ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

It’s official, of course, that John Lennon’s Double Fantasy, consisting of six of Yoko Ono’s songs (including her disco song “Kiss Kiss Kiss”), and six of househusband John’s, will bear the label of Geffen Records (dist. by Warner Brothers). Geffen also landed Elton John for a five-year worldwide contract (EJ’s MCA contract having just expired), so Lennon and Elbe join labelmate Donna Summer in what appears to be the Portrait Records of the 80’s ..

All you Lou Reed fans who're crying because his Arista greatest hits compilation doesn't Include "Metal Machine Music" shouldn't cry too hard, because the two-record set, compiled by CREEM's own Mitchell Cohen, includes some out-of-print Velvet. material and is an all-around excellent round-up of Lou's career 1965-80. Fhe first side alone includes "Waiting For My Man," "White Light, White Heat," "Here She Comes Again," "I Heard Her Call My Name," "Pale Blue Eyes," etc.

Famed former protest singer Boh Dylan’s daughter Maria is now a college student at Malcaster College in St. Paul, Minnesota..

Ted Nugent gleefully reports that when on the road, he pays himself $50,000 a week, which should prompt the government to create a department to audit him, one presumes...

Gang War has disbanded due to “personal differences” between Wayne Kramer and Johnny “Where’s my legs?” Thunders. You know what that means, Wayne recently recorded with Was Not Was, an avant garde disco outfit that includes sueh jazz luminaries as Marcus Belgrave on trumpet and Bruce Nazarian on bass. Expect a single from this conglomeration by the time you read this on Ze Records. Wayne is currently on the boards solo, with Steve McGnhre on bass, Bob Steeles* (ex-the Offs) on drums sand Andrew Lloyd on percussion.

The official poop from Epic is that former Cheap Trickster Torn -Peterssou, having recovered from the "illness" that sidelined him during the recent CT tour of Japan, has decided to leave the band to pursue a solo career. Our sources add that Tom's new wife, ex-German model Dagrnar, is "exceedingly ambitious" for her cute Tommy, convincing him that he didn't need the band anymore. Meanwhile, Chicago-based bassist Pete Comita, who filled in for Petersson, during the Japan jaunt, becomes a permanent member of the group...

And wherefore art thou, Jimmy? Jimmy Osterberg, anyway... who, last check was polishing off the last night of a seven-day residency at Detroit’s Bookie’s Club 870. A cross-section of current local bands supported Jim, including the Reruns, the Mutants, Retro, R.U.R., Coldcocfcand the Cadillac Kids, and the mood was set by the headliner, who almost smiled and laughed himself to death. Indeed, a 17 year old girl of our acquaintance, one Karl, was unfortunate enough to be crushed up against the stage on Wednesday, Iggy's "Teen Night" (no liquor sold to allow young `uns in), hurting her leg. She was followed out of Bookie's by a roadie who fetched her back to the club, whete Sir Iggy himself swept her off her feet and spirited her upstairs, where he applied ice to her leg and gave hera drink. And that was just Teen Night, wait until the pre-schoolers get their turn! On the record company front, apparently Arista has an option on. Iggy's next album-no report on whether they'll pick It up yet as at presstime they hadn't heard it...

Colonel Sanders, please come home: E~Little Feat members Richie Hayward, Paul Barrere and KennyGradneyare, at least temporarily, teaming up with heavyweight guitarist Catfish Hodge to form Chicken Legs...

The Raybeats recently selected bassist Danny Amos to replace the late George Scott...

Word at presstime is that Marty Than's Red Star Records will be releasing a new Richard Hell album. Good news for those who thought Hell had frozen over...

Mex Chilton has popped up on the East Coast touring as part of Panther Burn., a four-piece rockabilly outfit that includes one of Chris Stame~Js db's. No word on a record deal as yet, but If ever a man was deserving...

WORST NEWS YET!: Legends may come and legends may go, but the news that Pink Lady has officially broken up just leaves us speechless...

In The Studio

Los Angeles, CA -Larra bee Sound: Brides of Funkenstein (George Clinton producing), Shalimar (Leon Sylvers producing), Phil Everly (Tony Peluso producing), Lakeside (Otis Stokes producing); Precision Sound: Kenny Loggins (Bruce Botnick producing); Wizard Recording Studio: Devo, Air Supply, the Dickies; New York, NYSound Waves: Rickie Lee Jones, Humble Pie; Secret Sound: Spyro Gyra, Kim Larson; Electric Lady: Foreigner, Earl Klugh, the Rolling Stones, Humble Pie; Detroit, MIUnited Sound Studio: Parliament (George Clinton producing); Superdisc: Gary Fabulous and the Black Slack (George Clinton producing).

