UPFRONT

Rip It Up, Issue 173, 1 December 1991, Page 18

UPFRONT

The new guitarist in Guns N'Roses is Gilby Clarke, ex-Kill for Thrills, and a close friend of Slash . . . mega-star acts Michael Jackson and U2 have their pre-Xmas albums out now, but they're being held off the No.l spot by the sales of Queen’s Greatest Hits Vol. 2, following the death of singer Freddie Mercury from Aids ... the Rolling Stones have signed to Virgin Records, a three album deal worth 25 million pounds. Virgin will also gain rights to their post-1971 albums . . . Madonna has also resigned to Sire / Warner Music for a $25 to $35 million deal . . . Dave Dobbyn cancelled his summer NZ Tour due to his making an immediate start on his new album. He is recording with a USA producer ... Kiwi musician Andy Dickson (ex Narcs) is guitarist in Aussie all-star group Ghostwriters featuring Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil), Rick Grossman (Hoodoo

Gurus) and Rick Grossman (Do Re Mi). They have an Oz hit with the single “Someone Singing New York New York' . . . Faith No More are recording a new album . . . rappers Ice-T and Ice Cube team up in new Walter Hill movie Looters . . . former Durutti Column guitarist Dave Rowbottom was axed to death at his

Manchester home . . . Frank Zappa is seriously ill with prostrate cancer and former Kiss drummer Eric Carr recently died from cancer . . . Jermaine Jackson has released a cassingle “Word to the Badd” knocking his wealthy brother . . . the new Verlaines album Ready to Fly is now on release in the USA on Slash Records . . .