Teens Rallying to Heavy Metal's Resurgence
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29 ToIenl Teens Rallying To Heavy Metal's Resurgence Continued from page 1 ductions in Cleveland: "These WCOZ -FM, Boston, was one of fresh breed of band, some of which formed its own company in England Echoes New York concert pro- bands have the best boxoffice draw the first stations to play new wave, are beginning to receive airplay in and thus attracted Mercury's U.S. moter Ron Delsener: "As long as even though they get no airplay. says its former program director major U.S. markets. a &r scouts, recalls Jim Sotet, who you have young people you'll have Somehow the kids find out about Tommy Hadges, and traditionally Young international bands (e.g., points out that this is how several in- heavy metal." He adds that lack of them." Based on recent soldout one of the last to include heavy Angel City, Def Leppard, Scorpions, dependent new wave labels, includ- record sales have minimal effects on shows, Stein projects that Def Lep- metal. "But now we've been making Russia, Krokus, Barnet Dogs and ing Stiff. got their start. boxoffice turnouts. Nearby pro- pard and Scorpions are "future recent inroads with this music, and the Joe Perry Project) are metal's Columbia, the label of Ted Nu- moter John Scher, president of New stars." have been getting good responses. lifeblood. gent, Aerosmith, Judas Priest and Jersey's Monarch Entertainment, Says Lou Messina, president of Once it was viewed as mindless head Warner Bros.' Van Halen is an ex- others, "has never forgotten the says "heavy metal is one of the big- Pace Concerts in Houston: banging music, but things are ample of this new generation. After strength of heavy metal," asserts gest drawing powers around," "Throughout Texas. it's the strong- changing." Hadges is now program bowing at 35 six weeks ago on Bill- Gregg Geller, East Coast a &r vice though he believes it has been ig- est music there is. It's just a giant." director at L.A.'s KLOS -FM. board's Top LPs chart, Van Halen's president of contemporary music. nored in recent years. "It has incred- Chuck Morris of Feyline Presents "People are taking more interest latest effort is starred at number six The label's interest in new metal was ible staying power." in Denver sums it up: "Heavy in heavy metal again," comments on this week's tabulation. The strong during the new wave growth. In the Midwest and Southern re- metal's one of the most consistent KMET -FM Los Angeles music di- band's previous LP, which peaked Geller points out that Columbia gions, promoters are on top of heavy powers in the business. The Aero- rector Jack Snyder. The station plays at six last year, is climbing up the "worked very hard" to bring Judas metal traditions. smiths and the Black Sabbaths, with both older and new music with con- charts once more. Priest to the forefront. rockers in this chart's "Heavy metal's hot around here," or without a hit record, will always sistently good response." Other heavy "Some people were saying that into the top 40 are Heart, whose "Bebe Le affirms Arny Granat of Chicago's draw big crowds." "We're starting to get heavy metal was dying out a few Strange" remains a big seller after Jam Productions. "It always has Yet while promoters note that newer ones now," says Curt Gary, years back." says Warner Bros. West music director at WEBN -FM, Cin- shooting to number five earlier this been and continues to be a major some stations have looked away Coast a &r manager Roberta Peter- But is feeling year. Rush's "Permanent Waves," drawing power." from heavy metal, some AOR cinnati. that station son, "but bands like Van Halen once at number four, is accom- Observes Wendy Stein, vice presi- broadcasters are now altering their much renewed interest in estab- proved them wrong. Though there's Pro- to it. lished bands (Black Sabbath, AC/ panied by disks from Triumph, Pat dent of production at Belkin formats include a renaissance, we've been always on in Travers and Journey. DC and Judas Priest). "AC /DC the lookout for new metal." particular brought metal out of the Latest LPs from some of metal's closet and now these new bands are star attractions have also made re- bringing it all back." cent top 40 slots including Aero- Mendes & Sinatra Outdoor Concert Series Rush couldn't get airplay three or smith, AC /DC, Ted Nugent, Robin four years ago, notes WLUP -FM Trower, Triumph and Led Zeppelin. LOS ANGELES -Sergio Mendes For New Arizona Venue Chicago program director Mitch The latter's "In Through The