ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

Bob Dylan recently performed concerts in Chicago, Detroit and Columbia, Maryland before embarking on an extended European tour. Dylan surprised audiences at the Detroit shows by complementing his current gospel material with such golden chestnuts as “Like A Rolling Stone,”

“Maggie’s Farm,” “Just Like A Woman,” “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” “Ballad Of A Thin Man," “Simple Twist Of Fate,” “Forever Young,” “Blowin’ In The Wind,” and “It Ain’t Me, Babe.” Zimmy also introduced a new song which paid tribute to the late Lenny Brace, as well as covering Dion’s “Abraham, Martin & John.” Peggy Lee/ Elvis Presley’s “Fever, ” and, oddly enough, Dave Mason’s “We Just Disagree.’’The response was very strong, particularly for the non-religious material,and the holy one thanked his audience, noting “we’re not used to this kind of reception.”

Those Are People Who Died Dept.: Roy Brown. 55, was the victim of ‘ a fatal heart attack in Los Angeles on May 25. Brown scored several R&B

I bits in the early 5(Ts, including

“Hard Luck Blues,” and “Boogie At Midnight,” hut his biggest claim to fame remains “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” which he composed in 1947. Elvis Presley recorded the song and it’s become a classic

t standard, having been recorded by acts ranging from Montrose to Joe Ely. . . Former T-Rex bassist Steve Currie, 33, was killed in a car accident on April 28. Currie joined Marc Bolanjust asT-Rex was making the transformation to an electric band, and he was featured on the band’s string of English and American hits. He mostly concentrated on session work following the band’s demise, although he toured with the Chris Spedding Band in 1977

In Memory Of Blind Faith Dept.: Former Led Zeppelin frontmen Jimmy Page and Robert Plant have joined forces with ex-Yes members Chris Squire and Alan White. The quartet has booked studio time in Europe under the •name of the XYZ Band.

Meanwhile, former Yes guitarist Steve Howe has formed a new band with Carl Palmer (ELP), John Wetton (King Crimson, Roxy Musk:, U.K. Uriah Heep) and Geoff Downes (Yes, the Buggies). The boys are calling i themselves Asia, and recording plans are still indefinite.

Joe Jackson will be back on the road in America this summer With a new band called Joe Jackson’s Jumpin’Jhre. Jackson says the band will perform music from the swing era, including compositions by the likes of Cab Calloway and Louis Jordan. The direction will probably be temporary, as Jackson claims he eventually wants to return to his pop-rock roots.

Now that he’s successfully invaded Bruce Springsteen’s territory, is John Cougar trying to pull off a Boh Dylan as well? Cougar was riding his new Harley in Bloomington, Indiana when he l

swerved to avoid a dog, skidding ; 280 feet before he was thrown from the cycle. He suffered a severe abrasion on his chin and “a hole in his knee the size of a silver dollar,” according to a spokesperson.

Cougar spent some time bedridden, but he’s healed enough to begin work on his next LP.

Little Richard gave up the rock ’n’ roll life (which he once claimed turned him into “a drug-taking homosexual”) several years ago to become a bible-totin’ evangelist. Nonetheless, Richard claims to be thrilled with the Rockestra’s cover of “Lucille” on the Concerts For Kampuchea LP, and he’s expressed an interest in cutting a religious album with Paul McCartney. (But, would n’t that be more up George’s alley?)

Roiling Stone Bill Wyman recently wrote the musical score for a film called Green Ice which is currently playing the U.K. Wyman also plans to shortly release a blue LP entitled Drinking TNT and Smoking Dynamite, which he recorded with Muddy Waters, Buddy Gay and Junior Wells at the Montreux Jazz Festival three years ago.

Gary Lewis is back with a new group of Playboys. Lewis, under the guidance of Leon Russell, helped to invent “wimp” rock in the mid-60’s with such classic gems as “This Diamond Ring,” “Everybody Loves A Clown" and “Count Me In ” According to Record World magazine, the current Playboys are trying to be “the new Grand Funk” with “refried Leslie Wept and Jimi Hendrix licks. ” Does this mean a punk Dino, Desi & Billy reunion is in the works?

Ex-New York Doll Johnny Thunders was recently busted in Los Angeles-for “internal possession” of drugs. There have been benefits on both coasts for his legal defense.

Roy Thomas Baker is slated to produce the new Romantics LP, while Steve Cropper is running the boards for the Iron City Houserockers.

In The Studio

Miami, FLA — Criteria Recording Studios: Art Garfunkel, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, B.B. King, ,

Third World, Marshall Tucker Band, Rachel Sweet, Liza Minnelli, John Cougar, Rossington Collins Band; Burbank, CA—Kendun Recorders: REOSpeedwagon, the Chipmunks; Los Angeles, CA —Eldorado Studios: the Sue Saad Band; New York, NY—Sigma Sound Studios: Brian Eno; Secret Sound: Helen Wheels Band, Henry Gross, Spyro Gyro, Blue Angel; Nashville, Tenn. —SoundEmporium: Dolly Parton; London, U.K. Wharf Studios: Any Trouble; Manor Studio: the Stranglers.

Rod Stewart isn’t too happy with - Warner Bros., who recently rejected Ns two LP live set recorded at Wembley Arena in England. Rod stands to lose $300,000 in recording and mixing fees. Watch for a Stewart biography this fall from rock scribes Lester Bangs and Paul Nelson.

Nina Hagen took time from recording her first English language LP for Columbia to give birth to a seven pound, seven ounce baby girl at Santa Monica Hospital. The baby has been named Cosma, and the proud father is guitarist Ferdinand Karmellck.

