ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

Very strange news: Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman have left Yes, Wakeman for the second time but lead-chirper Anderson for the very first. Anderson, you see, has enjoyed some degree of success with keyboardist Vangelis and perhaps felt the need to desert Yes’s sinking ship. Wakeman plans to tour on his own. Stranger news: Anderson & Wakeman have been replaced by Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn, better known as the Buggles, who hit it bio in the U.K. with “Video Killed The Radio Star." Joining the Buggies will be regular Yessers Chris Squire, Steve Howe and Alan White. The end of an era? Hey, who cares?

Word has it that one of the major reasons for the delay of the Stones’ Emotional Rescue LP was the attempted Inclusion of “Claudine," a track about Andy Williams’ sharp-shooting ex-wife. Turns out big-wigs decided the tune’s inclusion might be a “legal risk," and at the last minute—after copies of the LP with the song on it were pressed—the band backed out. Better safe than Snipered we suppose

At presstime, rumors abound that the Clash, now fully finished with their recorded-in-New-York LP, have high hopes of releasing the 20 tracks at the same two-for-one price break London Calling went for. No mention of a scheduled release date, though...

Mommy! Make it stop! The ever-busy Bebe “I set up Bob Mathen” Buell sent us a tape of some songs she’s recorded, and surprise! Her versions of “Funtime” and “Little Black Egg" are great! Bebe is also reportedly hoping to record Detroit-group Cinecyde’s unreteased “Tough Girls," and several other unnamed tunes. Keep your pants on, and your mouth open...

As a direct result of the libelous accusations running through CREEM’s recent Mail section, Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander has finally taken a wife, namely his longtime girlfriend Karen, who is, we’re told, no relation to Kristy McNichol. Tough break, eh? Address all complaints to Robin, but remember this: at least Bon E. is left...

Convicted killer and CREEM photographer thrown in the clink! It’s true! Turns out that Gunner Bob Matheu, in L.A. and planning a photo session with Bebe Bnell, borrowed a non-functional machine gun for said session and very intelligently left it in the backseat of his car while he illegally parked. Dummy Bob returned to find his car towed away, and a little later, himself towed away to the slammer. Happy ending: Bob emerged, non-felon status still intact. Bob’s next plan of action: a flight to Tokyo with a suitcase of oregano for a special Paul McCartney session...

We’re used to getting complaints over the phone but can you top this for nerve? A call from an irate reader informed us that our July calendar neglected to mention both Phoebe Snow and Nicolette Larson, whose birthdays fall on the same day, July 17. Even more nervy, the caljer identified herself as Phoebe Snow, who told us she liked our magazine but was surprised we could “get away” with the things we say, especially singling out “the poor Currie Sisters” (woof-woof!) and Ted Nugent. Said her new album would be recorded soon—she hasn’t had one in two years—and that she’d probably use producer Steve Burgh, an old friend who recently produced LPs by Suzanne Fellini and Carolyn Mas. “It’ll be all rock 'n' roll,” promised the voice on the phone, and the way we figure it, it had to be Phoebe. Who else could claim the honors...

Bad luck continues for the Allman Brothers: Following a recent performance at Detroit’s Pine Knob, Lowell Smith, crew member and bus driver for the band, died after falling from the third floor balcony of his hotel. Police attributed the situation to his being “high on alcohol and drugs” at the time of the incident...

Elvis Presley fans, save your money: RCA plans to issue a special Elvis commemorative set this month that will include eight discs. Called Elvis Aron Presley, the set will be a “limited edition” of 250,000 individually-numbered copies and retail at a list price of $69.95. Just for all the little people out there...

Drummer Aynsley Dunbar is suing his former band Jonrney for a cool $3.5 mil, claiming he was unfairly fired from the band and is still owed royalties. The Journey faction claims these charges to be unfounded, but then that always happens, doesn’t it? Will this gripping drama be settled soon? Ask the Big Wheel In The Sky next time you run into it, OK?...

Famed punk rockers Led Zeppelin finally left home and finished up a European tour last month; no plans at this time for an American tour, according to Swan Song Records, but there are rumors...

In The Studio

Los Angeles, CA—Can-Am Recorders: Nick Gilder; Sound Labs: Steely Dan (Gary Katz producing); Paramount Recording Studio: Sly and the Family Stone; Larrabee Sound: James Brown, John Stewart; Westlake Studio: Donna Summer (Giorgio Moroder producing); Record Plant: Rod Stewart (Tom Dowd producing), Chicago (Tom Dowd producing); San Francisco—Automatt : the Tubes (Rikki Farr producing), Gamma with Ronnie Montrose (Gary Lyons producing and engineering), Carlos Santana (David Rubinson producing); Hollywood—Artisan Sound Recorders: Shotgun, Cobra (Kim Fowley producing); Burbank—Kendun Recorders: George Benson; Memphis, TN—Ardent Recording, Inc.: Point Blank, ZZ Top, Larry Raspberry, Little Milton; Miami, FLA — Criteria Recording Studio : the Rossington—Collins Band; Boston, MA—Sound Dimension : Someone and the Somebodies; Philadelphia, PA — Sigma Sound: Teddy Pendergrass; New York, NY — Sound Waves: Humble Pie, Steely Dan; Electric Lady : Lenny Kaye, AC/DC, Hall and Oates; Detroit, MI—United Sound Studio: Doobie Brothers, George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic, Four Tops (Don Davis producing); Sureshot/Westwind Recording Studio: Motor City Rockers, the 27; Tremor Recording Studio: the Boners, Bruce Nichols.

