ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

Move over, Margaret Trudeau!! Mick Jagger, who sings with a fairly popular British band, has signed with noted British publisher Lord Weidenfeld to publish his biography for $2 million—the most a British publisher has ever paid for a book. Although the biggest lips in rock was originally seeking a ghostwriter to help him on the book, he now claims he’s going to write it all by himself. If there’s not enough money to be made from the book, Jagger also plans to introduce a line of children’s ; clothing next spring, called—what else?—Rolling Stone Clothes.

No truth to rumors that Pate Townshend is planning ,td introduce a line of Who • headbands!

Singer/composer Melanie Safka of “Brand New Key” fame has teamed with frequent CREEM contributor Ed Kelleher to write The Ace Of Diamonds, a new musical based on the life of Calamity Jane. The play is bound for Broadway this spring. Wonder if Wild Bill Hickok will be on roller skates.

David Blue, a permanent part of N. Y.C.’s Greenwich Village folk scene since t$e early ’60s, died of a heart attack in early December, following his daily jog through Washington Square. Blue, who sometimes recorded under his real name of S. David Cohen, was a peer of Bob Dylan, recorded numerous LPs over the years, arid had just completed a principal role in a film called Uncertain Futures. He was 40 years old.

A lot of shakeups oh the British music front as Japan, Glllan and Teardrop Explode? have all disbanded. The latter band broke up four years to the day of their ) debut gig at Liverpool’s Eric Club.

Julian Cope plans to pursue a" Gary Dwyer accompanying him. Future plans for Japan’s members are indefinite. Ian Glllan of the band that bears his name (he formerly of Deep Purple fame) has been ordered to stpp singing for at least nine months or suffer permanent damage to his vocal chords And perhaps saddest of all is the retirement of ex-Soft-Boy leader Robyn Hitchcock fronr :J the rock ’n’ roll scene.

Are we ahead of our time or what? Two years after CREEM ran the infamous debate between Janie Jones and Geddy Lee Roth entitled “Clash Vs. Led Zeppelin,” Billboard ran a headline that read “Clash Vs. Led Zep.” referring to the battle between Coda and Combat Rock on the national charts. Remember, you read it here first!

Rachel Sweet isn't too sweet on Pat Benatar's latest hit single, “Shadows Of The Night.” Seems that the song was composed by D.L. Byron, but Sweet added lyrics of her own {with Byron’s consent) when she recorded it for her third LP last year. Benatar recorded Sweet’s version, but, alas, the petite Akronite wasn’t given any credit for her contribution. Rachel’s manager (Who also happens to be her dad) is hoping for an out-of-court settlement with the music publisher. Meanwhile, Sweet is set to star in a new 3-D horror film called Rock W Roll Hotel, directed by Richard Baskin. The film will also feature Brace Springsteen’s pal, Clarence .CfyMheviifc -

Former Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger recently joined Adam Ant onstage in L.A. for the goody two-shoed dandy’s cover version of the Doors’ “Hello, I Love You.”

When the Stray Cats recently rocked Detroit, lead singer Brian Setzer took a midnight trip (shades of Elvis!) to Dearborn to visit the Cinderella’s Attic “punk” clothing store. The quiff-headed wonder boy dropped $150 on a pink & black bowling shirt, a Betty Boop pin, a leopard bracelet and skull & crossbones earrings. When Setzer got to the register, however, he discovered he didn’t have enough cash and had to get a loan from his manager. “I have a hot record on the charts,” complained Setzerr “and I can’t even afford to buy rhy own clothes!” ,

BUT CAN SHE COOK?tf)EPT. Bebe Bnell is being produced by ex-boyfriend Todd Rundgren, with an LP or EP soon to result...

YOU’RE NOT GETTING OLDER, YOU'RE PETTING BETTER DEPT. Van Morrison has just completed his new album and will embark on a short tour following its release this winter. Lou Reed is currently in the studio with the same cast of characters, including Bob Quine, that appeared on his excellent The Blue Mask LP. Meanwhile, the Rolling Stones are hold up in the Pathe Marconi Studios in Paris recording their next studio LP for release thissummer. 11

David Byrne, Talking Heads head honcho, is producing the next Fun Boy Tbree LP. Sounds like fn n! AaaaaaaarrntqaohhPI •*,

Def Leppard’s Joe Elliot came down With tonsillitis during sessions for the band’s next LP, but kept on | singing until'he lost'his voice,; Wonder if anyone’ll be able to tell tRSdifference? D.L.’s LP has-been postponed until.the end of January as a result, ' l*

WHO DO THESE YOUNG -WHIPPERSNAPPERS THINK THEY ARE? DEPT. John Cale recently joined the Psychedelic Furs onstage at the Ritz in New York to play his viola with the band. Meanwhile, David Bowie was turned away from ABC’s recent gig at London’s Hammersmith Odeon because he wasn’t on the guest list. That would sorta be like John Cougar rejecting Brace Springsteen. How soon they forget, eh?

-British sax session man Gary Wlndo, who’s played with Eno, Fripp. Robert Wyatt, and Carla Bley, among others, as well as accompanying the Psychedelic Furs on their latest tour and LP, is releasing a sob LP on Europa Records. Guests will include NRBQ and wife Pam Wlndo’s band the Shades.

