Rock 'n' Roll News

Rock 'n' Roll News

Lotsa fun happenings in the Black Sabbath camp. What you mean, camp? Well, new screamer Ian Gillan decided to sleep in a tent in the recording studio so he could keep an eye on his treasured golf clubs. When he left his babies unguarded for a minute, mischievous Sabsters Toni and Geezer sneaked in and wired the tent with explosives. Then they ran and told Ian a fox was tearing up his sleeping quarters. A fox in the studio? Makes as much sense as a tent, we guess. The stoopid singer fell for it, rushed directly to his primitive abode and KABOOM! But was that enough for the heavy metal pranksters? Nope— they followed that stunt up with the old exploding soccer ball trick and numerous trip wires for the dizzied woofer to deal with. Did Ian quit the band in disgust? Uhuh. His reply was akin to that of famed patriot Maynard G. Krebs, who once opined, “I’m just a great American and a heck of a good sport.”

We’re very saddened to hear that Motel’s leader Martha Davis is undergoing tests for cancer in a California hospital.

In what is undoubtedly the most earth-shattering facial hair news since Frank Zappa shaved off his mustache, the indecisive guitarist has grown it back!

Scooped by TV Guide again! Seems the concerts the Police taped in Montreal for a Showtime special this year didn’t meet the approval of the group’s ears. So they threw ’em out (awrite!) and taped some shows in Atlanta, instead. “They want to feel they’ve given their audience 100 percent,” said Michael Leon of A&M Records. Cablecast should be this month.

Last month we told you that Dave Davies had stormed out of the Kinks, citing years of sibling rivalry and an urge to get on with his solo career. Well, we lied! No, just funnin’ ya! Actually, Dave only stayed out of the group for 18 hours (our source counted, between whiplashes) before he came crawling back. So the Kinks U.S. tour and all that other good stuff is on again, OK? Dave’s good buddies here at CREEM would just like to say thanks a lot, big guy, and please don’t do us any more favors!

It’s official! CREEM Contributing Editor Iman Lababedi has purchased the New York Rocker, the NYC-based rock mag which has been on hold since January, 1983. Iman has snatched the title of publisher/editor-in-chief for himself, and has signed up Richard Fantina as his managing editor and former CREEMer John Morthland as associate ed. This means John will be paid to associate with the other eddies, just like his opposite number here at America’s Only. First issue in its new magazine-sized format should be out nowsville, kooky kats!

Tatooed neo-rockabilly kings the Stray Cats are producing demos for 14 Karat Gold, the NY a capella soul unit.

DNA now rubble? Looks that way with the news Ozzy Osbburne has snapped up drummer Carmine Appice to replace the unceremoniously dumped Tommy Aldridge in the Blizzard Of Oz. Remaining DNAer Rick Derringer is undecided as to whether he’ll replace Appice or just shut down.

Did you ever see the old television special where Joni Mitchell broke into sobs three times while attempting to perform a tune about one of her multitude of ex-beaus, Graham Nash?

Same thing happened to Jackson Browne at a recent Detroit area concert. The sometimes rumored to be halfturnip folkie was about midway through “Hold On” when onstage boohoos struck with the words “I love you.” Better there than “I sit beside my lonely candle,” right? Browne swallowed the lump, however, and managed to complete his set.

Are you ready for Jock Rock? No? Too bad, because it’s already happened. Tennis pros John McEnroe and Vitas Gerulaitas organized a benefit concert for the Special Olympics under that title and it proved to be a smashereeno. In addition to the racquet whackoffs, the lineup included Ian Hunter, Buddy Guy, Aerosmith, Clarence Clemons, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee of Rush, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Bass slayer Geddy described the experience as “pretty weird.”

Some news has escaped the GoGo’s blackout in the U.K., where they’re recording album number three with Martin Rushent at the knobs. Among the probable titles are “Mercenary,” “Zero To Hero,” and tunes written with Sparks’ Mael brothers and Carlene Carter.

Look for a Mick Jagger* Michael Jackson duet on the next Jacksons LF. It may not necessarily be there, but look anyway.

Will Paul McCartney ever learn to keep his big mouth shut? You’d think the day he said “I do” would’ve taught him a lesson, or maybe his famous response to the news that John Lennon was dead: “It’s a drag, innit?” But nooo, ol’ pigeon tits had to go on and update his Lennon remark for British slimesheet Tidbits: “If I’d known John was going to die, I wouldnt have been so standoffish as I was.”

