UPFRONT

Rip It Up, Issue 166, 1 May 1991, Page 4

UPFRONT

Prince plans to release a 14 track funk LP Diamonds & Pearls in August. Prince was not hurt when he flipped his Pontiac Thunderbird, taking a bend too fast . . . Faith No More bassist Billy Gould says of their next LP (Sept), “The thrash stuff will be trashier and harder, faster and the slower ballad-type stuff will be even more beautiful.” . . . Poison will release a live double LP late this year with five new studio tracks . . . Whitney Houston has been charged with assault after allegedly punching a man in a hotel scuffle . . . Flavor Flav is serving a 30 day sentence for assaulting his girlfriend Karen Ross . . . David Bowie is expected to sign a deal with Japananese electronic giant JVC’s new Los Angeles.based label, Victory Records . . . the Rolling Stones have fullfilled their obligations to Sony

Music and are looking for a new record deal . . . the Woodentops (including Benny Staples) are back together again and have recorded 20 tracks . . . in May Bailter Space are on tour in Europe . . . a tribute LP to Mother Love Bone’s late singer Andrew Wood has been recorded by Chris Cornell and Matt Cameron (of Soundgarden) and former Mother Lovebone members, Stone Gossard and Jeff Arment, plus guitarist Mike McCready. The one-time only group will be called Temple of the Dog . . . George Michael is engaged to marry American model April Williams . . . the Jesus & Marychain are auditioning a new rhythm section after drummer Thomas and bassist Hart left the band . . . a new Siouxsie & the Banshees LP is due June. .. the Sleeping Bag rap label has collapsed and EPMD and Nice ‘N’ Smooth have moved to the Def Jam label . . . Nick Cave is currently in San Paolo (Brazil) recording tracks for the new Wim Wenders movie Until the End of the World . . . songwriter Desmond Child (Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper) has a solo LP Discipline including a duet co-written by Child and Burt

Bloody Valentine. Perhaps people from the South Island are better equipped to fly in the face of fashion. That's where Murray grew up. “All these people grew up and weren't able to absorb themselves in sport or rugby. Most of the Auckland Flying Nun bands like the Headless Chickens or NRA are different.” (ie danceable). With Murray’s doleful voice and a cover like ‘The Last Waltz' one

would sway, rather than dance, to a Chainsaw Masochist track. But every so offen the introspective mood of Periphery fizzes with guitar interference, like a sudden flashing on the line of a heart machine. There’s a sting in the tail of some of these songs. Perhaps the photograph of a car wreck on the album cover isn't such a peripheral idea after all. DONNA YUZWALK

Bacharach . . . Ziggy Marley collaborates with KRS-1 on Ziggy's new LP Jahmekya . . . Kraftwerk have remixed / reworked 11 classics for a new LP The Mix. They will also tour with new “interactive, computer triggered robots” . . . three rock & roll deaths this month: Steve Marriott of the Small Faces (‘Tin Soldier’, ‘ltchycoo Park’) and Humble Pie died in house fire after falling asleep, holding a lighted cigarette. Manchester producer Martin Hannet, 42, (Joy Division, Buzzcocks, Happy Mondays, the High) diedin his sleep following hospital treatment for a chest infection. Johnny Thunders (38), former guitarist with the New York Dolls was found dead in his New Orleans hotel room, with an empty packet of methadone and a syringe. Former Faith No More singer Chuck Mosely has replaced HR as singerin Bad Brains. . . Jane’s Addiction turned down Axl Rose’s personal invitation to open at the Guns N’ Roses outdoor Wembley Stadium gigs, London. Instead Jane’s 7 Addiction are touring downunder and headlining a USA alternative tour with Living Colour, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Ice-T, Butthole Surfers and Nine Inch Nails .. .