CLIPS

CLIPS

This month’s Clips were written by Martin Dio, Bill Holdship and Dave DiMartino

PETE TOWNSHEND

Pete Townshend’s Deep End (Atlantic Video)

A live performance, Deep End features the Who-boy accompanied by Brit hotshots like Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour and harmonica player Peter HopeEvans (used to be a hippie in Medicine Head, now he’s a skinhead, life’s so weird), and is probably more fun than any Who show you’ve ever seen. Really. It isn’t just the old Whostuff being listenable again—“Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Eyesight To The Blind” and “Magic Bus” actually sound fresh—and it certainly isn’t new stuff like “Give Blood” or “Face The Face.” More likely it’s the sheer informality of the event, and the music that’s played. For my money, Townshend gives off more Who vibes here playing “I Put A Spell On You” and “Barefootin”’ than on “Pinball Wizard,” probably because he’s having more fun playing the former. And, of all things, a cover of the Beat’s “Save It For Later” sounds best of all. Gilmour is superb throughout, playing more blues licks than he’ll ever need in Pink Floyd, Hope-Evans is just right, and even the brass section—who cover Miles Davis’s “Walkin’”—pull their own weight and more. Just a reminder that Pete Townshend doesn’t take himself too seriously all the time—and when he doesn’t, he’s great. D.D.

BRITISH ROCK:

THE FIRST WAVE (RCA/Columbia Musicvision) Yeah, I realize this came out a long time ago, but we never got a copy of it, and Cinemax recently ran it on cable, and I just thought you’d wanna know that it’s real good. Written, directed and produced by the pair responsible for the terrific Rock And Roll: The Early Days and the not-as-terrific The Compleat Beatles, one can only marvel at all the great vintage clips they manage to dig up. Of course, the Fab Four and the Stones figure predominantly, but there are also wonderful snippets of everything from the Kinks (“All Day & All Of The Night”) and the Yardbirds (“Heart Full Of Soul”) to the “bubblegum” pop of Herman’s Hermits (“Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter”) and Freddie & The Dreamers doing a hilarious “I’m Telling You Now”—and most of it isn’t lipsynched! But even better than the musical clips are the rarelyseen interview segments, including a pre-Sgf. Pepper’s Beatles discussing politics and Vietnam, a very young Macca being interviewed by reporters and fans through a bus window, and an obviously very stoned Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts being questioned by a “square” American reporter. Great stuff, all. The only complaint is the absence of some “important” acts (Peter & Gordon, the Searchers, etc.), but I realize it’s all based on what clips were available to the producers. Concluding with Cream (which illustrates “progress” isn’t always best) and a Monkees montage (symbolic of the end of the first British wave), it’s a great documentary. More of this stuff, please! B.H.

IKE AND TINA TURNER Ike And Tina Turner Show (Vestron)

Tina Turner is famous now. That’s why this nondescript clip o’ her and her former hubby is making the rounds. It’s functional—I know I saw the pair of them live a few times back then, and this tape’s just like I remember ’em. Whole thing was shot in Vegas, babe, in 71 at Caesar’s Palace, to promote their hot new UA platter, What You Hear Is What You Get, which’d be a dandy album title for lots of bands, these days. Actually, for people who follow this sort of stuff, it’s great watching thb couple interact during a dressing room interview. Ike looks nervous; Tina looks at the camera through its reflection in her make-up mirror. Ike makes some rambling statement about “kids today” and Tina nods her approval. When she recounts how she met Ike years back, she does not seem to be fondly reminiscing. And when she’s asked if she has any future plans of her own, she says, “No, I don’t have any plans. My plans are Ike’s plans.” Yep, this is the sort of thing I’ll be watching again and again and again. D.D.

DIO

A Special From The Spectrum (Warner Music Video)

Hey, even though we’ve got the same last name, I’m not prejudiced—Ronnie J is one blues-wailin’ dude\ And people don’t give the guy enough credit: he’s a professional, he’s got class, he’s probably one of the best hard rock vocalists going— he hits them notes strong and steady—and he’s got a whompin’ HM band. Or had one. Here he’s in action with the classic quartet: the Little Giant himself on vokes, Vinny Appice on drums, Jimmy Bain on bass and Vivian Campbell on guitar. And the man’s got a repertoire! Check out “We Rock” and “Heaven And Hell” and “The Mob Rules” and my personal hole-in-one, “Egypt (The Chains Are On).” The stage set’s primo and typically Dio, which means the man moves, makes the gestures that’ve made him a star and the “King Of Rock.” And if you don’t think he is the King Of Rock, then pal, you ain’t been listening. Lots of explosions, too. See, Dio is a mystical cat, and he knows it. That’s why if you like your metal hot, hard and heavy, and you like it on TV, you’re gonna pick up this little mother and jam\ Class pays off, Ronnie J! M.D.