Good Boy: Elton John played for a crowd of some 350,000 people in New York's Central Park in mid-September, to benefit a fund to refurbish the Park. Bad Boy: a week later U guested on Scott Muni's WNEW show, and ranted on at length about the hapless Judle Tzuke's, uh, boobs. Judie opened for Elton at hisCentral Park show).. "I thought Dolly Purton had big tits," raved Elton, "but compared to Judie Tzuke..." He went on to suggest that MCA Records shouJd throw J.udie off the Queen Elizabeth U to demonstrate that she wouldn't drown because of her "chest equipment." (Attention CREEM DREEM Department!)

Life is just,a bowl of...problems? That seems to be the case for the Selecter. Mere weeks after splitting with 2-Tone, the group lost its bassist Charley Anderson and keyboard player Desmond Brown. The group will eontinue as is, recording their next album with guest musicians...

David Knopfler has quit Dire Strait. in what appears to be an amicable spilt. The remaining members will continue as a three-piece and are currently ensconced in Nassau recording their third album.

Long-lost Harry Nilsson has surfaced, with .12 songs in the new Popeye movie {starring Robin Williams and Shelley Davai!), and.a new album, FlashMurry. The catch? It’s on Mercury in Europe, with no U.5. record company at -presstime * | ||j|f|

Apparently some person in New York has been impersonating former Creedence Clearwater Revival leader John Fogerty. The imposter is not charging dinners in expensive restaurants, forging checks or running upenormpus hotel bills, rather, the sieko approaches women, tells them he’s Fogerty, asks them to join his group, then invites them to his hotel room where he beats and rapes them. Be ware...

The Rossington Collins Band was forced to cancel remaining dates of their first American tour due to the tragic death of guitarist Allan Collins’ wife. Our condolences.

As some pf our Canadian readers might have noticed, last month’s CREEM was—how shall we say it— somewhat “taken” with their country, even, as some have suggested, the point of actually sounding negative. Thus we hope the fact thaidre issue cost 25 cents more than usual in Canada (as our American issue will cast next month) will be perceived as warmly and innocentlyasweintended.. After all—what’s a Canadian quarter worth, anywa^?,.-

Joy Division, whose first LP has been domestically released in the U.S. on the Rough Trade label, are now touring the country under the banner New Order— the name change due to the death of original J. D. singer fan Curtte. Watch for them. Jt

Garland Jeffreys, last heard from on A&M Records, has shifted over to Epic. Hopefully new product soon...

Teenage Head guitarist Gord Lewis was seriously, injured recently in a car accident after their show in Palmerston, Ontario. He sustained back and rib damage, and at pressrime, is in an intensive care unit. Get well soon, Gord...

Just thought we'd give you enough time to prepare dept.: From the September 13,1980 issue of Billboard magazine, this news item: “NEW YORK-Queensborough president Donald Manes has proclaimed August 2,1980 "Kturtis Blow Day.. B11

Rolcy Erickson, he of Thirteenth Floor Elevators fame, has returned! Actually he returned a few years ago, but with the release of Roky Erickson & The Aliens on U .K. CBS, the famed Texan crazyrnan has made it official Featuring such calm arid peaceful

restives as "I Walked With A Zombie," "Cold Night For Alligators" and "Creature With The Atom Brain," the LP shows Roky and his A1ien~ in top form. Hopefully an American record company will realize as much: as yet, rock legend Roky finds himself without a label in his own country...

Expect a "double-live studio album" (?) from the Eagle. come this Thanksgiving-or, as we in the know have always called it, Turkey Time...

Now that Brace Springsteen is touring to promote his new album—which, hopefully, is out as you readf this—it may interest you that Spruce’s long-standing debt to Gary “U.S.” Bond* is finally being paid. After perennially closing his shows with Bonds’ classic “Quarter To Three,” the Most Famous Man From New Jersey has been in the studios producing several new tracks f*>t his one-time inspiration. Backing band? The E-Street Band, of course.

On Tour

Talking Heads, the Grateful Dead, Psychedelic Furs, Ultravox, Bob Marley and the Waiters, Split Enz, Gang of Four, Gary Numan, Pat Benatar, New Order, John Cougar and the Zone , the English Beat, Burning Spear, Utopia, Robert Palmer, the B-52’s, the Stranglers, the Tremblers, Asleep at the Wheel, Mo-Dettes, Grace Jones, XTC Skafish, Bruce Sprihgsteen.