ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

The Who held a New York press conference in late August to announce that the band's next American tour (in progress by the time you read this) will be their last. Roger Daltrey said the main reason for the decision was that touring puts too much strain on the band members' family lives, although they may perform an occasional date here and there in the future. Perhaps the Rolling Stones will take note! For more info on the Who, see the Pete Townshend feature in this issue.

Punk funk king Rick James spent a week in a Dallas Texas hospital, after collapsing in the middle, of a performance before 19,000 people at Reunion Arena. James went onstage against the advice of his doctors, after complaining of stomach pains. He was treated for a virus infection and released, a good thing since it was hard to fit all his women into that little hospital room! Rick should be back on the road, super-freaking again by the time you read this.

Congratulations to Patti Smith and hubby Fred "Sonic" Smith, who are the proud parents of a rockin' and rollin' eight-pound, eight-ounce male bambino, born August 19th in Detroit. The Smiths have named the child Jackson Frederick. The dynamic duo are now preparing to release an LP of collaborations they've been working on during the past several years.

Sly Stone's in trouble again. The former head honcho of the Family Stone was recently arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and firearms* just months after similar charges against him and George Clinton were dropped for lack of sufficient evidence.

Lots of tears and emotion in New York's Madison Square Garden recently, when Elton John played his last of three concerts there. During a powerful rendition of "Empty Garden," Elton's tribute to the late John Lennon, Yoko and Sean. Lennon made a surprise appearance onstage. There was a lot of tearful hugging (Elton is Sean's godfather) , and the crowd went wild! Lennon, of course, made his final live appearance with Elton on the same stage in 1974.

Soul music lost one of its greats on August 14th when Joe Tex succumbed to a heart attack.at the age of 47. Tex was one of the legends of the Muscle Shoals studio, and is probably best remembered for his "Skinny Legs And All," which topped both the pop and R&B charts in the mid-'60s.

Iggy Pop has penned volume one of his memoirs, focusing on the Stooges era. The tome, Need More, has just been published by Karz/ Cole press, Iggy's new produced by Bloodie s Chris Stein for his Animal label, is called Zombie Bird Mouse. The Ig told CREEM that the record is his "most expressive album since The Idiot." Wonder if the new LP's title is also taken from a Dostoyevski novel?

Pop-rock sensation Marshall Crenshaw returned to his native Detroit on August 17th to play a free concert for nearly 10,000 in Hart Plaza. The event was part of the WRIF/Dr. Pepper free noon-time concert series, which has been a Motor City staple for the past several years, hollowing the gig. Crenshaw was joined by his Ijjoud parents for a lunch date at the legendary Lafayette Coney Island restaurant. What a cool guy!

Speaking of cool guys, the legendary Dave DiMartino, managing editor here in Boy Howdy land, recently gave up his freedom and tied the knot with longtime girlfriend, Janet Spooner, on September 4th. Congratulations to the happy couple.

"ONE BROKEN HEART FOR SALE" DEPT. Suzi Quatro, the former black-leathered Detroit hard rock heartthrob and Happy Days regular, recently revealed that she received a weird phone call from Elvis Presley in 1975. Seems the King liked her cover of "All Shook Up," and wanted the blonde miss to come and live with him at Graceland. Quatro politely declined. In other Elvis news, thousands and thousands descended on Memphis in mid-August for the fifth anniversary of the original rock star's death. Seminars, ceremonies and even seances were just some of the highlights of the day—watch for a full report in next month's CREEM.

New NYC-based Johnny Apollo label has an interesting gimmick: the first single, just released, is by two different artists. One side has Regina Richards singing "Deep Dreaming." The flip "Never Gonna Let You Go" by the Rocltaways. Wonder if the acts will beat each other up over the royalties?

The tastefully-named Single Bullet Theory has signed with Nemperor Records. First LP to be co-produced by Rob Freeman, who co-produced the Go-Go's debut. In other label news, Joni Mitchell has signed a long-term, world-wide contract with Geffen Records Joni should be projecting her neuroses on the record-buying public with Wild Thing Run Fast, scheduled for release sometime this fall

Captain Beefheart, everyone's favorite weirdo, is the subject of the old cliched "good news/bad news" department. First, the bad news: Beefheart will not be touring to promote his new Epic LP, Ice Cream For Crow. Now, for the good news: Epic will instead be giving the good Captain money to make a video of the record in his natice Mojave desert. Also, the first single from the LP will include an unreleased B-side, "Light Reflected Off The Oceand's Of The Moon," which features the Captain blowin' it away on saxophone.

IT'S ABOUT TIME DEPT. A soundtrack from the never released 1968 BBC-TV special The Rolling Stones Rock 'n' Roll Circus, will be released by ABKCO Records this fall. The special featured the Stones performing "Jumpin' Jack Flash," ' Sympathy For The Devil." "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Sah Of The Earth," as well as performances by the Who, John Lennon & Yoko Ono.

