THE WINNERS CREEM '84 ROCK 'N' ROLL READERS POLL

THE WINNERS CREEM '84 ROCK 'N' ROLL READERS POLL

FEATURES

ROCK '84: zzzzzzzzzz

PRINCE

He’p! The results from our ’84 Readers Poll are in, and so are we! In the bathroom, mainly, trying to recuperate from the sheer horror of the grisly results!

We knew that Heavy Metal was “back,” but little did we suspect just exactly how back it was! It’s back to the stoneage, gang! How else to explain the overpowering showing of such metalloids as Motley Crue, Ratt and Twisted Sister? CREEM Readers Poll historians will surely note that the latter two groups have never even showed up in one of our polls before! Combined with the power and glory of such mo-mo’s as Scorpions, Billy Squier, Iron Maiden, Kiss and Dio, the Top Albums of ’84 according to CREEM readers made ruder noises and wore more funny clothes than ever!

In a word: He’p!

Van Halen continue to score bigger and better than ever, with 1984 voted the official Album Of The Year, “Jump” the #2 Single, and the guys themselves Top Group and Top Live Group—and we all know there’s a world o’ difference in there somewhere. Let’s see: David Lee Roth, Best Male Singer; Eddie Van Halen, Best Guitarist and Best Keyboardist (urp!); Alex Van Halen, Best Drummer; Michael Anthony just one notch behind Nikki Sixx (?!) as Best Bassist; Ted Templeman—Van Halen’s producer—again pulled the number one spot; 1984, Album Cover Of The Year; “Hot For Teacher,” Best Video; David Lee Roth, Best Dressed Male; and, finally, Eddie & Val scored Couple Of The Year one more time. Not bad for a bunch of nobodys!

Two final points: congrats to J. Kordosh, Rock Critic Of The Year for the first time. Let’s give the man his due: no other editor helped count the ballots! Finally, thanks to the many readers who put their heart and soul into their ballots...but, unfortunately, you sent them here! Let’s all eat shrimp creole together some time real soon!

—The (Now Completely Brain-Damaged) Editors

RATT

WAX

TOP THREE ALBUMS OF 1984:

1. 1984—Van Halen (Warner Bros.)

2. Out Of The Cellar—Ratt (Atlantic)

3. Born In The U.S.A.— Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (Columbia)

4. Purple Rain—Prince &

The Revolution (Warner Bros.)

5. Shout At The DevilMotley Crue (Elektra)

6. Stay HungryTwisted Sister (Atlantic)

7. Love At First Sting—Scorpions (PolyGram)

8. Signs Of Life—Billy Squier (Capitol)

9. Sports—Huey Lewis & The News (Chrysalis)

10. Powerslave—Iron Maiden (Capitol)

Animalize—Kiss (PolyGram)

12. Last In Line—Dio (Warner Bros.)

13. Reckoning—R.E.M.

(IRS.)

14. Heartbeat City—Cars (Elektra)

15. Dancin’ On The Edge—

Lita Ford (PolyGram)

16. She’s So Unusual—

Cyndi Lauper (Portrait)

17. Defenders Of The FaithJudas Priest

(CBS)

18. Learning To Crawl— Pretenders

(Sire)

19. The Unforgettable Fire—U2 (Island)

20. Rebel Yell—Billy Idol (Chrysalis)

21. Condition Critical—

Quiet Riot (Pasha)

22. Private Dancer—

Tina Turner (Capitol)

23. Slide It In—Whitesnake (Geffen)

24. W.A.S.P.—W.A.S.P. (Capitol)

25. New Sensations—Lou Reed (RCA)

“I didn’t even know it was 1984.

I thought 1984 was Van Halen’s new album.”

