ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

DEPARTMENTS

Bruce Springsteen asking for a total accounting of ticket distribution after his two recent performances at Madison Square Garden upon discovering some ticket agencies were actually charging a hundred extra clams for the "good" seats. Smart move, Bruce...

Believe it ot not: The Ventures are back in the studios, recording new sides in L A..

Words you thought you'd never hear, part six1. From Joe Strummer, in Melody Maker: "I know it's the usual view to say America is the land of the fat slobs with small brains, but that's just not true..." Later, Joe also confided that the world really was' flat and that. American money only looks green...

Lead vocalist Graham Bonnet has left Rainbow, possibly because he'd finally learned he was actually in the same band as Ritchie Blackmore.

38-Special still exist and have a new album to prove it...

Black And Blue isn'tjust the name of a tour these days with the highly ' successful Black Sabbath / Bine Oyster Cnit partnership now immortalized in an actual fijm . which premiered in New York last December and should be in the boonies by the time you read this. Go prepared.., J

Finally... news from the Led Zeppelin Corporation: After a few months of silence following the deatHof Zep drumnter John Bonham, the band issued the following statement in the U.K. through Swan Song Records: "We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend and the deep respect we have for his family, together with the sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were " Whether this means Jimmy Page & company have decided to call it a day remains

■ ijo be seen; the statement*s i ambiguity {Robert "Stairway" Plant must've written j# leaved room for two interpretations— either the bandied had it or they'll ref orm fpto something substantially different. Time will tell...

Punk rocker Billy Joel has directed his first promotional film, a 15-rmnute laff-riot titled Sometimes A Fantasy. "In addition to the music," claims Billboard, it "offers dialog by Joel." Sounds Just dandy... * *

Thank you Jimmy Carter and wife Ros for the lovely Christmas card you sent to the CREEM offices thisyear. 'Bye.

Neil Diamond and Babe Streisand have been eyeing a movie,script based on their dual hit "You Don't Send Me Flowers" which will hopefully be filmed in New Zealand and take 14 years to complete...-

CREEM reader favorite Grape Jones} will be recording Captaiit Beefheart's "Hothead" on her nextLP.Jlilis

Did you know that Richard^ 1 Gelbsteln from The Big Fat Pet Clams From Outer Space has written eight musicals for children, and that he still teaches full time atp sphoolfor retarded children? Nope? ftell, neither did we...

Michael Chain, leader of a Capitol Records group called The Knack back In the mid-60's, is .. suing his former label because Doug Finger's current group of/ the similar name is using it without Chain's "express authorization." Boo-hoo-hoo ..

Former pals of Malcolm " Hype" McLaren, Adam and the Ants, Have been signed to Epit Records. No truth to the rumbr that Epicwill ink a contract with Lithuanian punk group Eve and the uncles.. >

Stiff Records have just released John Otway's latest, his version of Tom Jones' "Green Green Grass Of Home." Said single was recorded; the earthshaking sum of $148. No plans for Otway to join Steely Dan - or FleetwoodMac at this time... jl

Big news on the Jndle Tznke front.. # -, jH

Stevie Nicks promises'em any thing: Said the Fleetwood McMuffin in People of her upcoming solo LP: 'it'llbe real vibe-y." Guess1 that says it all. 3|||

In The Studio

Los Angeles, CA —Kendun Recorders: Doobie Brothers, • Nicolette Larsen (Ted Templemqn . producing!; (plover Recording Studios:1 Catfish Hodge (Freebo flj producing); San Francisco, CA — The Automatt: Sister Sledge (Narada Muchael Walden JH| producing), Con Funk Shun. Mofaious:Romeo Void; New York, NY—Celebration Recording KH Studio: MX80 Sound (Mark Bingham and Mark Hood producing) Masterdisk: Spyro Gyra, Kurils Blow /George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Robin Lane & the C hart busters. Earl Klugh; Detroit, MI— Sureshot/Westwind: The jgoomates (Guy Gehlert producing). The Shake, Cadillac Kick; Tremor Recording Studios: Cinecyde, tl/e Boners; Cloudboumte: U.S.'A.,; Sound Suite: Was (Was Not)

