Rumours

Rip It Up, Issue 117, 1 April 1987, Page 30

Rumours

Christchurch : Ex-Solitude Chris Tindall's Burning House Promotions is booking bands into the Old Star Tavern and the Playroom, opening early. week for local bands ... Nostalgia seems to have been the theme recently at the Playroom, with both Roco Cola and The Edge (complete with Dick Driver) reforming briefly for a couple of early week nights each ... there has been a whisper of a semiresident band filling in at the Playroom on weekends when touring bands are lacking. Business at Audio Access has improved immensely with a large influx of bands, (including Mea Culpa and Small Riflemin) making use of the studio, which no longer is thinking of closing its doors ...

Failsafe's new portable recording facilities are being put to good use by the Greens, Rue, Chamelias and Jawp and the Rhubarb Collective — all of whom are now being managed by Rob Mayes. - Flying Nun's Gary Cope is now in Germany with the Chills and will be overseeing Nun operations in Europe. Meanwhile partner Roger Shepherd is hunting for a new home for the label as their

premises in the Square have to be vacated. Flying Nun releases coming up include a Max Block EP and a Bats compilation tape ... the Bats report they have plenty of new songs and will record at Nightshade in early April for an LP release in July (half of which will be stuff recorded last year in Glasgow). They're currently mixing two tracks recorded live at Horrelville Hall for a US compilation. Watch for them in RWP's coverage of the Palmerston Nth rock festival. Oh, and didya see the Dec 6, 'B6 NME rave review of ‘Made Up in Blue'? Jean-Paul Sartre Experience have been performing occasionally as a three-piece while David Yeaton is in England. Dave's absence hasn't stopped the band from recording their first album. They’re planning an Oz tour with the Bats ... anyone having trouble keeping their posters up round town should contact Phantom Promotions (ph 65 374), who seem to have the situation under control.

Hammerack's Hard Rock Fever tape is available from Grunt Records, PO Box 291, Timaru, for $11.90 plus $2.25 p&p. The band’s guitarist Jamie Dickson has moved to Christchuch and has teamed up with Steve Townsend (ex-Fat Sally); they're in search of a vocalist and bass player. Ring Chch 68 955 or 820 248.

Nightshift has a new studio and will be running a series of weekend courses aimed at helping musicians get a better understanding of studio work. Those interested, phone Arnold at 810 955 ... Jazz Earthquake at the Playroom raised a sizeable sum for the earthquake fund ... Max Block, the Sacred Sisters and the Indians are three of the bands performing at the Aids Benefit Concert at the Venue on April 11 ... Rony Peake is back from overseas ... new bands around include Point Blank, Silhowetas and Jawp and the Rhubarb Collective ... the Curious George Club is a new alternative venue at varsity; curious performers should contact Andrew at 583 925 ... and ... there is possibility of a single from the near-legendary Paddy Parton and the Saddle Hoons eventuating ... so stay tuned! John Greenfield

Dunedin \ This Kind of Punishment have finally finished their new album, completing .mixing last month. Peter Jefferies also recently recorded an instrumental album with guitarist Jono Lonie. Both records are being cut this month, along with an EP from the Rip ...

about 300 people attended a recent Basement Sounds’ organised festival at Chingford Park, featur-

ing, among others Lets Get Naked, the Moon, the tentativelytitled Chumbs, Aardvark and Cactus Club. The latter plan to go vinyl soon.

New rockabilly/country types and recent support for the Johnnys, Giddy Up & Go, consist of Gary Muir, bass; Alistair Anderson, drums; Jim Taylor, gtr ... the soon-to-be-released EP by the Moas has been christened ‘Spaz Out With the Moas' ... Dead C are putting the finishing touches on their forthcoming tape release Max Harris ...-new(ish) bands around town include ABC and Pink Polyester s The Cartilidge Family North Contributing to the next Car Crash Set single will be several members of Shriekback while they’re on tour this month ... a Music Centre Trust is being formed in Auckland to try and solve some of the problems facing young bands — lack of live venues and rehearsal rooms, cheap demo studios, advice and facilities. They're looking for a base in town and money to fund the trust. A fundraising gig will be held at Devonport’s Esplanade on Easter Monday featuring the Barbs, Doubting Thomases, Fish for Life and Graham Brazier ... a winter venue for hardcore music will be

the Industrial Club situated, appropriately, in Penrose. Kim Willoughby, former Gurl, current Cat and star of Queen City Rocker, has joined Soul on Ice as lead vocalist ... Wayne Gillespie's New Locations band now features Narc Steve Clarkson on drums, Peking Man's Tim Calder bass, Nigel Gavin guitar, Denny Stanway vocals, and Rick Roberston on sax. They'll be touring the South Island in May ... Johnny Spacific now features Lyn Buchanan on drums, Ross McDermott bass, and DD Smash's Gary Verberne on guitar.

Are You Lonesome Tonight, the Elvis tribute musical by Boys from the Blackstuff writer Alan Bleasdale, is to be produced in NZ from June for four months. The producers, a new company called Encore, are looking for performers. The two lead roles are Elvis aged 22 and Elvis at 42, plus there are about a dozen other male and female parts. Auditions (held recently in Auckland and Christchurch) take place in Dunedin on April 9, and Wellington on April 11, 12 & 13. Ring Encore at 04-847284 ...

Herbs recently received a platinum disc (15,000 sales) for Long Ago. A second one shouldn't be too far off — the LP has now sold 23,000 copies ... Otis Mace and the Psychic Pet Healers have a new bassist for this month’s tour

— Peter Hanneveld. Palmerston North’s Thin Red Line are recording their debut LP at Mascot next month, with Phil Yule producing. Their lineup is now Dave White, keyboards; Greg Finucane, guitar; Jim Lovell-Smith, vocals; Kirsten Finucane, bass; Valerie Wycroft, vocals ... Waihi's Ebony Sye have finished recorded their LP at Progressive; new to the band is second keyboardist Neil Pepper. Wellington news: contrary to. rumour the Jonahs have not split. They have recorded an EP at Frontier and are negotiating its release ... the Wild Poppies debut album Heroine is on Skank Records ... Number Nine have recorded an LP Nowhere Fast and plan to tour soon ... Skank Attack will tour the North Island soon to promote their EP; they play ‘the Gluepot on April 22 ... the Cattlebirds and Crawbilly Creeps made the most of the Texas Rangers’ absence at Orientation ... the Manson Family and Wazzo Ghoti had a successful weekend at the Clyde Quay recently. The Saturday night gig was recorded on the Skeptics new 16-track mobile (ph 04-850985) ... the Primates album is out on Onset/Offset ...

Flesh D-Vice have had a newly recorded LP licensed in the US which will be available here only as an import thru Jayrem.