—Chris Parr Fond du Lac, Wl

TOP TWO SINGLES OF 1984:

1. Round ’N’ Round—Ratt (Atlantic)

2. Jump—Van Halon (Warner Bros.)

3. Panama—Van Halen (Warner Bros.)

4. Dancing In The Dark— Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (Columbia)

5. We’re Not Gonna Take It— Twisted Sister

(Atlantic)

6. Rock Me Tonite—

Billy Squier (Capitol)

7. I Wanna Rock—

Twisted Sister (Atlantic)

8. When Doves Cry—Prince & The Revolution (Warner Bros.)

9. Heaven’s On Fire—Kiss (PolyGram)

10.Rock You Like A Hurricane—Scorpions (PolyGram)

“I’m sick of Madonna’s belly button.”

—Mary Zubko Albertson, NY

BEST BLACK ALBUM: 1. Purple Rain—Prince & The Revolution (Warner Bros.)

2. Private Dancer—

Tina Turner (Capitol)

3. Victory—Jacksons (Epic)

4. Can’t Slow Down—

Lionel Richie (Motown)

5. Breakout—Pointer Sisters (Planet)

“I still await the day you tell us why the cowman should be friends with the farmer.” —Susan Knistautas Euclid, OH

BEST BLACK SINGLE:

1. Let’s Go Crazy—Prince & The Revolution (Warner Bros.)

2. When Doves Cry—Prince & The Revolution

(Warner Bros.)

3. Purple Rain—Prince & The Revolution (Warner Bros.)

4. Better Be Good To Me— Tina Turner

(Capitol)

5. What’s Love Got To Do With It—Tina Turner (Capitol)

FLESH & BLOOD

TOP 3 GROUPS:

1. Van Haien

2. Motley Crue

3. Ratt

4. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

5. Scorpions

6. U2

7. Twisted Sister

8. Kiss

9. Duran Duran

10. Prince & The Revolution

11. Def Leppard

12. Pretenders

13. Quiet Riot

14. Iron Maiden

15. Ozzy Osbourne

16. Police

17. David Bowie

18. Dio

19. Cars

20. Billy Squier

21. Joan Jett

22. Lita Ford

23. Go-Go’s

24. Judas Priest

25. Rolling Stones

“1984 was the year of studded leather, heavy metal madness and Motley Crue!”

—Ashley Whyte Miami, FL

TOP THREE LIVE GROUPS OF 1984:

1. Van Haien

2. Motley Crue

3. Ratt

4. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

5. Scorpions

6. Judas Priest

7. Twisted Sister

8. Duran Duran

9. Kiss

10. Ozzy Osbourne

11. U2

12. Billy Squier

13. Prince & The Revolution

14. Rush

15. Iron Maiden

16. Huey Lewis & The News

17. Dio

18. Pretenders

19. Billy Idol

20. Quiet Riot

21. Night Ranger

22. Yes

23. Police

24. Lita Ford

25. Joan Jett &

The Blackheads

“I don’t know why I bother.”

—Tracy Simon Farmingdale, NY

BEST MALE SINGER:

1. David Lae Roth

2. Vince Neil

3. Bruce Springsteen

4. Robert Plant

5. Billy Squier

6. Ronnie James Dio

7. Stephen Pearcy Prince (tie)

9. Bono Vox

10. Paul Stanley

BEST FEMALE SINGER:

1. Pat Benatar

2. Lita Ford

3. Cyndi Lauper

4. Tina Turner

5. Madonna

6. Christine (Hynde) Kerr

7. Stevie Nicks

8. Joan Jett

9. Patty Smyth

10. Annie Lennox

BEST BLACK SINGER:

1. Prince

2. Tina Turner

3. Michael Jackson

4. Lionel Richie

5. Stevie Wonder

6. Ray Parker, Jr.

7. Chaka Khan

8. James Brown

9. Jermaine Jackson

10. Jeffrey Osborne

BEST BLACK GROUP:

1. Prince &

The Revolution

2. Jacksons

3. Time

4. Pointer Sisters

5. Kool & The Gang

BEST GUITARIST:

1. Eddie Van Haien

2. Jimmy Page

3. Mick Mars

4. The Edge

5. Warren DeMartini

6. Jake E. Lee

7. Steve Stevens

8. Mathias Jabs

9. Andy Taylor

10. Stevie Ray Vaughan

BEST KEYBOARDIST:

