ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

THE ROLLING STONES LATER

Not supporting their first CBS album, Dirty Work, will be the Rolling Stones, who've scotched their much-discussed U.S. tour for 1986. Mick Jagger—who’s spent considerable time recording and promoting his solo LP, She’s The Boss, as well as working on the single and video of “Dancing In The Streets” with David Bowie—may very well have hurt Keith Richards’s feelings in doing so.

“Mick’s timing could have been better,” said Richards, who noted that Jagger was still preoccupied with his outside projects when the Stones began working on their album.

“The fact of the matter is, Keith and I aren’t getting on too well," Jagger candidly told the New York Times. “I’d love to be out there playing, and of course the money would be great.” Of course. “But there’s no point unless it’s going to be fun, and right now things are just too difficult. We are not going to tour this year.”

IDOL PROMISE!

Why has Whiplash Smile, Billy Idol’s longawaited follow-up to Rebel Yell, been completed at a pace most glacial advances would find snailish? This from the artiste himself: “Groups have a big hit, slam out a piece of garbage and expect people to like it. I think records are too precious to do that. Slapping out something with only one or two good songs is criminal. I believe in making records you really think have merit. You have to take time; you have to live your life for real so you can put yourself into your songs. I don’t care what the business-types tell me I should do. I’ll never flood people with records and bore them to death.” The Heee Desk tells us Billy’s half right.

Although she couldn’t participate in the anti-drug “Concert That Counts” due to scheduling conflicts, Nancy Reagan asked that Sheena Easton’s name be removed from a list of potential performers anyway. The show’s producers then withdrew their request for Mrs. Reagan’s participation. Easton’s recording of Prince’s “Sugar Walls” may have been the offense that brought her to the first lady’s attention. “I feel it’s rather sad that the issues are being confused,” said Easton. “Surely this concert isn’t a pro-censorship issue, but an anti-drug one.” Ronnie, talk to Mommy.

Bob Seger has shot his first full-fledged video. The clip of “American Storm” was directed by Jim Yukich (who also directed “Easy Lover” by Phils Collins and Bailey) and features cameos by Scott Glenn, James Woods, Randy Quaid, Leslie Anne Warren and Morgan Brittany.

What’s Chrissie Hynde up to? Seems she’s recruited a slew of outside talent to work with on the next Pretenders album, including Bruce Thomas, the bassist from Elvis Costello’s Attractions, Pat Seymour, the Eurythmics keyboardist, violinist Shankar and several session drummers. They’ll all appear on half of the LP due out this fall—while Martin Chambers and Malcolm Foster will appear on the other half. Ms. Hynde claims she wanted to try “something different.”

Westinghouse has turned down Ted Nugent’s $10 million dollar offer to purchase their “Muzak” company, which was recently put up for sale. Anti-elevator sounds Ted claimed he wanted to “shelve itior good,” adding: “Muzak is an evil force in today’s society causing people to lapse into uncontrollable fits of blandness. It’s been responsible for ruining some of the best minds of our generation.”

CLASS REUNION

According to our XYZ Desk in London, headed by Chris Welch, rumors of a Led Zeppelin reformation may be more than idle speculation. Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones, were reportedly rehearsing in secrecy before Page’s tour with the Firm took him to America. To sprinkle a little more propane on this, Plant has called it quits with guitarist Robbie Blunt, writing finis to his own group. A Zep reunion would mean a U.S. tour late this year, according to pundits, and include Tony Thompson on drums—with help from Jason Bonham, son of deceased Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham.

These Are The Things We Can Do Without Dept.: Meeting Tears For Fears backstage after a recent performance In England was psychologist Arthur Janov, who originated the primal scream therapy the guys seem so enamored with. Janov mentioned that his books have been selling better since Curt and Roland hit the big time.

Blues singer and harmonica player Sonny Terry died in New York recently at the age of 75. Terry was best-known tor his partnership with singerl writer Brownie McGhee, one of the finest blues duos in American history.

INDIANA WANTS THEM

R.E.M. are recording their follow-up to Fables Of The Reconstruction in the studio of fellow mystic John Cougar MeUencamp. The fuzzy foursome will be using MeUencamp’s engineer, Don Gehman, to spin the dials on the LP, tenatively slated tor an kugust 11th release date.

Et tutu? Speaking of Spandau Ballet, as is our occasional wont, let it be

POWER TRIO & RELEASE ALBUMS WITH RIDICULOUS COVER PAINTINGS

known that the band is off Chrysalis—who they feel didn’t promote their last album (the strangely-titled Parade) with enough vigor— and will sign with another major label by dinnertime. They’re recording an LP in Munich and hope to have it out by autumn.

That’s Why You Dopes Have A Record Contract Dept.: Queen’s guitarist, Brian May, has revealed that the “mysterious” introduction to their single, “One Vision” (from the film Iron Eagle) includes the phrase “God moves in mysterious ways.” heaven, there is no U-Haul.