ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

Eurythmics’ vocalist and tuff cookie Annie Lennox’s throat problems have become so severe, she’s off to Vienna, Austria, to see a voice specialist. English medics have disagreed as to whether she’s developing throat nodules—which sometimes require surgery—pr just been overdoing things. Annie has wisely been cutting down on interviews to avoid further vocal doom, particularly with journalists of the Lebanese persuasion-

Contrary to published accounts, the Police are not breaking up. npr are they taking three years off to yawn a lot and work on thejr tans. Booking agent lan Copeland describes these stories as “totally erroneous.’’ .The band is; however, taking an 18 month hiatus to pursue individual interests. After the success of his work in Rumblefish, Stewart is planning further soundtrack projecfs>. Sting will be starring in Martin Scorsese’s new film,/x The Last Temptation Of Christ, and working on a book in his “spare” time. And Andy? We have it from highly-placed official sources that the diminutive guitarist is seriously thinking about gro.wing.

Internationally acclaimed folk singers John Doe and Exene Cervanka of X have joined up with the Blasters’ Alvin brothers to form an acoustic quartet they call The Knitters.

“1 think people need a little bit of a break from ‘loud, fast rules’,” said guitar bender John. “The point has been made that you can play loud and fast.” And wasn’t it just splendid, fellow folkies?

Pud Roulette Dept.: Wankist Eddie Jobson has departed from Yes and will be replaced-— at least temporarily—by Tony Kaye, the group’s original keyboard player. Opens up a whole new bag of worms, as Sam Donaldson would say.

Famed upholder of justice Joan Jett was recently deputized by Davidson County Sheriff Fate Thomas during a stop in Nashville. “Now I can do body searches legally,’’ quipped the impetuous minx. But, Joan, you forgot to tell us if Elvis is still dead!

Keep your ears peeled for a live Animals LP recorded during their reunion tour. Particularly noteworthy is their medley of David Johansen tunes...

Speaking of Boss Johansen, the one time N.Y. Doll and longer time solo dud has been practicing a “nightclub” act at a N.Y.C. soul club, under the name Buster Poindexter. They didn’t say why.

Lead screamer Vince Neil of Motley Crue has been a very bad boy once again. He first created a ruckus at the Rainbow Bar in L A. when he trotted in wearing the “full battle regalia” of a U.S. Marine. Seems a somewhat tipsy female patron didn’t appreciate this display of national pride, particularly just days after the Big Bang in Beirut. Vince—a fervent patriot down to his chain link underpants—promptly punched her out and got thrown in the clink for his trouble.

Darn that Vince, he did it again within 48 hours of incident #l. What, beat up a drunk girl? Nah, this time he was nailed for carrying an empty beer bottle, a major offense in Newport Beach, CA. Fearful local police took one look at him, then whipped out their guns and called for back-up. A sudden attack of musical taste? No such luck. After all the excitement, the ljulis took off and let Vince go with a ticket for possession of illegal vocal cords.

But the real hot Crue poo was the guys’ near demise in their manager’s private plane. Over Boise, Idaho—where many strange occurences have been noted, including the famed Unidentified Flying Tuber Incident—the plane’s electrical system crapped out, forcing band and friends to make an

emergency landing. AH the Cruesters were uninjured, but their stage make-up exploded inside their luggage. “Our atomic lip gloss,” Nikki Sixx was heard to moan, “now rubble!”

Now that Christie Brinkley has cooled the late night phone chats with David Lee Roth, the mythically endowed Van Halen singer reportedly has his bingo sights set on none other than MTV’s Martha Quinn! Have you ever known two people who deserved each other more? Besides Eddie n’ Val, we mean. Led Zeppelin reformed...for about ten minutes dr so. During Robert Plant’s solo tour of the U.K., onetime iron balloon matey Jimmy Page joined him onstage for an encore at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, marking their first appearance together since Zep last hovered. Then, in an encore to the encore, they both partied down with Jeff Beck, Dave Edmunds, Alvin Lee, John Bonham’s kid, and everybody else who heard the dinner bell!

Alexis Korner, one of the true originals of British rock, passed away at age 56. His Blues Incorporated was the seminal white English R&B group, counting among its alumni Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Brian Jones, Jack Bruce, John McLaughlin, Long John Baldry, and Paul Jones, to name just a few. Korner also gave Robert Plant his “big” break, and Was instrumental in the formation of classic blues-rockers Free.