1. Eddie Van Haien

2. Nick Rhodes

3. Don Airey

4. Geddy Lee

5. Alan St. John

6. Jonathan Cain

7. Jon Lord

8. Greg Hawkes

9. Roy Bittan

10. Allen Fitzgerald

BEST BASSIST:

1. Nikki Sixx

2. Michael Anthony

3. Rudy Sarzo

4. John Taylor

5. Steve Harris

6. Geddy Lee

7. Sting

8. Gene Simmons

9. Juan Croucier

10. Chris Squier

BEST DRUMMER:

1. Alex Van Haien

2. Tommy Lee

3. Neil Peart

4. Roger Taylor

5. Gina Schock

6. Max Weinberg

7. Phil Collins

8. Stewart Copeland

9. Frankie Banali

10. Eric Carr

BEST HORN PLAYER:

1. Clarence Clemons

2. Andy Hamilton

3. Johnny Colla

4. Chuck Mangione

5. Rindy Ross

“Springsteen and Lou Reed made it all worthwhile.”

—Elizabeth Bernfeld Philadelphia, PA

BEST PRODUCER:

1.Ted Templeman ( 2. Mutt Lange

3. Tom Werman

4. Jim Steinman

5. Nile Rodgers

6. Steve Lillywhite

7. Martin Birch

8. Brian Eno

9. Prince

10.Paul Stanley

“I’m afraid to write anything for fear of you idiots printing my name again.”

—Lupe Contreras Los Angeles, CA

BEST SONGWRITER:

1. Bruce Springsteen

2. Nikki Sixx

3. Billy Squier

4. Prince

5. Dee Snider

6. Van Halen

7. Sting

8. Simon LeBon

9. Christine (Hynde) Kerr

10.Lou Reed

BEST NEW GROUP:

1. Ratt

2. Frankie Goes To Hollywood

3. Twisted Sister

4. W.A.S.P.

5. The Bangles

6. Bon Jovi

7. Honeydrippers

8. Motley Crue

9. Wham!

10.Black ’N’ Blue

WORST GROUP:

1. Culture Club

2. Motley Crue

3. Duran Duran

4. Twisted Sister

5. Quiet Riot

6. Jacksons

7. Van Halen

8. Ratt

9. Def Leppard

10.Pretenders

SUNDRIES

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT:

1. Kevin Du Brow’s Mouth

2. Jackson’s Tour

3. Van Halen’s 1984

4. No Def Leppard LP

5. Duran Duran Weddings

6. Boy George Still Alive

7. Reagan Re-Elected

8. Motley Crue

9. AC/DC

10.CREEM

RIPOFF OF THE YEAR:

1. Victory Tour

2. Album Prices

3. Michael Jackson

4. Concert Prices

5. Quiet Riot

6. Jacksons

7. CREEM

8. Van Halen

9. Duran Duran

10. MTV

MOST PATHETIC OF THE YEAR:

1. Boy George

2. Michael Jackson

3. Motley Crue

4. Kevin DuBrow

5. Twisted Sister

6. David Lee Roth

7. Quiet Riot

8. Duran Duran

9. Dee Snider

10. Cyndi Lauper

“Will Billy Idol ever make a video where he doesn't wave his fists?"

—Serge Alschen Garfield, NJ

ROCK CRITIC OF THE YEAR:

1. J. Kordosh

2. Rick Johnson

3. Robert Christgau

4. Lisa Robinson

5. Dave Marsh

6. Laura Fissinger

7. John Mendelssohn

8. Bill Holdship

9. Dave DiMartino

10. Edouard Dauphin

“Does John Mendelssohn like anybody? Does anybody like John Mendelssohn??"

—Dina Micheletti Foster City, CA

ROCK PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR:

1. Neil Zlozowor

2. Lynn Goldsmith

3. Ross Marino

4. Mark Weiss

5. Ross Halfin

6. Bob Alford

7. Robert Matheu

8. Paul Natkin

9. Ebet Roberts

10 Michael Putland

“Huey Lewis is a cornball!”

