rumours

Rip It Up, Issue 122, 1 September 1987, Page 36

rumours

Wellington Skank Undertakings have reopened the Rock Theatre in Vivian St as a live music venue. Bookings on (04) 267-346 ... Skank Attack have recorded a new single at Writhe Studios ... the Wild Poppies also have a new single; they will tour north in late September ... the Crawbilly Creeps have recorded an album ... Nazgul have a 7” EP out, with one side recorded live at the very sue-

cessful Breakout gig ... Wazzo Ghotti were the highlight of the Breakout show giving out chocolate fish. Drummer Joe continues to improve in Wellington hospital and the group will continue as a three-piece using guest drummers until Joe is fit. Their album Gone Ghoting is due at the end of September and they are working on a video. Bill Direen’s South Indies label has just filled an order of 50 records to New York via Flying Nun ... the Jonas have their LP coming out on new indie label Lost in Space Records. Kiwi Zoo have a new guitarist and are gigging again, and along with a lot of other local bands are

rushing too get on vinyl before the EMI pressing plant closes this month. Despite rumours and even encouragement from EMI management it doesn't look as though any locals will be taking over the EMI plant. Even leasing is out of the question because EMI want the plant removed from the building as they need the space ... local indie labels are busy investigating Australian plants and it seems that good pressing and printing deals can be had. Digital mastering of local product will be the next move in preparation for sending masters overseas and losing contact with the cutting. Downstage theatre have begun

fortnightly early Sunday evening jazz and blues shows ... the Novelty 4 have a residency upstairs at Clare’s ... new bands Faith, . Hope and Hanify and Cowboys and Indians, the latter resident at the Romney ... Stasch now known as C’est La Vie... the Juke Jivers are to take over from the Living Daylights at the Pavilion Bar, alternating weeks with the Holidaymakers. JohnPilley Auckland Winners at New Plymouth’s “No Ordinary Band” contest in late August were Sticky Filth, who won SIOOO plus SIOOO of recording time at Mandrill. They were also invited by Spencer of the Johnnys to play in Australia with them. Judges gave special mentions to Harry Death and Cygnet Committee ... Three Men Missing

have finished a five-track EP at the LP Days on the Island. The Bats rang from Sydney, where they’d played three gigs to “small, but good” crowds. They’d played to 800 with the Go-Betweens in Melbourne, and have done “lots of interviews, more than playing.” Also, they've checked out pressing plants such as Melbourne’s “small, trustworthy” The Pressing Plant, owned by the Painters & Dockers “A lot of Australians have been wondering why more NZ bands don't come over,” says Paul Kean. “It’s a fertile environment here, and gigs are cheap: we're $4, Ed Keupper $6, the Go-Betweens $8 — and PAs are cheaper.”

Dead Famous People still await the arrival of their Liverpudlian drummer, before they tour in November ... the Four Volts, touring the

South Island in October, report their LP Somethings Burning is being distributed in UK ... over 100 people have applied to enter the $30,000 Rheineck Rock Awards already The closing date is October 1, for an application form write to Rheineck Rock Award, PO Box 5779, Wellesley St, Auckland ... the Nares have been rehearsing at Progressive, tor a possible album produced by Chris Thompson ... Palmerston North’s The End tour the South Island soon, in anticipation of a nationwide tour and release of their LP The Ultimate Game in December. South So, once again the venue situation changes and we’re all left wondering if we should go back to the garage. Even before the first band could get on stage the New Zealander changed its mind about “alternative" bands; across the road the King George has hosted two lowkey Dole Day gigs, run by Campbell “Onset Offset” McLay; the Old Star has lost its late licence, but with Fat Sally away, we've had the Gladstone back for three weeks. In those three weeks we’ve had an all-day Greenpeace concert, organised by Jamie Verhyde, that raised over SI2OO. Murder Inc will have played their last gig by the time you've read this, as drummer Nick Ruddell is heading for Sydney, andthe rest of the band are also considering the move ... we’ve go a “Six of the Best" song contest run in conjunction with Audio Access. Not to. be,confused with the Mobil Song Contest or a battle of the bands, the idea is that over six nights 18 bands, not previously on vinyl, get to do their thing with their three best songs being judged to find six bands with the six best songs. All proceeds from the week will go to recording

those songs at Audio Access and producing a 12“ EP. Special Effects have split, but contrary to rumour, the Prodigies have not... Ziggy Stardust is recording a new album for Onset Offset, as is Ritchie Venus ... new bands around include Wax Tadpoles, the Gift, K T and the Parlanes, Neil & Jack & Me and Johnny and the Flatnotes lan McKenzie has now added the Occidental to his collection of hotels and nightclubs. In Dunedin: Stephen, who were Chums, are now Seed Cake ... it is now time to renew Chippendale House memberships. $lO is the annual fee ... is there an underage venue opening at the Lighthouse? ... Raise the Pulse are doing their regular split/revamp/name change ... the Moon may lose their bassplayer to Naked City in Australia ... Pink Polyester has now come to a disappointing end as their vocalist has left. John Greenfield & Sharon Guytonbeck