Rock Around the World • September, 1976

S

Hot Happenin's

Electric Light Orchestra

Duana LeMay

September tour . .. seems there's a new breed of Beatle—a new group going by the moniker of LOVING AWARENESS has recorded an album that sounds uncannily like THE BEATLES (you remember them); with flawless logic, the band decided that since THE Beatles were no longer recording together, they should transfer the rights to the name to LOVING

Welcome, cosmos travelers, to Rock Around the World's intergalactic music zoo—the tbllowing specimens are offered for your perusal . . . it'll be some of the Monsters of Montreux this week as WEATHER REPORT. SHAKTI featuring JOHN McLAUGHLIN, and BILLY COBHAM/GEORGE DUKE will he playing two dates at London's Hammersmith Odeon, all sharing top billing .. on the other side of the Odeon, however, there's been a quarantine placed on reggae acts following some trouble after a BOB MARLEY concert near the end of June—as a result of the ban, acts like the MIGHTY DIAMONDS. U-ROY and DELROY WASHINGTON will be unable to raise the raftas at London's most important rock venue . . . it was to have been an evening of energy and excitement with up-and-comers AUTOMATIC MAN Ilp review is on page 20) supporting the updated SOFT MACHINE at the latter's London homecoming concert, but illness to the AUTOMATIC's bassist DONI HARVEY caused their cancellation—an interesting footnote is that they were replaced on the bill by the inimitable (and most certainly intergalactic) ARTHUR BROWN, who proceeded to bewilder the gathering with his vocal histrionics . . . as for the SOFTS, they won the plaudits of the crowd with their new line-up which includes RICK WAKEMAN's brother Alan . . . movin' on to the Glow In The Dark Dept.. we find the ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA on the road in Britain with their lasers—except said lasers were banned from use at the band's London gig; nonetheless, the lads were photographed in various stages of playing by London Weekend TV, and a one-hour video broadcast is set for the end of July . . . immediately thereafter, the band will be returning to the U.S. for yet

music doth have charm to soothe the savage beast . . . The Man Who Would Be God (if his fans had their way), ERIC CLAPTON, is busily transmitting his latest musical meanderings to vinyl in Los Angeles; he's been joined on one track, called 'Sign Language,' by none other than the chief Thundermaker, BOB DYLAN ... first it was The Mysterians. then Godzilla and Rodan—now SWEET are set to invade Japan with anticipation running at a fever pitch; currently, the boys are writing arouple of new singles to fill the time waiting at the airport—there'll be only one change in SWEET's set; the film they use to open each evening's aural bombardment ends with an atomic explosion (yup, you're right, the one over Hiroshima) needless to say. there'll be some changes made . . . over here, you'll notice an interesting mutation—PETE SOLLEY, the keyboards player for FOX, has changed his coat and now chases musical rabbits with PROCOL HARUM, following the departure of Procol's bass player ALAN CARTWRIGHTthe incumbent keyboard player. CHRIS COPPING, has switched to bass to make room for Mr. Solley . .. high over your heads, ladies and gents. you'll see the marvels of TRAPEZE. brought to you through the courtesy of DEEP PURPLE's bass player GLEEN HUGHES. an

American rockdom on Aug. 7 when THE GRATEFUL DEAD. SANTANA and THE NEW RIDERS will appear. compered by BILL GRAHAM; a film of the DEAD playing at Winterland in 1974 will also be shown .. . another exhibit of note. further on down the road, will be a quiet little gathering at Knebworth on Aug. 21 when TODD RUNDGREN, LYNYRD SKYNYRD. THE DON HARRISON BAND and THE ROLLING STONES will serenade the crowd (sigh) .. . new album from CURVED AIR, titled 'Airborne' . . . the GENESIS camp is far from silent these days; the lads will be recording a new album in July and August. while PHIL COLLIN's hobby. BRAND X, will also be doing some new recording (for a review of the initial BRAND X 1p. see pg. 20)—and if that's not enough. Phil's also producing BILLY LYALL (PILOT) and recording with ALPHONSO JOHNSON. GEORGE DUKE and AIRTO (slow down. Phil. too much work will stunt your growth) ... late word just in is that PETER GABRIEL'S mysterious project will employ DAVID SANSCIOUS and LARRY FAST. among others . . . SAL MAIDA. who once spent a tour of duty as ROXY MUSIC's revolving bass player, is now working with THE MAEL BROS. (watch out. all you little girls) . . . one of Rock Around The World's favourite people. STEVE HARLEY, has taken shelter under the same management umbrella as SWEET— look for the new, updated model shortly; to fill the gap, STEVEN and the rest of COCKNEY REBEL will be releasing 'Here Comes The Sun' as a single imminently . . . a

