SUMMER TOUR INFO ON VAN HALEN, TOM PETTY, NUGENT, STYX, RUSH, PRETENDERS, STONES, REO

JUNE 30, 1981 FOC 55037-7 $1.50

Special 8-Paae - Pullou"* Sec"*lon AGujde"o .ear After The II Tragedy, The Rock & Roll d Bounces Back On"our HO&' S,.AR­ RAYER! SHIP Their I lew LPs REI/ ~'Ned Inside How". Bu~~ Guj.a. • j.hOU1 Gojnl Brok.

o _ __ 'I OZZY OSBOURNE JUNE 30, 1981 ({·X') i it) t·, ,\'. I ., i 26' ;\ ;: i i :; t) 25 Ozzy Osbou rne • Letters A day in the life of the prince valiant Feedback from our readers of darkness. wi th color photos - (Gerald Roth berg) • I Front Pages News from the rock & roll scene - (Lisa Robinson)

Marshall Tucker •• Circus Word Find Puzzling game for fans Band - (Steven Dean Pastis) Circus travels to South Carolina to visit Spartanburg's pride and JOY, Ozzy Osbourne's travels, p. 25 MTB - (Ph ilip Bashe) 20 Stage Pass Circus hunts down rock's reporter­ eating carnivore. Ted Nugent. Also: Adam and the Ants prove the psy­ 14 Jefferson Starship chedelic revival is coming over­ Poster ground -(Steve Weitzman) 15 Summer Rock 1981 .7 Longplayers Circus reports on~ho is hitting the Reviews of new LPs by the Who. road this summer Pat Travers. Judas Priest , Plasmat­ -(Steve Weitzman) ics and more - (J. M. Young. Jim Farber)