Out and Brasil '88 will perform with 1 con- By AL SENIA Michaels, citing a "classic example" Door," which reigned at No. for Frank Sinatra on his upcoming of the changing times. But even then seven weeks in late 1979, spurred cert tour of the U.S. and England. MESA, Ariz. -Local concert Community Center, which is op- the band had a strong cult following, charted sales of the complete Zeppe- The two last worked together 13 promoter Dan Zelisko plans to erated by the city, is aimed at at- he points out. lin catalog at one point. years ago. Among the locations in- book a series of outdoor concerts tracting a young audience from In England, a historically trend- Taking new wave artists' example volved are Carnegie Hall in New into the year -old Mesa Commu- Mesa Community College and setting nation, heavy metal bands of founding their own labels, some York June 13 -22, the Universal Am- nity Center this summer. His from the eastern Phoenix sub- are multiplying (Billboard, April 26, heavy metal acts have been produc- phitheatre, Los Angeles and Royal plans mark the first time in recent urbs. 1980). Flourishing alongside the ing and promoting their own disks. Festival and Royal Albert Halls, memory that top name contem- Currently, Dooley's in Tempe U.K.'s pool of new wave talent is a Def Leppard, for example. London. Sept. 9 -10. porary music acts will be brought and the Arizona State Univ. con- into this conservative Phoenix cert program in Tempe have suburban community, which has dominated the college- oriented now become the third largest city east side market. LP, Moves in Arizona. In deference to the conserva- Taupin Tapes Solo So far, Todd Rundgren's tive and highly religious atmos- Utopia, set fora Monday (19) ap- phere in Mesa, Zelisko says he will to a non Writing And Producing pearance, is the only confirmed aim attract -teenage, Into Film act Zelisko has booked under the non -hard rock crowd. By ED HARRISON banner of his Evening Star pro- "I'm interested in keeping duction company. nighttime shows more geared to LOS ANGELES -Bernie Taupin, programmable, Taupin vows to make "I've told all the agencies the over 21 age group," he ex- whose career has been behind the his next album "more commercially about it. For the most part I've plains. "Not necessarily MOR scenes as Elton John's lyricist for 10 viable with 10 or 12 short and con- gotten positive response," Ze- music, but more adult contempo- years, is moving into the limelight cise songs." lisko says. rary -type of attractions." He with the release of his first solo al- He notes his songs aren't com- "A lot of good performers will aims to present "three shows a bum on Asylum, "He Who Rides pletely autobiographical, although be seriously considering the facil- month." The Tiger." "there are bits of me in most songs. If ity for appearances in the sum- The venue is located in a resi- In addition to zeroing in on a you become too autobiographical, mer and even the fall." dential neighborhood in the recording career, Taupin is pene- you become pretentious. The album The move into the diamond - middle of Mesa. The town has an trating the film market with two is not a totally introverted ego trip shaped, grassy Community Cen- 11 p.m. curfew for unescorted completed screenplays and the for- on my part. I hope it gives me credi- ter venue is an expansion for youths, Zelisko says. mation of a production company in bility in another area." Evening Star, which books most The facility should seat 2,500. tandem with his manager Michael At the time Taupin was finishing of its shows into Dooley's night- he adds. Zelisko plans to set up Lippman. his album, Elton John was in the clubs in Tempe and Tucson. chairs on the layered, grassy Following Taupin's temporary same studio recording his new "21 Recently, Zelisko's firm has areas that surround the stage. dissolvement of his writing partner- At 33" LP. John contributed back- begun booking some acts into the Ticket prices for the Rundgren ship with John after "Blue Moves," ing vocals on Taupin's album while Scottsdale Center for the Arts show, to begin at 8 p.m., are $8.50 Taupin says he "ducked under and Taupin wrote three songs included and the Phoenix Civic Plaza. in advance and $9.50 the date of took a hiatus to dry out from the on John's LP. (Continued on page 31) Zelisko's move into the Mesa the show. things soaked up over the years. Bernie Taupin: Moving into the "I knew a change was.coming and limelight after 10 years as Elton I had to reinstate myself in a differ- John's lyricist. ent aspect.