Fame Is Fleeting, But Georgies Here To Stay

Fame Is Fleeting, But Georgies Here To Stay

THE BEAT GOES ON

NEW YORK-Its only 5 p.m. and there's not nearly enough cigarette smoke wafting through the empty Bottom Line club for the atmosphere to be right. Onstage, the organist is coaching his band for the night, three jazzmen with horn, bass and drums whom hed just met. Theres an immediate respect established amongst the sidemen, who obligingly follow the keyboards peppy rhythm and stop n go intro. The song is unfamiliar to them, but the trio relish the singers slippery vocals and fluid playing; as Georgie Fame croons, 'Yeh, yeh, thats what I said, I say yeh, yeh straight off the chorus of his 1964 hit.

Thfey billed me as the Godfather of British R&B the last gig 1 did in London, laughs Fame, breaking between his sound check and the two sets hed be playing that evening. In a melodious northern English accent, he recalls, The place was full of 17 and 18-year-old kids who knew every song from all my old records. They sang all the cliches, the catch phrases as if theyd actually been down at the Flamingo Club in the 60s, but of course they couldnt have been. It made me feel a little old, but its reassuring, I must say. it means I can carry on working, as Im not qualified to do anything else!

Georgie Fame, who is playing for one night in New York in the midst of a vacation on Long Island, is a person you should know about, although his last American release was maybe 10 years ago. Fame has gotten renewed attention at home from the kids who follow the Specials, Madness, Beat, et ai; from the dance-crazy dressup crowd and from the nouveau mods whose parents bought his records when they first came out. Then again, Georgie Fame did record Madness in 1964 on an EP called Rhythm and Blue Beat.

Bands like the Specials are great, Fame enthuses with only a touch of irony. They sound a little like my band, the Blue Flames, did in 1962. At that time, musicians were routinely pigeonholed as jazz, blues or God forbid, rock n roll players, when along came Georgie to throw all the categories out the window. I couldht understand jazz until I started hanging around with jazz musicians. And R&B is the mother of jazz anyway, so the two are totally inter-related. I started off copying Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino. Then I got into Ray Charles and at the same time heard great jazz singers like King Pleasure and Lambert, Hendricks and Ross.

LOS CUCHARACHAS!!

"Ola, Papa," jokes international diplomat Frederick P. Mercury, on his way to sunny Spain and international good will! "That's right, matey," noas fellow Queenster Roger Taylor, "everyone's reckoned Freddie to be the best ambassador possible I It's an honor and a pleasure to know him!" Gulping down a hasty margarita, Senor Fredkins explained his mission: "Actually, I don't know. They want me to replace this Franco guy or something." "No they don't, Freddie," smirked pal Roger, getting up to leave, "they want to destroy you because you're so bloomin' obnoxiousl They hate you 11" Ordering a final drink, Freddie grinned. "No, they don't," said he, "they couldn't." No one was left in the bar to comment.

Before the Flamingo became a mod hangout and part of the British R&B movement, it was a jazz club. I played rhythm n blues there to black American G.I.s and West Indians, and the G.I.s used to give me the latest records from the States, which is how I heard my heroes, Mose Allison and Booker T. The only other place we ever played, besides American air force bases, was a Jamaican club called the Roaring 20s, and they had all the latest Jamaican hits on their sound system.

Add to Fames culture-hoping the African conga player and Jamaican horn man in his band; what resulted was an irresistable rhythmic blend for British clubgoers in the 1960s. Georgie Fame was heavy duty stuff, being sent on the road as British guest on Englands first Motown tour, an unassuming package that included the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, the Miracles, and Martha & the Vandellas. But while British racial clashes lay off in the future, Georgie Fame and his mixed band had no luck in following up their top 40 American hits, Yeh, Yeh and Getaway with a U.S. tour. Whether due to management troubles, as Georgie believes, or to outright racism, his interracial group never had the chance to claim their piece of the British invasion.

Fame appears equally perplexed and delighted at his new flood of U.K. attention, although hes regularly released albums in Britain, including a reggae album in 1980 and his most recent project, an album of Hoagy Carmichael songs, In Hoagland, which he calls a labor of love. Georgie Fame is not about to go running after any one specific audience, be it older folks who can identify his Carmichael duetting with jazz singer Annie Ross, or the contemporary beat crowd, who pay up to $100 for a copy of his classic RhythmnBlues At The Flamingo LP.

I really get a kick out of singing those old things, Georgie admits, as he prepares to play a well-received set that included the! sultry ballad, Moodys Mood For Love, an old ska tune called Humpty Dumpty and Billy Stewarts soul hit, Sitting In The Park. All the important songs sound a whole lot better now, cause Ive been rehearsing them for 20 years. Fame is his name but sound and feeling is his game.

Toby Goldstein

Gen X Have Gone But Is Billy Idol?

