ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

Our favorite Keebler elf and classic guitarist Dave Edmunds was rushed to a London hospital in early July, shortly after completing his three and a half month tour of America, Europe and Britain. Edmunds was reportedly suffering from an internal hemorrhage. Fortunately, the illness wasn't too serious, and Dave should be back on his feet, pickin' and a-grinnin.' (and producing the new Stray Cats LP) by the time you read this.

When the Jefferson Starship recently performed at a fundraiser for the San Francisco symphony, the band responded accordingly to the organizer's specification that everyone "dress formally in black and white." Zany Grace Slick came dressed in a nun's habit, while Paul Kannerfoilowed suit by dressing as a man of the cloth. Others appearing at the benefit were Pablo Cruise, Greg Kibn, the Tubes and Boz Scaggs with Journey guitarist Neal Schon, Van Morrison, Rickie Lee Jones, Bob Weir, Paul Butterfield and Robin Williams were all scheduled to appear, but were unable to perform when the event ran overtime. Van Morrison edged out by Pablo Cruise!?! We have absolutely no comment...

The Tom Tom Club, the Talking Heads off-shoot led by Tine Weymouth and Chris Frantz, has added Tyrone Downie, formerly of Bob Marley's WaUers, on keyboards. "YOU MUST BE TALKIN' TO ME 'CAUSE THERE AIN'T NOBODY ELSE HERE" DEPT. Kooky Joe Strummer has recently been sporfing a Mohawk haircut. Looks lIke Joe must be taking the lines horn Taxi Drioer he spouts on Combat Rock to heart. The Clash should be back in the States playing dates by the time you read this.

Busts Jones, who's producing the new Ramones LP, says the record "is In keeping with the Ramones sound, but with some synthesizers and more of a dance pulse." Synthesizers??? Meanwhile, Busta is finishing up his new LP, Busta Jones Busting Out, with help from members of Talking Heads, Chris Spedding and Jimmy Rlpp of Toni Verlalne's current band.

The British reggae band Steel Pulse got their current American tour off on a shaky leg when several members came down with malaria. they picked up while touring Nigeria. Fortunately, the guys are all well again.

Sometimes depressed guy Neil Young did an unannounced, surprise gig for 900 people. at the Catalyst inn in Santa Cruz, California, in mid-July. Neii:.fronted a band that included old cronies like Bruce Palmer (of the original Buffalo Springfield). Nils Lofgren and Crazy Horse drummer Ralph Molbia. Our insiders say that the band performed an hour and a half retrospective of Neil's "greatest hits," beginning with Buffalo Springfield selections and winding down to two new songs. A new LP will be out at the end of September, and the band will probably tour Europe before embarking on a major U.S. tour.

Speaking of synthesizers, the London branch of the Musician's Union has passed a motion banning. the use of the electronic instrument, following Barry Manilow's recent British tour during which he used string synthesizers in place of an orchestra. The motion still has to be passed by several councils, but one can't help but wonder what the Human League, Soft Cell OMD, et al., are gonna do.

Stewart Copeland, who just finished cuffing a. track with Paul McCartney for Macca's next LP, is also directing a film about London's latest punk rock rising, featuring such loud, snotty and angry bands as the Anti-Nowhere League. In other Police happenings, guitarist Andy Summers is preparing to record a duet LP with jazz axeman Pat Metheny.

Rumors are presently circulating that Patti Smith hasn't really permanently retired from the. rock. 'n' roll scene. In fact, sources say that the wild child will be releasing a new LP with hubby Fred Sonic" Smith after the birth of their kid in August.

"Mighty" Max Weinberg of Springeteen's E Street boys. is co-authoring a book about

drummers with Russ Kunkelof James Taylor / Jackson Browne fame. Max has already interviewed Charlie Watts for a chapter in the hook.

All that remains of Liverpool's legendary Cavern Club is a parking lot, but that will change when the original club is excavated as a part of a seven million pound redevelopment program in the famed British seaport. The Cavern, of course, is where a semi-popular English quartet got their start. If they'd have waited a few years, they might've been as popular as Adam & the Ants!

In other renovation news, Harlem's Apollo Theatre, the home of most every great black musical act from Billie Holiday and Duke Eillugton to James Brown to Bob Marley, is re-opening this fall as a cable TV studio. The theater has been bought by the same New York corporation that owns radio stations WUB (reggaej and WBLS (soul & funk). Looks very promising.

And yet another Marc Bolan compilation! Plexus Records, in cooperation with Cherry Red Records in the U.K., has scheduled the release of You Scare Me To Death, a collection of the late T-Rex leader's tracks from the '60s and '70s. The LP, set for September release, will feature a late version of "Jaspar C. Debussy" featuring keyboardist Nicky Hopklfls and Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones on bass.

