rUMOURS

Rip It Up, Issue 125, 1 December 1987, Page 46

rUMOURS

UK & USA Didya hear Shona Laing’s '(Glad I’m) Not a Kennedy' playing in the background of an episode of the East Enders recently? ... Martin Phillipps of the Chills recently made NMEs quotable quotes column. Saith Martin: ‘‘Being in London is like eternally have your nose rubbed in it"... the Dance Exponents are active again, with exMocker and Hip Single (and RIU writer) Brendon Fitzgerald drumming . .. in a Liverpool court facing charges of causing “actual bodily harm" is Ad Rock of the Beastie Boys. The son of an eminent US playwright, mature Adam threw a beercan from the stage, hitting a young woman fan on the head ... the Beasties are also being sued, for sampling portions of other people's songs, in a test case that could threaten the future of rap music ... Wet Wet Wet are in trouble for plagiarism again. First Van Morrison noticed how similar the words of ‘Sweet Little Mystery’ were to his ‘Sense of Wonder.' Now Squeeze are putting the squeeze on them. Springsteen recently played at tribute gigs to Harry Chapin and

John Hammond, performing Dylan’s ‘Forever Young’ at the latter... Coronation Street — the Album now out on K-Tel features Bet Lynch singing ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’ ... Jimmy Page is mixing his solo LP, which features Robert Plant and John Bonham's son Jason... Motley Crue-member Nikki Sixx is marrying Vanity at Christmas. Elvis Costello, currently touring Australia, is releasing another Ten Bloody Marys-style compilation of rare material called Out of Our Idiot... not fade away: Ron Wood toured the States last month with Bo Diddley ... Earth Wind and Fire have reformed after a four year break... Status Quo outraged anti-apartheid activists when they recently performed at the notorious Sun City complex in South Africa ... the Bhundu Boys were refused accomodation at a Leicester hotel because they are black ... following their recording with the Fat Boys, the Beach Boys are making a single with Little Richard ... DAT technology leaders Sony paid USD $2 billion to buy CBS, the biggest US record company, with profits of $162 million last year ... Eartha Kitt is to purr the millionth rendition of 'My Way,’ but with a 100-strong gospel choir.

With the Grateful Dead currently enjoying their greatest success in

the States, Jerry Garcia did a 17nigltt stand on Broadway with his old bluegrass band ... will Johnny Marr join the Pretenders? Could be, but he’s also been asked to produce the Violent Femmes, Suzanne Vega and the solo debut of New Order's Bernard Sumner ... the surviving Beatles and Yoko Ono are taking Dave Clark to court over the Heady Steady Go compilation videos which Clark owns. Apparently he didn’t ask the Beatles permission to use their clips ... Keith Richards recently jammed with Mick Taylor at Electric Ladyland studios. Taylor is seeking an album deal... Malcolm McLaren is working on a new album Surferiad. He’s recorded tracks with George Clinton, Jeff Beck and Bootsy Collins ... former Faces keyboardist lan McLagan will help out on the Georgia Satellites new album. Wellington

Contrary to last month’s Rumours, the Skeptics have not split ... the Gordons new lineup is rumoured to include two drummers and sampled vocals ... WazzoGhoti drummer Joe is still in hospital, but is expected out by Christmas. Two people have appeared in court, and pleaded guilty to assault charges. The album Gone Ghoting has been delayed because of the necessity for Australian

The Juke Ji vers have split with the departure of bassist Steve Hemmans for London ... also in Europe on holiday is Bill Lake, so the Living Daylights are hanging back before promoting their album ...

Dave Murphy has been playing with Darren Watson and Terry Casey of Chicago Smoke Shop at the Pavillion bar under the name the Hot Leftovers.

The Holidaymakers have been recording with Nigel Stone at Marmalade ... the Ranchsliders have recorded three songs at Writhe for a new EP and have re-recorded ‘Guilty’ at the Radio Active studio for inclusion on the studio radio compilation.

Summertime blues: Radio Active goes off air from Dec 6 till January 17 ... Peter Kaye has left the Cricketers to manage the Clarendon, and there are plans to expand the top bar and use it as a regular venue. The fate of the Cricketers as a venue remains up in the air... with their new single now sold out, the Warratahs are

pressing, and is expected in the new year... Flesh D Vice have recorded a four-track EP at Writhe, and it’s being pressed in Oz. Expect innovative packaging. Their former bassplayer Dwayne has been recording in London with Jed Town as “Dumb.”

Dunedin

awaiting their album from Australia. They follow in the footsteps of such rock ’n’ roll legends as Johnny Devlin and Bo Diddley by playing Taihape’s Gretna with Tex Pistol on Dec 16... the Jonahs are gigging as a three-piece and their EP is selling steadily ... No 9 have been gigging as “Nowhere Fast" (their album title) ... the No 9 and Nazgul tour of the South Island has been delayed because the ferries are fully booked. New booking agency Elegant Thriller has been set up by Lisa MacFarlane and Kate Robinson. They’re booking the Taita Tavern and Candyos and Exchequers nightclubs ... the Trephines five-track EP has come out on cassette only, and also due on South Indies is a compilation title Bread and Board with the Builders, Trephines, Free Radicals, Neil Jones and the Heaters and Sparky’s Magic Baton ... the new Sticks and Shanty album, the last recrd to be cut and pressed at EMI, is out this month on Jayrem. JohnPilley

Dunedin’s Netherworld Dancing Toys have decided to take their summer family holidays in Nelson (Dec 28, 29, 30) and Hawea (Jan 1, 2). The patron saints of pure pop Doug the Warlock plays support for the Hawea dates... Johnny Mac and the Thrusters’ newly acquired bassist has left ... Look Blue Go

Purple's final gig was a Sunday night ball at the Savoy — great idea, eh? This will be one very much missed band ... the Chippendale House venue ended recently too with an “after life" fancy dress do. The bands

were great — they included Mr Big Nose and Snapper.

The Chills hold their Dunedin Christmas party on Dec 22 ... Hoodoo Gurus play this month, with Straitjacket Fits supporting ... Dunedin has a Wilson’s shop now, in Moray Place — check it out!... watch out for Alley Oop 2, there's a new big issue due in February ... we’re all starting to lush out with summer days down here, with barbies and beer, but there's a few outdoorsy things happening music wise next year, so keep ear open. Sharon Guytonbeck

Palmerston North Palmerston Battle of the Bands heat winners the End are still investigating, with the help of Gary McCormick, their exclusion, with the Napier heat winners, from the Wellington regional final. But the good news is the End are planning a North Island tour for next year, and along with Three Leaning Men have been confirmed for the Neon Picnic ... Three Leaing Men are supporting Painters & Dockers on their Orientation 88 tour, and with their debut LP into its second pressing, are considering plans to move to Auckland.

Three former members of Fetch Jones are playing under the name Papatoetoe Pop Parcel, and have gained local notoriety with the Jones song 'The Dunedin Sound is Going Around’ ... new in town are Arnold Splendour, Summer Onions, and One Leg Too Short Radio Massey plan a 10 month broadcast for 1988, starting the first week in Feb.

Gerard Martin