ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

Sad but true: As reported last issue, heavy metalloids Judas Priest had the masters of the upcoming LP stolen by an anonymous-buttasteless extortionist, but get this—having paid the megabuck ransom the grossen wieners actually got back their masters. Though a few tracks were reported damaged in the trade-off, the Judes went right back in the studios and re-recorded them. And who said you can’t teach old dog-heads new tricks, huh? Now roll over, guys, c mon

Police report: Booked in Taipei, Taiwan for the first major rock gig ever held {here, the Police suddenly found themselves gig-less when officials suddenly banned the concert. Says Police booking agent Ian Copeland of the cancellation: “With a name like the Police, they probably thought the group was a bunch of clean-cut law enforcers. I

think they finally realized it was a rock concert after all.” More likely , no one told Sting “BOOOYYY0OO” means “You smell funny” in Taiwanese... .

Bruce Springsteen fans in New Hferseu organizing a major push to make “Bom To Run” the official state song. At presstime, a state assemblyman’s already announced plans to introduce such a bill in the state legislature. No similar plans in Michigan for “Motor City’s jEknming” though it is a nice /. thought, isn’t it? * -K .

Look for the official return of the EP this month as both Epic and A&M Records make their respective pitches From Epic comes the “nu-disk,” a series of 10-inchers {records, that is) featuring the' Clash, Cheap Trick and newer artists Propaganda, New Musik and the Continentals. The plan is to include one or two new tunes among a grand total of five j thus forcing rabid collectors to pay up or shut up if they wish to remain hip. List price, Epic officials mumble, should be $3.98 per disc, with the exception of certified Big " Deal Cheap Trick’s, which’ll go for a buck extra. Woof woof. And on the smaller scale, LR.S. v Records— home of the Buzzcocks, John Calc and other f aves—will release a series of 7-inch “mini-albums,” playable at 33x/3 r.p.m. and indudinggala fold-out jacket and booklet. Tentative, opener will be “Play” by the Humans, set for a $3,49 list price. Will this marketing strategy set the jukebox industry in a frenzy? Will it set you in a frenzy? How ’boyt your mom? Details as they come.,.

Jerry Lee Lewis recently opened up his nightclub in

Nashville, dubbed Jerry Lee Lewis! Printer’s Alley Showroom. Previously owned by both George

Jones and Kenny Rogers, the club has a history of being shut down due to “nude dancing.” Forewarned is forearmed, Killer.

News from L. A.: Former Dwight TwiBeyBand vocalist/drummer Phil Seymour was wrapping u p a recording session for his first LP, 8| label details unknown at presstime. Seymour has also lured good-buddy-and-guitarlst Bill Pitcock IV a way from former partner Twiltey’s clutches, anc) along _ with surprise bassist Chris Hillman has recorded tunes by pais like the Textones and Jack

“Hanging On The Telephone” LM

(once of the Nerves), plus an old †willey tune never previously released (“Surrender”) and an obscuro by the Bobby Fuller Four (“Let Her Dance”). Big deal is Seymour using the original drums 60’s-whiz Sandy Nelson used while recording “Let There Be Drums” years ago. And while the

Textones have yet to clinch a U.S. deal, they’ve just released a three-song EP on the British Chiswick label, featuring *1 Can’t Fight It,” a tune given to them by yet another buddy, Tom Petty.,.

In The Studio

Burbank, CA—Kendun Recorders: George Benson, Walter Egan, j T^inda C$ffced am^Qytrfic Mayfiekjk, j Chuck Negron, Tazrm Devils; Los Angeles, CA—Record Plant: Jane Aire, Livingston Taylor, Chicago, Aretha Franklin, Eddie Money ;Larrabee Studios: Air Supply, Smokey Robinson, A1 Hooper; Westlake Studios: Cher, Angel City, Dan Fogelberg; Capitol Studiw%^eSMi$% $unset Sou nd: The Motels; Paramount Recording Studios: Johnny Guitar Watson;

San Francisco, CA — The Auiomatt: Herbie Hancock, A

York, N.Y. —PowerStation:

David Bowie, with Tony Visconti co-producing; Bound Ideas Studios: P-Funk, with George Clinton J producing; Electric Lady: The ■ Rolling Stones, the Clash, the Shoes, Daryl HaU and John Oates, X.ou Reed, Ellen Shipley; Sound Waves Studios: Steely Dan; Detroit, MI — United Sound Studios: David Ruffin, The Four Tops, Johnny Taylor, P-Funk; Sureshot ,Westwind: The 27, The Mutanfc, j* The Reruns, The Plugs, Walkie,, Talkies, Service; Tremor Recording Studio: Ginecyde; Miami, FL— 'Criteria: Henry Paul Band; Quadradial Studios: Screamin’ Sneakers; London,;

England—Olympic Studios : Eric Clapton.

