NoTes
Glossy rock ego pump Rip Magazine held its much-touted second
anniversary party. Elven skate magnate Louis B. Dorfman and
Streetwear flunkies got tweaked on light beer. Dorfwear slung
Vision banners everywhere. (Is it "The Great Escape-The One
You'll Never Escape"?) If that wasn't enough, in between bands
they played promotional Streetwear videos. The "Socrates of
Skateboarding Jeff Grosso, pondered lite's mysteries with J.D.
and Sami Yaffa (ex-Hanoi Rocks, now Jetboy). The event of the
evening was when Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir
made his grand entrance and everyone obligingly stayed outside
the perimeter of his five-foot "vibe zone. Malba headbanged.
to Wrathchild while Jon A. (L.A.) Grigley got sophisto in the
VIP (exclusive) section. Dag Nasty has apparently called it
quits after bassist Doug Carrion left the band over creative
differences with guitarist Brian Baker. Baker has reportedly
hooked up with Geffen's Junkyard, a band that contains members
of the Big Boys and Decry. Be on the lookout for 24-7 Spy.
a New York-based outfit that is already garnering a healthy share
of Bad Brains comparisons after extensive gigging around the
Big Apple Madball, an Agnostic Front spin-off band
featuring AF vocalist Roger Miret on bass, axeman Vinnie
Stigma, drummer Wil Shepler and Roger's younger brother
Freddie Miret on vocals, will be releasing an Ep this winter. The
album will feature some very early, unreleased Agnostic Front
material. In Effect Records, a newly-founded underground
division of Important/Relativity, has formed under the leadership
of Agnostic Front guitarist Steve Martin and Nuclear Assault
roadie Howie Abrams. Their first few releases will include a live
Agnostic Front Lp. a compact disc re-issue of the Bad Brains
RIOR cassette and an American issue of Prong's Force Fed Lp.
NYC's Prong are bound for European shores but before they
go they'll record a single featuring their cover of Chrome's "Third
from the Sun. They also plan on releasing a new album that
will be mixed at John (Jesus and the Mary Chain) Loder's
Southern Studios. In Boston there's all kinds of noise about
a band called Mallet-head. For starters, they recently signed to
Frontier Records, representing a new direction for that label.
Members include three former members of Gang Green as well
as Straw Dogs and Proletariat, so it's obvious this band is nof
suffering from a talent or energy shortage. Voi Vod guitarist
Denis "Piggy D'amour was reportedly stricken with cancer.
He has successfully undergone chemotherapy, is said to be in
fine shape and will be touring with the band this fall. Rick
Rubin's Def America label has recently signed two new metal
acts, Nevermore from New York and English bangers Wolfsbane.
Also joining his roster are Danzig. Chicago's Trouble and Masters
of Reality Montreal's Doughboys have finished up their new
album produced by All guitarist Stephan Egerton Famed
"geek" Milo Auckerman, ex-Descendents, has begun to play
with an outfit called the Milestones as a diversion from the rigors
of bio-chem classes at UCLA.
Soul Asylum's gig at
I-Beam in mid-October was
San Francisco's show of the month. They were tight, intense and
loud as hell. Cancel all other engagements it S.A. comes to your
town-they are hot! The Beat Nigs, S.F. industrial funk
masters, have released a ripping first album on SST and are now
touring Europe. Their live show, which mixes politics and power
tools, must be seen to be believed. In late October Combat
Records filmed The Ultimate Revenge Il at Philly's Trocadero Club.
This video is the second in a series and will include Raven. Death.
Forbidden and Philadelphia's Faith or Fear. Part one featured.
Slayer, Venom and Exodus. After cancelling a number of
shows on his most recent US tour, King Diamond, everybody's
favorite satanic shrieker, is back and healthy as ever. He just
completed the Them tour. his most outrageous and extensive
stage show to date. Throat problems plagued him throughout the
first half of the tour, forcing the King to seek medical attention.