Romantic women around the globe may be sobbing to discover that 7 Roxy Music crooner Bryan Ferry wed his "childhood" sweetheart Lucy Helmore in late June. See John Mendelssohn's story in this issue..,

Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" has now gone to number one in Holland, Canada and Australia, not to mention Top 10 in England and Germany. Not bad for someone who Was rejected by 23 American record companies less than two years ago. In keeping with the success of Ms. Jett, Polygram has released a Best Of The Runaways LP, while Lita Ford, Vickie Blue and Cherie Currie will be releasing sold LPs. Currie, of course, recently appeared in the 3-D grqss-out chiller, Parasite. And the male CREEM editors wanna know whatever happened to Jackie Fox?

The Rosslngton-Coliins Band has broken up due to Gary Rossington's foot problems. The guitarist's doctor told hirp he must stay off his feet for at least a year.

The Nitecaps from New York will be releasing their debut LP this fall on Sire The album's being produced by Madness producer Clive Langer.

Speaking of Madness, the zany guys recently performed a version of the British national anthem for Prince Charles at a charity show in London. Abo on the show were the reclusive David Bowia (his first live appearance in nearly three years), Phil Collins and Pete Townshend.

William Burroughs, Beat writer and "madman," is said to be working on an unspecified project with Anti-Nowhere League. Must be following Allen Ginsberg's recent collaboration with the Clash. Burroughs, of course, is the man who gave Soft Machine and Steely Dan their names, and was a major influence on David Bowie and Patti Smith.

Lots of activity for the Cars, as Ric Ocasek, Greg Hawkes and Benjamin Orr prepare their respective sold releases. Meanwhile, Elliot Easton is busy producing the Peter Bond Set and Jules Shear (formerly of Jules & the Polar Bears), and drummer David Robinson pounding the skins for a local Boston band named Ooh Ah Ah. The boys also contributed the soundtrack to a forthcoming 30-minute new wave film, Chapter X, produced by Ocasek. Although the film is designed for the video market. it will also be shown at international film festivals through 1982. The soundtrack will feature Suicide's Alan Vega on vocab.

Ron Wood on Keith Richards during a recent British TV appearance: "Keith's a real example to me now; If have a bit too much to...er...drink, he says 'Come on, Ronnie, get it together!" No truth to rumors that Keef is planning to do milk commercials for the American Dairy Association.

Public Image Limited has signed with Stiff Records in America.

Former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek is recording a solo LP of rocked up versions of contemporary classic pieces by composers like Carl Orff and Erik Satie. Backing him are the Fents, a band from L. A.

Donnie Van Zant, lead singer of 38 Special, was recently arrested and jailed in the "dry" town of Tulsa, Oklahoma, for allegedly toasting his audience with a sip of Jack Daniels. Van Zant was singing at the front of the stage when a plainclothesman, dressed as a hippie, jumped onstage and i was immediately tackled by members of the band's road crew, After discovering the policeman's identity, the crew persuaded him to wait until the show's end to arrest the singer. Van Zant was handcuffed, forced to strip and don a green prison outfit and was finally released on $1,000 bail, Said Van Zant. "I had heard that our new album had gone gold and was just trying to thank the audience." Sad the Tulsa World on its opinion page the next day: "One can only wonder whether the police would ha ve been so quick to make such an arrest if the performer had been Jackie Gleason."

Steve Miller will be recording his forthcoming Pine Kriob shows (located near the CREEM offices!), for a live LP to be released in 1983. The concerts will also be filmed for a forthcoming documentary about the Miller tour, directed by Derek Burbridge.

And just for the record: Donald A. Burkland, of Wheaton, Illinois, won the Yamaha motorcycle offered by CREEM and Yamaha in our 1982 Celebrity Grand Prix Giveaway...

In The Studio

NEW YORK, NY-Sound Project Studios: Garland Jeffreys, Motorhead; National Video Center & Recording Studio: Nona Hendryx; A&R Recording: Billy Joel; Boogie Hotel: Albert Bouchard; SAN FRANCISCO, CA —Automat: Jefferson Starship; . SANTA MONICA, CA-Sound Recorders: Petula Clark; HOLLYWOOD, CA-Gold Star Studios: Bob Dylan, Clyde King; United Western Studios: the Busboys; LOS ANGELES, CA—, Music Grinder. Catholic Girls; ,, Larrabee Sound: Stanley darker; Rumbo Recorders: Beach Boys, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers; Don Felder, Supertramp; NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS—Compass Point Studios: the B-52's, Grace Jones, Robert Palmer, the Thompson Twins; DETROIT, MI-Disc Ltd.: George Clinton, Zapp II.