aient Stephen Bishop: `Always a Hustler' Beat Rodeo: Hybrid Rockers Veteran Scores Again With `Separate Lives' Band Presents Marketing Problem

ended up giving the song to Phil "I've always been a hustler," producers Mitch Easter and Don BY KIP KIRBY BY ETHLIE ANN VARE Collins and, at some point, appar- says Bishop, 34. "I never depend on Dixon. Prior to working with LOS ANGELES "Separate Lives," ently either Taylor or Atlantic publishers. I take it upon myself to NASHVILLE Don't call Beat Ro- R.E.M. and Let's Active, Easter had the / found out Phil was going to cut it, go right to people's houses: In 1976, deo "punkabilly." And don't con- produced an EP for Beat Rodeo and duet from the film "White Nights," and they did it directly with him. I'm I remember going to Diana Ross' fuse them with Rubber Rodeo or once played with lead singer /song- may have shot to No. 1 in eight sure a lot of people now think Phil house and playing her, like, 30 the Beat Farmers. writer Steve Almaas in a band weeks, but it was on that road for wrote the song." songs. I sat with Bette Midler and The four -man New York band called the Crackers. more like three years. According to Popularly credited or not, Bishop played my songs, and with Barbra plays a hybrid '60s pop /rock with Berlin -based Zensor Records songwriter Stephen Bishop, the has written a number of film- relat- Streisand. I like to go out there and country overtones that's created signed Beat Rodeo for European tune was first conceived in 1982 ed hits, including songs for "Animal get the cover." somewhat of a marketing problem distribution in 1984, and subse- when filmmaker House," "The China Syndrome" Bishop has received songwriting in the wake of its IRS album début, quently imported the band overseas told Bishop about a movie plot he and "Arthur." Though his record- assignments through manager "Staying Out Late With Beat for a press tour. Armed with this al- was toying with. ing career has dimmed since the Trudi Green of Frontline Manage- Rodeo." bum, Beat Rodeo manager Andy "I don't usually go on rough heyday of "Careless" (1977) and ment, but still makes the rounds "Top 40 stations told us, 'We like Schwartz began shopping for a U.S. ideas," says Bishop, "but this "Gish" (1978), he has sustained in whenever possible. "I've been in the their album but it's not quite our recording deal. sounded interesting, so I went the industry, writing songs for such business up here for a long time," format'," says IRS ambassador of "Miles Copeland was the first to ahead and did it. Then the movie notables as Barbra Streisand, Ken- notes the San Diego native, "so I marketing Carl Grasso. "And AOR give us a strong reaction," recalls kept getting turned down by the ny Loggins, Art Garfunkel and recognize a lot of faces at parties." stations said, 'We like the album but Schwartz, "and we made the deal studios, and I got tired of waiting. I Phoebe Snow. Bishop first came to Los Angeles it's not heavy enough for us'." with IRS." Cuts from the Zensor al- with "a $15 guitar and 200 songs in Despite its Manhattan base, Beat bum were re- recorded or remixed, my pocket" in 1969, landing a staff Rodeo also doesn't have a strong and Go-Go's producer Richard Got- INXS EYES U.S. BREAKTHROUGH songwriter position with Edward H. East Coast identity. So, borrowing a tehrer was brought in on "Just (Continued from page 45) Morris publishing. Everthing went page from its strategy with R.E.M., Friends" and "Without You." his way for a while. IRS decided to use a regional ap- The band's songs are adminis- through the Pete Townshend record "You have a big record," says proach on the band. The label sent tered through IRS's pact with Crite- at the time, produced it," explains Bishop, "and you think, 'Oh, man! the group out on a month -long West rion Music. Tim Farriss, "and he's a big fan of This is how it's always going to be, Coast promotional tour, opening for IRS hopes to have a new Beat Ro- the band live. So this is more a live - because if they think this is good, Jason & the Scorchers at the Palace deo album ready in April, to tie in sounding record. I've got a bunch more just like it'." in Los Angeles and doing a series of with a U.K. tour. Will the second al- "And if that comes across like Yet Bishop's third album, "Red Cab small club and college showcases. bum contain stylistic changes or what you call AOR, I guess that's To Manhattan," failed , and "Sleep- Supplementing this in cities new approaches in pursuit of com- what it is. But AOR versus new ing With Girls" was never released where IRS had support staff were mercial airplay? wave is never something we worry in the U.S. retail promotions in which stores "Their music won't be compro- about; in Australia, and most of the Part of the problem, he says, was could win prizes by playing "Stay- mised," insists Grasso, "but their rest of the world, there isn't that the dissolution of his label, ABC ing Out Late With Beat Rodeo" dur- production may change." The focus, kind of separation in radio." Records. Part was his own unrealis- ing shopping hours. he says, will remain on Almaas' Currently, INXS is on a brief rest tic expectations- expectations he The record company shipped out writing and vocals, and on the har- between two legs of a world tour. plans to scale down in his current a 12 -inch promotional single on the mony work of lead guitarist Bill ICM is putting the band on a series search for a recording contract. cut "Just Friends." Accompanying Schunk and bassist Dan Prater. of headline dates in the U.S. after "I'm from the days of the Big it was a video done as part of the la- Grasso admits the band's music the first of the year, and they will Record Deal," he says. "I made a lot bel's monthly MTV