Rumours

Rip It Up, Issue 99, 1 October 1985, Page 2

Rumours

UK & USA New Simple Minds album has been produced by American heavyweights Bob Clearmountain and Jimmy lovine No title yet, but first single is 'Alive and Kicking'. The record is the first to feature new bassist John Gi-

bling ... Bob Dylan's comment about maybe a little of the Live Aid money going to povertystricken US farmers has been carried through to a project called Farm Aid a big fundraising concert which will feature Dylan, Lou Reed. Neil Young Waylon Jennings. Willie Nelson and others ... and Springsteen and Gil ScottHeron have been added to the big lineup for Miami Steve Van Zandt's anti-apartheid single ‘Sun City'. One of the mixes on the single will also feature speeches by Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu ... as a result of their session together on 'Sun City' (and their work with Hall and Oates), former Temptations Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin are now working together permanently as a duo and are making an album for Empire Records ... Motown has won a court battle for the rights to film the Marvin Gaye story, over one of Gaye's numerous creditors. The Motown offer was a lot less than the New York creditor's but Gaye's son plumped for the record company on the grounds that it was more likely to carry the project through properly ... the GoBetweens were signed by Elektra Records in England, just before they were due to come back to Australia, so they’re staying in England ... Martin Kemp and Steve Norman of Spandau Ballet have turned up as themselves in the Roy of the Rovers comic. It seems the skills and understanding of the two lads could just be what Melchester United needs. Forgodsake ... it's time for the John Lennon biopix: NBC-TV is mak-

ing John and Yoko A Love Story. Meanwhile a major stage play called Lennon has begun in the UK ... Arnold Corns is David

Bowie and the Spiders From Mars in a recording project they had funded for them just before the Ziggy LR Most songs were just demos for the LP but a single 'Man In the Middle’ has just been released on the British Krazy Kat label ... the dreadful Bowie/Jagger 'Dancing In the Streets' has had its payoffs for Martha Reeves & the Vandellas who are undertaking a European tour ... Pig Youth's Brilliant have resurfaced with an unlikely cover for a new single: James Brown's 'lt's A Man's Man's Man’s World! ... the Flying Pickets to record an accapella version of Bowie's 'Changes' ... and now for the medical news: Marc Almond has been rushed to hospital with an appendix threatening to burst and has had to cancel concert dates. Awww ... and Paul Weller has reportedly been refused a vasectomy because he’s too young.

Albums: The Fall This Nation’s Saving Grace, the Alarm Strength, Bronski Beat Hundreds and Thousands, Squeeze Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti, Waterboys This Is the Sea, X Ain't Love Grand?, Midge Ure The Gift. Neil Young Old Ways, Weather Girls Big Girls Don't Cry, Moodists Double Life, Heptones Swing Low, Johnny Thunders Hurt Me More, Spear Of Destiny World Service, Icicle Works The Small Price Of A Bicycle, Residents PAL TV EP, Shockabilly Vietnam, Crime and the City Solution Just South of Heaven.

Auckland Herbs have been having a great time in Australia, playing the rounds in Sydney as well as popping down to Melbourne to play support for, of all people, Rick Wakeman ... the Chills, on the other hand, have now decided to give Australia a miss and fly out to the UK on November 1. Playing prospects include probable Dream Syndicate supports and a night on their own at the legendary Dingwalls. Their retrospective compilation LP, Kaleidoscope World, should be out in England just in time for their gigs and here later this year ... both the Chills' Lost EP and the debut EP Information by ex-Flak-etc group, the Europeandomiciled IF got reviews in the

NME singles column recently. The reviewer referred to "five excellent songs" on the Chills EP. Wonder what happened to the other two? Anyway, Martin Phillipps has penned a couple of Christmas songs and the band will hopefully record them for seasonal release.

The Harlequin Studios label, Zulu Records, has signed up Dance Exponents, Hello Sailor and Roy Phillips and the Peddlers for three-year contracts. The deals include direction by an overseas producer, mixing in Los Angeles or London and bigbudget videos, all with a view to international distribution. Sailor begin work on an album in October and the other two will do likewise soon after ... a bit of back-patting in order for the Castle comics Funny Business, who not only pack ’em in every second Wednesday at the Windsor, but have catapulted Willy De Wit into the heady realms of TV stardom. This translates as: Willy has accepted an offer to appear as a regular in the next series of McPhail and Gadsby.

