RUMOURS

Rip It Up, Issue 57, 1 April 1982, Page 6

RUMOURS

Auckland

Following the shock demise of the Newmatics drummer Ben will replace Chris in Prime Movers, vocalist Mark Clare will manage Movers, Jeff may move south, Syd is forming another band and the horns are up to something. Their final gig, as a 13 piece, featured Blams, a Meemee, a Bongo, original saxist Simon, a Freud, Ham (from Green Eggs and) and others ... the night before, Michael Meemee collapsed on the Mainstreet stage and needed reviving. (A severe asthma attack.) New drummer Steve Duffels has left Penknife Glides. In April Glides will do several gigs before going off the road indefinitely. Session dresser Stefan Morris will return for the April gigs ... Gurlz are now five with Shelly on synth, ... during a hot Star & Garter show, Nigel of Danse Macabre while cabareting in the crowd, got dowsed in a jug of beer by a Christchurch hairdresser. Though not one to shun a new look, Nigel returned to the stage prior to completing treatment ... though not a fall fan, dancing Instigators bassist Tarewai disappeared through the stage three times at the Nile River Festival. No timber down there, eh?

Meanwhile on the shores of the Waitemata: new Screaming Meemees LP is titled If This Is Paradise I'll Take The Bag. Expect the Meemees vinyl mid-May. Blam Blam Blam LP Luxury Length will be out two weeks prior ... in Metro proof new Auckland indie is XTC ... Smelly Feet has released a C6O tape Left Odours ... Bongos have recorded three tracks. Two for a 45 and one for the overdue Furtive Three Piece Pack ... Battle Of The Bands is on April 22-24 and April 29-2 May ... the slogan for the Billstick Bros, is, "Where there's a wall there's a way."

There is an Underage Rage at Mainstreet on Easter Monday from Ipm. Bands are Screaming Meemees, Danse Macabre, Blond Comedy, Prime Movers and Gorilla Biscuits. Four bucks to get in.

Zak Harper has left Mirrors

Others will take over vocal chores ... Royales have recorded at Stebbings ... will Iran Iran release 'Spunky'? The Corporation

Christchurch First they were Bill Direen and the Builders, then Bilder Bergers now AM Express. As well as gigging they're putting on a production of King Übu, one of the first fringe plays of modern theatre an 1890 s piss-take play ... and Dance Exponents are planning an opera version of Hamlet but not at the Aranui. Party Games are now Ten Foot Five with vocalist and bassist from Direct Descendents newly joined ... Trick Cyclists have a new drummer, Bob Ogilvie, ex Narcs ... the Playthings have evaporated, but it was amicable. Their Bird's Eye, View single will be released posthumously. Desperate Measures are now appearing on a double bill with Rock & Roll Swindle as Clock-

work Orange was not available ... Wrong Way Corrigan Band reshuffle with ex Strand bassist joining before they head north in May.

Flying Nun news is Mainly Spaniards' new single is a three track called That's What Friends Are For. 25cents' new single is 'Don't Deceive Me'.

Spiders' new band is called the Phenols. They are a five piece ... Alan Park will attempt to move Lyttelton into town when his new band Louie and the Hot Sticks commence a 4 week Gladstone residency in April. Will the Glad turn into a health food den? Buttons, stickers and posters in the best Cheap Trick style will be on sale at the door. Dick Driver marries soon, but not before the Dance Band go to Dunedin and Invercargill ... Dave Merritt of vegetarian fame and Laura Mitchell will write a hand book on the wrongs and rights of the NZ rock and roll scene ... Gordons are still looking for a sponsor for the tour and single. They may meantime do a benefit concert for Harry Sparkle who has recently been released. Peter Waller & Jim Wilson UK & USA . David Bowie will star in Tony Scott's film The Hunger. He will

play an alien who has been on earth for 500 years. Co-star will be Susan Sarandon, who has been nominated for an Oscar for her part in Atlantic City ... with the new Blondie vinyl ready, for release, young Deb has decided to continue her acting career. She is currently filming Videodrome, in which she has all her clothes removed by a whip wielding giant ... Graham Parker has returned to

the live circuit after a three year absence. Apart from Brinsley, Schwarz it's ,a new band ... Coroner's verdict on the death of John Belushi was an overdose of heroin and cocaine ... Jaz Coleman, vocalist with Killing Joke has disappeared, speculation is that it's linked to his fascination with the occult ... Neville 'Fun Boy' Staples was recently . fined S3OO for