45 The Vapors Smoke gets in their eyes Journey continues, p.50 .,4 Back Pages - (Ph ilip Bashe) Inside inform ation on the rock scene 5. Rock & Roll Year­ -(Lou O'Neill Jr .) book: Class of '81 •• April Wine Who are 1981's standout students Circus (I SS 0009-7365) IS pub­ of rock & roll? lished monthly by Circus Enter­ The toast of Canada pops its cork prises Corporatio n. 115 East 57 St .. - (Ph ilip Bashe) -(Philip Bashe) New York . NY 10022. (21 2)832- 1626 Return postage must accom­ pa ny all unsolicite d manuscripts. draWings and photographs Entire 50 Journey contents COPYright - 1981 by Cir­ One of rock 's most popular outfits I i: h) ;; tlj :i 3: , ti cus En terprises Corporation All loses a founding member and finds rights reserved Reproduction or itself a baby-faced replacement use without permission 01 editorial - (Bill Mcilva ine) 59 Music Gear or pictOrial ma tte r In any form IS pro­ Th is month's musical instrument hibited . Printed In U.S A Subscrip­ section includes Rush 's Alex Life­ tion rates 5 16 for 12 Issues . If ma il ed son talking about his pet subject. outside the US _ add an additional 54 The Postman guitars: a shopping guide on how to 56 00 Second class postage paid at purchase a good electric axe under New Yo rk _ N.Y and at additional ma iling offices. Member of Audit Bu­ Always Rings Twice $600: in-depth looks at electric and Sultry Jessica Lange talks about reau of Circulat ions acoustic (1uitars: plus a guide to the POSTMASTER PLEASE SEND he r close encounters with shining latest products from the musIc fac­ FORM 3579 TO CIRCUS MAG A­ star Jack Nicholson tory ZI E . P OBOX 265. MT - (Ric hard Hogan) -(John St ix. Barry Lipman) N256 MORRIS . ILL 61054 814-Pittsburgh. PA: S/10-11 -Austin. TX : 7/10-Columbia. MO : S/19-Jackson. NJ : 8/S-Montreal, QUE: SIS-Vienna, VA Civic Center Soap Creek Inn Merriweather Post Great Adventure Forum SIS-Elmira, NY S/12-13-Houston, TX: Pavillion S/20-Philadelphia. PA: SI7 -Pittsburgh, PA PLASTICS (Island) Rockertellers 7/11-New York. NY: J.F.K. Stadium MUDDY WATERS SIB-Clarkston, MI S/17-Houston, TX : Battery Park (Blue Sky) B/12-Cincinnati, OH S/11- Tallahassee. FL: Juneteenth Festival VAN HALEN (WB) B/14-Hitland, IL Tommy's S/19-20-New Orleans, SQUEEZE (A&M) S/10-Toronto,ONT B/1S-ln ianapolis, IN S/12-13-Atlanta. GA: LA : S/12-13-0akland. CA: S/11-Kitchener, ONT B/17-Holmdel, NJ SSB Club Tip 'N' Tina's S/2B-29-New York, Coliseum S/12-Niagara Falls, NY B/1B-Saratoga S/1B-Washington . NY: S/16-Las Vegas, NV: S/14-Montreal, QUE Springs, NY D.C.: Ritz Alladin I 930 Club RUSH (polyGram) S/18-Fresno. CA: ZZ TOP (WB) MOODY BLUES (Threshold) S/19-Philadelphia. PA: THE STRANGLERS Selland Arena S/10- 11 -Los Angeles, Emerald City (Stiff) S/19-Los Angeles, CA: S/17-Cleveland, OH S/20-New York. NY: CA: Sport Arena S/18-Columbus. OH S/1S-Baton RO~, LA S/1S-Houston, Ritz Forum S/12-New York, NY: S/20-21-Los Angeles, S/19-Washington, D.C. S/17-Dallas, TX S/24-Sacramento. CA: S/12-Anaheim, CA: Bonds CA: S/20-Cape Cod, MA: The Galactica 2000 Convention Center Forum Cape Cod Coliseum S/1B-Austin , TX S/25-2S-San S/14-Long Beach, CA: 7/2-Mllwaukee, WI : S/24-Rochester, NY S/20-Tucson, AZ. Arena JAMES TAYLOR S/21-Phoenix, AZ. Francisco. CA: (CBS) Arena S/2S-Niagara Falls, NY Old Waldorf S/1S-Las Vegas, NV: 7/3-4-Detroit, MI: S/2S-New Haven, CT S/22-San Diego, CA Alladin Theatre S/24-San Francisco, S/27-Santa Cruz, CA: S/11-lndianapolis, IN: Cobo Hall S/27-Philadelphia, PA S/1S-Reno, NV: CA Catalyst Sport Center 717-t,t. Paul, MN : S/2B-Uniondale, NY: Centennial Coliseum S/27-Los Angeles, CA 7/1-2-Los Angeles, S/13-14-Chicago. IL: Civic Arena Nassau Coliseum S/1B-19-Seattle, WA: S/28-Long Beach, CA CA: Poplar Creek 7/9-lndianapolis. IN: 7/9-San Diego, CA Coliseum S/30-7/30-Denver, CO: Roxy S/1S- 1S-Cleveland, Market Square Arena 7!1 0-Los Angeles, CA: S/20-Portland, OR: Red Rocks 7/S-Honolulu. HI OH: 7/10-12-Chicago,IL: Forum Coliseum 7/S-S-Washington. S/1B-Pittsburgh, PA: Amphitheatre 7/11-Phoenix, AZ. S/21-Spokane, WA: D.C. PURE PRAIRIE Civic Center 7/14-Pittsburgh, PA: 7/ 12-AlbUquer~ue , NM COliseum 717 -Cleveland, OH LEAGUE (PolyGram) S/19-Philadelphia, PA: Civic Center 7/1S-0dessa, X 7/2-3-Minneapolis, 7/1S-New Haven. CT: 7/1S-EI Paso. TX 7/9-11-Detroit, MI MN: Frederich Mann Music 7/14-New York, NY: S/13-Arlington. TX: Center Cross County 7/17-Tucson , AZ. Metropolitan Center Madison Square Six Flags S/20-New York, NY: 7/17-New York, NY: 7I18-Las Ve~as , NV S/19-Green River, WY: 7/4-S-East Troy, NY: Madison Square 7/19-Bakersfleld, CA Garden Alpine Valley Batte~ Park 7/17-Chicago, IL Rodeo S/21- ain Date Garden 7/22-Portland, OR S/21-Park City, UT: S/ 22 - sarat~a , NY: 7/1S-Uniondale, NY: 7/23-Spokane, WA MOTORHEAD Park West SANTANA (CBS) Pertorming rts Nassau Coliseum 7/24-Seattle, WA (Polygram) 7/3-Aquawan, MA: Center 7/20-22-Philadelphia, 7/2B-Reno , NV Riverside Park S/ 12-Philadel~hia , PA: S/24-2S-Holmdel, NJ: PA: 7/29-San Francisco, S/20-Las Vegas, NV Stadium Robin Hood ell Garden State Arts Spectrum CA S/24-Phoenix, AZ. 7/27-Great Falls, MT: S/13-Cleveland,OH: Center 7/24-2S -Boston , MA: 7/31 -Sall Lake City, S/2S-San Bernadino, Montana State Fair Blossom Festival S/2S-Hartford. CT: Boston Gardens UT CA 8/12-Rapid City, SO : S/27 -Saratoga CiviC Center 7/29-Largo, MD: B/1-Denver, CO S/2S-San Diego, CA State Fair Springs, NY: S/27-28-Columbia. Cellar Door B/2-Rapid City, SO S/27-Long Beach, CA 8/1S-Billings, MT: Performing Arts MD: 7/31-Buffalo, NY: Yellowstone Exhibition Center Merriweather Post Memorial Auditorium GORDON OZZY OSBOURNE! 7/4-Cape Cod, MA: Pavillion B/2-3-Cleveland, OH: LIGHTFOOT (WB) BLIZZARD OF OZ Coliseum Richfield Coliseum (Jet) ROOM FULL OF 7/9-Pittsburgh, PA: 8/4-Toronto.ONT: S/19-Fort Lauderdale, FL BLUES (Blue Flame) Civic Center .38 SPECIAL (A&M) Maple Leaf Gardens S/21-Atlanta. GA see Motorhead dates'

