ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS
Guitarist Bob Stinson is no longer with the Replacements, who will evidently continue as a three-piece. As we go to press, the ’Mats are at work on their next album for Sire—they’ve returned to Minneapolis’s Blackberry Way Studios, the site of their earlier recordings for Twin/Tone, including the masterful Let It Be.
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ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS
NO REPLACEMENT FOR REPLACEMENTS?
Guitarist Bob Stinson is no longer with the Replacements, who will evidently continue as a three-piece. As we go to press, the ’Mats are at work on their next album for Sire—they’ve returned to Minneapolis’s Blackberry Way Studios, the site of their earlier recordings for Twin/Tone, including the masterful Let It Be.
But now for the real news: Eric Heuerman, our roving He’p Desk correspondent, reports that—in an episode of Divorce Court in midDecember—a case centered around a man and his wife who owned a “men’s exotic underwear store.” Nothing strange about that, right? Well, for those of you who missed this media highlight, the owner of the store was named “Paul Westerberg,” a male model in the “plot” was named “Tommy Bob Stinson,” and a last-minute key witness for the beleagured Westerberg wife (note to Westerberg: her name was “Anita”) was someone called “Chris Mars.” In the words of our correspondent: “Is this their new video? Judge Keene a closet fan? TV as an artform? What gives?”
More on all this as we sober up.
So, who’s making a movie? None other than Roger Daltrey, who’s slated to star in a supernatural thriller, Dark Tower. Rog will portray “Dennis Randall,” a dude who investigates “the series of shocking supernatural events surrounding a British architect.” The flick is slated for a mid-’87 release.
This in from our Caption Desk: Spyro Gyra, legendary jazz guys, give radio no credit at all for their success. “We don’t play
music that’s formulaic enough to get large amounts of airplay,” says band leader/ saxophonist Jay Beckenstein. “Really, the only outlet that’s available to us for reaching the public has been the live shows.” We’ll make a bid for Ornette Coleman’s thoughts on this issue in time for next month.
The Dead Kennedys have indeed disbanded, which probably gives Jello Biafra time to catch up on his letterwriting and stuff.
KILLED BY DEATH
Suit has been filed in Washoe County, Nevada, against Judas Priest and CBS Records, claiming that Priest’s music caused two Reno youths to shoot themselves. According to the lawsuit, James Vance and Raymond Belkap entered into a suicide pact and shot themselves in the head after listening to Priest’s records for six straight hours. (The incident occured in 1985). Belkap died from his injuries and Vance was left permanently disfigured. The suit further contends: “The suggestive lyrics, combined with the continuous beat and rhythmic, non-changing intonation of the music combined to induce and encourage, aid, abet and otherwise mesmerize the plaintiff into believing the answer to life was death.” A motion to dismiss the suit was denied, and a trial date has been ordered by Washoe District Judge Jerry Whitehead. No comment from CBS on the proceedings.
CHURCH BULLETIN
Do they have a recording contract or not? Well, so this Bureau reported last month, and we certainly don’t make stuff up—that would be wrong! Anyway, the Church are, indeed, off Warner Bros. for the time being, but the band's management is negotiating with, not only that label, but others they declined to name, No sticks-in-the-mud, the band is currently recording a double alburri, which they anticipatdjpviil be released in the spring...on, like, a record label. And in other Ghurchraoings, Steve Kilbey’s recorded a solo album ftat’s only been released in Australia (on the l||jp®f Eye label). It won’t be ^released in the States, so get thee to the import store.
What the hey, let’s give you fans of NBC Radio’s “Legends Of Rock” series a break and let you know who’ll be featured on some upcoming shows. We’re a friendly service! The first week of March it’s the Steve Miller Band. ..the second week of March it’s Yes...the third week of March it’s Yes...no kidding, they’re going for two-part glory here... the fourth week of March it’s Jeff Beck...and the first week of April it’s the Alan Parsons Project. Check your local radio stations for times and ask them if they’ll play some Spyro Gyra tunes, too!
Much to the delight of Rock ’n’ Roll News—and all thinking people, we’re sure you’ll agree—Ringo Starr will be promoting the Canandaigua Wine Company’s new product, the Sun Country Classic wine cooler, in both TV and print ads. Ringo is the first Beatle to get into an endorsement deal, by the way.
Although we here in Detroit— whoops, we mean beautiful L.A.!—got to hear Ted Nugent’s legendary stint on Detroit’s hard rock station, WLLZ, most of the country didn’t. Take it from us, Ted went down a storm, placing surprise wake-up calls to people who live in the grand state of California, like Gene Simmons, Cathy Lee Crosby and even Sammy Hagar, whom this service previously supposed never woke up. Where are we? Oh, yeah, we’re now told that radio stations from Miami to Honoloo-loo are bidding for Tedbo’s services as the host of his own week-long program. “I came in cold and everything sort of unfolded. Riots are my specialty,” quipped the irascible rocker.
More news from the world of motion pictures, most of which are made in unbelievably lovely Southern California: Cyndi Lauper and Dan Aykroyd are slated to appear as “psychedelic crimebusters” in a Columbia Pictures film, Vibes.
We’re saddened to report that Lee Dorsey, who recorded “Working In The Coal Mine,” “Ya Ya” and some other fine ’60s stuff, died from emphysema near year’s end. He was 59.
TOP ROCK ACT ASSOCIATED WITH DANGEROUS DRUG!
Woe unto rock itself! Genesis, a band we’re told was one of 1986’s top-sellers, have entered into an agreement with AnheuserBusch, Inc.-—a company that promotes and sells alcohol, a substance the vast majority of medical care specialists in the U.S. name as the nation’s #1 problem drug. The popular trio will be featured on television ads advocating the purchase of the drug, as they’ll be singing their hit song, “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight.” A communique to this Bureau—from the Anheuser-Busch people themselves—says that the ad campaign “utilizes contemporary music and dynamic nighttime imagery to emphasize Michelob’s special quality image and super premium positioning.” We are also told that the alcohol people sponsored Genesis’ most recent tour of our country, which we didn’t know since we were washing our hair that night.
More on all tRis after we watch our Divorce Court videotapes.
