ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

Happy Harry Nilsson had a bomb scare in February. He drove up to a local English airport to meet his Irish girlfriend’s plane, drove her home and was so’apxioua to get behind closed doors that he left her luggage 3P the trunk of the car. Next morning the lovebirds woke up to find their house surrounded by dink squaddersHarry’s driver had opened the trunk, seen a small bag with Irish air tags and an Irish ftame on it, succumbed to an attack of DMZ paranoia and called the law. They spent a tense hour deftising a , change of underwear.

"ttekth of Dock, Chapter 'fM Boz Skaggs recently played a concert at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, ten dollars a seat, black tie optional.

Leon Russell still working under the alias of "Hank Wilson”, is in the studio with, believe it or not, Scruggs.

Rick Grech has joined the lineup ; of a new band called Charge, which also features longtime studio ringing star Rosetta Hightower.

Mainman have installed a resident deterrent in David Bowie’s house, form of a ^»y>M

Good hews from Beantown; Reddy Teddy, one of the best'" young bands in the area, have been.signed to Mercury and will be produced by Michael Brown, guiding light behind the Left Banke and Stories. And the Sidewinders, who we’ve trumpeted loud and long, seem headed for Neil Bogart’s Casablanca, where they’ll be , produced by the chartbu sting combo Kenny Kerner and Richie wise.

Terry Knight and Grand Funk finally settled their legal poblenis, with the boys in the band forking over a veiliable pluribust of $2.7 million to their backwhen bwana, as well as full right to use the dispu ted trademarks“Grand Funk" and "Grand Funk Railroad” in perpetuity throughout the world. Mark, Bon and Mellow are taking 4t all in stride, though, showing the unmitigated class to meet such extravagant dunning with a tenth album called Shinin ’ On.

Yass indeed. Boss.

Doubly Dead: Get set, fans of ozona R & B, because Ron “Pigpen” McKernah, former organ pounder for the Grateful Dead who died last year, may be blessed with a memorial album in the near future. Whether it will consist of in-loving-memory jams or The Best of Pigpen has not been

All you White Witch fa&s. can because the white nighteys of

were h«u k in the studio in February recording their second album for Capricorn.

Just can’t get enough of that whoopsie version of “The Lord’s Prayer”currently reflecting all over the radio dialt Well hold onta yer hosts kids because Sister; Janet Mead, the 3d year-old Australian nun who cut this snatch of hot wax which sold 50,000 copies in f its first ten days, is working with ABC on plans a Special TeeVee Rock Mass. Among those tentatively signed to appear at presstime: The Swingle Singers, Judee Sill, Guru Maharaj Ji’s Blue Aquarius (in the interests of ecumenicism) Ars Nova, the

Electric Prunes, Coven, Ruby and the Rednecks and a special Marianne Faithfull — typefc appearance by Sally (Flying Nun) Field, habit and alt. Black Sabbath were invited but declined on political grounds; when

Osbourne would only viy “Hie world’s in a bloody sad state alrealty.”

In case you were wondering what happened to the Modern Lovers, comparative obsuerros for whom so many big filing have been predicted producer John Cale sent them back to Boston after spending 50 G’s of Warpers cash trying to get a debut album out of them commensurate with their potential. But, insists Cate, this apparent recession is merely a hiatus: “They’re stilt satisfying and so very strong. Itual just that at tile moment they’re dilly-dallying and if they are to succeed like I think that they will do, the Lovers will have to relinquish some of their innocent past."

Meanwhile, all you Cale and Lou Reed freaks will be struck breathless to learn that the two ex-Velvet Undergroqunders are

teaming up with Nico to work on her next solo album. “If Louis is 1 going to give Nico. songs,”, asserts Cale, “he’s got to write them especially for her and not give her those songs he originally wrote for himself. ThaCs the Only way it can work, ‘i’ll Be Your^MirroC was a perfect example of Nico giving Louis an idea and a titles Actually, it’s all got me very

extited the prospects of us all working together again because we’re so much more amiable than before.”