Nugent ~ Van Zant reveal road strategies

istening to them talk, you'd think The promotional motive behind the road. He must take care that the summer they were generals mounting an rock & roll tour is still a strong one, but tour will coincide with a newly-released invasion. Words like "target" stars are no longer as much at the mercy or currently-charting record. Stars like Land "strategy" keep cropping up of flight lag or shrewd promoters as they Nugent must learn to work full-time with in their conversation. were 10 or 20 years ago. Guitarist Ted as many as 30 people on the road. ""We intend to break through to some Nugent, for instance, says he has the Security has been a sore point with new territories," says Florida-based whole touring business worked out. every big rock act since the '79 Who con­ bandleader Johnny Van Zant. "We "We have pre-assault maneuvers ev­ cent disaster in Cincinnati. With too haven't covered the West Coast before." ery year before our tours," says the much security, fans can panic, or be hurt Van Zant knows his five-man rock group Michigan wildman. "I hire a crew, and, by zealous uniformed guards. will be on the road for at least four sometimes, a new band. I get them all to­ "There's a lot more to touring than months this summer, and, with his mana­ gether at a meeting, and I tell 'em that just getting up there," snorts Nugent, gers and booking agent, is premeditating everything has got to be perfect. We "and I don't think a lot of people realize every move. show films of the last year's gigs. I point this. And, when it's right, do you know Snaps 21-year-<>ld Van Zant: "Every­ out mistakes; I strive to eliminate loop­ what it should sound like? Like a huge body probably thinks, 'This guy gets up holes and obstacles. We all do maxi­ Fender bass plugged straight into your and sings, and that's all he does. What a mum advance work." forehead!" R' ha d H - t C r ogan short work day - one hour!' But it's a lot more work than what I thought when I irtually any performer like Nu­ first got into it. People think musicians gent who wants to finish the sea­ Rush's summer '81 tour beCins in Denver on have it made. If you don't make gold al­ V son in the black must spend at June 1, and ends in Troy, New York on bums, though, you ain't got it made ." least two months .getting ready for the AUf/ust 5.

