THE COUNTRY ISSUE IS OUT NOW!

April 1982

CREEM CONTENTS

MAIL

I mean, I love CREEM magazine and I think that Rick Johnson is the king, but Im tired of reading about that overplayed Pasadena garage band. I used to think they were O.K., but Ive seen so many pictures of them, and heard all their cute little songs so many times,

CHRISTGAU CONSUMER GUIDE

Robert Christgau

JOHN ANDERSON: I Just Came Home To Count The Memories" (Warner Bros.):: Hes smart, hes honest, but what makes him a country comer is the edge on his husky baritone, too indistinct and decorative to be called a vibrato or even a burr. His instinctively sentimental reading of Dont Think Twice"

ROCK 'N' ROLL NEWS

Paul McCartney, usually Mr. Congeniality himself, recently knocked down a photographer for the London Daily Star, as he was arriving at a BBC studio for an interview: The newspaper reports that McCartney "suddenly cannoned his fist and body at our shocked photographer."

Get Happy New Year

Rick Johnson

NEW YORK—It had been 10 months since I last saw Elvis Costello; in between Id watched him play footsie with Tom Snyder, straight man to George Jones, and come close to a critical/commercial disaster with his bi-annual no more concerts" rumor.

Letter From Britain

BOPS GO SYNTH!

Penny Valentine

The move from punk style has been a gradual process, still not quite completed.

Creem Profiles

BOB & DOUG MCKENZIE

(Pronounced “Boy Howdy!”)

Then, Now, And, Why

J. Kordosh

Black Sabbath were near the end of the first third of an unusual U.S.-to Britain-to U.S. tour.

U2 LEADS, OTHERS WILL FOLLOW!

John Nellson

U2 is a difficult band to pigeonhole.

SOFT CELLS NON-STOP EROTIC CABARET

Chris Salewicz

Even the delighted Soft Cell duo themselves will admit to their surprise at having had 1981s best-selling English singly with Tainted Love," a record which went on to enjoy major chart success world-wide. Its been a major victory for singer Marc Almond and synthesizer player Dave Ball,

EVERY THING THE POLICE DO IS MAGIC!

Chris Salewicz

Demolition men in the machine.

DESIGNER ELECTRONICS

Richard Robinson

Until the first small, transistorized, portable radio came out of Japan in the 1950s, electronics in America were considered as functional devices by their manufacturers and their users. American post-war mass production aimed at supplying everyone who could afford it with a TV set,

THE WINNERS! CREEM ROCK SHOTS

Americas only rock n roll rag discovered a lot of amateur photographic talent out there in CREEM reader land during its So You Wanna Be A Rock Photographer" Photo Contest. The CREEM offices were virtually swamped with photos of everyone from Black Flag to Barry Manilow,

Rock ‘n’ Roll Calendar

CALENDAR

Creemedia

DOING THE PERPETUAL BOP AT A FLICK OF THE (CABLE) DIAL

Toby Goldstein

Just over 15 years ago, FM radio gave the presentation of rock n roll its first alternative.

A GUITARIST LOOKS AT DRUMMERS

Rob Simbeck

Rock n roll is a team sport, and a guitarist has to keep in mind that hes part of a cohesive unit. On the other hand, theres enough of a place in rock for posturing and egomania that a guitarist can be forgiven for that gnawing spot in the back of his mind that says the rest of the band exists just to let him show off his chops.

Hot Nights In Puerto Rico

Dave DiMartino

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO-I am deplaning in Puerto Rico and my baggage is not. Everybody here speaks Spanish and I am being told to expect my suitcase at 9 p.m. at the earliest. My tape recorder is in it. I am not pleased, because I may want to use it before then.

Stars Cars

BRUCE GARY

EAT FASTER— WE NEED THE STOP-ANDGO FORK

Rick Johnson

ITEM! Retail Confectioner's Association says candy is a source of consolation" in troubled economic times. ITEM! Progressive Grocer magazine finds candy consumption per person up one full pound in 1981. ITEM! Inventor Joe Caruso develops stop-and-go-fork,"

Confessions of FILM FOX

World citizen Adam Ant turned down a role in the London production of Pirates of Penzance, that steady employer of lightweight pretty boy singers everywhere. Said deep thinker Adam: It would be going backwards. Ive been through the pirate thing already."

Records

NO EXIT (BURP!)

Billy Altman

With this release by primo hardcores Black Flag, we have now reached new levels in the annals of mindlessness.

ROCK 'N'RAMA

DAVID THOMAS & THE PEDESTRIANS —The Sound Of The Sand (Rough Trade):: Who else would follow up The Art Of Walking with a solo album recorded with a pickup band called the Pedestrians but head Pere Ubuan David Thomas? True, there are Ubumen past and present here but most of the tracks are played by a diverse bunch including exmembers of Young Marble Giants,

BACKSTAGE

Where the Stars Tank Up & Let Their Images Down

CREEM DREEM

KARLA DEVITO