Eric Clapton, Marianne Faithfull, Jethro Tull and Taj Mahal. The special was never released due to Mick Jagger's displeasure with the Stones' performance (has he looked at videos of the '81 tour?), although the Who's portion was seen in The Kids Are Alright.

The Blasters are composing the soundtrack to a forthcoming Pvaroamttcomedy starring Nidi Nolte and Eddie Murphy, set for December release The band is also recording their second LP for Slksh although they plan to release ' a live EP in the meantime The band recently returned from a European tour, during which none other than Elvis Costello opened as a surprise guest on one date. And finally, watch for the bands S TV special with Carl Perkins on PBS-TV's Soundstage later this fall.

Strttt, one of Detroit's most popular heavy metal bands has d added Charlie Hnhn, formerly of the Ted Nugent band, as their new lead vocalist.

In case-yon're wondering why&bfl Clash haven't'been interviewed in CREEM to coincide with their lat£5l|| American tour, it seems that those purwyotsof "revolution rock,*||J power to the people, truth, honesty and fairness were upset that Boy 1 Howdy wouldn't guaranteethem a cover, as well as being quite offended by a negative review of Combat Rock by Richard Msftawr (who-should know) which ■ recently appeared in these pages. Did someone say something about prima donnas? We're just askin'.

doc Siruanuear recently filed for divome* although almost no one knew the guy was marriedl Seems that Joe married a foreign lady bade, when he was still with the 101'ers, and never got around to divorcing her, as he lost the marriage certificate and forgot his 'wife's surname* What a zany guy! On other domestic fronts, the Police's Sting recently separated from his wife, though he denies the

Barry Manilow goes rockabilly? The happy song man's releasing a rockabilly single entitled "Oh, Julte ' composed by Shakln* : Stevens. We always knew that Barry was heayfly influenced by Gene Vincent and the like. Huh9 Well, if Queen could get away with it..;

Jon Jett and the Blackhearts are the first American band allowed to perform and tour East Germany in the country's^? year history. Ms. Jett pronounced the virtues of loving rofk V roll during a brief tour there from September 14th through 23rd. Due to the success of the /. Love Rock 'n' Roill LP, Boardwalk is re-releasing Jett's debut album, •Bad Reputation. The record, originally released in 1981, was a commercial flop.

"THE NEON LIGHTS ARE BRIGHT ON BROAD WAV" DEPT. Possibly following the example of Beatlemama, a new musical play about the life of John Lennon, titled (what else?) Lennon, openedafNewYork's * Entermedia Theatre on August 21st The show was produced by Sid Bernstein, who promoted 'theBevdds' legendary performances at Shea Stadium and Carnegie Hall There may be hope in the fact that Lennon was originally conceived and developed at Liverpool's Everyman Theatre, which was also responsible for the best theatrical presentation on the Fab Four thus far, John, Paul George, Ringo,. .&Bert!..:In other^ theatre news, DidkClndkis producing a new Broadway musical entitled Rock V Roll: The First Ten Thousand Years. The play is said to trace the development of rdeh J| music from the blues to new wave, as well as "the history of huraanift?' (huh?) , and will premiere 1ft late October.

The Waitresses have written arid recorded a theme song for an upcomipg Norman LsprTVpiipt called Square Pegs. The band will also make an appearance on the show.

The ever-amazing Elvis Costello surprised fans on his recent Amerieantourby performing mostly long, two hour-plussets, smiling, talking to the audience (arid backstagers, including actual CREEM joumalists!)and just being an all-round nice guy. Elvis performed a cross-section of his : best songs, as well as covers of

Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, the l iyStrye and Elvis Presley tu nes. Elvis told CREEM drat he will begin recording his next LP as soon as he returns to England. What a prolific guy!

In The Studio

BURBANK, CA—Warner Bros. Recording Studios: Michael McDonald, Captain Beefbeart; GLENDALE, CA—Sunset Studio: Jackson Browne, Dave Mason, the Time; HOLLYWOOD, CA-Eldorado Studio: 20/20, Icehouse; LAS CQUNAS, CA.—the Studios: Stevie Wonder; SAN FRANCISCO, CA-Hyde Street Studios: the Dead Kennedys; NEW YORK, Wf—Skyline Studios: Laurie Anderson, John Cale, Robert Gordon, Chris Spedding; Boogie Hotel: Garland Jeffreys;* BEARSVILLE, NY-Bearsvilte Studio: Todd Rundgren, NRBQ, Randy Vanwarmer; NASHVILLE, ; TN—Bennett House: Tanya Tucker; AUSTIN;TX—Pedrenales Retarding Studio; Asleep At The Wheel with Willie Nelson producing.