RUMOURS

Rip It Up, Issue 144, 1 July 1989, Page 33

RUMOURS

CHRISTCHURCH Whilst the rest of the world is now in the grips of Bat (manl) fever, our own Bat heroes have been conspicuously absent from the live scene. The band are awaiting the release of their new album before

heading back to the world's stages. In the meantime Paul has been learning the art offilm-making, Malcolm has been studying at Otago University, Kay has been training daughter Rose and Robert has been Clean-ing overseas. Phantom Billstickers have once again been battling the system at the hallowed halls of the City Council where the powers that be have promised at least one poster bollard in a central position sometime in the near future (Council Time) with the possibility of more bollards to follow. The Carlton has reopened its disco doorsto (occasional) live bands although only on a Monday or Tuesday ... JPS Experience and Breathing Cage were firstto test the water and managed a healthy crowd even though they played on one of the coldest nightsinyears... keep an eye outfor Bailter Space at the Carlton later this month and

Straitjacket Fits in September. Failsafe have been busy recording Dolphin, Catherine Wheel, Little Dead Things and others for cassette releases in the coming month ... Dolphin have had to cancel a North Island tour due

to the departure of drummer Steve. New Dolphin drummer is Shane from the Pleasure Boys ... Steve Birse has a new, as yetunnamed band, whichincludes guitarists Wayne and Leon from the now defunct Blue Flesh Syndrome, whilst

another Blue Flesher Simon McLaren has puttogether Loves Ugly Children which includes ex-Gift people.

Other bits: Alan Parks has a new cassette-only release of original material which features members of Red Hot Blues, Helen & The Hound Dogs and others ... Bruce Rae is continuing his battle with CV and the video suppliers and whilstthey have reached a stalemate Bruce is now returning to his crusade to have NZ metal on commercial radio ... The Axel

Grinders are confinuing to gain alarge following and have a new vocalist, Rita, who replaces Celia Starr. Andin the “what ever happened to” department: after various line-up problems it appears the members of 3 Guesses have headed in different

directions ... and it appears the same fate has befallen Wax Tadpole ... Smacc Riflemen look setto reappearundera new name...and Murder Incwho are now based in Sydney have justsigned a worldwide record deal with Polygram (whichinvolves lotsa money!). J. Greenfield AUCKLAND ; Good news on the charts for The Warratahs whose second LP Too Hot To

Sleep wentin atNo.2o ... also gunning for number one are rappers Double J & Twice The T with ‘She’s AMod/ Mod Rap’, a hip-hop version of the Ray

Columbus & The Invaders song featuring Ray himself ... Johnny Spacificsingle | Don't Know Why'is also released at the end of the month. TVNZ have chosen Sistermatic’s forthcoming ‘Million Dollar’ single as backing for nightclub scenesin the third series of Gloss. Does this mean we getto see Simon Praast doing the Bobby Brown . danceroutines?... The same City Council that allowed the Melba and His Majesty’s to be knocked down and the Aotea Centre to be built has declared war (again) on the city’s bill-stickers. Posters are being

removed and the advertisers billed — evenifthe advertisers happen to own the wall which the posters are on ... The recent Numark DJ Competition was swamped with entries from both Auckland and Wellington, and will probably become a regular event (see Live review this issue) ... also crowded was the weird Gothym City do atthe Galatos St Theatre. DUNEDIN Disturbing (with a capital Death Knell) news for local music with the closure of the European Hotel's Burgandy Bar as the only pub taking original bands. The recent increased profile of the Nerve Centre

could alleviate some of the problems, that is if people leave their prejudices as well as their glass atthe door.

Before the Euro’s closure, Snapper, fresh from a phone interview with Sounds, played their first pub gig of the year.

Aggressively hypnotic as ever, they were however almost upstaged by their support acts— asstunning solo setfrom Alastair Galbraith and the debut of wonderfully brilliant new band Cyclops ..aweek previously The Soulminers somewhat surprisingly (but notundeservedly) had drawn 600 people to the Euro ... moving to ‘the top of the class of ‘B9 are Death Ray Cafe and the Torquemandas who have atrack each on aforthcoming Pagan compilation. Tripping down memory lane at the Empire: with Nick Wilkinson back in town with Clap-O-Meter, the Alpaca Brothers reformed for a one-off gig. Also bringing back memories the previous day were recenttrans-Tasman travellers The Verlaines returning to where it all began to play unadvertised to 30 people atthe Empire’s Queen’s Birthday band festival ... recent visitors to Dunedin include Drone, The Wart, The Clear, JPSE and Cassandra’s Ears. Next on the list are Bailter Space who will play a Radio One Alternative night at Sammy's on July 20 with Stephen.

And Perfect Garden's future looks more assured with the blossoming of another darling budin the form of a new drummer— fringe and pointy leather boots opfional necessities. Craig Robertson :

WELLINGTON John Dixis currently up-dating his Stranded In Paradise radio series and is planning a compilation album to complement his book ... Noise And Effect DJ Rocket V won the local hearts of the DJ mixing champs and the group are planningto record ... Putty In Her Hands have been recording at Marmalade ... the 6 Volts tour south this month before heading off to the UK and the Edinburgh Festival. The cassette version of their LP ‘The Hills Are Alive'is due this month ... three local bands now confirmed for Pagan’s Positive Vibrations compilation are Jonahs, Wild Poppies and Magic Roundabout, who are remixing their instrumental track ‘The Dawn’ at Writhe. MRA are also demoing a wealth of new material on 4-trackin their newly acquired practice rooms. Inner city redevelopment s forcing bands out into the suburbs to search for suitable band rooms. The Stereotypes have changed their name to the Spirals and have completed recording their debut album at Word Of Mouth studio and the single ‘I Send My Love (To The Old Country’is due forrelease late this month ... Fane Flaws has been working on a soundtrack for the new Peter Jackson puppet thriller ‘Meet The Feebles' ... Rick Bryant and Bill Lake have been recording an album of stockpiled original country blues material atthe Sound Expression studio. Expecta largely acoustic set.

Although their album Amalgam won't be in the shops until laterin the year, the Skeptics will be previewing the new material on a planned national tour ... the new Flesh D-Vice EP ‘All My Sins'is due in August ... New Plymouth’s Casualty are to split with two members off across the Tasman ... Rita has replaced Celia on vocals for Merlene And The

Mangos and new band September are worth checking 0ut.... Nighclub Spats has closed by owner Ray Johns has his new venue Arena in Wakefield St opening soon. Bigmoney has been spent so expect a pretty swank affair. Another newy the Carparkis being setupin the old woodshed premises on Plimmer Steps. Paisley Park is the venue for the Flying Fish Video Awards on the weekend of July 15 and 16 with four hours of NZ music vids...look out for posters advertising a Housequake atthe James later this month ...the debut of the new N 0 9at the Clarendon was well received even though drummer Dean was strapped after being beat up a couple of days prior...and are the rumours of the release of the long lost Not Really Anything album true? And which North Island fown is so hip that they have a Morrissey St and just down the road an Elvis museum — Hawera of course. £

John Pilley