December 1986
JOAN JETT
IS IT DEVELOPS!
John Kordosh
What a strange, rockin’ world this is, oh readers! Wham! broken up and gone (page 26), Duran Duran in a mysterious limbo, with one Taylor gone and Andy doing solo stuff all over the place (page 51 for some nifty pix). A-Ha stepping into the void on their first world tour (page 52) and getting their faces on great magazines like the one you’re holding.
CONTENTS
Are Mick Jagger, Daryl Hall & Dave Stewart Ruthless People??
Hopefully, you’ve heard the title track from the film Ruthless People: it’s a humdinger, with Mick Jagger doing some of his best singing in years. Perhaps you didn’t know that the song was born under some very unusual circumstances. For one thing, the song was co-written and co-produced by three of the biggest stars in the business:
QUIDNUNC'S CONFIDENTIAL!
Michael Logan
Don’t be insulted if you didn’t get an engraved invitation to Nancy Wilson’s wedding. The Queen of Heart married rock critic Cameron Crowe (author of Fast Times At Ridgemont High) in a ceremony that was soooo Top Secret even her best friends weren’t invited.
A CURE For What Ails You!
Have you heard, about the Cure? If you haven't, you will. But here at ROCK-SHOTS, we're inclined to think you already have. After all, they're not only superstars in their home country of England-they're becoming stars here in America as well!
MARC PRICE: HARD ROCK "SKIPPY"?!?
Marc Price is probably best known as “Skippy,” Michael J. Fox’s neighbor on the popular NBC-TV program, Family Ties. But like his famous co-star, Marc is beginning to branch out into the world of the silver screen. As a matter of fact, you’ll be able to catch Marc in your local theater right around Halloween time when Dino DeLaurentiis releases his new “heavy metal horror film,” Trick Or Treat.
Post Script
(Post Script is back—and delighted! Why? Because you many ROCK-SHOTS readers have been sending letters galore to P.S., who simply loves to open the ROCK-SHOTS mailbag! Remember now, if you have any questions, suggestions or complaints, tell it to Post Script!
READERS DRAW & WIN!
ROCK-SHOTS would like to thank our great readers who put so much time and effort into their drawings for the ROCK-SHOTS “Draw-AThon” contest! We received hundreds and hundreds of entries and it really became difficult for us to pick from the bunch.
THE CRUCH KWIK KWOTES!
The Church are one of Australia’s finest rock bands. Formed six years ago, the band has produced numerous records, although their success in America has been minimal. This may be changing, however, with the release of the band’s most recent LP, Heyday, their first record to hit Billboard’s Top 100.
JULIAN LENNON: Daydream Believer?
Since releasing The Secre Value Of Daydreaming, Julia Lennon has been touring lik crazy. Not only that, he’s do other strange stuff, like gett his hair cut, as he told ROC SHOTS readers all about in last month’s issue, in a letter many feel was actually composed by us!
BRIT BUZZ
Sylvie Simmons
Well, it’s over. It’s happened. No more Wham! A nation is in mourning. Couples up and down the country have divorced in sympathy. And what’s this? Can this be true? News is just in that George Michael's earrings have gone solo too! Ear today, gone tomorrow.
BE ROCK STAR contest
So you you wanna be a rock 'n' roll star? You've always dreamed of being a rock star and even practiced the moves in front of the mirror, haven't you? Well, here's your chance to actually be that fave rock star of yours! Yep, that's right! ROCK-SHOTS wants to see you dressed up as your favorite rock star!
THE FIXX
WHAM! The Absolutely Last
All good things must come to an end, they say—and so it is with Wham! Last issue, we presented photos of their farewell concert at Wembley Stadium in London. (And you’ll certainly want to check out Brit Buzz on page 22 this month... the amazing B.B. was actually there, and tells all in a stirring first-person account.)
Charlie Sexton MORE THAN A PRETTY FACE
The Who sang about THE face way back in the mid-’60s. Sting played THE “Ace Face” in the movie version of the Who’s Quadrophenia. But when it comes to THE face of 1980’s rock, many people are betting the rent on young Charlie Sexton. But Charlie is hardly just another pretty face.
CYNDI LAUPER
JOHN WAITE
CHARLIE SEXTON
R.E.M.
BRAND NU SHOOZ
Nu Shooz is a new group from Portland, Oregon, and they are certainly gaining momentum in the pop world with their hit singles “I Can’t Wait” and “Point Of No Return”—both of which feature zany videos from their debut LP, Poolside. Recently, Valerie Day and John Smith (who are married and who are the singer and guitarist of the group) spoke with ROCK-SHOTS about becoming a successful pop group and how the single “I Can’t Wait” turned them into a dance club and MTV favorite.
THE ROCK SHOTS INTERVIEW: WHY JACK WAGNER IS A PRISONER OF HIS OWN IMAGE!
Jackie Kallen
Is he “Frisco Jones” of General Hospital or is he a legitimate musician in his own right? Despite his commercial success as both an actor and a musician, Jack Wagner continues to be plagued by critics who won’t accept a TV crossover—much like Rick Springfield before him.
SHOTS IN THE DARK
Hey, it s a couple! A couple of what?” you ask? No, we mean a couple, as in “two people!” Surely, this concept must stand forevermore as the greatest idea for any Shots In The Dark section! In all of sectiondom! Hats off to our Shots In The Dark editor for his innate creativity!
John Cougar Mellencamp JUST ANOTHER GUY!
Sylvie Simmons
First time I spoke to John Cougar Mellencamp he told me: “I hate rock stars!” How much does he hate rock stars? ‘‘There’s one place they can put their head and that’s right up my—!” Suffice it to say that part of his anatomy is better suited to sitting on a roaring Harley Davidson!
DURAN DURAN
On The Road With A-HA
At last— 1986’s tour of tours is in full swing! Yes, the incredible A-Ha, who mystically became superstars without ever performing, have actually been taking the stage, singing and playing right in front of other people! Lots of other people!
CREEM ROCK-SHOT GREAT SUMMER MUSIC 'N' MOVIES CONTEST!
It's here! It’s finally here! What, you ask? It’s the last installment of our Great Summer Music ’n’ Movies Contest, that’s what! Now's your chance to correctly identify the mystery person in the puzzle and answer all our movies ’n' music questions correctly.
The KINKS: That’s How They Did It When They Were Young
If a band ever put out a whole lot of great albums without anybody taking notice, that band is the Kinks. Surely you’ve heard of ’em—why, many times our parents will come over for a friendly visit to the ROCK-SHOTS mansion and start telling us about the old days, when bands like the Beatles, the Who and the Kinks were leading tha British Invasion the old folks talk about with tears in their eyes.
SIMPLY RED, SIMPLY SPEAKING
David Aron
Even though Simply Red’s breakthrough #1 hit “Holding Back The Years” is an international success, not everyone believed that the song would be a big hit from the start. In fact, the tune had been languishing in lead singer Mick Hucknall’s songbook since the late 70s before the group dusted the song off and recorded it.
JACK WAGNER