Rumours

Rip It Up, Issue 96, 1 July 1985, Page 34

Rumours

UK & USA Echo and the Bunnymen back in action after their year-long rest. On a quiet- little Scandanavian tour they've been slotting in a 45 min set of covers of the nature of the Doors, Velvets, Talking Heads, Modern Lovers and even Pickett’s ‘ln the Midnight Hour' ... Annie Lennox has split amicably with her husband. German Krishna follower Rada Raman. Voice troubles mean no Eurythmics performances for some time but she's done a six-page fashion spread for Italian Vogue and a small part in the movie Independence ... meanwhile, other half Dave Stewart is producing the debut Feargal Sharkey album. Feargal's next single, 'Loving You', is, however produced by Queen's Roger Taylor and Dave Richards... Tony James, once of Gen X, is back with the big-haircut/big-hype Sigue Sigue Sputnik ... cult Melbourne band of 78-79, Crime and the City Solution, has reformed in UK with original singer Simon Bonney joined by ex Birthday Party people Roland Howard and Mick Harvey. Roland's brother Harry and former Swell Map, Epic Soundtracks

Debut EP out ... everyone who was ever in Motorhead was on stage for a ear-shattering version of the theme tune at the band's recent Hammersmith Odeon 10th anniversary concert ... Smiths' Morrissey and Dead Or Alive’s Pete Burns to record together?... new Ramones single, Bonzo Goes To Bitburg’ is about Reagan's bungled German visit this year... Adam Ant back with Tony Visconti-produced 'Vive Le Rock’ 45 and LP to f0110w... Afrika Bambaataa has signed with EMI to record an album which will feature collaborations with the likes of gospeller Dizzy Hites, UK industrial funksters Chakk and an unnamed punk group, possibly Crass ... Wire reformed recently for a one-off gig but left options open for further performances... ex Clash drummer Topper Headon is back after beating his drug addiction, with a new single, a version of Gene Krupa's ‘Drumming Man' ... Boy George and Marilyn are reportedly recording demos together in Switzerland ... speculation that Marc Almond will work with the remaining members of Bronski Beat as a permanent replacement for Jimmy Sommerville, because he enjoyed doing the re-recording of Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love' so much. The Bronskis are also try-

ing to buy the rights to the song so that the Godstruck Summer, who has been denouncing homosexuality as wicked and sinful, won’t get any money from sales of their single... Jerry Dammers and Robert Wyatt plan to record a single to benefit SWAPO Stanley Clarke Band have released a single called 'Born In the USA’, complete with Brucespoof marketing campaign... new Bowie movie is Labyrinth ... John Bonham's 22-year-old daughter Debbie has launched into a singing career with her debut single 'Sanctuary'. Albums: Nona Hendryx The Heat, Propaganda A Secret Wish, Gregory Isaacs Private Beach Party, Nick Cave The Firstborn Is Dead, Monochrome Set The Lost Weekend, Robert Fripp Network, Positive Noise Distant Fires, Four Tops Magic, Marilyn Despite Straight Lines, Subway Sect Holiday Hymn, David Sylvian The Holy Blood Of Saints and Sheep, Residents The Census Taker, Tuxedomoon Holy Wars, David Grant Hopes and Dreams. Christchurch Ezzy Promotions are no longer, with Mark Cassin and his team finally calling it quits soon after the Johnnys hit town ... Lee Hubber and his Secret Agency continue

booking bands and things are looking up now that they have opened the Zetland to take over where the Star and Garter and Gladstone left off. Familiar face or two behind the bar at the Zetland too ... changes at the Gladstone include Speaking Jivanese as resident band for now. The hotel is handling its own bookings. Biggest rumour at present is the possibility of Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers hitting the Gladstone later this year ... the Marine lounge bar has been closed for a while after a fire destroyed a large section of the tavern. Management hope to have things back to normal soon. By the time you read this the reformed Pop Mechanix will have played their first gigs in town ...

and was that Phil Judd seen wandering the streets of Christchurch sporting a new haircut recently?

... new bands around ChCh include the Where’s Your Tie Band, Rockaholics, Fat Sally, Brixton Boys. Murder Inc. and Backlash Louie and the Hotsticks. Vague Secrets and Rockaholics have all been busy recording... ChCh's answer to the Band Aid single, ‘Give Them Life' by Rise selling well and "bubbling under" the Top 50 ...

Little Egypt have had some changes which include three members of the defunct Roco

Coca taking over bass, drums and keyboards ... the Minit Men have had a setback with three of the five deciding to try something else, leaving Astrid (bass) and Dave (guitar) to pick up the pieces with soundman Dave taking over drums. Any interested vocalists can contact Astrid at 382-908. Telethon weekend saw plenty of action for local punters; the State Trinity had a host of bands playing from 10pm Sat to 10pm Sun, while the Gladstone held a similar rockathon running most of Saturday and the Youth Centre held a smaller affair in the old Cinerama building. John Greenfield Palmerston North Max Satchell, formerly of the Blue Meanies, now manages the local EMI Shop. Vinyl junkies take note that this shop is now linked direct to London’s Rough Trade distribution centre by telex ... PN expatriates, the Skeptics have recently recorded a new album, Ponds, at Frontier Studios in Wellington. To be released on Ulp records, with possible distribution being arranged for West Ger-

many and Australia. Meltdown Recording Studios have been busy lately with demos recorded by Dosage B and the Remarkables. Dosage B release the fruits of these recordings on a five-track EP entitled Excuse Me Big Nose. Recorded with assistance from local radio 2XS, the EP will be released on Meltdown Records with distribution by Jayrem ... the Remarkables will venture to Wellington to record an EP at Crescendo mid-July. Thin Red Line embark on a North Island tour, playing at the more alternative venues. First priority however will be recording at Mascot Studios with Phil Yule ... winners of Massey Battle of the Bands in March, the Mannequins, have split, lack of members being the main reason!... Curfew. Pink Pills For Pale People. First Affair and Nameless Face have all also added their names to this list of bands no longer in existence, possible a lack of venues being a key factor... two recently formed bands are Three Leaning Men and the End, with Paul Campbell (ex-KD3) on guitar.

D.W.L. Reid