October 1976
CREEM
LETTER WRITING SECRETS REVEALED! Im sure by now youve all read my clever letter in the April issue of CREEM. Youre probably wondering "how can I get my nonsense printed in the big time rock mag?" Its easy! First, come up with either a completely opinionated viewpoint on a hot act; or make up a ridiculous load of defecation.
CHRISTGAU CONSUMER GUIDC
NATALIE COLE: "Natalie" (Capitol) :: I believe good singers (which Cole is) ought to sing good songs (of these, only "Good Morning Heartache," already defined and altered by two noteworthy predecessors, and "Can We Get Together Again," which sounds suspiciously like "This Will Be," distinguish themselves).
ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS
HOT FLASH! Music business Godfather and Arista President Clive "If It Hadnt Been For Me, Ringo Would Never Have Done It" Davis made Lou Reed an offer he couldnt refuse (cf. Ray Davies quick signing in R “n R News last month), and the Mega vitamin Kid is now officially signed to Arista.
THE BEAT GOES ON
Jackie Kallen
PONTIAC, MICH. — Upon arrival in the Detroit area for a concert at the local monolith, sports junkie Elton John let it drop that hed like to meet the 21-year-old Detroit Tiger rookie pitching sensation Mark "The Bird" Fidrych. No sooner said than done.
Happy Birthday
Simon Frith
Im writing this on July 4th. On the television there are flickering satellite pictures of Americans at play and very rum too: blond children, their faces deeply smeared with watermelon, the Tallahassee Munich Restaurant Marching Band in leather shorts and braces, the Ice Maidens of Ohio squaredancing with no clothes on.
Features
SURF’S UP! Brian Wilson Comes Back From Lunch
Richard Cromelin
We found that Brian spoke candidly and at length, until—without warning—he ended the sessions with an abrupt "That should about wrap it."
Creem Profiles
JOHNNY & EDGAR WINTER
(Pronounced “Boy Howdy!”)
“I DO PLAY THE DRUMS!” CLAIMS EX-FAB FOUR EX-MOP TOP RINGO STARR
In an Exclusive Interview with ace CREEM reporter Richard Cromelin.
KEITH RICHARD: THE PUSHER BEHIND THE STONES
Barbara Charone
At five oclock in the morning, Keith Richard sits sipping Jack Daniels in his hotel room 50 miles west of Glasgow on Scotlands coast.
Eleganza
Elton: No More Concerts!
Lisa Robinson
What more can one possibly say about Elton?
ZZ TOP PLAY BULGARIA
Robert Duncan
ZZ Top is sort of like Communism.
Creemedia
Some Call Him Howard
Robot A. Hull
Rampaging through the bosco city of Cleveland, Howard the Duck on a downtown bus viciously attacks the Kidney Lady.
DRIVE-IN SATURDAY
Edouard Dauphin
If youve, always wanted to see Ida Lupino get sucked by a giant earthworm, scarf up The Food Of The Gods. This screen adaptation of an H .G. Wells novel about nature gone berserk and overgrown, could have been a genuine choker; instead its pretty tough to swallow.
Confessions of a FILM FOX
Jaan Uhelszki
EJ Goes Broadway? Old Bright Eyes Elton John, will return to the silver screen in the starring role of the film version of Leonard"The Original Longhair" Bernsteins Candide. Allen Carr and Robert Stigwood. that flamboyant twosome, have hought the film rights for the musical and will start filming next year this time down Rio de Janeiro way.
CREEM DREEM
KAREN LAWRENCE
Stars Cars
BOB SEGER
CREEM’S 4th ANNUAL GUITAR BREAK
Choosing equipment requires a clear definition of your specific needs.
Jimmy Page Reveals Fingering Techniques
Bruno Stein
You want it, you got it: Jimmy Page talking about his music. guitar practice, and shall we say. some odd. personal quirks.
Is There Life On Roxy Music?
Billy Altman
Duality and paradox are the two terms that come to mind whenever I think about Bryan Ferry and his vision of himself, rock music and the universe through the vehicle that is Roxy Music. Sometimes he is a lead singer who will saunter up to the stage dressed in a white dinner jacket, snapping his fingers in front of the jungle strains of a hot band that can scorch the eardrums; staring out at the crowd as though the most important thing on his mind is where to find a good cigarette holder in this day and age.
Where Do Aerosmith Get Their Guns?
Lester Bangs
I dont think Aerosmith are going to go down in history as the saviors of heavy metal—if it needs any—but theyve proven conclusively that they know where to cop their licks and keep them percolating sufficiently that this album just went platinum.
ROCK • A • RAMA
Sookey Wayward
RORY GALLAGHER, The Story So Far (Polydor), Against The Grain (Chrysalis) :: Throw away your Kiss records and leave your Ted Nugents to your grandmother; this sleazyshirted Irish guitarist is the last extant genuine mad guitarist, and he dont need no artificial preservatives (batwings, guns, unusual clothing, lasers, etc.
Rewire Yourself
More #728-DVJ New XL-943 Technology!
Richard Robinson
The Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago is held twice every year to give manufacturers a chance to introduce new products to dealers.
BACKSTAGE
Where stars tank up & let their images down.
Motor Mouth
Waiter, There’s A Dog In My Coffee
The Elton John Pontiac Stadium show was a pleasant surprise in many ways, and a predictable let-down in others.
From The Bronx . . . We Give You ... Dion! (Take Him!)
Jackie Kallen
It was 1959 and Dion DiMucci, a 17year-old from the Bronx had his first hit with his group. The Belmonts. Before his 18th birthday, Dion was a teen idol and he had carved a place for himself in rock “n roll history. "I came from a neighborhood where there was a lot of drugs.
THE BIRD: Arent You Glad That Cows Dont Fly?
Jackie Kallen
The next time I hear anyone call Mark "The Bird" Fidrych a "flake" or "bush league," theyre going to have to wrestle with me. He may be different in some ways. But its refreshing. Hes far from a flake. "Im no flake," he protested. "But it doesnt bother me.
John Miles: Who Needs Dead Greasers Anyway?
Natalie Wood
Who the hell is John Miles? Usually when reports start trickling in across the ocean about Britains latest Next Big Thing, they at least trickle . . . John Miles seemed to spring full-formed from the head of a London Records promo man. So far: Miles has spawned two full-page articles in the two top English weeklies.