Changing Podners: Neil Murray and John Sykes are siated to join Whitesnake, Murray for the second time and Sykes choosing the pale crawlers over Motorhead, who were also inquiring about his services.

Keith Harris of Blind Fury is currently leading a pack of contenders for that troublesome lead guitar slot in Mohead.

We’re sorry to report that Larry Benjamin, CREEM’s Promotion Consultant for many years, died in Los Angeles in early January. Among other things, Benjamin was once a manager to George Clinton. He will be missed.

Sadly, Dennis Wilson, the , Beach Boys’ drummer and the man who gave the group its name, drowned in the waters of L.A.’s Marina del Ray on December 28th. Wilson, who had just turned 39, was the person who suggested his older brother, Brian, write a surfing song and urged the band to change its name from Carl & the Passions He appeared in the film Two Lane Blacktop with James Taylor and Warren Oates, and was the first Beach Boy to record a solo LP, the critically-acclaimed Pacific Ocean Blue, in 1977.

.Rod Stewart’s Mrs , Alana H., will reportedly be asking for $7.5 million if her rumored plans to divorce the oldish shagbag come off. Big deal—you couldn’t even buy five Rolling Stones pencils with that...

Brit weirdcakes Psychic TV decided to honor selected patrons at N.Y.C.’s Danceteria by taking off all their clothes in the elevator. Everybody reportedly had a swell time, except for the elevator hygienist, who was fresh out of bug bombs at the time.

Actual good news: Martha Davis is A-OK! The Motels’ sultry tweetybird had only a “precancer condition” and not the big C., as was feared. Our gal was so happy, she went out and had a

car crash! Martha plans to spend the rest of ’84 in a rubber world!

At long last, the definitive word from Boy George! The official slime creature of the ’84 Olympics admitted to Joan Rivers on the Tonight Show that he . . , I a Geoff Butier/LGI

only washes his hair once a week! Betcha Billy Idol will never appear on that one!

All five members of Duran Duran are undoubtedly

contemplating suicide now that CREEM contributor and ace Duran-tracker Ahnene Kaye has tied the “The Knot” with Simon Gillham of British pop group Intaferon. Our congrats, kids, and who cares?

Excitable boo Warren Zeyon has ditched his L.A. digs and split to New York, leaving “soulmate” Kim Langford to her own devices, “He’s been through some changes,” says trade mag Cashbox, “sort of like a Waring blender.”

So you still wanna be a rod ’n’ reel star? Here’s your chance! Rhino Records is looking for tapes from “pop-oriented girl band/artist (s)” for an upcoming compilation LP. Send those steamin’ cassettes to Gary Stewart at Rhino, 1201 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404.

Those of you Who’ve been following the career of onetime N.Y, Doll Sylvain Sylvain will be pleased to hear the silly-boy and his group Roman Sandals have inked with Body Rock Records. Those who haven’t can move right along to the next item.

Lennon Death A Hoax (see page 778). And now for the longawaited Radio Birdman update! Various fans, publicists and Birdman leader Deniz Tek himself have written in to correct a passel o’ mistakes we committed in our previous, muchapplauded RB item. “It wasn’t bad enough for you to run the news item about New Race almost two years after they toured Australia,” writes reader Chris Marloa, “but then you had to misspell Ron Asheton’s name and further reveal your ignorance by not knowing that the ex-MC5 person in the band was drummer Dennis Thompson.” Same to you, Chris! Meanwhile, Deniz dropped us a card to report he’s now “ridin’ with the original heavy metal thunder, Marine F-4’s.” Watch for our next Radio Birdman bulletin in April, 1988.

YIPP1E! YAHOO! It’s official: no more Who! On the heels of Roger Daltrey’s belated announcement that the Who—as we know them—will never exist again (we coulda told you that 10 years ago, Rog), comes The Word from boss snout Pete Townshend: “I will not be making any more records with the Who. It’s already been stated that our tour of America in ’82 was our last. And I can add that I will not perform live anywhere in the' world With the Who.” Do y& think they “mean” it this time? We’re only asking...