Pg. 59, Instruments of the Stars: Alex Lifeson of Rush. Pg.60, Buyer's Guide for your first quality electric guitar. Pg. 62, Consumer Reports on the Vantage VP-795 guitar and Yamaha CS-5 keyboard. by John Stix and Barry Lipman Pg.64, New Products.

Quit.rs of Rush's Alex Lifeson Explosions of blue notes, the ring­ ing of arpeggios, power chords and riffs from out of nowhere are all signs that hard rock guitar playing is growing up in the hands of Alex Lifeson. Once a disciple of Jimmy Page, the 28-year-{)ld guitarist now includes Steve Hackett, Steve Howe and Allan Holdsworth on his list of influences. The results can be heard by following his progression on the nine albums he's released with Rush . His primary instrument is a white Gibson ES-355 (pictured at left). "I started out in 1968 with a Gibson ES-335, " he says , explaining his choice of instruments. " I was always used to the feel of that particular style guitar. You also got a nice sound bal­ ance between the toughness of aLes Paul and the clarity of a semi-acoustic. I can clean up the sound without giving up any of the toughness and dirtiness I also like to have." Pictured at right is a black Gibson ES-345 and in his hands an ES-369. "That's a new line. I don't know if it's up for the American market. It's got very hot pickups and a coil splitter and phase switch . It's an extremely hot gui­ tar, but I'm not comfortable with it yet. It feels lighter than the 355 , and I like a fairly heavy guitar. " The white guitar you see in the background is a Gibson EDS-1275 dou­ bleneck that Alex picked up so he could have both a six- and 12-string electric on stage. The only modification is a DiMarzio pickup with coil splitter in the front pickup position of the 12-string. " I leave it in the split position bec'ause it comes out cleaner," Life­ son notes. The acoustic guitars pictured in­ clude a Gibson Dove six-string and an Epiphone C-60 classical guitar. "We did an interesting thing to the classical. On those guitars you like to get a deep rich sound , so the woods they use are very resonant. On stage that caused a problem . So we put a bolt through it two inches below the bridge and tight­ Toughness, clarity and feel typify the guitars that Alex Lifeson of Rush hurries ened down the top and back. I've re- to purchase and play.

CIRC US/59 placed the Dove on stage with an Ova­ tion Adamas. It 's not as good tonally, but the control is better. It's also a very easy guitar to play." Rounding out Alex's collection are a couple of Strats, a Pyramid guitar and the new Gibson Howard Roberts Fu­ sion guitar. The HRF is his newest love. "It's got an amazing sound, full of toughness and depth." Ufeson says excitedly. His amp setup on stage consists of two Marshall Combos. They feature 100 watt amps with two 12-inch speak­ ers in each cabinet. Each amp also drives a stack of Hiwatt 4 V2x12 ·'s. His outboard devices include the Roland Boss Chorus, Advanced Audio Digital Delay, Roland Space Echo 301 with Chorus, Morley Volume Pedal, Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress, MXR Distortion Plus, Mutron Octave . Divider, Cry Baby Wah Wah, Maestro Parametric Filer and Moog Taurus Bass Pedals. His advice for today's guitar shop­ per? " No two guitars are the same. You could find six Les Pauls or 355s, and they'll all feel different than each other. It's a good idea to get what you feel comfortable with. what you really want. You can always fix up a guitar the way you want it, but it's nice to start with something that's already' there. So the hunt might take more pa­ tience, but it's worth it." -John Stix