Fashion tips of the stars: Much impressed by a CREEM staffer’s 80% polyester jacket—a SaKtetion Army special—fashion plate lggy Pop grabbed the fabric and asked: • “Wow! Where’d ya get this; Sears * Roebuck?” Informed that said jacket i was a second-hand cheapie, origins unknown, Ig replied: “Oh well. Ya Jall of his stuff at Sears Roebuck? David Bowie!!” And thanks for the hot scoop, big hoy J

John Murphy, bassist and vocalist with the Shoes, recently underwent major surgery due to ' “detached retinas.” An excellent chance for full recovery predicted by doctors, and we wish him the best of hick . * "■**

Behind bars dept.: Discoid Sylyuatertossed in the slammer in New York, charged with stealing $55,000in cash and rare coins. No three dollar biils reported missing. Even more interesting, the (ex-Bay City) Rollers locked up in Johannesburg, South Africa due to debts amassed during a / noi-so-successf ul tour there. And where’s Cbuck Berry when we need him?

Everyone’s a critic: A 28-year-old truck driver recently presented himsef in Elektra-Asylum’s New York office.demanding (seriously) to meet either the Eagles or Jackson Browne. True, the fact that he wascarrying a gun added a little more weight to the situation— and the fact that he surrendered himself only after demanding and ! hearing “Desperaao” played on a local radio station must prove something. When we figure out what, we’ll let you know.

Meanwhile, what would happen if truck drivers liked Meta/Moc/wne Music?

On the Rock Soapbox circuit, there’s lots more happening than Johnny Ramone (see Mitch Cobeu’sstoryjn this issue) endorsing (gulp) Ronald Reagan for the nextU.S. prez. Blondie’s Chris Stein and Debbie Harry put together a “Kennedy For President” benefit along with latent human Andy Warhol in blew York last month, and the middle-aged Beach Boys obliged Similarly for ex-CIA Big Boy George Bush. And you thought Carl Wilson was a tonscientious opjector back in the 60’s,,

The Clash have recorded a tune with terrific Texan Joe Ely, who -they liked so much they dragged back to theU.K. some months ago. Though at presstime there’s been no defihite American release date set, MCA have been hinting.

Meanwhile, Legendary Joe may be recording his next LP with Dave Edmunds in the producer’s chair, further proof of fily*s full-fledged star status in the U.K. Way to go, Joe...

Tex-Mex hot-shot Joe “King” Ourrasco just finished recording his first LP, produced by none other «than CREEM scribe Billy Altman— who said things went great, but what does he know? Mucho interest expressed by at least two major labels, so when the bucks pour in, please stop calling us collect, OK, Bjlly?

The Kids Aren’t Alright: Aging guitarblaster Ritchie Blackmore refused to return onstage for an encore at London’s Wembley Arena recently and chaos immediately ensued. Angry fans hurled fire extinguishers arid chairs at the stage, but the Over-TheRainbow Blackmore was not impressed. Nor was he impressed when handed a bill for the $25,000 damage his audience had inflicted on the arena. And what year did you think it was?

Is it true blonds have more sense? Seems Wayne Kramer was trying to lure Steve McGuire, bassist and studio whiz extraordinaire of Detroit’s 27, into joining Gang

War. Steve declined fire invitation, and Wayne and group packed their collective bags and moved to the Big Apple, where! they plan to base operations.

Middle age insecurity dept: As you mayhave heard, Fred “Sonic” Smith married Pattl“Don’tTalk About My Boyfriend Like That” Smith i,n a ceremony at Mariners Church in downtown Detroit on March 1. Meanwhile in New York, Lou Reed tied the knot with Sylvia Mofrales. CREEM wishes the respective couples a heartfelt good luck.,.

Cher and her new squeeze Lee Dudek attended the opening of The Great Rock ’n ’ Roll Swindle at the Los Angeles Filmex festival, mumbling someting about cutting some new wave tracks for her next album. Another MOR heavyweight, Carly Simon, expressed the same sentiments. What does this all mean, you ask? It means, if you didn’t figure it out already, that we’rej •allgonna die. ■ ■

Good news for all you Clemma Rock fans out there: The Mutants,. Detroit’s shot-and-a-confessional favorites, have been seen in the studios around town with George Clinton of Parliament / Funkadelicfame. Can a fusion of the quaalude/pizza sound and ‘Theme From The Black Ho/e” be far away?

And what does Robert Fripp think about his music? Says Fripp in an NME interview: “I can’t describe how much I love it. Just thinking about it tears begin to form in my eyes. ” This just in case you wanted to know...

Headline Of The Year: Billboard magazine, April5,1980, on—no, seriously, we mean this -page b9 "WOMEN BLOW IN KANSAS CITY.” Please address all correspondence to Billboard. Thank you. ,

On Tour

The Pretenders, Public Image Ltd., RobinTrower, PatTraverjs, D.L. Byron, Dave Mason, Warren Zevon, the Marshall Tucker Band, Cheap Trick, Bruce Wooley and the Camera Club, 999, Sylvain Sylvain, hlumble Pie, Angel City, Journey, the Babys, Linda Ronstadt, Joe , Perry Project, Van Halen, J. Geils, Stiv Bators and the Dead Boys, Flo and Eddie, Boomtown Rats, Iggy Pop. the Dickies,\Squeeze, the Beat, Judas Pries).