Clips

Clips

This month’s Clips were written by Martin Dio, Jeffrey Morgan and Dave DiMartino

JOHNNY THUNDERS & THE ORIGINAL HEARTBREAKERS Dead Or Alive (JVD/Passport Video)

Hell. By no means a tragic hero, Johnny Thunders couldn’t even be a tragic hero sandwich. Forget the fact that he comes across as a self-serving, racist twit, that he can’t really sing, that he knows one riff and played it to death years ago, and that there’s this unspoken—and absurd—implication here that if Johnny only “cleaned up” things would be great. Forget the footage from the “infamous” “Anarchy” tour, which lasts less than two minutes and will bore you to death. Instead consider that this is supposed to be a live recording of the 1984 Heartbreakers reunion gig at London’s Marquee. Next, consider that when Johnny “sings” “Personality Crisis,” he walks away from his microphone but you can still hear him. And on “Baby Talk,” while he goes back to have a word with his drummer, he’s mysteriously still singing though that darned microphone is 15 feet away! Consider finally that this bogus travesty was “fixed” later in the recording studio by somebody who must think you have the IQ of a turnip.D.D.

QUEEN Live In Rio (Sony Video LP)

OK, so Live Aid may have been Queen’s finest preorthodontic moment to date, but that doesn’t mean there were any flies on them when this concert was filmed exactly six months less a day earlier. I mean, nothing like playing in front of 250,000 people at two in the morning to get the blood going—and from the opening thump of “Tie Your Mother Down” to the closing thump of “We Will Rock You,” the boys work out solid for an hour as only four guys who have played together for 16 years without a change in personnel (and I dare you to name another band since 1970 that can make that claim) can. Complaints? Well, the guitar could be mixed hotter at /times, and “Brighton Rock” could have been shown without the first half being edited out but, other than that, both the I picture and stereo sound quality are A+ all the way. And although it’s a mite distressing to see a distinctive Ozzy Osbourne gut on Freddie Mercury, well, at least he got rid of it in time for Live Aid. (Now, if he would only shoe polish that bald spot, he and Bowie could star in a remake of Lawrence Of Arabia.) J.M.

MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN

(RCA/Columbia Pictures Video) Haven’t seen this one in years, and it’s a howler. Just like Joe Cocker. It’s funny—I never used to like him that much, but over the years I warmed up to him. After seeing this, I remember why I didn’t like him. It’s not the music, it’s not the voice, and it’s not that I think “interpreters” of rock songs should be writing songs of their own. It’s because I saw this movie when came out, hated it, and hate it even more now. Why didn’t those guys ever take baths? Why were ordinary Joes worshipped as rock stars? Why didn’t Leon Russell cut his hair? Why does it say “Property of RCA/Columbia Pictures” on the lower third of my TV screen for the duration of the entire video? Just...because, I guess. D.D.

MOTORHEAD Deaf Not Blind (Passport Music Video) Now you’re talking! The best band in the history of metal, this is prime Motorhead circa Fast Eddie— onstage and running through 11 of their best songs ever. As an added bonus, the video of “Killed By Death” is tacked on, and it’s the best video in the history of metal! In fact, this entire 60-minute videocassette is the best 60 minute videocassette in the history of metal! Even if you hate metal, you’ll agree when you see this spectacular concert. Just hook this up to your stereo and play it louder than you’ve ever played any other band in the history of metal! It’s fun, it’s easy, it’s historical! M.D.

NEIL YOUNG

Neil Young In Berlin

(VidAmerica)

Saw this on cable when it first played; it’s from 1983 and it features Trans-era Young with Nils Lofgren, Ben Keith, former Buffalo Springfielder Bruce “Pass Them Donuts” Palmer, Ralph Molina and others. Seeing Palmer was a thrill until I saw him. Remember that album he did on Verve? It was so good he ate all the copies! Incredible digital sound for VCR Hi-Fi buffs, an excellent selection of songs including the unreleased “Berlin,” and nice, “humanized” versions of the Trans stuff. It all recalls his first album, pre-Crazy Horse, which I for one would rather hear than any of his others, gratuitously speaking. D.D.