. David Bowie may still re-pact with RCA, although the hounds of Columbia, Warner Bros., etc. are lifter the titian-haired artist. Add to that hound Don Kirahner, who flipped in $ big way for the thin white dude when he saw him emoting on Broadway in The Elephant Man; now Don's all fired up to star Bowie in a Broadway production of Dr. Jekyll&Mr. Hyde. Meanwhile, K-Tel is flogging'the BestofB^ieMM

NEWS FLASH: Police bass player Stingand drummer Stewart . Copeland revealed recently that they preferred Wendy O. Williams' breasts to her music...

Strange rumblings from Los Angeles: What's this we hear about Sbavona's boyfriend and the Knack? Rumors are flying that the . situation in the band's boat is a tad rocky. Nothing is known for sure at presstime, but there could be a Knack crack up...

Barry Andrews, formerly of XTC and of League of Gentlemen, recently barked to thepress that he's formed yet another group called ' Restaurantfor Dogs. How cool...

The Rubinoos to sigh with Nemperor Records? Here's " _..r hoping...

Dread boy Linton Kwesft Johnson has formed his own label, LKJ Records. Releases from the label will be distributed by Rough Trade in the U.K:..,

Why are concert promoters being sounded out on the possibility of a Debbie Harry solo tour? Anything to do With her planned solo LP, to be produced by Chiefs Nile Rodgers?

You're Billy Burnette, you walk ~ into an L.A. bar and sit down. The guy next to you looks at you . ''Are you Billy Burnette?" he asks. You say yes; He punches you in the face and breaks your nose, ruining your tour plans. This is all true...

Music by .Queen...

New Crosby, Stills & Nash repackage called Replay features the grinning garbanzos humming througha fully remixed version of "Carry On," obviously infendedfor the three CS&N record collectors^ out there who stillcare...

Yet another revival: a "Liverpool Explosion" tour, consisting of BlBy J. Kramer & the Dakotas, Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders, Gerry & the Pacemakers and Freddie & the Dreamers will tour the States Starting inN.Y., brought to you by Blast From The Past Productions.. .that is, they'll tour if the ampersands hold out:

BACK INTO YOUR CAVES: Arista's Grateful Dead live package may be a THREE album set...

r EG Records will release a sequel to Brian Eno's Music For Films, titled, Music for Films 2 by the time you read this. 01' Enoid has also deployed a couple of people to Africa to "bring ba9k rhythms"..

Superb Brit group the Cure are probably looking for a new : keyboardist due to the departure of Mathieu Hartley... !

Why isn't ex-Cheap Trickster Tom Petersson signed to a label

Eric Burden's Fire Department? Yup, that'sthe moniker of wild man Eric's new group. Members include Bernd Gaertig on guitar,ex-Pentangler Nigel Smith on bass, percussionist Mippq Moya, j and drummer ArminRuehl. Whether or not you'll get a chance to catch this act on these shores is anyone's guess...

Watch the import shpps for New York group the dBVfirst LP titled Stands For Decibels on Shake Records...

ExAce keyboardist Paul Carrack has replaced Jools Holland in

In a move that should inspire 1 Johnson, Sylvain Sylvain has formed The Teardrops...

Electric Light Orchestra is currently finishing up a double "concept" LP. Maybe the concept ' will be something like an electricity shortage that forces a rock group to give up the profession and become breeders of tropical fish, or wool sock farmers..

Good News: Was (Not Was), featuring Brace Nazarian, Marcus Belgrave, Wayne Kramer etc., will be releasing an album on Ze Records in the very near future. Bad news: CREEM staffer Mark J. Norton is singing background vocals on the LP. Forearmed...

On Tour

The Romantics, Mink DeVille, Gang of Four, Cartene Carter, Elvis Costello, Bus Boys, The Plasmatics, Iggy Pop, Steve Forbert, Chuck Berry, Alvin Lee, Mitch Ryder, Junior Walker & the All Stars, Spirit, Michael Stanley Band, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band.