TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Rip It Up, Issue 243, 1 November 1997, Page 34

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

SMASHING PUMPKINS O.D. SETTLEMENT The Smashing Pumpkins have paid undisclosed damages to the wife and child of their tour keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin (34) who died of a heroin overdose July last year. The widow’s legal suit against the band claimed “other band members contributed to her husband’s death by failing to make sure he stayed off drugs.” APRA SILVER SCROLL NOMINEES This year’s nominees for the APRA Silver Scroll Songwriting Award were Bic Runga for Sway’, Andrew Brough for Bike’s ‘Circus Kids’, Jordan Luck for ‘Change Your Mind’ by the Exponents, Greg Johnson for ‘Liberty’, and Paul Casserly, Greg Johnson, and Fiona McDonald, for the Strawpeople’s 'Boxers’. The winner of the Silver Scroll Award was .. announced at a ceremony at the Aotea Centre in Auckland on v November 3 (after RipitUp went to press). For photo coverage of the event see December RIU. SPADA CONFERENCE NOV 6-8 The Screen Producers and Directors Association conference in Wellington Nov 6-8 features some serious international film-making talent. The theme is “Calling the Shots” to focus on how the film industry can shape its own agenda. The key guests are Chairman of the European Film Academy Nik Powell (co-founder Virgin Records and movie producer Crying Game etc), screenwriter lan La Frenais (Commitments, Auf Wiedersehen Pet), Head of Film at UK’s Channel 4 David Aukem (co-financers of Trainspotting, Shallow Grave etc), producer Tim White (Broken English), Peter Broderick President of Next Wave Films of California, who seek to support emerging filmmakers by providing finishing funds for ultra-low budget features. Further info: Publicity Machine (04) 802-4158. MUSIC TV: STORY TELLERS & JAZZ MTV’s associated USA channel VHI is considering releasing its Storytellers series like the Unplugged series, performances where artists talk about and sing their songs. Artists who have appeared so far are Ray Davies, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Elvis Costello. On the crowded New York cable channel system where even MTV can’t get a channel for their new M2 channel, Time Warner

Cable have chosen to distribute a rank outsider BET ON JAZZ, a jazz music channel owned by Black Entertainment Televison. AUCKLAND TOWN HALL REOPENS ■ The Auckland Town Hall (built 1911) has once again reopened for use as a concert venue after a $32.8 million restoration. The venue was the scene of the 1964 Beatles concerts, and 100 s of popular artists have played the venue including Tina Turner, Split Enz, Gary Glitter, Suzi Quatro, Jane’s Addiction, Crowded House, Little Feat, Ry Cooder, Tom Waits, the Who, Smail Faces, Rolling Stones, Commodores, Cheap Trick, Supremes and Johnny Cash. New Zealand artists to fill the Town Hall include the Chills (1990) and Citizen Band (1978). FOREIGN BRIEFS The former Prince and Green Day manager Bob Cavallo has signed • with Disney to head a popular music record label to help to rebuild Disney’s troubled music division ... the Beastie Boys will have a London office for their Grand Royal label. Vital will distribute their label ... the Spice Girls have signed up to become a Sony Playstation game and Cadburys will manufacture individually wrapped chocolate figurines of each Spice Girl. NZ ON AIR Music Videos The acts who have received NZ On Air video grants at the October meeting are: Eye TV Wish It All Away (Antenna) Darcy Clay All I Gotta Do (Antenna) Breaks Co-op Transistor (Deepgrooves) The New Loungehead Johnny 14 (Deepgrooves) . Ermehn Don’t Be Late (Deepgrooves) Bike Anybody Know (Flying Nun) Head Like A Hole Beatnik (Flying Nun) -; . . • Headless Chickens Dark Angel (Flying Nun) 5 Go Mad Too Bad (Marital) Ma-V-Elle Depend On Me (Sony) Bic Runga Roll Into One (Sony) Moizna Keep On Moving (Urban Pacifika) The Feelers Pressure Man (Warners) Shihad Yr Head Is A Rock (Wildside) Dead Flowers Free (Wildside) NZ ON AIR Radio Hits Funding The following NZ artists qualified due to .‘significant airplay achieved’,.

for funding by the NZ On Air Radio Hits Scheme: Bailter Space Dome (Flying Nun) Dead Flowers Ain’t It The Truth (Wildside) Dancing Azians Elevator (Antenna) Greg Johnson My Ship Is Sitting Low (EMI) The Stereo Bus Don’t Open Your Eyes (Festival) Eye TV Snakes And Ladders (Antenna) The Exponents Close (Sony) Bike Welcome To My World (Flying Nun) ■ Shihad It’s A Go (Wildside) Head Like A Hole I’m On Fire (Wildside) Dam Native The Son (Tangata) Lost Tribe Summer In The Winter (Urban Pacifika) AUSTRALIAN NEWS Paul Hester (ex Crowded House) has a new band The Largest Living Things. The band has a 5 track debut CD. The EP can be ordered via the band’s web site: http://www.frenz.com/LLT/... Renee Geyer is re-signing to Mushroom Records to release an album produced by Paul Kelly and Joe Camillleri... Diesel is doing a tour of Australian Hard Rock Cafes ... the Angels are tourimg with Screaming Jets and Horseheads ... the real oldies tour is entitled The Boys Are Back In Town and the lineup includes the Choirboys, Radiators, Spy V Spy, Matt Finish and Dave Warner from the Suburbs. The tour is described as “A Celebration of Oz Pub Rock” ... the Australian Government intend to modify copyright protection for the record industry to allow parrallel importing of recordings. The industry is fighting the legislation which is intended to lower CD prices. The record companies argue that to lower prices the Government should reduce the 22% wholesale tax on recordings. SYDNEY DATES Primal Scream Metro, Nov 3 & 4. Nick Cave State Theatre, Nov 25-27. The Offspring Hordern Pavilion, Dec 1. Silverchair Hordern Pavilion, Dec 6. INXS State Theatre, Dec 9 Peter Paul & Mary Milton Park, Bowral, Dec 13. Kool & the Gang Sydney Hilton, Dec 15-20. Al Jarreau Sydney Opera House, Jan 16 &17. Homebake Domain, Jan 24. Savage Garden Entertainment Centre, Feb 7. U2 Sydney Football Stadium, 7 Feb 27.