FOO FIGHTERS

Rip It Up, Issue 215, 1 July 1995, Page 5

FOO FIGHTERS

Kings College Students Bar, London.

The grunge Ringo? It has been said. Dave Grohl’s drumming credentials were proven during Nirvana’s heyday, but being handy with the sticks does not neccessarily bode well for a career in front of the drum kit. However, the Foo Fighters haven’t let the forces of cynicsm knock ‘em down. It’s a good thing too. On the strength of a night of power pop of unprecedented calibre, the Foo Fighters show pop’s blackest clouds, like the all too tragic end to Nirvana, can have a silver lining. There is an air of expectation. The Foos’ first UK show is in the insalubrious environs of the Kings College Students Bar — a Victoria University Hunters Bar double if ever there was one. The Foos are the first of post-Kurt Seattle’s new grunge bands, and with them comes new hope. Grohl’s penchant for catchy, hookladen pop songs is an unexpected revelation. From the stabbing, Lemonheads/pop-Nirvana splendour of ‘This is a Call’, the Foo Fighters show they’re not just trading on association with the ghost of Seattle’s golden age. It’s a perfect Summery single — a wild frivolous, free-for-all, full of spine tingling riffs and happy-go-lucky verses. It’s an atmosphere of enriching, upbeat, pop freedom. It’s defiantly positive, and helps make the evening stand out.

The Sky TV Network has . scored exclusive rights to screen MTV America’s popular Unplugged concerts on the HBO channel. The network will screen 36 concerts between now and the end of the year. The July line up features Nirvana, Rod Stewart, Neil Young, Bjork, and Paul McCartney (Check RIU Gig Guide for screening times). Future concerts include REM, Pearl Jam, Aerosmith, Crowded House, Sinead O’Connor, Lenny Kravitz, Soul Asylum, and Arrested Develooment.

Grohl and band seem determined to have a good time; there’s no shoe gazing angst, or maudlin remembrance. “I’d just like to say that none of these songs are about Kurt,” Grohl says. "I wouldn’t want to embarrass him like that.”

It’s a sentiment that, strangely, fits. Nevertheless, there does seem to be more of a ; story than Grohl seems prepared to tell behind ‘l’ll Stick Around’, with its vicious refrain: ‘I don’t owe you anything.’ But, for the most part, it’s as if Nirvana never happened. This .set sparks with songs that are the pure essence of a glorious debut album — sharp, sassy and instantly likeable. Some of the crowd have obviously come to watch and gloat, sure that the Foo Fighters will flail away.like a dying snake, bereft of their guiding inspiration. If so, they’ve wasted their night out. The Foos fit like a glove —

Leading New Zealand actor and veteran rock musician Bruno Lawrence died of lung cancer on June 10. Although internationally known for his roles in movies such as Smash Palace, Utu, Goodbye Pork Pie and The Quiet Earth, Bruno’s first love was music, and he pla.yed drums in numerous bands in the 60s. In 1971, he formed Blerta, an anarchic co-operative from whence came some hit recordings and key initiatives in the birth of modern New Zealand film-making. A decade later, Bruno was still part of the music scene, in the Crocodiles, but his acting career soon took over. Above all Bruno will be remembered as a generous human being who helped and inspired others. MC

bass drums, guitar and Grohl’s thin but expressive voice, married wonderfully. The grunge Ringo? No. More like the grunge George, John and Paul, actually.

The Stone Roses have cancelled their Glastonbury, UK, festival appearance, after guitarist John Squire broke his collarbone in San Francisco. The list of who was asked to take their place has been published. The organisers first asked Blur, then Primal Scream, then Rod Stewart and finally Pulp said: “Yes!” ... Courtney Love has been offered a cameo as a taxi driver on Roseanne ... Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher (1948-1995) died after complications following a liver transplant ... the Cure have a new European summer tour line-up. Robert Smith is joined by Simon Gallup, Perry Barmonte and back on keyboards is former member Roger O’Donnell. The new drummer is soundtrack writer Jason Cooper ... Alan Wilder has quit Depeche Mode, due to a frustration with not getting adequate credit for his input ... drug busts: HR of Bad Brains, caught on the Canadian border with pot ... Stone Temple Pilots’ singer Scott Weiland, busted for cocaine and heroin ... Kim Deal of the Breeders has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking after receiving a package at her Ohio home. She got a first offender’s option of drug rehabiliation. She has been at a clinic in Minnesota since April ... Freak Power were deported from Norway and fined 900 pounds for crossing the Swedish border with hash ... Courtney Love was hospitalised on June 11, after an overdose of prescription drugs. She was discharged the same day ... David Bowie does a cameo as Andy Warhol in a movie about graffiti artist Jean-Michael Basquiat ... Snoop Doggy Dogg’s trial is delayed as he has the same lawyer as OJ Simpson, Johnny Cochran, and Johnny is busy with OJ for awhile ... the Rolling Stones have recorded an acoustic set for MTV’s Unplugged series ... the Bats are in-studio, producing themselves for an October release album ... Flavor Flav is serving 90 days in prison for gun possession ... missing Manic Street Preacher dude Richey Edwards has been found alive and well Wales ... support for Faith No More in Auckland and Wellington is Pumpkinhead ... Flying In have their first platinum selling album; Offspring’s S*M*A*S*H ... Duran Duran will not have the final word — Kirsty Mac Coll and Evan Dando duet on Lou Reed’s Perfect Day’ ... the Exponents are touring in August.