ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

When pint-sized leather siren Suzy Quatro "arrived for a recent gig in Melbourne, Australia, her plane was met by a motor cavalcade of Hell’s Angels.

Tpe Alvin Lee Rumor Department: This month’s source, a certain Mr, Dee Anthony, claims that Alvin has not broken up with TYA, is associated with My Ion, and is thinking of pursuing a solo career. Now back |to the real world; During the recent Ten Years After tour, the band had to cope with a frustratingly bad sound system. After playing a couple of gigs with the audial handicap. Alvin lashed out in frustration at one of the mammoth speakers on stage, toppling it over on a couple of unsuspecting roadies, Mr. lee was verity profuse with his apologies, but at the next concert-, the road crew were all spotting hard hats.

The James Gang’s song Miami dt Two Step will be used as a promo theme by that city.

What’s the latest in superstar fashion? Dan Hartman of the Edgar Winter Group just picked up a snappy little guitar suit. The suit features a built-in chordless guitar with; volume con trols located Ah the sleeve.

Rumors are untrue that Bob Dylan left his wife Sarah, for Lori Sebastian, John’s ex. Loriand Bobbie hove met but only once over breakfast.

It’s Only Money: Did you know every time Rick Wakeman per-vV

forms Journey to Me Centre of the Barfh with the London Syniphony if costs S grand?

Linda Blair, at 15, has recently shown signs of joining the ranks of Hollywood’s groupie set. She has been shOwlng'ep At various glitter'functions with two of the town’s most notorious rock iuvhes, Sable and Lori.

Editing is now heing done on the Led Zeppelin documentary,.with projected cost figures for the film in the neighborhood of a half million. “If it "doesn’t work,” says Zep manager Peter Grant,“it’s gonna be the most expensive home movie ever,with just five copies made.”

Seems just everybody is. talking about the new Rolling Stones movie filmed by Robert Frank during their last American tour The film is supposedly1 tres, tres revealing, showing the boy v backstage at their best, of is it their worst; meaning there are many explicit sex and drug scenes. The tentative titles is Cppksueker Blues!

Where are they noW* and what are they doing? Whispers are getting„ louder that not only John -1 Lennon, but Ringo Starr are up a financial creek. Ringo and Triends allegedly walked Out on a dinner' bill for nine at a pbsh Beverly Hills restaurant. In fact, Ringo has even, sunk sb low as to have his Playboy Chib key revoked. He lost his membership' after failing ‘ho come up With a $300 tab: ThatV two down. George Harrisonis busying himself with his own record label Dark Horse. /Unfortunately George can’t sign himself to his own label, since he’s under contract with Apple but he’s gothisgoodboddy Ravi on his roster, aftda group called i Splinter. While George is taking care of business, his lovely wife Patti.Is off-galivanting with another Limey guitarist, Eric Clapton. The pretty Mrs. Harrison is accompanying Eric on his American tour.But don’t feel too sorry for George, the cheese isn’t standing alone. He’s got Maureen Starkey to console him. Yup, Ringo’s Maureen. Paul, well, he’s just in downhome INashville^^ making music with Peggy lee. While his ex-steady Jane Asher gleft a London hospital with a "brand new bundle of joy. That’s spelled bab^H

The Faces are about to change bass players and those in the know say they’re going to give Tim Bogert from Cactus the hod.

Yes is the latest group starting their ownrecordlabel, tobe called Fragile.

Elton’s gone and done it again, blowing more of his wad on a new set of wheels. Elton moseyed into a car lot in Encino, California and picked out another Rolls-Royce without even asking the price.

Leb Kdttke has developed tern donitis in his right arm. We’re hoping that it doesn’t hinder Lep’S fine capabilities as a guitarist.

The kingpin of the Clearasil set, Rick Springfield, was the victim of a freak accident that landed him in the hospital, During a rehearsal, an amplifier attached to his guitar proved to have a faulty ground. Grabbing hold of the microphone in ffont of him with , both hands, Springfield received a massive electrical shock which sent him flying into an electric piano and finally flat on the floor. Rick was immediately rushed to the hospital. But don’t let anyone tell you this boy’s no live wire, after he was stitched up he returned to. the club and went oh the same night. The astronomical tax situation m England is driving several of her most notable performers to consider a move to these shores. Among those reportedly deep m deliberation: Elton John (who should have no trouble setting up shop with the estimated 8 million he received for re-signing with MCA), various members of Mott die Hoople and Emerson Lake & Palmer.