NEW YORK—I can hear, barely, a pinball machine getting whacked, a Kiss one probably, because Im in the offices of Aucoin Management. Thats right, Bill Aucoin, the man behind the boys behind the make-up! And Im talking with the sole survivor of Aucoins only shot at working with a punk group. The band? Generation X. The survivor? Billy Idol. Five months ago Gen X (they diluted their name) disbanded in the usual public hullabaloo of accusations, backstabbing, and general.nastiness. Tony James claimed Aucoin had brainwashed Billy with promises of super-stardom. Billy left for the States, and has been hanging around Manhattans clubland, with a brief sojourn to L.A. to record a sort of solo EP.

Which is pretty much why Im sitting here sipping Heinekens with a punky looking Billy, and listening to a few choice words he has for his numerous detractors: Theres a lot of cynicism, explains Idol, people are incredibly cynical, always willing to believe the worst wjfhout really knowing whats going on. The point is, Aucoin has been involved with what me and Tony have been doing since 1979. Aucoin kept Gen X going when I wanted to leave the band in January 1980. It was only through him asking me not to, convincing me that it still could work, that me and Tony could still get off on each other, that I stayed.

But I can see why people want to believe the worst. They want to believe I want to sell out, they want to believe I want to be a heavy pop star. Billys pretty face turns into a momentary snarl, his upper lip exposing the teeth, like a rabid dog. Well, let them believe it. If they want to read things the wrong way, all I can do is sit here and tell the truth—Im not like that. They don't give me enough credit, they don't see how hard it is sometimes to be in a situation where youre in the public eye. I do feel I have a certain responsibility, Im not stupid.

Generation X were part of Englands initial punk explosion, but always stood more for fun than social change. At the time that was considered practically blasphemous (Billy now considers it a case of Whats around dictating peoples tastes, rather than being unbiased). Actually the original band were rather good, releasing two classic singles, (Your Generation, and their paean to the mid-60s British rock show, Ready, Steady, Go.) and a pretty good self-named debut, unfortunately ruined by unsympathetic production. But things went wrong from then on. There was talk of a mutual dislike intensifying into hate between co-writer/guitarist Tony, and one-man image/singer Billy. Photos taken of jet-setting Gen Xs leaving for L.A. with pretty blonde model girlfriends in tow (extremely uncool in those days of rock mortality). Worst of all, the all-important second album was the fairly dreadful Valley Of The Dolls, with only the single King Rocker, anywhere near scratch. Their rhythm section was dumped, their manager (who Billy claims . effectively stopped the band from ever playing in the States), given the heave-ho, Aucoin brought in, and the bands name changed.

That was my idea, admits Billy, the reason was to show that the group wasnt the same as before, yet it was, if you know what I mean. That Gen X wasnt the same band that made Valley Of The Dolls, it was new, it was fresh. But the band was going downhill, and by then it wasnt even a question of liking each other, it was simply that we didnt get off on each others ideas. No love existed between us as friends, or people, or just playing together. Itwasnt happening. So the only thing left to do was leave.

In some ways the Aucoin management connection makes a lot of sense; after all, this is a company thats always been good with a face. But that is certainly not the way Billy sees it, My aim has always been decent rock music, to make great records, and to enjoy myself. The type of music I play isnt unimportant. It has its roots in early rock n roll, and it means something today. I know its shit out there, but there are good things, and I play to make people feel better. I know its crap, I walk down the streets, and I know its a drag, I know its hard, but you have to feel good sometimes.

The Roots Saga Continues

BROOKHAVEN, N.J.-Remember the movie Day Of The Triffids, where intelligent plants spawned—naturally enough— from pods take over England and immediately nationalize all greenhouses and terrariums? Contrary to popular belief and the general behavior of the British populace, the film was strictly science fiction. But American scientists, bored with bombs and poisons, are now on the'verge of making it come true.

Prominent geneticist Dr. Harold Smith has succeeded in combining human and tobacco cells in the first step of what could be the biggest development since erasable crayons: plant-people!

The concept is not far-fetched at all, fibbed Dr. Smith. He claims that, with the use of advanced genetic engineering, plant cells can be programmed to grow into just about anything. Researchers envision plant-people working in factories and gas stations, serving as soldiers, police, or popular daytime television stars and even being taught to harvest themselves. What would the Pope say about that one?

Dr. J.W. DeBolt, of Central Michigan University, insists that botanical philosophers could also be developed', even computer-like oak trees. You could have plants that follow the sun, he says, neglecting to mention whether theyll be able to grow their own sunglasses and surfboards. And by breeding human intelligence into plants, you could also create, ideal pets. Good boy, Rover, heres a nice juicy dirtball for ya!

While the technology to develop these kookie plant folks is still a decade or so away, you cant be too careful. I don't want to alarm anyone, but have you checked your basement lately for pods?

Rick Johnson

5 Years Ago

Moon The Loon lives On!