With the Clear Trails EP due for release soon, Fetus Produc

tions are gearing up for some more recording in their 16-track city hideaway: Deberly (Bird Nest) Roy has been joining in on bass. Fetus plan a gig as the Fetals at a non-recognised venue and are currently looking at warehouses and the like. So keep an ear out... likewise for a Nitpickers Picnic type show at a similar venue ... Bird Nest Roys back in form for a moon madness weekend at the Rising Sun recently ... Hip In the Cathedral have demonstrated names are definitely not their strong point by choosing Shades Of Hawaii as their new one. This didn’t stop them from going down well as Roys’ support. A youth benefit concert in aid of the Waiuku Community Services Trust has been organised for Monday Oct 28 (Labour Weekend) at the Waiuku Town Hall. Tickets (from Music Studio Pukekohe or Waiuku College) are $20.25, covering 12 hours of live music and a feed in the middle. Bands include Ardijah. Grey Parade, Seven Deadly Sins. Shot In the Dark Martial Law and others ... Chris and

Lynne Thompson begin work

soon on an album for Ode Records ... to celebrate Music Week and International Year of Youth, the National Music Council has organised a single called 'The Children' on EMI. The song is composed by Rob Winch (winner of 'Best New Song' in last year’s Pater Awards) and performed by the NZ Yamaha Youth Jazz Orchestra, with vo cals by young Maori singer Tack Daniel ... Rotorua has a new arts-entertainment mag called Pulse. First issue reveals a healthy sense of humour and rather more editorial substance than is often found in this kind of paper... new Jayrem group is the Auckland-based Jamboree (who were Hoi Polloi until the discovery of an Australian group of the same name). Members are: Brent Tasker (vocals, keyboards), David Ball (guitar, keyboards), David Steunebrink (guitar), Andrew Horst (bass) and Joseph Fityus (drums). The last three were all members of Standing Joke ... latest London venture for those loveable Gravelle brothers is called Sam the Firefly, with Cliff on guitar and Steve on vocals ... Quays nightclub becomes Tuxedomoon on October 25. The image and name change is aimed at attracting a.more ‘‘mature” clientele than the rather young crowd which has frequented the place. Opening night, the 25th, will feature Car Crash Set and Peking Man, next night Car Crash Set and someone else. Wentworth Brewster & Co. will become resident on Tuesday evenings.

New combo In-Sekt is Larry de Zoete, drums (ex Flak): Brett Orams, bass (ex Malicious Sanction): Leon del la Varis, guitar. Picking up from roughly where the members left off in the past, they hope to play and record soon. But there’s a big vacancy for a vocalist at present, so contact Larry, ph 389-800 if interested ... Glen Budgie is alive and well and enjoying engineering at the Lab studios ... the Sombretones are recording. Does this mean they’ll show their faces?

The imminent destruction of the New Independent Theatre’s former premises has given the producers of the last show in the building the chance to really go

to town on all-round decor. Lapel is the name of the production, which is set in a nightclub and producers Lance Fuller and Martin Perssan (who were also involved with The Hairy Thing) will be tarting up the interior to look like a club itself. Lapel opens on November 16 and will feature dancers, singers and actors in one broad-ranging show. Pagan Records continues to be active, with the first single from Wentworth Brewster & Co. being an old Nat King Cole song, ‘Welcome To the Club’ ... highlyrated Auckland club funksters Ardijah have their first single recorded and it will be out before the end of the year. The band also appears in Mirage Films’ new Queen City Rocker, as do quite a number of other people, including loveable Windsor comic Dean Butler ... Gluepot residents Cheek Ta Cheek also have a single due out on Pagan, produced by Dave McArtney ... and something very different from that is the debut album from Stormbringer, Life Sentence To Rock 'n' Roll, recorded at Dunedin’s Strawberry Fields and out soon on Jayrem. A nationwide tour is planned to commence in late December. The live gigs will probably include the performance of the band’s “epic heavy rock opera” Gallery of Darkness ... jumpin’ John Kirk has written the lyrics of several songs whilst in jail in Dallas and Murray Hancocks (ex Coup D'Etat) has recorded one at Lab Studios for imminent release ... the Fold are recording at Lab also.

