Small Stuff

Rip It Up, Issue 22, 1 May 1979, Page 2

Small Stuff

The Who are to make their debut with their new line-up drummer Kenny Jones replacing the late Keith Moon in France this month. The decision to play the gig in an 8,000 seater Roman ampitheatre near Cannes, has been prompted by the fact that two films with which The Who are involved The Kids Are Alright and Quadrophenia are premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on the following two days. To follow this one-off date an open-air concert is set for early September in Britain, and as a run up to this show, it is expected that The Who will play several secret gigs in clubs.

Later in the year they will undertake an American tour. .. Elvis Costello and the Attractions have just completed a US tour that has sparked more than its fair share of controversy. The major source of trouble has been an incident in Columbus, Ohio where Costello and his band were involved in a brawl with Stephen Stills and his band. Reports suggest that the fight broke out when musicians from Stills’ band accused Costello of stealing his ideas from black artists. The conversation became heated and Elvis is said to have begun an outburst against blacks. This tirade developed into a full-fledged battle in which Elvis and bassist Bruce Thomas were firmly trashed. Several newspapers in the following days denounced Costello as a “racialist” and many threats to his life were received. As a result once Costello reached New York, a press conference was called. Costello apologised for his raoist remarks which he attributed to being goaded by Stills' band... The Doobie Brothers have lost two members: guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and drummer John Hartman. These departures are all the more surprising when you consider that the Doobies are currently holding down the number one and two spots respectively on the American singles and album charts. Baxter intends to put his time into production work while Hartman is to retire from the music biz altogether. Remaining members of the Doobie

Brothers Mike McDonald, Keith Knudsen, Pat Simmons and Tiran Porter are to undertake their US tour next month as a four-piece... also on the departures front: Singer Greg Walker and keyboardist Chris Rhyane have quit Santana ... Ron Wood is to tour in the States promote his forthcoming solo LP, Gimme Some Neck. Joining Woody on the boards will be fellow Stone Keith Richa/ds together with Neil Young and saxist Bobby Keyes...incidentally Keith and Woody were seen checking out Dire Straits at a New York concert...meanwhile the recording process on the Eagles’ long-awaited album continues in Florida. Guitarist Joe Walsh has however taken a break to assist Warren Zevon in work orr Zevon’s new album. .. Peter Gabriel is reported to be looking into the possibility of making a film version of the Genesis’ album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Gabriel has discussed the project with Chilean-born director Alejandro Jodorowsky (of El Topo fame) and is now looking for financial support for the film. Gabriel will not appear in the film... Joan Jett of the girlgroup The Runaways has recorded a single in London with Sex Pistols Steve Jones and Paul Cook. The song they recorded was Leslie Gore’s 1964 hit “You' Don’t Own Me”...The Vienna Symphony Orchestra is to perform a concert of Frank Zappa’s music in June. Frank intends to drop in to contribute guitar solos...and Van Morrison is reported to have recorded the vocals to a Zappa song called “Dead Girls In London”... Robbie Robertson will co-star with Buddy Holly Story star Gary Busey and Jodie Foster in Carney. Robertson will also produce Busey’s debut album...it’s been confirmed that Teddy Pendergrass will play Otis Redding in a bipic based on Redding's life. Philly soul producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff will produce the music for the film...and Paul McCartney is looking for a director to make a movie based on the Band on the Run album. A script by Will Russell, who wrote the film will feature all the members of Wings with Paul taking the lead r01e... Joe Cocker’s one-time backing band, The American Standard Band, who appeared behind Joe on his last NZ visit, have been signed by Island Records as their first US act. .. The Boomtown Rats turned down offers to play at the Whiskey and other such venues while in Los Angeles and instead played at Frederick’s of Hollywood. Frederick’s is a ladies underwear store... because Iggy Pop’s curfent band features ex-Sex Pistol Glen Matlock, several dates of his British tour have had to be rescheduled. This is because the Sex Pistols are still banned from many British venues Chuck Berry is to publish his autobiography. How about Take the Money and Run as a title Chuck?. ..XTC have replaced departing keyboard player Barry Andrews with guitarist Dave Gregory.. Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler is reported to have celebrated his 31st birthday by making a special visit to his money in the local bank. .. Tom Verlaine, ex-Television, is recording in New York with Patti Smith’s drummer Jay Daugherty and former Television man Fred Smith... Nils Lofgren is working on a new LP with Bob Ezrin producing. ..Dr Feelgood are set to release their second live album in May... Will Blondes now have less fun? Rod Stewart married steady date Alana Hamilton last month...and Bob Dylan granted an interview to Rona Barrett’s Hollywood magazine and confessed that if his career faded away, he wouldn't worry. After all he said: “I could be perfectly happy and content being a bus driver or I could still go back to making pizza or something”...