ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

It’s official! David Bowie will launch his first American tour in four years this coming spring, and we can hardly wait...

THE DEVIL MADE HER DO IT DEPT. Newest hot couple in the rock world is punk funk king Rick James and Linde Blair of The Exorcist fame. Seems that James saw a steamy pictorial in a recent Out Magazine (Rick had ironically been on display in the same rag a month befora) Linda mentioned that she fotfnd James “sexy” in the article, so thf*f>raid-headed flash had hispeoplegetin touch with - hers, and the happy couple have been super-freakin’ together ever since.

Bruce Springsteen is currently in Los Angeles finjshlng hte next album with the E Street Band. Prior to his departure, Broooce W$. made an impromptu visit at the* Stone Pony in AsburyPark.

Backed by house band Cate On A Smooth Surface, the Boss performed electric versions of tunes oft Nebraska, as well asa larger*1

se’ection of golden oldies like "Wooly Bully." And for all you Springsteen fans who haven't heard yet, there’s a hilarious parody out now catted Bruce Springstone In Bedrock, featuring Bruce and E Street soundalikes performing “Meet The Flintstones” and “Take Me Out To The Ballgame." The* producers emphasize that die single is “a respectfqfparody ”

Joan Jett may love rock ’n’ roil, appear to love, her as much as some other parts of the world do. Joan’s recent tour of Britain was cancelled in progress due to a lot of empty seats in each llljg ||; t" Whether it hurt so good or not IS. ,,H questionable, but there’s been a string of injuries in the John . Cougar camp recently. Guitarist Larry Crane broke his hand in an accident that occured when he, Cougar and several friends were t,racing Honda Odysseys Crane plans to play the November leg of Cougar’s current tour with his hand ip a bandage. Meanwhile, the main man himself was knocked out cold at an Arizona performance when he hit in the head with a flying bottle/Dragged offstage, Cougar^ regained consciousness, and . returned in a hard hat to sing iwhat else?) “Hurts So Good.” ^

Those disappointed by the Jam’s y recent split can take some 5. consolation in the fact that Polygram plans to release a double five:LP of die bend in January. The LP will include live cuts from all periods of the band’s career, dating back to 7?-

BOSS ROSS DOINGS^ Mdnowar, those avowed Odins of; Metal, have left their label (EMI/ America), and are also looking for a drummer to replace Donate Hamzik is it aH over for Orson .. Welles’favorite source of noise?

Nb way. ..the battle hymners are headed for a studio session in Japanf Scandinavia was booked Up) . where they’ll record some of their new, uh, material, like the whimsical "Hatred, ”G o with the BdWiguys. /

Bob & Dong McKenzie, those happy hosers, late of SCTV, will take time out from shooting their seK-d&rected debut flick, Strange Brew, to guest host Saturday Night Live on January 22nd. Mingling with the competition, eh? The |wingin’backbacon eaterswiil have anew album put in February. The Go-Go’s have been busy gals lately. In addition to their own music, the beat girts have been branching out, working on other || people’s projects . Charlotte Ceffey isreportedly plannings record with Police guitarist Andy Summers, as welt as co-writing “ several tunes with Bette Midler for the divine Mijss M’s forthcoming ; LP. Kathy Valentine has been . corresponding with Carleae Carter in London on tunes for Cariene’s next opus. Carlene has repPrtediyalreadyknockedoff several songs witH/Cx-Bonrie producer Tony VlecontL And finally, drummer Gina Schock has added her percussion to a track called “DesignFor yvirjg^for inclusion on Nona Hendryx’s next record, which will also feature appearances by Patti LaBelte, Tina Weymonth, Hopfft’s , -Nancy Wilson and Laurie Anderson. And whosezit’sa man’s world..,? 1

King Car Ric Ocaeek Je: ^ continuing his producing chores, manning theknobstdnaforthcoming LPbyNew York punk/reggae band, the Bad Brains.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission| citing labeling laws, has banned sale of Rock & Roll Beer in that state. The beer features a logo that picturesa fictitious y character named Johnny Longshot, who claims tp have sold his soul for rpck ’n’ rofi. The commission ruled that the message is false advertising because the company has no way of proving it’s true. “How cananyoneprovethey sold their soul for rock ’tf roll?” beefed commissioner J.M. McCarthy. “They’d have to be dealing with realms that I’m not aware ofi’’SaysJoe Edwards, who invented Rock & Roll Beer to , promote his St. Louis tavern: “I , ' have a feeling that if the labeLttid ‘I -Sold my soul for Texas foofbal!,’ they might have accepted it.”

If breaking his hand on the Lordeil Of The New Church’s recent trek through America enough, accident-prone Stiv Bator injured himself again in Rrance after less than a week on the rpad^The “scene of the crime” was Bordeaux, where in the middle of the Lords* set Stiv, demonstrating his highdiving technique, flew off the stage into the orchestra pit, some 20 feet below. The fragile Stiwy broke his left foot and will ; spend at least part of the European t^ur performing from :* wheelchair.®

Paul McCartney is currently filming Give My Regards To Broad Street. The “musical drama” which repeatedly portrays a fictional day in Macca’sHfe, was conceived and scripted by Paul, and will feature appearances by Ringo Starr and, naturally, “cook of the house” Linda.. .Paul and Ringo,along withold pal George Harrison, will also be making guest appearances on a forthcoming solo IP by Christine Me Vie of Fleetwood Mac. !