Late news on Herbs is that the single ‘Nuclear Waste' and album Long Ago will be released in Sweden on Hawk Records and the album and title song are now released in Australia on Warrior, distrubuted by EMI. The boys return to these shores on October 23 and tour NZ in November ... confirmed dates for the Chills in England now include the Rock Garden, the Fridge and the Embassy Club, but they won’t be doing the Dream Syndicate supports because the DS ain’t coming. Russell Brown

Christchurch Spring has finally sprung ... and outdoor concerts are springing up here and there. Rockaholics have so far suc-

cessfully organised two Saturday afternoon 'Spring Rages’ at the Arts Centre. Bands who have played include Backlash, Pyramids, Rockaholics, Pinks, Connoisseurs and Axemin With the popularity of these two concerts, the likelihood of future events is good ... an unfortunate event involving certain members of the public and the boys in blue has resulted in the Manager of the Zetland banning boot bands ... and the early week gigs have had to end (for now) due to complaints about the noise ... on a brighter note, Tony Peek is again booking bands into the Old Star Tavern/Zanzibar.

Christchurch’s own fanzine Homegrown has made its first appearance. Although No.l was a bit disappointing things look promising, and the print is very clear for a fanzie. Available from record shops or PO Box 33-177, ChCh ... new bands around include Spatback: Peter Sweeney, guitar, vocals (ex Venetians); Nick Strong, bass (ex Expendables); Darren Johns, drums (ex Sporting Life) and Deb Frame (ex Wayward Witches). Deb may soon be travelling north to work with former Freudian Slips singer Penny Andrews ... also the Chamellias, a three piece with their roots in Monitor. The Axemen have added some female vocalists (and a singing alsatian!?) and become the Axemin ... the band with no name who became Pathfinder have now settled on the name Circles. The band (Nigel Mahoney, vocals; Greg Bainbridge, bass); Michael Tan, drums; and Martin Morris, guitar) are having a short break to reorganise themselves after Peter Cooke’s departure. They hope to include a horn section some time in the near future.

Timaru's brightest hope the Punch have decided to call it a day. The band have had a good reaction since moving to Christchurch but drummer Selwyn decided it was time to get a more stable income happening. The plan was to find a replacement but after lengthy discussion they all decided to go their separate ways ... watch out Auckland, Pop Mechanix are on their way. After playing ChCh

and other SI locations to good crowds they are to reside in Auckland for a while and record a single at at Mandrill with Mike Chunh early October. The McGoohans have their new LP out on the Onset-Offset label. It's called That McGoohan Touch and it should be in the .shops now ... Scorched Earth Policy are putting the finishing .-1 touches to their EP ... and soon ' to come from Flying Nun are an EP by Marie and the Atom an LP by From Scratch, a single and EP from Fetus Productions, the new Verlaines LP Hallelujah, Sneaky Feelings single Hus band House' and the F Nun compilation, Tuatara ... All Fall Down are the latest to join the Flying Nun stable. John Greenfield Dunedin More than SI2OO was raised for the new Chippindale House multi-media arts centre at a special benefit weekend at the Oriental which featured several bands. The collective establishing the centre is to re-apply to

the QE2 Arts Council tor addi tional funds ... four new all fe male bands formed to join Look Blue Go Purple at a recent women's festival dance at Otago Uni. with Cassandra's Ears and Purex Green the pick of the bunch. Ex-Great Unwashed/Clean David Kilgour is back in Dunedin and looking to get back into band playing again after a break ... the Weeds succeedec where the Beatles and Rolling Stones failed by playing the Dunedin Town Hall in their underpants at a Junior Council dance ... the Verlaines eight track album Hallelujah is on hold with the cover still being printed Sneaky Feelings Husband House' single was delayed after almost the entire first pressing came back buckled. The Orange recently recorded a four track EP at Mike Pearce’s Strawberry Fields studio ... the Alpaca Brothers stayed at home to record five tracks with Chill Terry Moore and NDTs soundman Dave Houston ... John Dodd (ex Midge Marsden etc.) and Ross Nichols (ex Broken Models) teamed up recently for gigs at the Empire ... the Cook, blacklisted by a number of original bands, has had a drastic

change in booking policy and now favours covers and resident bands. The Cartilage Family

Wellington Frontier Studios are forming their own Big Beat label and have recently had Dread Beat and Blood. Paul Schreuder, Aotearoa. E.S.P., Blitz and others working on various projects... new metal formation Grace Under Pressure shaping up... while heavy rockers Strikemaster return to being a three-piece and have been getting together some new material which they intend to lay down at Marmalade soon, before hitting the road again for some heavy touring. Madlight are still about and have been gigging and Tokyo have been getting quite a bit of after midnight ZM airplay for their new single Lonely Hearts’... Blitz have a single due.