Peter Gabrief's latest alburn, cleverly titled Peter Gabriel just like the last two, has been specially issued in Germany with Herr Gabe singing in actual German. Reports that a similar project will lake place with same LP’s Canadian version are patently untrue...

Three members of the Stranglers— Hugh Cornwell, Jet Black and Jeaa-Jacquee Brunel—recently tossed in a French jail, according to the back-in-biz NME, apparently for “inciting a riot” at Nice University. Keyboard player Dave Greenfield not included, since, it seems, he “did not speak” onstage. Details vague at presstime, but it could mean a hefty sentence for the cheerful three. Tune in next month...

Looks like Phil Seymour, formerly drummer and vocalist with the Dwight Twilley Band, will be one of the first signings for Neil Bogart’s new label. Notruth to the rumors that Bogart, former Casablanca Records head-honcho, will insist on Phil wearing full greasepaint and singing “Strutter." At least at presstime...

Speaking of Phil Seymour, he’ll be one of many participants in Peter “Herman” Noone’s new comeback album, set for release on producer/Beach Boy Bruce Johnston’s new label. Also included on the LP will be a few Heartbreakers (of the Tom Petty kind) and—get your money out, nostalgia, fans—drummer Dave Clark, of the same Five you better remember. LP should be out by the time you read this.

Hot news for Eno fans: JEM Records has hooked up with EG Records and started a new, JEM-distributed label called Editions EG. First releases are two Eno collaborations: The Plateaux Of Mirror by Harold Budd and Fourth World Volume 1 Possible Musics by Jon Hassell Further promised releases include the till-now-Canadian-only live Bruford LP, a new “Music For..." edition by Eno, and several more Eno-produced efforts...

Robert Fripp is touring the U.S. with an actual band at the moment, his first since King Crimson we AWOL. Included in the aptly-dubbed League Of Gentlemen—the same name as his preGiles, Giles & Fripp up, we’re told—are former XTC and Iggy Pop keyboardist Barry Andrews (who played on Fripp’s Exposure}, drummer Johnny Too-Bad, Fripp himself with “guitar and effects” and bassist Sara Lee, whose version of “Take A Look At Them Cakes” promises to be a highlight of the show...

Next Shoes LP for Elektra will be produced by Richard Dashut, who’s hot from the last three Fleetwood Mac albums...

Annie Golden he Shirts participated recently in a reading at New York City’s Dramatists Guild of “Space Cadets,” a new play written by Ed Kelieher, whose byline appears frequently in CREEM. No stranger to acting, Annie starred last year in the film version of Hair. No stranger than acting, too, we hope...

Best news yet! Alvin and the Chipmunks have returned as punk rockers!! Pickwick Records just announced their release of Chipmunk Punk, which features the rascally rodents’ versions of “My Sharona,” “How Do I Make You,” “Good Girls Don’t,” and, better yet, “Call Me.” First single will be “You May Be Right” b/w “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” Latter tune should be a flop, of course, since Freddie Mercury and the Chipmunks have been sounding the same for years.

SOME PRESS RELEASES NEVER NEED TO BE RE-WRITTEN DEPT.: Recent fave: “Keyboard World Magazine recently asked Anne Murray about her first meeting with Miss Piggy on the set of The Muppet Show. Said the singer: ‘We got along just fine. I’m the girl next door, and she’s all Hollywood. I’ve got the voice, and she’s got the looks."

Other album news: Ambition Records of Washington D.C. released Declaration Of Independents on the Forth of July. LP includes early tracks by Robin Lane & the Chartbusters, Root Boy Slim, SVT and hot Georgian band Pylon among several others...

Well, the whole wide world may yet get a chance to see Detroit’s supergroup the Boners. It seems both Jeff Stein (director of The Kids Are Alright) and Jonathan Demme (Citizens Band, Caged Heat) were so KO’d by former gator salesman/would-be rock star Jerry Vile’s performance in CREEM staffer/resident Bulgarian Mark J. Norton’s underground film documentary of the Detroit new wave scene Face The 80’s that both filmmakers are in the race to sign the thoroughly bewildered Boners to a film contract. Said Jeff Stein: “If Keith Moon were alive, the Boners would be his favorite group." Said Jonathan Demme: “They are beyond art” Said His Vileness Jerry: "Where's Britt Eklund?” There’s no truth to the rumor, however, that Jerry is negotiating contracts with several major labels...

On other Detroit fronts, it’s rumored that the Cadillac Kidz are about to be signed to CBS or Epic Records, and here’s hoping.*, .also, famed NME pin-up Steve “family man" McGuire of the 27 wed Turkish beauty Banu. Many girls around Detroit (at least three) pulled out their hankies and wept at the loss...

On Tour

Bill Bruford, Foghat, the Rockets, Pat Travers, Billy Joel, Pat Benatar, Alice Cooper, the Kingbees, Devo, Joe Perry Project, Yes, J. Geils, Heart, Journey, the Motels, the Pretenders, Sammy Hagar, Ian Hunter, Stiv Bators and the Dead Boys, the Cramps, the Humans, Judas Priest, Genesis, Rush, Dirty Looks, the Romantics, Boz Scaggs, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bob Sager and the Silver Bullet Band.