ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS
Pictured here are two of the brave young men of Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom, a new band featuring Andy (“The Perfessor”) Shernoff and Richard (“Don’t Call Me Handsome Dick Anymore”) Manitoba who, if you must know, were once the brains and the brawn behind everyone’s favorite proto-punk band, the Dictators.
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ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS
FREE MARLIN| PERKINS!
Pictured here are two of the brave young men of Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom, a new band featuring Andy (“The Perfessor”) Shernoff and Richard (“Don’t Call Me Handsome Dick Anymore”) Manitoba who, if you must know, were once the brains and the brawn behind everyone’s favorite proto-punk band, the Dictators. The rest of the band, not pictured, includes drummer J.P. (as in John Paul George Ringo) and a guitarist to be named. The speedmetal quartet is due to begin gigging around the greater metropolitan areas of this fair land by the time you read this. Forewarned is forearmed.
The mighty Duran Duran reportedly asked bulky Charlie Sexton to join their merry troupe—only to be turned down! Some speculation has it that Simon LeBon, world-famous sailor, actually thought they’d be getting Charlie Sextant, so very likely it’s all for the best.
The BeeGees have signed a long-term, worldwide contract with Warner Bros. Records and are hard at work on their first product for their new label. According to Warner’s Board Chairman, Mo Ostin: “There is no way to overstate the impact of Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb on contemporary music.” And here our He’p Desk was having trouble simply figuring out a way to state it...
Like you, we’ve been eagerly awaiting the list of the 10 Best Coiffured Women of 1986. So, without further ado, we can note that Pat Benatar and Sheena Easton were both so honored, along with Jamie Lee Curtis and Valerie Bertinelli, well-known wife of David Lee Roth. Life keeps getting better.
GORBACHEV, GANJA LINKED!
Rat In The Kitchen, UB40’s latest record, will become one of the first Western pop records to be manufactured and distributed in the Soviet Union and other Commie haunts like Cuba, Poland and Vietnam.
It seems the reggae dudes won over many a red heart with their tour of the U.S.S.R. last fall—so many, in fact, that Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, Russia’s biggest and onliest record distributer, struck the deal with the band’s management. Of course, the canny commisars had to “determine if UB40’s lyrics, which deal with a variety of socio-political issues, were suitable for a Communist audience.” It turns out that they were.
According to Brian Travers, the group’s saxophonist and cosongwriter, “I think the real issue is that Mikhail Gorbachev understands the Communist party will lose some strength if the Soviet youth aren’t given some equality with the West.” Yeah, maybe they’d lose the next election or something.
Bon JoduffiI Tragically Not Beaten!
This Bureau was abuzz when we heard that rock legend JorifBon Jovi was beaten up by some punks outside a London TV station—and that said punksi kicked him in the crotch, stripped him oflhis leather jacket and knocked him to the ground, where they continued to kick and pummel him.
A call to PolyGram set the record straight: what really happened was that Jon-Jon was jogging one morning and some kids recognized him and got some autographs. This turned into the above-reported incident, which was printed in the London Sun, which now has a standing offer to run our Rock *n’ Roll News If Only Desk any time they feel like it.
CLARK KENTISH PROUD
Warner Bros. Records—you’ll recall them as the label that recently signed the BeeGees, whose impact on contemporary music cannot be overstated—have dropped the Church from their label. Smart move. Other labels are reportedly very interested in signing the band; those interested in commiserating with the guys can contact the Church Fan Club, in the Vatican. Whoops, we mean at P.O. Box 21038, Columbus Circle Station, New York, NY 10023-9991.
Metallica have announced that Jason Newsted, formerly of Flotsam & Jetsam, has replaced Cliff Burton on bass—Burton, you’ll recall, was killed in a tour bus accident in Europe. The band recently returned to the stage in L.A., as a surprise opener for Metal Church.
Mick Jagger is indeed working on his second solo LP—Jeff Beck on guitar and Keith Diamond producing. Our Utterly Fascinating Desk also reports that Barbra Streisand, long-time Cult fan, will make a guest appearance on Michael Jackson’s album, due out momentarily.
Gary Zekley, who wrote “Superman”—R.E.M.’s latest single from their Lifes Rich Pageant album—joined the group onstage in DeKalb, Illinois, for a rousing rendition of the tune he wrote for the obscure Clique way back in 1968. It seems that Zekley—a computer supply being now living in Los Angeles, first heard that the foursome had recorded his ditty from watching Martha Quinn on MTV, like all of us. Inspired, he jetted to DeKalb, if such a thing is possible, surprising the band, Martha Quinn, and even us, before being invited onstage to play tambourine and sing harmonies. Said Zekley after his moment in the spotlight: “They did it the way / did it. They did the hell out of it. It speaks to me.” Sure, but does it roll over and play dead?