Irish rebel band Ourselves Alone are to record and release something soon, hopefully in green vinyl ... are Radio Active changing their name to 'Radio Flying Nun? ... Ten Foot Faces have a new bass player and should be gigging again soon ... the Paras are cooking up new material... will we see Wellington bands included in next year's Orientation circuit? ... the Terminus is keen for bookings from all types of bands, ring Wellington 851-182. Braille Records come to us from ex-Primitive Art Group members and others who form the nucleus of a shambling unit of musicians and artists who create free-form jazz and other noises in up to eight different bands... Athletic Park is apparently booked for late November, but although it hasn't been announced who's playing it is probably not the Mockers, who haven't been drawing as well as they should in the Capital. Jayrem Jayrem have the goods, mark my word, to make this summer one to look forward to. They have a wide range of assorted goodies coming your way, including ... an excellent 12” EP from ChCh band No Idea, recorded at Broadcasting House ... a 4-track 7" from ? Fog with amazing picture sleeve... a 5-track EP entitled Meltdown from Jamboree ... 7” called 'What's The Difference’ from Roman Antix... Dread Beat

and Blood with a pulsatingly good eight-track reggae offering Tribute To A Friend ... good reports on the Back Door Blues Band who are preparing a 4-track EP ... and the Captol's Flesh DVice are about to celebrate their third year of existence with two interesting 7” singles, a new fulllength album and two videos coming up, as well as a national tour.

Circus Block 4 have been busy recording... look out for Jayrem’s sixth compilation, featuring amongst others, Lot 49, Aotearoa. Vacuum and Tin Syndrome It’s called Package to Sell Stormbringer are lurking, waiting to pounce ... Confessor have

the vinyl truth awaiting us... new from Aotearoa is 'Tihei Mauriora' ... Scattered Order, an Aussie outfit causing a minor sensation in Britain have been released on Jayrem. Gerald Dwyer

Finalists for the NZ Music Awards to be held in Wellington on November 11 are:

Single of the Year: For Today Netherworld Dancing Toys ‘Forever Tuesday Morning’, Mock ers; 'Lift Your Head Up High'. Pek ing Man. Album: Genre, Shona Laing; Long Ago, Herbs: Painted Years, Netherworld Dancing Toys.

Male Vocalist: Malcolm Black (NDTs), Andrew Fagan (Mockers), Pat Urlich (Peking Man). Female Vocalist: Jacqui Fitzgerald, Patsy Riggir, Margaret Urlich (Peking Man). Top Group: Netherworld Dancing Toys, Mockers, Peking Man. Jazz Record: The Masquerade Is Over, Jacqui Fitzgerald; Sahara, Sahara/Martin Winch: Song of Home, Alan Broadbent Trio. Polynesian Record: Long Ago, Herbs; Maranga Ake Ai, Aotearoa; Songs of New Zealand, Howard Morrison. Most Promising Group: Everything That Flies, Katango, Satellite Spies.

Most Promising Male Vocalist: Paul Eversden (Katango), James Galvyn (Rise), Mark Loveys (Satellite Spies).

Most Promsing Female Vocalist: Betty Monga (IQU), Dianne Swan (Everything That Flies), Debbie Harwood. Producer: Nigel Stone, 'For Today’; Glynn Tucker Jnr, 'Forever Tuesday Morning'; Graham Mhyre, 'Lift Your Head Up High'. Engineer: Nigel Stone, For Today'; Graham Mhyre 'Lift Your Head Up High'; Nigel Stone, Painted Years.

Sleeve Design: Debra Bustin (Krazy Legs, the Pelicans); Norman Te Whata and Emily Karaka (Long Ago. Herbs); Paula Reid (State House Kid, Last Man Down).

Video: Krazy Legs', Pelicans (Debra Bustin); I Like To Drive’ (Scotty & Co.), Roger Guise; Diamonds On China’ (the Narcs), Fane Flaws.

International Performer: DD Smash, Dalvamus Prime and the Patea Maori Club, Kiri Te Kanawa.