ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

The ever-so-hot Stray Cats still don't have a U.S. label, but its not for lack of offers, we hear...Arista U.S. is Still unclear about whether theyll release anything (the band was signed to Arista U.K.), but if, they do, it would be the second album, out late October in the U.K. Warner Brothers was also in the bidding for the trio's talents, but no deal so far for them. Unlike many other Stones-openers like Journey or Prince, the Cats have met with good response on the dates theyve opened for the Rd^ngUgiies. |||

Lou Reeds The Blue Mask to be released in early February, from RCA...

Recording of the Century Dept: SCTVs Bob and Doug Mackenzie have an album out (Mercury in the States, Anthem in Canada) for all of you hoser fans: first single to be The Ten Canadian Days Off Christmas b/w Take Off. Eh? Buy it and be royally hosed.

Record epttectors will be on the lookout for a promo-only45 version of Bruce Springsteens 'Santa Claus Is Coming T o Town, finally available for us regular folks on the fn Harmony II set (for kiddies!) oh Columbia... And what record collection would be complete without Pink Floyds new 12-inch* pink vinyl, re-recorded (whew!) version of Money? It's all yours, if youre a /i&dio station or have mucho dinero

Native Detroiter Marshall Crenshaw clearly headed for the * big time: coming off heavy regional airplay of, his Shake Records 45 Somethings Gonna Happen b/w She Cant Dance, hes been signed to Warner Brothers and will release an LP in early 82... The Shake 45 was produced by Shake prez Alan Betrock, who produced the dBs album and is doing rite same for the upcoming Richard Hell LP

Analgesic PiL-man Keith Levene mixed the sound at the Recent James Blood Ulmer gig in the Big Apple. Luminaries in attendance included non-couple John Lydotnand Ronee Blakely, who writ never sing together in their lives..« '

Very good chance that Keebler elf Dave Edmunds wilt be including a new Brace Springsteen tune on his first Columbia album, due in early 82.. .And while were on the subjtebt of roek-piling, lets menti^hthai joy^l Nick Lowe should be releasing his third LP, also for Columbia, at roughly the same time. What could it mean?...

A last bitpf news about Broocey: A certain Mr, Springsteen was mobbed when he'attended a performance of the.eight-hour Nicholas Nickleby thingie on Broadway. Could Brueie be pfenning his owA eight-hour performances, we ask?

Our favorite multi-millionaire Paul McCartney is apparently trying I to buy yet another pushing company.. ,btit you cant blame him , .—-the company involved is Northern/McLean, and he used to own part of ft whence wrote (with John Lennon) the companys ; catalog of songs. All the Beatles pre-Apple songs are on Nojfthern/McLean, which is presently owned by another Brit tycoon;' shlocko movie czar Sir Lew Grade. Yoko Ono, meanwhile, is writing a book about John (sos Elvis trasheur Albert Goldman), but wants a five million dollar;advancefi^r it. ..most likely shell get it, too.

A Heartwarming Tale: One of our favorite Italo-Americans, Robert De Niro, apparently is idolized by one Mr. Adam Ant, as well. When Adam was last in New York doing his PR duties, he asked Epic : staffers to set up a meeting \yith the great man, and to much surprise ,all around theywere successful.

Seems DeNiros daughter Is a fan of pirate boy, so De Niro bowed to the demands of his offspring, and had an audience with AA while on location in New York filming Krng Of Comedy. Adam was so excited lie was sick to his stomach, and De Niro was paralyzed with shyness, as always, so the meeting amounted to much murmuring and hiding from each other. Awwwww....

After his King Crimson star turn is up, Robert Fripp sez hes going to collaborate with Policeman Andy Summers on an album, then a tour (after the Police tour winds up) ; Just them?. Yup, Just the two guitar aces.

Cheap Trick are recording a new album in Chicago, with Roy **/. Thomas Baker producing. 7 According to people hr their bunker, CBS hasnt been able to come up with a court order preventing them from releasing an album (while they slug it out in the courts) on another label Its yet to be decided by the courts if C. Trick owes CBS any albums.. .in the meantime the boys say theyre proceeding with recording. They recently played some Midwestern club dates as, first the Toledo Lodes, and then Randymaa & the Tools (have to come up with some new ones now* guys...);

Joe Jackson was spotted jiving from one NYC niterie.to another, checking out the competition on a recent studio-scouting venture to New Yawk. Joes pfenning to record his next album—with the regular Joe Jackson Band—Stateside, if he can decide on a studio.

Je&llo Biafra, lead singer of the ' Dead Kennedy#, was married to Therese Soder. former leader of the Situations, in San Franciscos Cypress Lawn Cemetary this past All Hallows Eve. The graveyard hosted 300 living guests, as well as 3,000 of the deceased variety, The ceremony was performed by Braes Loose, frontman of Frisco punk band Flipper, who also happens ^be A mail order minister. Before 1 go any further. said Loose, does anyone here object to the union erf these two lovely young people? ''Yeah! shouted half the crowd in unison. Tough shit, said Loose. ..In other nuptial news. Go-Gos lead singer Belinda Carlisle will soon be tying the knot inHollywood with Bill Bateman, drummer for the j Blasters. The wedding will be a double ceremony with the other couple consisting of L,A. columinist Pleasant Gehmanand. rockabilly linger Levi Dexter, formerly of the Rockets.

