ROCK 'N' ROLL

ROCK 'N' ROLL

EXIT THE ROCKIN' DUDE!

This issue of CREEM marks Dave DiMartino’s last as our Editor-In-Chief. As longtime readers know, DiMartino has brought a new era of splendidness to this magazine and, in fact, the entire world o’ wood by-products—during his decades-long tenure here.

You Dave-watchers out there can continue to chart his meteoric career in Billboard magazine, where he has taken the position of Los Angeles Bureau Chief.

Rock ’n’ Roll News will certainly keep a close eye on any hints of Satanism in Billboard in the coming months.

Naturally, we at CREEM wish Dave all the best at his new job, and certainly hope his new colleagues don’t mind that he dresses “that way,” if you catch our drift. As a bonus for our own readers, here—at long last—is an actual photo of our now-gone editin’ dude. As you can see, he is, as per firm CREEM editorial policy, incredibly handsome and quite obviously an intuitive genius regarding all that is rock. Dig it!

Although CREEM will certainly miss Dave, this does give us our long-awaited chance to cover such musical titans as Can, Soft Machine, Amon Duul II, and all the other superb musicians we could never mention under his tyrannical reign! That jerk!

YOU SAY YOU WANT NO REVOLUTION?

Prince has disbanded his four-year old back-up band, The Revolution, and is— we are told—“exploring new directions.”

What’s it all mean? Well, drummer Bobby Z.—who produced the Suburbs LP for A&M (under the pseudonym Robert Brent) has been approached by several major labels, asking that he produce their own acts. Guitarist Wendy Melvoin and keyboardist Lisa Coleman are planning an album together and are also ready to score a major film, slated for a 1987 release.

As for Prince, his new sound will be “different,” according to Ms. Melvoin. In any case, he will, as always, be with you “shortly.”

Pet Shop Boys being sued for $1 million by a company that claims to have released them from an exclusive recording contract, allowing them to sign with EMI America and become the carefree, debonair beings they are today...CBS to release a single from the boxed Springsteen set: a cover of Edwin Starr’s “War.” It will be the first A-side from the Boss that he has not penned himself ...George Michael said to be suing a London newspaper for reporting that he got drunk, forced his way into an Andrew Lloyd Weber party and threw up on his date. Or maybe it was the other way around. Really, when you get right down to it, who the hell cares?

This Bureau’s noticed that, in three consecutive weeks, the #1 album in the country has been the work of Lionel Richie, Bon Jovi and Boston respectively. That according to Billboard magazine, which must be a fascinating place to work unless you really like Can and other cool bands.

Andy Taylor Mayberry Well Be On His Way!

He’s back! He’s never been away! Please stop us from writing about him month after month!!

Who is he? None other than Andy Taylor, king of modern guitar and quite the fellow, we’re certain. The news this month?: Andy’s solo debut album should be out momentarily. Listen for “When The Rain Comes Down,” the first single, which—by sheer coincidence—is also the first single from the Miami Vice II soundtrack! Listen for ex-Sex Pistol Steve Jones, who we also are forced to mention 18 times a year, as he co-wrote two songs on the album and plays guitar all over the darned thing! Cringe as you see both in the picture accompanying this item!!

Then cue up that Amon Duul II disc!

BRING ME THE HEAD OF IMAN LABABBEDI!

Playing the role of “a lone t terrorist perpetrating a chain of destruction throughout Los Angeles” is...Dave 1 DiMartino?

No! It’s our old friend, Gene Simmons, who’ll be starring in Wanted: Dead Or Alive, a film slated for a mid-January release. As you can see, Gene is wearing rather bulky robes for his role, which could certainly hide immense girth, were that necessary.

General Public have added a new guitarist and a new drummer, the brothers Mario and Ghanni Minardi. We think it would be quite a thrill to introduce them to Iman Lababedi ourselves. And, in other GP doings, David Wakeling and Ranking Roger have become fathers—as has their producer, David Leonard, and two of the engineers who worked on their new album, Hand To Mouth. The Testosterone Desk be pleased.

England’s Oldest Hitmakers! ABKCO Records has arranged for PolyGram to distribute their catalogue in the U.S. The first release will be a 15-album Rolling Stones’ set entitled The London Years, including their 15 U.S. LPs from England’s Newest Hitmakers through Hot Rocks 1962-1971... digitally remastered by their original producer, Andrew Loog Oldham, and also available on CD. Other titles to follow include Herman’s Hermits, the Animals and the Cameo/Parkway catalogue.

Hey, here’s an idea: why don’t we write about crack and start a whole ’nother thing? We’ll do it! Michael Jackson has asked RunDMC to write and perform an anti-crack song with him, Michael Jackson, for his next LP, which will be released under the Michael Jackson name. It’s a wonderful idea! More: Freddie Jackson and Melba Moore raised over $200,000 at an anti-crack benefit concert in New York, the proceeds going to Daytop Village, a drug rehab house. More, more: MTV, in association with Danny Goldberg and Rock Against Drugs (RAD), has donated what amounts to $3 million in air time urging dudes and dudesses to not take drugs. More, more, more:

Minneapolis reggae band Ipso Facto has released a song called “No Cocaine,” in conjunction with Knut-Koupee Music Stores. Their goal?

“To combat the myth that the music industry and drug abuse are automatically intertwined.” Yep, it’s been a giant hoax all along!