•fcthls Records recently devised their own "remedy” forth© home taping. >» controversy by shipping Pat Benatar s latest, Get Nervous, to .radio stations with a warning thatjiS playing the LP in its entirety “clearly constitutes an infringement of public performance rights.” Theletter threatens prosecution.

LABEL Brothers, who just signed with Rolling Stones Records, are ‘ recording their next LP in New Orleans with'Krith Richards at the knobs. .. Moon Martin has been dropped from the Capitol roster. ..'Wa#|NO€ Was), who just completed a successful mini-tour with SweetPea Atkinson, dropped Ze/lsIand Vo sign with Geffen.

Jamaican Prime Minister Edward Seaga formally dedicated the Boh Marley Memorial Performing Center at Montego Bay, Jamaica on Thanksgiving Day. Immediately following the dedication, highlighted by a massive fireworks display arid the release of 18 doves symbolizing peace, brotherhood and love, the first Jamaica World Musical Festival began. The festival was three days of music featuring such diverse acts as the Grateful Dead, foe B-52’s, Joe Jackson, Ronnie Milsap, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, the Beach Boys, Aretha Franklin, . Squeeze (in their final PCdOrmance together), Stacey 'Latdsaw, Skeeter Davis,

the Maytals, Mach Rick James, the Clash, ' Jimmy Buffett, the English Beat, Bobby & the -Midnighters, Yellowmait and Rita Marley & the Melody Makers (Marley’s children}. Attendance : m,ooo.5 .

Siouxsie Sioux’s got her voice back. despfte the prognosis of her doctors, and she and the Banshees are currently touring th«D.i@S

{elody Maker editorRay up an biography of Eric Clapton which should be in the store just barely in] tee forCri^fma^

>)t%%’ rol legend Mitch isona “comeback” ftafl that looks like it can’t fail. Although Ryder’S records have been selling, well in Europe these past few years, marginally

America, mostly at«| import releases. However, that may all be remedied soon when Ryder’s °ne of bj&i

biggest fans, John Cougarf,Among those composing tracks for 1 the album will be Brace Springsteen, Tom Petty, Billy Jbnlaad Cpngar the pair are ' shopping for a label as you read

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Sandie Shaw, the British ’60s Singing idol, wljp warbled “Girl Don’t Comg” and “Always Something There To Rethirid Me,”• barefoot, i$marryingher longtime paramour Nik Powell. Sandie is now “barefoot and pregnant,” so the couple’s celebrating wfth nuptial vows. V-

Elvis Costello, in a recent NME interview, said he’s thinking of dropping hjsstage nameand returning to Declan McManus. Elvoid Is working on his next LP, of which manager Jake Riviera has this to say “We thought El vis could just do the whole thing in his bedroom, withjustasyntHesizer, an acoustic and a harmonica. We'll call m Wembi.

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Now it can be tdd. Bring of the' M Police refused ft? play therecen't US Festival in California until jti wbs' guaranteed that I3vie CooteU© . would not be on the bilk Now, boys... Other acts that were offered gigs rit US butif©fused were the Go-Go's, Tom Pyand Brace Springsteen.

The Das Boys were recently signed to make their film debut in 48 HRS, starring Nick Nofte and Eddie Murphy. The boys will play a band (what?) in a nightclub sequence, performing four songs they composed especially for the

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Altered Images in a bit of a bind foBowing the wafk-ou Jim McNiven and I Michael Anderson. The band has reportedly replaced McNiven, but are still seeking someohe to beat the skins.

Chris Stein has signed ex-Lovin' Spoonful leader and “Welcome Back” hitmaker John Sebastian fo his Animal label, which recently released LPs by the likes of Tpyv ; Pop, the Gon Club and James Chance. Says Stein: “1 thought he was amazing at Woodstodk. Like , redly together and 1 have now. decidedto drag both John and myself into foe 20fo Century.”

Paul Kantner of the Jefferson Starship recently participated in a 90minute debate with the * Reverend Wesley Ates, a , fundamental minister in Bloomington, Indiana. Themiriister had said that residents should boycott foe Starship and bum their ’ recotds on the steps of the Country Courthouse because the songs were “anti-Christ and anti-Christian.’’When Kantner arrived to debate Ates, the

Mlil pressolipsin whij Grace Slick and sex admitted*©

of all charges, said that given them a better u: of the world, though they no longer used the drug, and claimed that one member of foe Starship was a Christian, Ticket sales for the band’s Bloomington concert picked up considerably after the debate, which was filmed and may be used as part of the Starship’s video for ‘’Out Of Control.”.. .In other Starship news, drummer Aynaley Dunbar has left foe group.

Some people have argued that Journey and video games have ? something in common, and now s Data Age has taken it-all foe way. The home video game company, has joined forces wifo Mr. Perry& Company to create foe first vief game based on a rock V roll

theme. Named after foe band’s hit ! album Escape, the object ofthe -game is to get Journey members past numerous “obstacles” tike groupies, photographers, reporters, etc. fo a limousine waiting outside the backstage door. The group’s , “Don’tStop Believin’” will jfkjvide background for the game. And whatever happened to foe good old days, of Kiee and'Elton Jfqhat pirtball machines9

neperson was tabbed to another shot to death, and still another seriously injured following astabbing at a free concert ip Houston, Texas over Halloween weekend. The headlining act wasn’t your typical bat-eating rocker, but none other than Prior Frampton. Police and promoters blamed foe seemingly unrelated] incidents on too many p crowded into one place.