SMALL STUFF

Rip It Up, Issue 40, 1 November 1980, Page 2

SMALL STUFF

Bob Marley withdrew from his USA tour after collapsing due to severe exhaustion, backstage after his New York show. It’s rumoured that Marley is looking for a new label and a two million dollar deal. Reggae brother Jimmy Cliff is now signed to MCA. And big in the same bag, are Toots & the Maytals who have recorded a live album, Toots Live that reviewers are comparing to Marley’s classic London Live album. Island Records had 1000 copies in shops (a limited edition of course), the day after the Hammersmith Odeon gig was recorded John Lennon is 40 this year, he has just done an interview for Playboy and his new album, Double Fantasy is only days away ... is nothing sacred? Kiss is changing its logo prior to a 10 day German tour, as the symbol is similar to the Nazi SS emblem. And in the US of A Frank Zappa has also compromised, changing his new album title to Crush All Boxes. It was Fred Zeplinn but was changed following the death of Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. A coroner has ruled that Bonham’s death was accidental. He died from inhaling his own vomit, after consuming 40 shots or so of vodka ... by the way, the Bryan Gregory rumour is dead. When the Cramps heard the suggestion that the ex-member was dead, they called his LA home and Bryan answered the phone ... in a spot or two of bother, are pillars of good taste, Jerry Dammers, Johnny Lydon and Black Sabbath. Heavy metal may be back IN, but in Milwaukee when some goon threw a beer bottle, Black Sabbath’s bassist Geezer Butler was knocked right OUT. Not aware of the incident, many fans just saw the band leave the stage and commenced to wreck the venue. Meanwhile in Dublin, when John Lydon returned to

Ireland with his brother’s band, 4” by 2” (the inches are silent), an incident in a pub earned him a three month prison sentence for assaulting two barmen. Lydon appeared in court obviously bruised and his defence claimed it was Lydon who was the victim of assault as he left the pub of his own will after being refused service. He is currently out on SSOO bail (put up by Virgin Records) awaiting the appeal. What did Jerry Dammers do? He said the wrong thing backstage after a stormy Cambridge gig and got himself arrested ... the good news is that the Godfather of Soul, James Brown is doing a record with the TK label and that on the new Blondie platter Auto American (Mike Chapman produced again), Harry sings ‘Follow Me’ from the musical Camelot ... the new Residents’ album is called Strictly Commercial and there are 40 one minute songs on the album. All tracks will receive airplay as the band's label, Ralph Records has purchased 40 one minute spots on a San Francisco radio station ... Lou Reed is lyricist and executive producer for first album by Chuck Hammer, the Bowie/Reed, guitarist/synth player. Reed’s portrayal of a switched on record producer in Paul Simon’s One Trick Pony is “the sole bright spot” (Cashbox) in the film ... the Eagles live double will include three tracks recorded in 1976 including “Take It To The Limit” with a 30 piece orchestra ... also live and double please, and out for Christmas, is Fleetwood Mac Live. On the 2LP set are three new songs including Brian Wilson's ‘The Farmer’s Daughter'. Green’s ‘Oh Well’ features, as does 'Don’t Let Me Down Again' from Buck/Nicks days L. pieces of vinyl to look out for: Boomtown Rats Bongo Crazy, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Steely Dan newie, Rockpile Sounds Of Pleasure (billed as their first solo album), Joe Jackson Beat Crazy, John Martyn Grace & Danger, Ry Cooder Borderline, Creedence Clearwater The Royal Albert Hall Concert (Fantasy), Ruts Grin & Bear It, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark Organisation, Jimmy Pursey Imagination Camouflage, Wishbone Ash Live Dates 11, Monty Python Contractural Obligation (last Charisma LP), Toots & Maytals Toots Live, Rod Stewart Foolish Behaviour, Prince Dirty Mind and Specials More Specials.