Well, at least one person is relieved tliis month. Medical tests proved conclusively that Pal Paul is not the proud poppa of Bettina Hubers, the Hamburger (what’d’ya want, Hamburglette?) who was trying to nail him for $28 million. Our congrats, Bett!

Wanna be a rock ’n’ roll star? Fast cars, expansive dimmers, Texas tea? Andy Cox, lead guitarist with the English Beat, is listening to audition tapes in hopes of filling the vacancies created by Ranking Roger and Dave Wakeling’s departure. If you hurry, you might still be able to beat out Ronnie James Dio or any given Appice brother. Send those demos, “with little or no accompaniment,” to: Andy’s A Capella Auditions, P.Q. Box 320, Birmingham, 20, England.

Steve “Little Steven” Van Zandt has shaken up the lineup of his Disciples Of Soul, dumping the entire horn section in hopes of contemporizing his sound. Talk of freshly ex-Bow Wow Wower Annabella joining the group strictly on the strength of her mohawk is dir-tee lies!

Doran Duran humbuckerkonker John Taylor joined former Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore in a new BBC-2 series on UK TV called Rockschool. The weekly show features hot tips from rock stars who’ll be forced to speak in front of a studio audience of young musicians. Upcoming guests include Carl Palmer, John Entwistle, Robbie Shakespeare and Sly Dunbar.

We have one-time Rockpiler Billy Bremner to thank for this one: Q: What’s the definition of endless love? A: A tennis match between Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.

Former Grand Funkster Mel Schacher is opening a hi-tech record store, The Platinum Cat, in Farmington Hills, MI, just a hop, skip, and a bass solo away from our own offices!

Iggy Pop is in Hollywood cowriting material with Steven Hugsteter of the Plngz for the soundtrack to upcoming Universal film Repo Man. Flick is to be directed by David Bowie and will star Iggy and Susan Sarandon.

Animal quackers Eric Burdon and Alan Price were-at each other’s throats by the end of the first leg of the reformed ’60s group’s tour. During one of their daily spats, Burdon finally broke. The little holler guy grabbed a “large, very heavy” book and pounded Price on the head with it a few times. It was not disclosed what Price learned from the experience. As for the possibility of a subsequent reunion, Eric said later, “It would be easier to go off and fight in Afghanistan!”

Hold the presses! A new heavy metal superdupergroup called Alcatraz have just released their first album. Super dupes include former Rainbow and Michael Schenker Group vocalist Graham Bonnet, former New England members Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea, drummer Jan Uvena (Alice Cooper, Iron Butterfly) and 20-year-old Swedish “prodigy,” Yngwie Malmsteen. Rumors to the effect that young Yngwie (pronounced Yngwie) was once in the same bible class as Big Uffe of Swedish Christian Heavy Metal kings Jerusalem have yet to be verified.

P. Funk whiz Bernie Worrell is producing a solo album for B-52’s singer Fred Schneider. Yeah, well you’re not!

Former Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson and his band, Another Language, have recorded an EP for release on Enigma, label of the Cramps. Vocals are handled by Dagmar, Tom’s wife.

Brad Delp to get gas chamber? Not yet, vocal cord fans. It should, however, cheer you up to hear the entire group Boston is being sued for a cool $20 million by their record label, CBS. The company sez the boys owe them three more records on a fivealbum contract. The latest Boston LP, Don’t Look Back, was released way back in 1978, whenever that was.

British filmmaker Larry Buchanan is making plans for a movie about the deaths of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Buchanan believes their deaths had nothing to do with drugs, but were actually political assassinations carried out to “stop their influence over the ‘minds’ of the young.” Where does this leave Jack Weston?

Heap o’ hews from the Willie Nelson corral this month. The goofy Texan jammed with—who else?—country/western dudes Supertramp in Austin. Apparently, the guys in Stupor— uh Supertramp had just played a major gig in town and were looking to unwind, musically. Willie and the band ended up honking out a few R&B standards, but not any Roger Hodgson material. Hey—Willie may be a cosmic clod, but he’s no dummy...

...usually. When the news that the zany cowboy was getting his hair cut at Jerry Rough’s salon in Millbrae, California, fans zoomed to the shop looking for souvenirs and answers. Turned out, however, the fella in the chair was a dummy Nelson uses to decoy mobs after concerts. At least, we thought it was a dummy.