Marianne Faithful! was fined 300 pounds—$561s»fh;jLdndon last November forpossessing 15 milligrams of heroin. The judge said he was treating her as a first time offender, and told her; You are clearly your own worst enemy. Faithful! was pronounced cured of heroip addiction in 1972, and she claims drat the heroin involved in her recent bust was left in her apartment by a friend. ,

Three members of the now-defunct Specials—'Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Neville Staples— have formed a new band called Fun Boy Three. Their first single, The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum, is available as a Chrysalis import.

The Romantics escaped serious injury in a bus mishap recently (and their leather suits werent happy either?). The boys were traveling West in their bus,, eh route to the West Coast kickoff of their winter tour. While toojing through the Colorado Rockies, their brakes overheated and failed, sending the handful bus hurtling down a mountain, The boys leaped into -their beds (Theyre like coffins anyway, said Jimmy Marinos later), and prepared for the worst,;. I but the bus eventually leveled out and came to a stop. The Romantics commenced Romanticizing in * California... and lived happily ever after.

Milwaukee authorities have finally dropped charges against metal priestess Wendy O. Williams ,and her manager, Rod Swenson, stemming from what police claim was an obscene performance,at a local club on January 19 of last year. Wendy claimed that police had sexually molested her when they made their arrest, fmlmf

Hie Mamas & the Papas have reformed in New Jersey. John Phillips, the groups original leader and composer, has enlisted his daughter MacKende (of One Day Al A Time fame) to replace Michelle Phillips, and re-enlisted original member Denny Doherty, who has been living in his native Canada since the group split at the end of the 60s. , Spanky McFarlane, formerly of Spanky & Our Gang (Sunday-: Will Never Be The Same), is replacing the late Mama Cass Elliot. The group has cut seven demo tracks, four of which were produced by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and feature a band consisting of Keith and Mick Taylor on guitars and Ronnie Wood on bass. Jagger is a longIjj time Phillips friend who came to his aid during the much-publicized ||J| drug bust and rehabilitation period. {£li$ Other three tracks were recorded with Mick Ronsons a Yaq^is. . .

Speaking of Mick Taylor, the ■ ; former Rolling Stone guitarist has joined Alvin Lees latest band. They are currently touring Europe, arid should hit the States sometime early this year.

Mow that his contract with RCA has expired, David Bowie is expressing no interest in signing with another label, telling friends that he'd rather concentrate on his acting career instead. Bowies portrayal of the title, role in Bertolt Brechts Baal will be broadcast in America on PBS this winter, and the rock chameleon has reportedly signed to star in Robert Altmans next film. The Easter Egg Hunt. and may be portraying Frank Sinatra in an upcoming film biography.

Mick Ronson temporarily left band Yaguis to rejoin the Ian Hunter Band midway through Hunter's recent American tour. Ronson—who made his name as a gu itar hero—was called in to : replace ailing pianist Tommy Mandel who was iri the hospital for emergency surgery. Ronson \ played only keyboards duringrthe , Hunter dates.

The Professionals, the British band led by former Sex Pistols Paul Cook and Steve Jones, recently cancelled the remainder of their U.S. tour when the band was involved in a serious car accident. The bands limousine was struck head-on by a car in the" wrong lane following a performance in Minnepolis Cook suffered head £ injuries and a dislocated back, guitarist Ray McVeigh has a broken arm. bass player Paul Meyer broke his leg in two places, arid soundman Kevin Harvey broke both legs. Jones was not riding in the car atthetime.

In The Studio

NEW YORK. N. V, - Record Plant: Graham Parker; RCA Studios: L&Crl Reed: Sigma Sound: the Spinners. Lou Rawls; Boogie Hotel: Thor,' BOSTON, MA—Syncro Sound:* the Cars, the Tubes; LOS . • » ANGELES, CA-r-Artisan Sound: Count Basie. Eddie Rabbitt, Pat Benatail;the Chipmunks. Ice House. Steve Martin; Sound Labs: Frankie Valii; NASHVILLE, TN—Sound Emporium: Al Green, Little River Band; MIAMI. | FLA — Criteria Recording Studios: Frnnke & The Knockouts, Danny Joe Brown; David Johansen; DEARBORN HEIGHTS, I MI—Studio A: the Mabins. Badhabit, Kamau Kenyatta; FARMINGTON HILLS, Ml—Sound Patterns: Kid Gloves; ANN ARBOR, Ml-Pearl Sound: Scott Forman & Trainable; A2 Studios, Strut; ,