show, "The Cut- may be "a style of pop that some also hit Europe and Japan. of money at one point -all gone ting Edge." The video, which cost people don't think is happening "We now, of course. But now you have to about $4,000, helped provide a visu- right now," but adds that he consid- already toured Australia," No Excess. Dick Clark chats with to a al image for Beat Rodeo and boost- ers this a marketing problem. says Farriss, "actually before the Michael Hutchence, lead singer of be realistic, and not expect get trillion dollars from a label. It's just ed its strength in secondary mar- "It's up to us," he says, "to pre- new album was even released. It's INXS, on a recent segment of do, not any more." kets. sent Beat Rodeo to the right kind of a strange thing to I sup- "American Bandstand." (Photo: Ron there is working on Beat Rodeo came to IRS through audience." pose, but we wanted to put across a Wolfson) Bishop currently convincing performance of the material with Todd Rundgren. He is songs before everyone had memo- also appearing on the syndicated rized them. It wasn't so much to your album out on CD makes a big television comedy "FTV," a rock'n' RITZ PROMOTER JOHN SCHER test the material, as it had already difference as to how well it sells." roll spoof. He's hoping for more tv (Continued from page 45) been recorded, but more to capture Continuing to operate on a philos- work, and is not adverse to new film the feeling of when we were playing ophy of "touring, winning friends music. room. We want people to come here, gun advertising on radio stations pubs six nights a week." and influencing people," INXS "It's very much a matter of tim- see a great show, feel comfortable and in print media that were previ- Farriss sees a significant differ- plans to maintain its tradition of ig- ing," he says of making a hit out of and then feel free to stay around af- ously not utilized as Ritz outlets. ence in marketing strategies be- noring regional trends and letting a movie theme. "Doug Morris and ter the show is over. You can't do He's encouraged use of the club for tween Australia and America at the the chips fall where they may. "Af- Paul Cooper at Atlantic did a great that at a place like Carnegie Hall or video shoots, and Run -D.M.C., the moment, much of it due to new tech- ter all," says Farriss, "Queen has job with 'Separate Lives.' But look the Beacon Theatre." Beaver Brown Band and Freddie nologies. At home, the group's long- been living off the money they at 'Animal House,' which I wrote Scher has turned toward both Jackson have already taken up the form video is a strong seller, thanks make from being big in Argentina and which should have been a hit. younger and older patrons in seek- call. In addition, Scher has signed to high hardware penetration. for years." The record company released it ing to widen the appeal of the Ritz. with MTV for 25 "Live At The Ritz" "Also, Compact Disc is really big three months after the movie. Here "We had a sellout with Bonnie programs in 1986, for which new news in Australia," he adds. "Peo- everyone was running around yell- Raitt," he reports, "and a near-sell- music acts the Cult, the Divinyls ple are starting to have them in ing 'toga, toga, toga,' and it was out with a double bill of Steppen- and Mr. Mister have already been their cars, and how soon you get right there on the record, but the wolf and the Guess Who. These are shot. record wasn't out." viable acts which didn't have anoth- Scher says that he envisions the Rather than dwelling on the past, er room in New York at which they Ritz as "an old- fashioned '60s ball- PUBLICITY Bishop is looking ahead -even to could play." room with '80s music in it," albeit the possibility of an Academy Younger concert-goers are, ironi- one whose purpose is to stay filled PRINTS Award from "Separate Lives." "I'm cally, the beneficiaries of New with paying bodies. "It's not going making a living," he shrugs. "I feel York's recently enacted law raising to do anyone any good for us to Lithographed on Heavy Goss Stock 19,200 BLACK L WHITE Sx10's proud that I've survived in this busi- the legal drinking age from 19 to 21. open the doors and get 300 people. ness. I've been around for a long "Before, we wouldn't allow anyone But fortunately, New York can sup- 500 - 560,00 1000 - 85.00 a styles of music. COLOR time, and that's sometimes very dif- under 19 into the place," explains port variety of ficult to do." Scher. "That meant anyone in the "This week alone we had a sellout 1000 - $388.00 S building could get a drink. Now show. with [radio personality /comic] Freight Above Prices Include Typesetting a we've determined that it is a legal Howard Stern, and we have coming Send 8x10 Photo - Check or M.O. * * * and viable policy to allow anyone up the Neville Brothers, the Cult Full Color & B/W Posters THE BILLBOARD BOOK over 16 in, as long as we don't serve and Toots & the Maytals. In Omaha, Composites - Cards - Other Sizes anyone under 21. We were given the all of those acts together wouldn't HITS opportunity to cut everyone under draw capacity; here they'll all sell Send For Catalog & Samples OF NUMBER ONE reunionr. arena BY FRED BRONSON 21 off from the music, which we out. of every Number its 777 Sports Street The inside story chose not to do." "The Ritz hasn't touched po- PICTURES One single from "Rock Around to spread the word to po- tential yet; it can be the ballroom in E. Florida, Dept. 88 75207 In order 1867 Dallas, Texas the Clock" to "We Are the World:' Springfield, MO 65803 tential patrons, Scher has increased the United States today." (214) 658-7070 NOW. 14171869-9433 Or 869-3456 AT BOOKSTORES the room's media profile. He's be-

46 BILLBOARD DECEMBER 21. 1985 www.americanradiohistory.com