Eric Clapton

another tour, this time being supported by a RATW pick band, WIDOWMAKER—don't miss 'em . . . ah, here's an intriguing specimen—those masters of piledriving rock, STATUS QUO. will he headlining an all-day outdoor concert at Cardiff Castle to raise monies for the upkeep of the castle—in the past, such luminaries as IOCC and the WAILERS have played there with good vibes all around; joining QUO in the latest three-ring f, concert at the Castle will be the STRAWBS, CURVED AIR who has HAWKWIND and o BUDGIE . . . over here in the Venerable Band Arena, there's much sadness at the departure of PHIL MAY from THE PRETTY THINGS —the last original member of the Pretties, Phil is at the moment undecided as to his direction; no replacement is at the time planned . . . the chamelon in retirement, PETER GABRIEL, is emerging from his chamber of 32 doors with a totally unique stage show in October; he's been consulting with film makers and animators in New York, Paris and Prague, as well as mating his musical ideas with ROY BITTON, pianist for "BRUCIE BABY" SPRINGSTEEN—from a lamb to a levitator, that's our Peter .. . Thoughts From The Trenches—reflecting on the disturbing rise of mayhem at British outdoor festivals, NOEL REDDING stated that "It's really silly when idiots start beating each other up. They should just sit down and get stoned." .. . after all, as we all know,

Bob Marley

original member of TRAPEZE, who's reformed the hand—a tour is planned following the windup of PURPLE's latest worldwide tour . . . England's most famous festival happens again this August at Reading—an appearance at the Reading Festival can mean hitting the Big Time for a band, as DR. FEELGOOD, THIN LIZZY and CARAVAN (1975 Reading stars) can attest; this year. the line-up for the three day circus includes CAMEL, COLOSSEUM II. GONG, MANFRED MANN'S EARTHBAND, SUPERCHARGE and VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR ., . . BOXER have returned to Britain after an extensive U.S. promotional tour with Main Mouther MIKE PATIO scheduled for some rest and rejuvination (try sonic warm milk, Pat-to . . . ); the band is now booked for a U.S.

AWARENESS—so you wanna he a rock 'n' roll star. eh? . . . PILOT has another single out called 'Canada'—it'll be on their next album . . . over here in the Elephant Cage, you'll find NUTZ, who've been unheard from for quite a while (let's face it, if you were a group of nutz in an elephant cage. wouldn't you hide?)-2-anyway, the hand is alive and well, and back on the road again—HOW ABOUT SOME SUPPORT FOR THIS BAND IN AMERICA? . . . ROCK FOLLIES, the television rock spectacular that was acclaimed in Britain, will be aired in New York in September—the music was written by ROXY MUSIC's ANDY MACKAY . . . in a major shake-up URIAH HEEP have fired lead singer DAVID BYRON, stating that there were irreconcilable musical differences .. . London's ansss 'r to the concerts in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park is the Crystal Palace Garden Party, held each year at the end of July; this year's festivities will star ERIC CLAPTON, FREDDIE KING, JESS RODEN. STEVE MARRIOTT and THE CHIEFTAINS . . . JOHN EVAN JONES. formerly the nimble string picker with JONESY and now playing with RAY THOMAS of THE MOODY BLUES, is branching into management; he's written and co-produced a single called "Man On The Run" by TEN YEARS AFTER's drummer, RIC LEE . . . over here in the Bird Cage, we find DAVE EDMUNDS moulting, as he's changing his plumage for swan feathers and signing to SwanSong Records; he's just released a single in Britain called "Here Comes The Weekend" . . . London's Wembley Stadium will he the scene of a rare exhibit of

new major project along the lines of 'Peter & The Wolf is being organized; tentatively titled 'The Intergalactic Touring Band.' it's about a group that tours from planet to planet, and will feature many of today's more universal musicians . . . Ring My Chimes Dept. the doorbell that opens Wings' "Let 'Em In" belongs to none other than the McCartney household itself—I wonder if the electrician who wired the hell gets a royalty . . . elsewhere in the Electric Exhibit Arena, we've been informed by MO MOORE that NEKTAR has settled in the States, and will be recording a new album this summer; to celebrate the close of their last tour, the band managed to black out four city blocks of Winnipeg with their lasers . . . THE STREETWALKERS have done a bit of a black-out themselves, as NICKO (drums) and JON PLOTELL (bass) have been fired—new members are currently being recruited. but there's been. so far, no specifics as to why Nicko and Jon got the sack .. . finally, our Trouper of the Month Award has ended in a three-way tie, among PHIL LYNOTT of THIN LIZZY (playing the band's triumphant return to London in spite of hepatitis). GARY HOULTON of THE HEAVY METAL KIDS (playing a gig at London's Roundhouse in a wheelchair after falling off the drum stand a week earlier) and PETER FRAMPTON of PETER FRAMPTON (falling off a ten-foot high stage in Hartford. breaking two ribs and suffering multi-bruises to both his frail body and his pride)—Do You Feel Like We Do?-1 hope not, Peter .. .

be seeing you . . . .

KOZ