—Mike Hill Salina, KS

ALBUM COVER OF THE YEAR:

1. 1984—Van Halen

2. Born In The U.S.A.—Bruce Springsteen & The

E Street Band

3. Powerslave—Iron Maiden

4. Love At First Sting— Scorpions

5. Last In Line—Dio

6. Stay HungryTwisted Sister

7. Signs Of Life—Billy Squier

8. Purple Rain—Prince &

The Revolution

9. Defenders Of The Faith— Judas Priest

10. Seven & The Ragged Tiger—Duran Duran

“Take better pictures of Ratt with rags in their pants.”

—Rohana Vandermark W. Long Branch, NJ

BEST VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

1. Hot For Teacher—

Van Halen

2. We’re Not Gonna Take ItTwisted Sister

3. I Wanna RockTwisted Sister

4. Panama—Van Halen

5. Back For More—Ratt

6. Wanted Man—Ratt

7. The Reflex—Duran Duran

8. Round ’N’ Round—Ratt

9. Jump—Van Halen

10.Rock Me Tonite—

Billy Squier

“What the hell is ‘yoo-hoo’ and ‘he’p’?”

—Nancy Weiss Ridgefield, NJ

WORST VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

1. The War Song—

Culture Club

2. Thriller—Michael Jackson

3. Torture—Jacksons

4. She Bop—Cyndi Lauper

5. Jump—Van Halen

6. The Reflex—Duran Duran

7. Lucky Star—Madonna

8. The Warrior—Scandal Featuring Patty Smyth

9. Drive—Cars

10.When Doves Cry—Prince & The Revolution

“Thank God for R.E.M.”

—John McGrath London, Ontario

FAD OF THE YEAR:

1. Breakdancing

2. Leather & Studs

3. Michael Jackson

4. Heavy Metal

5. Neon (Florescent) Clothes

6. Punk Rock

7. MTV Videos

8. One Glove

9. Androgyny

10.Parachute Pants

BEST DRESSED MALE:

1. David Lee Roth

2. Prince

3. Boy George

4. David Bowie

5. Billy Idol

6. Vince Neil

7. Bruce Springsteen

8. Nikki Sixx

9. Dee Snider

10.Billy Squier

BEST DRESSED FEMALE:

1. Lita Ford

2. Cyndi Lauper

3. Madonna

4. Pat Benatar

5. Boy George

6. Stevie Nicks

7. Joan Jett

8. Annie Lennox

9. Tina Turner 10. Patty Smyth

WORST DRESSED MALE:

1. Boy George

2. Dee Snider

3. David Lee Roth

4. Kevin DuBrow

5. Michael Jackson

6. Prince

7. Billy Idol

8. Bruce Springsteen

9. Vince Neil

10. David Bowie

“I lost my virginity this year—so what did you do?”

—Gigi Dawson Hagerstown, MD

WORST DRESSED FEMALE:

1. Cyndi Lauper

2. Boy George

3. Madonna

4. Dale Bozzio

5. Christine (Hynde) Kerr

6. Annie Lennox

7. Pat Benatar

8. Wendy O. Williams

9. Lita Ford

10. Tina Turner

COUPLE OF THE YEAR:

1. Eddie Van Halen

& Valerie Bertinelli

2. Christine & Jim Kerr

3. Mick Jagger & Jerry Hall

4. Pat Benatar & Neil Geraldo

5. Nikki Sixx & Lita Ford

6. Billy Joel & Christie Brinkley

7. Nick Rhodes & Julie

8. Boy George & Marilyn

9. Paul Stanley &

Lisa Hartman

10. Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne

SEX OBJECT OF THE YEAR:

1. Lita Ford

2. David Lee Roth

3. Billy Idol

4. Vince Neil

5. Prince

6. Madonna

7. Billy Squier

8. Simon LeBon

9. Bruce Springsteen

10.Nikki Sixx

PUNK OF THE YEAR:

1. Billy Idol

2. Cyndi Lauper

3. John Lydon

4. Nikki Sixx

5. David Lee Roth

6. Joe Strummer

7. Kevin DuBrow

8. Wendy O. Williams

9. Joan Jett

10.Dee Snider