Keith Moon had his recent brief stay in a Scottish jail (for mangling an airlines computer) eased greatly when authorities allowed his butler to fetch him his favorite velvet smoking jacket, some Dorn Perignon champagne and Havana cigars from his home. Following his release, Kejth joined L.A. transvestite rockers, the Cycle Sluts, onstage for a performance^ in which he reportedly stripped off his clothes and then refused to leave the stage until a meaty bouncer prevailed upon him.

Idols new EP, Don't Stop, (Chrysalis) isnt my cup of meat (though Dancing With Myself is tremendous, and its possibly worth buying just for that), but if Aucoin markets Billy well, I think the little girls just might get the message. Id prefer my kid sister listening to him than, say, Rick Springfield, or whoevers in vogue today. For sure, Billy Idol isnt the arrogant twit Id been led to expect, and when (if) he gets a touring band together, there could be a few heads turning. As Billy puts: Ive fucked up, Ive made mistakes, but Ive always tried to do something for other people. And some people have appreciated it.

Iman Lababedi

AIRBRUSHES FROM HELL 11

CREEM's exclusive Truth In Advertising Squad has uncovered the cover-up of the decade—and here it is ! Known smoke-belchers Molly Hatchet, renowned for album cover tackiness, have reached a new low of ''mammoth" proportions: check out cover boy Jimmy Farrar on new LP Take No Prisoners. On top is singer Farrar bending his tool 'o' death mightily, his trim muscles moving smoothly under his bronzed skin; underneath El Tubbo as he really is I Don't wanna shatter anybody's illusions, Jimbo, but the only prisoners you should be taking work at Vic fanny's 11 Fifty push-ups now I

Gary Numan In Flight: Is God His Co>Pilot?

NEW YORK—Flying compares to the first time I ever went onstage at a big concert. Its that same sense of excitement and fear, but in this there arent any critics, Theres nobody to say whether I do it well or badly, which there is in a stage show. Yet now Ive got that much more to lose—I could die, whereas onstage, I can only die as a performer.

Gary Numan was describing the anticipation he felt on the eve of co-pilotiftg his Cessna airplane around the world, if nothing went wrong. Numan may be giving a whole new definition to escapism with his aerial exploits, but in mid-September he Was poised to spend the better part of two months circling the globe and let his latest album, Dance, fend for itself among the cruelties of the marketplace. Wags at the Atlantic Records offices were calling Numans venture the Amelia Earhart Tour behind closed doors, maybe figuring that if Gary was destined to spend his days on some unknown isle, it could only help his LP sales in the U.S.A.

Despite his unenviable position as one of the British presss favorite targets, Numan has spent the past three years driving his Cars to the bank. He doesnt bother to read reviews any more, making only a passing query as to why he has been perceived as being more miserable than the Clash, who yell and swear a lot. Ive done this album to the best of my abilities and why people like it or don't like it really doesnt concern me. I do it for fun these days, and thats all. And money, of course. I do enjoy money.

When you think about it, how does a musical stylist somewhere in his 20s get to own a fleet of three Cessnas, sponsor a racing car, back his cousin in a haute cuisine restaurant, make videos to accompany his album and create a stage set thats grown so large hed have to move to America if he ever wanted to go back out on tour. Like the uncle told the Graduate, go for Plastics, but in Numans case, he made it vinyl. Before Adam Ant came along as the current pin-up song boy, Numan was the king of U.K. teenland. He says he lives on hamburgers, and there's no brocade or velvet in his stage wardrobe, so hes obviously been a lad whosi taken his investing seriously. And unapologetically, as he mentions the folding green at frequent intervals.

I think its about time people admitted that they do things for money, cause thats the only reason you go to work. And thats what were doing, were going to work. The fact that we enjoy it is another matter. Such pronouncements in depression-era Britain wont endear Numan any further to his adversaries, but at the same time, one wouldnt mind learning some way to get a piece of his action.

When Gary Numan retired from, touring several months ago to concentrate on obtaining his pilots license and expanding his business interests, he was disbelieved about that as well. Nobody takes it seriously when you say these kind of things about touring, he admits, then two years later when they realize you meant it, its too late. I suppose its because there's been 50 years of lying in the music business.

For some strange reason, even the television stations Gary approached to cover his flight regarded it as a publicity stunt, though when Numan showed one of them his airplane and flying schedules, its managment reversed their position. However, it was hard to believe the mailgram that arrived within days after Numans lauhch, stating that our boy had been arrested in India after his plane had developed problems and landed in restricted space. Gary was abruptly packed off to the U.K., where he proceeded to get arrested again! Seems that he didnt want to give up the baseball bat he carries around for protection.

Would Gary Numan ever circumnavigate the globe? Would he ever got out of England? Would he ever sell more records? Gary Numan, wherever you are, call your office. The Paranoia Society wants you for its next president.

Toby Goldstein