However, lie added, sphere has been something that has really upset me ~ that’s when Lou teamed up with David Bowie. Lou is a leader, but with Bowie he became j follower and it showed in his music because the songs jjtjdhas written over the last two yeqrs weren’t anywhere as good as 1m best work.” .. Ex-Beatle (what?) Paul McCartney didn’t win any popularity contests during his recent performances and recording session in Lagos, Nigeria, McCartney and Wings, maturing imely linda. found that not only did the public there have no idea who they were, but Paul lost all the African musicians at his recording session when he sat down and banged away on their conga drums spewing stream of wisecracks about the jungles, etc. (Q.Why I did the spearchucker cross the road? A. That was no spearchucker that was Sammy Davis Jr.) that the musicians felt were a Slur on tiieii cultural heritage. McCartney’s aides had their hands full preventing the African musicians from doing a mass walkout

Bowies bustle on: David’s making a surprise appearance on the new and almost completed Steeleye Span album, playing sax on a new arrangement of the old Spector-Teddy Bear’s hit “To Know Him is to Love Him." Ian Anderson supervised production.

Meanwhile, Angie B.’sheen busying herself trying to crash Hollywood. She tested for a new Warner Brothers TV series called Wonder Woman (based on the comic strip) wearing a costume designed by David, but was not signed.

Grease up your tomorrows, we’ve got advance notice on the Coming

Thing straight from Rodney Bingenheimer’s mouth: “Hey ESH man, I’m managing a group — they’re gonna be the next big thing in rock... d’ya wanna know wUrgt the next hig thing is gonna be? Dictatorship Rock that’s . what... rock with power of the' people led by my band Berlin’s Brats. 1 hey ’re a neo-Nazi ty pe band made up of very young Jewish boys."

Martin Mull has attracted a huge 8 following since his appearance as our CREEMMATE of the Months Why just the other day, while gues^itg on tituijkick Jones Show, in Merry Olde Youknowhere, he reduced the orchestra to such hysterics that they were unable to play.,

Roy Happer recorded a live album at London’s Rainbow Theatre last month, and among the friends along for the ride were Jimmy' Page, Keith Moon, Max Middleton, John Bonham and Ronnie Lane.

Is Mercury Records aware that they’ve got two stars by the name of Johnny Rodriguez on ihcir label?

John Denver’s publicity him proudly announces that he is no longer considered a rock star in the state of Nevada. In Nevada, rock stars have to post a $5,000 bond before they can wbrk large halls. In view of the fact that Denver is a “gentleman” with a “well-balanced and attentive audience. Bill Harrison of the Centennial Coliseum in Reno had decided that Denver should be designated an “entertainer." At last report, groups around Detroit were trying to strip him of that title in the state of Michigan.

Birds of a feather? Dept.: The Sweet have been signed by Osmonds’ manager Ed Lefler for world-wide management with particular emphasis on a tour of the states late in ’74.’ Whodda, double-bill, the teen queens meet the pu bey-hoppers, Jrathuig bacchanale will undoubtedly ensue.

Deodato is now taking a correspondence course in celestial navigation.’ Reports that his instructor is Syd Barrett are unconfirmed.

Helping hands; ex-Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover assisted in

Lead guitarist Russ Ballard is quitting Argent to concentrate on solo writing and recording. As a songwriter, his credits (Argent aside) already include the Shadows, Three Dog Night and Colin Blunstone.

King For A Tour Dept: On the Dylan tour use was made of the much-acclaimed Starship I, which

comes equipped with two stewardesses. Our sources have it that the stewardesses were given sterft instructions that under no Conditions were they ever to speak directly to Dylan. No word on who the interpreter might’ve been, though A.J. Weberman reports that his application was turned down.

Well what would you do with all that loot? Bob Dylan shipped in Brentano’s in Beverly Hills to-buy a Berlitz package designed do teach the rudiments of French. Maybe he’s planning a tour of Gay Paree.

the production of Roxy Music saxfiend Andrew Mackay’s solo album, and Mick Jagger has done the same with and for Bin Wyman.

There’s a movement afoot to bring Andy Warhol films to English TV, and it’s being spearheaded, by ope David Bowie.

You’ll all be delighted to know that the Osmonds fan club is still gaining members at a rate of 2,000 per week; how many are Mormons we have no way of knowing.