Shortly before departing for Europe to tour and record. Henry
Rollins completed his first starring role as a prison convict in a
film entitled Not No One. The film should be seen at "art" houses
around the beginning of the year. The Dark Brothers, a self-
dubbed "smut-band" featuring Steve and Jamie of Slapshot.
Jamie's old SSD-mate Chris Foley on drums and Jerry's Kids
"Rockin' Bob Cenci, are beginning to practice. Rumors
concerning Warzone have been denied. Problems on the road
have forced vocalist Raybies to assemble an entire new line-up.
Their latest album Open Your Eyes, produced by Bad Brain Dr.
Know, should be in stores now. Female headbangers unite:
a new "trade" group called The Confederation of Female Head-
bangers has formed to provide support and networking services
for female rockers. It's totally non-political, membership is free
and its primary goal is to create a fun rock and roll organization
with the best intentions toward the metal scene and to help the
"girls" rock as hard as the "guys." For information send a self-
addressed stamped envelope to: CFH, PO Box 7420, Garden City
NY 11503. San Francisco's Faith No More have lost faith in
lead singer Chuck, who apparently contracted narcolepsy during
their English tour Expect a hot new record soon, with a brand
new singer. COC are rumored to have a new four-track demo.
but are still supposedly auditioning for singers. Caroline has
released a 6-song Ep titled "6 Songs with Mike Dean Singing."
They were recorded in 1985 and never before released.
The
Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced their new guitarist.
Blackbird McFwane will be taking over. Old-timers may
remember his name from the work he did with Parliament
Dave Rick (Bongwater, Phantom Tollboth. Yo La Tengo) is now
playing bass with When People Were Shorter and Lived Near
Water. The band will be releasing a 7" Ep produced by Kramer
on Shimmy Disc records. Stiff Little Fingers played a two-
night blow out show at Variety Arts Center. "It was the best show
we've ever done." commented guitarist/vocalist Jake Burns
Trivia Time: What song did U2 play at their first gig ever? Hint:
it was the song that Peter Frampton made a hit in 1974. (Answer:
"Do You Feel Like I Do") Have San Francisco ragers MCM
and the Monster, really thrown down the gauntlet and challeng-
ed any band in the world (with the exception of Poison Idea) to
a Battle Royale in the wrestling ring? Have Don King and Ted
Turner been vying for the broadcast rights? Guns 'N' Roses
is already working on their second album, but for all you hungry
Roses fans who can't wait, they're releasing an Ep that should
be out by now. Side A contains Live Like a Suicide recorded live
at the Whiskey and side B is an acoustic medly. Mike Voss
of Los Olvidados fame is also working with up-and-coming Bay
Area bandana-rockers Goodbye Gemini. The Flame-
throwers had a reunion gig recently in Claremont, CA, with the
famous axeman Screamin' Lord Salba bringing back bayou
country. The Flames played assorted Fifties covers as well as
their own rock anthems "Kings of Trash" and "The Crawl."
Broken Homes is a band that you must see. Their album's out
on MCA. This smouldering soul blues unit manages to stay low
key although they sell the venues out. See them before they reach
the stature of the Rolling Stones. The Insultors auditioned
for the Gong Show. Guitarist Spidey has left the band due to a
difference of plans, but the trashbag masters of chaos will
continue. Master Ivan of Hosoi had his bud, boingy-voiced
reggae stylee crooner Eek-A-Mouse, perform at Christian's 21st
birthday party held in the ballroom of LA's Park Plaza. Eek turned
out in helmet and pads carrying a board to start off his set with
his own version of "Happy Birthday" ("Happy bir day
Chreestionnn!! Everybody say happy bir'day...") Seen at the
soiree: best-dressed MC, Skate Master Tate, Jim Muir, Hackett.
Paul Constantineau. Eddie Elguera and wife Donna, Micke
Alba, KT-ed. Tony Hawk. Suicidal Jimbo, Jim Ganzer, Scott
Oster, Aaron Murray and a gaggle of rising stars.
Upper Left: Eek-A-
Mouse inna reggae-
pad stylee Left: The
screamin Suicidal
boys crank it up.
Right: Behind the
scene with Goodbye
Gemini