Gottlieb has released a new pinball machine called “Punk” with graffiti that mentions bands like the Ramones, Dead Boys, Sex pistols and Siouxste & the Banshees among others.

Former {Clash and curreht PiL guitarist Keith Levene recently married Laurie Montana^l formerly bassist with the new wave band'Pulsallama. Best man was none other than Johnny Lydon.

THE GfRL IS/rSNT MINE DEPT. Paul McCartney is being sued for $17.7 million by a 20-year-old West German woman who clafm$ Paul is her long-lost dad. Macca has been asked to supply blood and tissue samples so a court can decide whether he fathered Bbttiitlr Huebers when the Beatles were playing in Hamburg 20 years ago. Bettina’s mother, Erika claims her daughter was born following a short affair with the “cutest” member of the Fab Four.

Good news for Led Zap fans is that Robert Plant and Phil Collins have been discussing the possibility of Collins touring as the drummer in Plant’s new bapd. Collins, of course, played on six of the cuts on Pictures At Eleven.

Bruce Springsteen was spotted backstage visiting the Wfeo following the band’s recent two night stand at Cleveland’s Richfield Coliseum. One reason the Boss may have been there, keeping a low profile, was that Miami Steve Van Zandt’s new band—Little Steven & the Disciples Of Soul—was opening the shows.Our photog spies inform us that Steve’s band received probably the best reception of any opening group on the entire Who tpur. In other Brooce news, a solo tune that didn’t make it onto Nebraska called “the Big Payback” is the flip of the

Night.” There are no immediate plans for an American release of the tune, but rumor has it that Bruce’s next LP with the E Street Band is almost finished and should be out Inter New Year's, depending on how long the mixes take. Of course, it took nearly a year to get

the drum mixes right on The River, so who knows? Rumors are also circulating that Springsteen’s next tour may well be hte last. Is this the age of last tours or what?

tour will feature the tasteful Oz chopping r off E.T.’s finger with a guillotine, and, boy, is Neil Diamond ever mad?!

Marvin Gaye recently sold his home in L.A. for the modest sum of $1 million to pay off his tax deficit upon returning to the U.S. after four years abroad.

Devo recently went from being spud boys to being spud inmates' following an early December concert at the University of Houston, Texas, the state where most cops seem to have a John Wayne fixation. Seems that the band’s second show was getting a bit rowdy, and the campus police ordered the. crowd to stt down or the show would be stopped. Mark Mothersbungh told the audience it was OK if they wanted to rush the stage, as guitarist Alan played a solo with one foot on a cop’s head. Of course, the show was immediately stopped, and when CREEM photographer/bouievardier Bob Mathen went backstage, he found several bandmembers and the Devo road crew kneelbg on the floor with their arms handcuffed behind them. After snapping a photo, Matheii was immediately arrested ' and joined Devo in jail until he agreed to give up hte film.. It was either that or be charged with obv struction of justice, inciting a riot, etc., etc. Devo was released the following day, no doubt with happy memories of LBJ land in their heads. Glad to see that Texas law enforcers are doing such a great job of upholding the law..,.

John Cougar, Mitch Ryder, the Rockets and actual CREEM editors were among the many celebrities who gathered in Birmingham late December for the official launching of VIDIOT, the ’■ magazine of video lunacy” subtly plugged by Rick J. in this month's Creemedia section. Vidiote from all walks of life gathered to stick tokens in the newest video games, with proceeds going to Detroit’s Children’s Hospital. For further exciting news, consult your crisp new copy of VIDIOT today!!

Soft CeiTs “Tainted Love” has been in the American Billboard charts for 43 consecutive weeks, topping Bill Haley’s 42-week world record for “Rock Around The Clock” in the mid-’50s.

Prior to a recent concert in Washington D.C., Rosy Gallagher and his band nearly had their car pvertumed by the Ku Klux Klan when they got caught in the middle of a rally/riot.

Could it have something to do with Rory’s long-standing love of black music?..,

The Museum of Rock Art in L.A. recently staged the/Tirst Christmas Rock ’n’ Roll Auction,” a fundraiser, in memory of the Doors* Jim Morrison. Items auctioned off the weekend of December 10th included drawings by John Lonnon, a guitar used by Jimi Hendrix, 500 pieces of the Crosby, Stills, Naph & Young archives {how many King Dons did that include?), and 10 lithographs by Joni Mitchell. An opening bid of $150,000 was asked for a lifesized bronze sculpture of Lennon which has been on display at the L.A. City Hall Plaza.

The Hells Angels recently stppped a riot at a concert in Amsterdam by British punk group? the Anti-Nowhere League. Things gpt a bit hectic when skinheads began dragging the band’s monitors off the stage, but the Angels interceded and peace was restored. No one was killed, and no one sang “Gimme Shelter.” r

Yoko Ono recently urged John Lennon fans to stop sending money to the Spirit Foundation, a charity organization founded by the couple, as she discovered too many “professional money raisers” involved in the Foundation. Instead, Yoko says to give the money to "somebody near you who needs it.” Allen'Klein, where are you

The four winners in CREEM’s Vantage Guitar Give-A-Way * contest are: Rob Pylar of St. Clair ShoresMichigan; Mitch Shymanski of Nekoosa, Wisconsin; Nancy LMauldin of Harrah,, Oklahoma, and Joni Silvestri of Coral Gables, Florida. Congratulations!