Not rain, nor ice, nor sickness will prevent the Mouth from dishing you the dirt this month!

David Bowie kicked out a tight, impeccably-orchestrated show at the Olympia late in February, pleasing practically all of his fans with a hitpacked show. Bowie hirnself cut a slender figure, clad in black stovepipe pants and vest and white shirt. The crowd became very agitated when Bowie burst into "Panic In Detroit", thrusting fists in the air, to which David responded in kind. Towards the end of the set he removed his vest and the orange pompadour came tumbling down into his face from exertion. His moves were very elegant — cigarette in hand, he pranced like a styishy Sinatra. The band was excellent, providing an intensely loud wall of,sound. It was crowd was wildly divergent, and it was pleasant to see such a racially mixed crowd get off. Later Bowie and company retired to their Pontchartrain suites for some relaxation. "Company" included our own Iggy Pop, who we were delighted to see under any circumstances. The Ig revealed that he felt "very strange" flying into Metro, that he was living in La Jolla, California, that it felt good to be in Detroit and did we see that guy catch the bullet in his teeth on Wide World Of Sports? He waved off too much interest in his possible LP, and was much more subdued than Detroiters probably remember him, speaking softly but fixing those enormous eyes on whoever he was talking to. Speaking of Bowie (we were), Detroit's own Carl Thom of ^Harmony House was strolling along the beach in Ocho Rios, Jamaica with his lovely wife when who should he see but the Diamond Dog himself. Seems Bowie was crashing at Keith Rich* ards' pad in the mountains while rehearsing the Station to Station tour. Well, Cat Stevens was in town, but don't expect to see any pictures here... El Gatto did not permit any photographers to have photo passes and thusly capture his image for posterity . Somehow a few of the girls from the Virginia Slims tour were able to slip past security guards at the back door on their own recognizance. Including Chrissie Evert. When Cat caught a plane for Cleveland at Metro, it seems that several young ladies were lying in wait for him near the boarding gate. After turning down requests for a kiss ^saying that it would be going too far) Cat instead offered the girls some of his Dentyne chewing gum. The girls accepted and helped him with the wrapper. Cat said he enjoyed playing Detroit and hoped to come back soon (Is three years soon?).

The Patti Smith Group played a wild set at the Agora in Cleveland in late January (where the B side of her single, "My Generation," was recorded). The climax of the show was Patti's rendition of "Time Is On My Side" and "My Generation", with surprise guest John Cale on Firebird bass, a la Entwhistle. During "My Generation" Mr. Cale wound himself up in his cord so badly that he tripped himself and fell off the stage into the crazed£leveland rockers. (No injuries). Patti attacked the floundering bassist with a genuine cream cherry pie applied to his face, and a stage rumble erupted, with Cale assaulting Lenity Kaye, who was the next to topple. Then Cale knocked over the drum kit while Patti cut the strings of her guitar with hedge clippers. SHADES OF THE WHO LIVE 1965! IGGY! Asked it Patti had heard of Detroit's own Mutants, Patti replied, "Hell, I've been a Mutant half my life." Lenny Kaye revealed that he knew of the pride of Hamtramck and hopes to catch their act when the group hits town March 9th.

Congrats to Walter Lee for his promotion to National Sales Manager at Capitol.

Johnny "Bee" Badanjck, formerly with the Detroit Wheels you will recall, is now with the group Honey Boy, a gathering of seasoned Detroit musicians and session men. Appearing at places like the Red Carpet — catch them!

ELO s Jeff Lynne, (Left) greets local clothier John Powell at a bash thrown for band by U.A.'s Morris Sullivan and Jemy Cheers.

The reason why former Alice Cooper flame and local girl Cindy Lange was back in town was to visit her ailing father. Mission over, she has

returned to Los Angeles to see about selling that humungous house .

Too bad to hear that Tony of Rufus got ripped off for $200 while in town . Chaka Khan turned up with the boys in the band at Bad Records at the Green-8 Shopping Center, to the delight of the crowd jamming the store and sidewalk for a few glimpses of the curvacious Miss Kahn. As the white fur dad Chaka stepped from her limo, Afro billowing, little girls were heard to squeal "Ain't she pretty? Ain't she pretty?" The boys just stood and admired. Once in the store the crush was so great that the press was forced to vault a glass case to avoid being crushed. Chaka took off her fur to reveal a lacy black top and skirt. She signed albums, pictures and just snips of paper patiently, taking time out for a cigarette just once (every young man sprung across the counter with a light). Back in the limo she smiled faintly and conversed warmly in a husky voice.

Peter Frampton will be recording his new album right here at Motown studios. Yes boys and girls, cats and kittens, the toast of Detroit this past winter is hot to capture that funky old Motown sound, and since the equipment at Hitsville is basically the same, he thinks he can. Frampton is an avid Stevie Wonder fan, and since his warm reception from Detroit rockers, our town has a special place in his affections. He calculates that he'll be recording in June, but his record company friends are bettjng more on June-July since he still has a lot of material to write. Peter's had his share of drummer problems —John Simos suffered a slight breakdown when he heard of his mother's death last December, and flew home immediately to Chicago from Lansing. After the first gig at Cobo in January the new drummer had to be replaced but quick, and a new one rehearsed. But where? Enter Mutant Bob Zachary who offered the Mutants' practice hall deep in the heart of Hamtramckto Peter. Peter accepted, and spent 12 hours putting his new drummer through the paces. Now John Siomos is back at the drum kit, and we hope things'll go smoothly from here in out.

Yes Bill, even a Rolls needs gasl

Local light Dan Schafer made Billboard Magazine's pick-hit chart with his ballad "A Day Without You, Dear". Attention codpiece lovers: Chrysalis Records has decided to do a local promotion for Jethro Tull in which the winner will receive the ACTUAL flute thatlan Anderson played while in Detroit. (Conjure with that idea for a while...)

Our sister editor Jaan "That's no telephone, that's my ear"Uhelszki will indeed be departing for points West (LA to be exact) by the time you read this. Jaan will become our first (and only) West Coast Editor, which means that now we have somebody to crack writer's heads together and keep us abreast of the latest El Lay trends.

Even more abreast than now, that is! Jaan will also still pen her Film Fox column and contribute articles. : Speaking of which, can you tell that Jaan DID NOT write Film Fox this month? Everybody but two sturdy humanoids were stricken with the flu last deadline week, and Robert Duncan donned the aegis of the Fox temporarily. The Mouth dragged herself in only when it lookealike this column would be written by the janitors (who were exhausted from proofreading) .

Very sad to hear of Flo Ballard's death. Condolences to her husband and children.

Henry "Fonzie" Winkler appeared in Pontiac Michigan as a special guest star of the recent auto show. Some of the kids may have been a bit dismayed to find a sober Henry instead of a fingersnapping Fonz. We note that it was Fonzie who was billed as star of the show, not Henry (thanks to Bill Kennedy for bringing this to our* attention). Speaking of Bill, Alice Cooper's West Coast office recently requested copies of our Bill Kennedy Creemcheese by Lowell Caufffiel. Hey Bill, does this mean you'll put a picture of Alice on the set? In case y'all don't know, Alice just worships the ground Bill shows movies on.

Well, git out in that spring air and strut your stuff, y'all.