Huh? Dept: Attendance records set by the Roiling Stones at St. Louis’ Kiel Auditorium were recently shattered. But not by Led Zeppelin, the AUman Brothers or Paul McCartney. The heavies in tills instance were none other than the Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Something's happening here...

Arthur Lee, currently touring Europe with a pick-up Love, is reportedly giving thought to rounding up the original cast for one more go. Judging by reports we get on his new band, he’d better do something quick. ,

Meanwhile, in other Elton John foolishness: the man’s latest fqhreyes fantasy is a pair of green and — you guessed it — apple-shaped specs.

Gary Lewis & The Playboys are gearing up for a recording comeback. Ten toonefhere’s a Jim Croce song involved...

Burton Cummings of the Guess Who is teaching himself to be a ventriloquist^nnd will be accompanied onstage by a Bronx-

accented dummy named Amie. Reports that the dummy will cliBax the show by performing “Horse Latitudes,” however, are unfounded.

Congrats to Frank & Gail Zappa, who ushered a tiny male Zappa into the world not long ago. His name: Ahmet (after Ertegun, of Atlantic Records) Rodan (after the monster) Zappa.

Paul Morrissey is in .Hollywood to meet with Elvis to discuss the possibility of Elvis playing the lead in the Morrissey-John Phillips (Papa) "film called The Man On the Moon. Morrissey says this is very easy to work with ... that is as long as his price of a cool mill is

Remember Oavid “The Pope-f) Smokes Dope” Pee&WfeU, brace yourselves. The king ot New York streetscum is at it again, this time recording an album to be called Bring Back'The Beatles.

Due soon is Ron Wood’s first album venture away from the Faces* whichi he co-produced with Keith Richard. Most of the material is Wood's, but Richard « supposedly wrote a couple of new numbers for the occasion, and they also covered James Rae’s old hit “If You Got To Make A Fool Of Somebody,” Also in on the sessions were ex-Sly drummer Andy Newmark, ex-Aretha bassist Willy Weeks, Faces mate Ian McLagen, Rod Stewart, George Harrison, Rick Grech, Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger. In anticipation of the album, Wood

played two special London concerts, with a band composed of Richard, McLagen, Newmark .and Weeks. At present there are no plans to repeat these live dates elsewhere, but it’s possible that ah this activity might inspire Richard to some solo activity of his own.

It H

mutated Velvet Underground could be making the rounds sometime this fall. The project -sponsored by John ("ale - would include all the original Velvets (Calc, Nico, Moe Tucker, Sterling Morrison) but sans Lou Reed. Rounding out the projected line-up v> ill be madman Kno. further details as they untold.

Also set for a hig film documentary splash is Leonard Cohen, whose Bird On The Wire is currently being premiered at select F uropcan venues. This, plus a new album and tour, should dispel any rumors of his retirement. Do -you care?

Jeff Brittain, the drummer Paul McCartney chose to fill Danny Seiwell’s slot in Wings, was recruited from the bad boy band of the English rock & roll revival, the Wljd Ahgels.

Chris Stainton, who was responsible for captaining so much of Joe Cocker’s backup bands, now has one of his own. It’s called Tundra, and includes (besides Stainton’s keyboards) drummer Henry Spinnetti,j bassist Charlie Harrison and guitarist ‘ Glen Turner.

Sly’s new Epic album is titled Small Talk and features, on the title track, the stupendous talents of one Sylvester Stewart, Jr; onpipes.

Elliott Randall — sensational studio guitarist whose work can be heard on, among others, Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ In The Years” — has joined Sha Na Na on a permanent basis. He had jumped into the lineup temporarily when regular guitarist Chris Donald died mysteriously in the midst ot a tour.

A surprise appearance was made by ex-Monkee Peter Tork at a Phil Ochs gig at LA’s. Troubadour, where he wielded a banjo and recalled his days as a Greenwich Village folkie. Among others who vied for a share of the spotlight that night: Troub owner Doug Weston, David Blue, Jackson Browne, Loudon Wainwright, Bob “Elusive Butterfly” Lind* Peter Asher, Chad Stuart, David Clayton-Thomas, Dorsey Burnette and A&M Records prexy Jerry Moss (whew!).

The Temptations are now being produced by Steve Cropper. Hmmm....

Besides earning gold records, the Eagles have ventured into Other venues: filmmaking. Filming was begun along the Eagles tour with GlOn Frey claiming executive producer credit. The flick will be titled Spread Eagle, and will probably be the first X rated rock and roll movie. That is, if you don’t count Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.