making excessive noise in his apartment bedroom. It ain't what you do, it's the way you do it! ... Vince Clarke has left Depeche Mode to form Yazoo with Genevieve Alison Moyet ... Graham Bonnet has joined Michael Schenker Group ... Enid Williams has left Girlschool ... A Town Like Malice' has become the first Jam gold single ... Birthday Party have finished their third album ... British Electric Foundation have recorded an LP called Music Of Quality ' And Distinction. It contains old songs recorded by different artists, including .Gary Glitter, Sandie Shaw, Tina -Turner and Billy McKenzie of the Associates. Glen Gregory (Heaven 17) does Glenn Campbell's 'Wichita Lineman' and Perfect Day' (Lou's?) ... U2 have a new single A Celebration'/ 'Trash,' Trampoline And The Party Girl' ... new Stiff signing is The Dancing Did ... Suggs from Madness has married sweetheart Bette Bright. This month's vinyl name-drop: Pigbag Dr .Heckle and Mr Jive, closely followed by Crispy Ambulance The Plateau Phase. Also new: Graham Parker Another Grey Area, Fun Boy Three, Spandau Ballet Diamond, Motorhead Iron Fist, : Jimmy Pursey Alien Orphan, Jimmy Destri Heart On A Wall, Lora Logic Pedigree .Charm, Blondie The - Hunter. " Yellow Magic Orchestra Solid State Survivor, Secret Affair Business As Usual, Robert Wyatt Nothing Can Stop Us, Human Condition Live In Europe November 'Bl (cassette), Records Music On Both Sides, Iron Maiden Run To The Hills. The Corporation - , Australia Split Enz are back, their Perth gig outsold the Pretenders. The new single is 'Dirty Creatures' ... Ronnie and Des of Marching Girls, have reverted to their real names, Brenden Perry and Simon Monroe for the new band Dead Can Dance. Other members are Paul Erickson and Lisa Gerrard. They have a song, 'Fatal Impact' on Fast Forward Cassettezine 008/009 ... Models have James : Freud. playing bass on Oz tour. Hunters and Collectors have finished their eight song debut album for Mushroom's * White • Label Records. None of the EP tracks ; are ; included ... Fetus Productions are putting their mag together. If you want to contribute i write to' 222 Clarence St, Sydney 2000 ... Machinations' single Average Inadequacy' is released for a second time. It's on White Label now ... Barton Price of Crocodiles is the new drummer in Sardine V. They : have a single called .'Sabotage'/'Sudan' (also on White Label) ... Laughing Clowns tour -through April to promote their Mr Uddich-Schmuddich Goes To Town album ... Mi-Sex are off the road indefinitely, exdrummer Richard Hodgkinson has joined Silent Movies ... Birthday Party have left Oz minus bass player Tracy Pew. He is facing drunken driving and petty theft charges in Australia. ' The Corporation Wellington The Hulamen Terminus gig resembled , a beach resort with exotic plants and hulagirls.

Marred only by inadequate PA ... the Elton John concert at Athletic Park proved lacklustre PA not loud enough, less than 20,000 and Elton's screaming for tuned guitars was in vain it was his piano. Heavy metal Strikemaster in action again at Wainui pub' (now booked by Bounty), Taita and Terminus (Easter) ... highlights of Orientation were Daggy and the Dickheads for openers and. the final open air gig with Precious, Rusty Nail and the Neighbours ... at Quinns Post they swung from the rafters for Mental As Anything and Kevin Borich (looking to record in Wellington) ... Neoteric Tribesmen threatening to play Terminus again. The Depot (ex Last Resort) now a fringe theatre and available for concerts ... excellent recording of the Innocent live on the Rock Barge was played over Radio Windy. There's talk of vinyl ... Denis O'Brien is currently recording album at Marmalade with Bob Smith (back from Oz). Rose Bayonet to follow ... Malcolm McSporran is playing NZ on Radio' Access every Sunday. Wellington Zone concerts again? As City Council ponders fate of old Town Hall as a rock venue, Wellington Show Association renovations include room for 4000 rock punters. Now we'll have our own concrete Logan Campbell claustrophobic clone.

Vivian Street