

Sean Flaherty