The Beach Boys are touring for the first time in 20 years without Carl Wilson, who is touring with his own band and opening for the Doobie Brothers. Since siblings Brian and Dennis Wilson have been known to tour on and off with the band over the years, does this mean the group will become a vehicle for (God forbid?) Mike ; Love?

Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy is expected to land the lead role of Jioai Hendrix in a f orthcoming film biography. In other movie news, Richard Pryor has been signed to portray jazz immortal Charlie "Bird”Parker.” Strangely enough, John Travolta was not considered for either role.

Howard Devoto parted company With Magazine shortly after the band finished recording their fourth studio LP, Magic, Murder and the Weather.

Ray Manzarek has announced that a “new” live Doors LP will be released in the very near future. The LP will most likely include the band’s infamous version of “Gloria," and Manzarek says it’ll be the “definitive Doors concert albu m. ”

Bruce Springsteen introduced a new song called “Johnny, Bye Bye” which deals with the death of Elvis Presley during his recent British tour. Bruce was joined onstage in London by Link Wray for a version of Sonny Curtis’s “I Fought The Law,” and backstage by Dave Edmunds who was presented with a song the Boss had written specifically for him. Several days .later, PeteTownshendjoined Bruce onstage in Birmingham for “Born To Run” arid the Mitch Ryder medley . Springsteen also threw a backstage barbecue party at the tour’s close during which the £ Street Band shared hamburgers and hot dogs with Elvis Costello, the Members, U-2, the Pretenders, the Psychedelic Furs, Joe Jackson, Adam & the Ants, former Sex Pistol Paul Cook, the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Kim Carnes. In the meantime, Clarence Clemonsfound the time to lay down some sax solos for Greg Lake’s forthcoming solo LP before returning to the states.

The feminine two-fifths of the original Velvet Underground have recently resurfaced. Nico is releasing Drama, her first LP in seven years, on UK/Aura Records. The LP features covers of David Bowie’s “Heroes” and the Velvets’ “Fm Waiting For The Man. ”

Ex-Velvets drummer Maureen Tucker has released a cover of the Shirelles’ “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” on Arizona-based Track Records. “I’m Sticking With You,” the single Tucker recorded several years ago with Modem Lover Jonathan Richman has also finally been released on the independent Varulven label

Yoko Ono recently accepted the Jandel Medallion, New Y ork City’s highest cultural award, on behalf of John Lennon. “John did not believe in tributes and awards,”;

Yoko said in barely audible tones, “but I have felt that because of his love for this city, he-would have been very happy to receive this award. This city meant a lot to him. This was our town and it still is and I’m very happy he has received this award.” The medallion was inscribed: “To John Lennon. His words, his music, his memory, will transcend time.” .. .In other Fab Four News, George Harrison’s “A ii Those Years Ago is the 34th Top 10 hit by an exBeatle, meaning that the former mop tops have more Top 10 hits individually than they did as a group.

Following a musical mental block ot two years. Meat Loaf is back. A new LP, Dead Ringer, will be released in August, and Mr. Loaf— as the New York Times would saywill tour if( September. His band will | reportedly include drummer Terry Williams, formerly of Stockpile.

Linda Ronstadt has reportedly forsaken her “new wave” direction for “Jazz.” Ronstadt’s forthcoming LP will feature covers of songs made famous by such great jazz ladies as Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald.

The Babys have found their attempts to use a female lead singer unsatisfying and the band plans to disband. Former vocalist John Waite’s solo LP should be out by the end of the year.

Is there sex after Styx? George Walter Pressley, 27, of New York, was recently sentenced to 20 years in the Texas Dept, of Corrections after being convicted of statutory rape. Pressley, who bears an uncanny resemblance to James Young of Styx, posed as the guitarist to gain sexual favors from young girls in the Houston area. Meanwhile, it was the real Tommy Shaw who got in hot water following a Styx show in Cleveland, Ohio when he stated: “The other night in Cleveland, we couldn’t have gotten laid in a women’s prison with a handful of pardons. ” Cleveland^ fans were not amused.

Why isn’t Tom Petty selling out dates on hiscurrentU.S. tour, if reports via the grapevine are correct?

Label News: A&M has signed the Cure... Warner Brothers plans to sign the Stray Cats in the U. S...

Sorry to hear that Polydor is planning to drop the Jam.. .The Boomtown Rats have asked to be released from their Columbia contract.. .Geffen Recordstosign John Hiatt with Nick Lowe producing the first LP.. .The Undertones have formed their, own label, Ardeck, to be distributed by EMI. New LP out here on Harvest...

A tentative list of the songs Elvis Costello recorded for his forthcoming Nashville LP includes: “Cry, Cry, Cry” by Johnny Cash, “Sitting And Thinking" by Charlie Rich, “Good Year For The Roses,, by George Jones, “Sweet Dreams” by Don Gibson, “Why Don’t You Love M£” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” both by Hank Williams, and “Hot Burrito *1” by Gram Parsons. Other songs uncredited at presstime include “My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You, ” “Brown To Blue,” and “Tears Before Bedtime.”

On Tour

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Tom Petty& the Heartbreakers, Linda Ronstadt,

Joe Ely, Gang Of Four, Bram Tchaikovsky, the Pretenders, Joan Jett& the Blackhearts, David Johansen, Joe “King” Carrasco, the Psychedelic Furs, the Plasmatics, Van Halen, Allman Brothers Band, Jimmy Buffett, the Kinks, Styx, Rossington Collins Band, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Spider, Fabulous Thunderbirds.