ROCK ’N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK ’N' ROLL NEWS

Lonesome Town

We were very saddened to hear that Rick Nelson died New Year’s Eve in the crash of a private plane near De Kalb, Texas. Nelson, 45, was a central figure in bringing rock ’n’ roll to the mainstream during the late ’50s as the all-American teenage singing sensation on his parents’ top-rated TV show, The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet. He made his first record to impress a girlfriend who had a crush on Elvis Presley, and from that point on, the last two minutes of the TV show were devoted to Ricky and his band performing at the hometown high school hop. He scored a string of Top 10 hits on the pop, R&B and country charts through 1964, including “Stood Up,” “Believe What You Say,” “Poor Little Fool,” "Lonesome Town,” “It’s Up To You” and the millionselling double dynamo single, “Travelin’ Man” b/w “Hello Mary Lou.” Unfortunately, his TV image hounded him throughout his career, and he was often lumped with the “teen idols” of the early ’60s, as well as being regarded a “nostalgia” act in later years, a problem he documented on his excellent 1972 Top 10 hit, “Garden Party.” But Nelson had genuine talent, and he was a major rock influence. Many of his early records were penned by legendary rockabilly brothers Johnny and Dorsey Burnette, while all of them featured 16-year-old James Burton, considered by many to be the best rockabilly guitarist of all time. The Beatles would later tell Nelson that they intensely studied these old singles. Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard also worked with him early in their careers while an early version of his ’70s Stone Canyon Band (a forerunner of the countryrock trend) featured future Eagle Randy Meisner. His last record in 1981 featured Graham Parker and John Fogerty covers, and production by former Phil Spector crony Jack Nitzsche. He spent the last years of his life constantly on the road, playing everywhere (a CREEM editor saw him perform at a bar in Ubly, Michigan—pop. 800—in ’81), doing what he loved best. As Ed Ward noted in his liner notes to a 71 Nelson anthology: ‘Until I got my hands on a complete set of old Ricky Nelson albums, I never realized how good he was. Ricky Nelson had the soul of a rocker.” Above all, he was a nice guy. He will be missed.

LOCAL BORES LONDON-BOUND

The “Beatles City” display which opened in Liverpool two years ago—as a permanent tribute to that city’s fabbest fave sons—ismovinato London due to “lack of interest.”

The display, which features over 1,000 exhibits, originally cost. $1.4 million to establish, and features instruments and other exotic memorabilia recalling the days of Liverpudlian glory.

“It appears the exhibition was in the wrong place,” said a saddened spokesman.

Obituaries: In addition to the untimely death of Rick Nelson, we’re sorry to report the following recent deaths— Phil Lynott, former lead singer of Thin Lizzy, who died of a heart attack, pneumonia and kidney failure at 35; Ian Stewart, the “sixth” Rolling Stone, who played keyboards on most of their early recordings, and who also died of a heart attack; and Dennes Dale Boon (D. Boon), singer, guitarist and founding member of the Minutemen, who was killed in a car accident. Boon was 27.

The Boston Against Aids benefit raised over $100,000 for the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Aids Research Unit. Participating in the event at that city’s Metro Club were Cyndi Lauper, Peter Wolf, Joan Jett, Dionne Warwick, David J Robinson and Elliot Easton of the Cars and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. In other Aerosmith doings, Tyler and Joe Perry are collaborating on some songs for David Lee Roth’s consideration, and Perry is working on the soundtrack of a new film, Out Of Bounds.

Men, Man, Who Cares, He’s Probably Still Lousy Dept.: With Men At Work no longer being plural, Colin Hay has formed yet another group down under.

Our Litigation Early ’86 Desk tells us that Patrick Alley— a West Indian reggae musician—has filed suit against Mick dagger and CBS Records over the song “Just Another Night,” which the reggae mon claims was “copied verbatim”—lyrics and title. According to Alley, khe song appeared on his ouch Of Patrick Alley alhum (Pangora).

GOBBA, GOBBA, HEY!

Joan Jett has laid down. Wait a minute, the Rock ’n’ Roll News Heee Desk be afoolin’ with our copy. What we mean to say is that Ms. Jett has laid down a guitar track on the tune “Raised On Rock,” slated to appear on the next Keel album. To justly punish the rogueish Heeesters, this will be our last Keel item until further notice.

In keeping up with our coverage of the most recent AC/DC tour—which you’ll recall was plagued by religious protesters—we’re happy to report that their tour bus sported a sign indicating that a group called “Teens For Jesus” were aboard. Hey, those guys aren’t teens.

Photographers continue toH mistreated by life itself, but Cheap Trick added a new twis^Khen shudderbug Ken Settl^^^^H those always-tricky in-cjjpcert pix in Detroit recently^^hrst Rick Nielsen gregan

face, continuinfljhe spittle barrage until he hit of Set-

lens

sive professional cleaning to remo\d^K» sticky, acidic gob.” Yum. Ba^Hparlos added to the convivialit^by flipping lit cigarettes at the photog^^^^^^Rpamera bag uh,

only clearanci^^^^^^^H there in the first place.

In an effort to lay ai^hard feelings to rest, Nielsen ^Mured) salutes his favorite photog^^^| knowing full well that he’s give^^B another great photo credit®

HONORS LISTLESS

Parliament was a-steamin when Bob Geldof s name was absent from the Queen’s New Year Honors List, although some members of that austere body felt the omission was quite proper and all that rot. “I am unimpressed by people who get glory out of misery,” said Tory Nicholas Fairburn. Others pointed out that Geldof is a citizen of Ireland, although non-U.K. types have made the prestigious list in the past.

Meanwhile, Geldof continues to track down Live Aid bootleggers, most recently in Indonesia, where a reported 1.5 million unauthorized tapes and records have been distributed throughout Asia, the Middle East and Italy. “No permission has been given for their manufacture and no proceeds are reaching the starving people in Africa,” charged Geldof.

And, on a final note, the glory-out-of-misery man— despite his role in raising millions for African famine relief—is stuck with a $42,000 phone bill of his very own, largely due to his charitable efforts.

Launched in December was “Hit Video USA,” a new national satellite network featuring 24-hour music video programming. An uncanny idea. Their flagship station, Houston’s TV 5, is the nation’s only commercial VHF station to go the all-music route.The new vidchannel is headed by Constance Wodlinger, who says: “We are commited to offering the national audience a distinct alternative in music video entertainment.” She also stated that her company is determined to break the “absolute domination” of MTV in the music video game.

And, in other tour news, what may very well be the last Journey tour of all time is slated to take place this summer. Unca Donald can’t wait!

Born barely before the turn of the year was Alexa Ray Joel, a bonny six-and-a-half pound girl, to Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel. Write c/o The Billy Desk for cigars.

Back in the studio is Duran Duran, who will be taking a break so that Simon LeBon can participate in the Whitbread round-the-world yacht race. LeBon will record his vocal tracks in advance (!) and the rest of the group will complete the multi-platinum record in his absence. Their “official plans” are to then hit the road sometime in the summer and remain on tour for the rest of ’86.

The Department of Awesome Dreams reports that Eric Clapton will be a guest guitarist on the new Lionel Richie album. Where the heck’s the He’p Desk, anyway?

THE JOHN HOOKER SYNDROME?

Although it may come as no surprise to fans of Jerry ewis and Simon Bon, we nderstand that David Lee iofti is henceforth to ; ’pe known as David Roth. NopesponsRrom Edward HPen yet.