New Rockers Could Make KISS Pucker Pretty Boy Rock Took A
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The Hard Rock/ Heavy Monolith Of The Daily Nexus Tl^o "W « ^ »-t <Z>f Sep tiem bex* 1 í>»0, A Heavy Metal Hoedown New Rockers Could Make KISS Pucker by A.J. Goddard LOS ANGELES — I figured the Foundations Forum 90 Concrete Convention would be stuffed like a turkey with hairsprayed fluff, painstaking eyeliner, the newest lipstick shades and sleek skin wrapped and bound tight in leather rind skirts up to "there." Leave the music aside, let the appearances guide. ' Nope. There were some glam folk, but here we had the biggest hard rock/heavy metal convention in existence that few persons outside of the music industry knew much about, unless they were listening religiously to KNAC (of Long Beach, the sole Los Angeles metal station) who broadcasted live from the convention all weekend and pulled in their share of last- minute registrants for a smooth $175 a head. Unsigned band members scoped out as many record company representatives, college radio DJs and writers as possible and delivered their demos with the confidence that their tapes rent," and this is bringing more depth to heavy would be what the aforementioned persons metal. And we were blessed with a peek at some Pretty Boy Rock wanted to hear. of this talented new blood during the nightly For a mere $300, unsigned bands could show sixTband extravaganzas that rocked the walls of case in the upstairs schmooze rooms in hopes of the two large hotel ballrooms and were simul Took A Back Seat a record contract offer— or at least some atten cast on video screens all over the hotel. Here's a tion — and interest from one of the hundreds of briefing on the coolest stuff. ... At Convention record company A&R vultures who roamed the Thursday night, Kinghorse kicked off the hotel. metal assault with a tough set proving to all by Katie Adler The only band that I wandered in on and conventionees that they would be one '90s band stayed to watch perform for more than five mi LOS ANGELES — Heavy metal convention. Three to be reckoned with. But without much success words that bring many scary things to mind; and I sure nutes was Brunette. I missed Kid Crash's a few of their members tried to convince Katie as hell had no idea what would be in store for me as I showcase but heard their tape in the "ASCAP and me that they "hate heavy metal" and just embarked on three days and nights at Foundations Metal Songwriter Workshop" when it magne "are not into the fluff factor." OK guys, but your Forum '90, billed as "the industry's only all hard rock tized the attention of many of the record reps "heavy" melodies rock, whatever you want to and heavy metal convention," held here last weekend present. Other than that, from what I heard, I'll call the music. at the Sheraton La Reina. have to agree with the unidentified man who Sexy German female rocker Doro Pesch So what DID I expect? I envisioned myself in a sea of stood up at the "Sexism, Racism, Homophobia closed that night's jam with her powerhouse long-hairs, schmoozing to no apparent end, learning a lot about the music industry and seeing a few cool and Anti-Semitism" panel who proclaimed that voice, performing solo material from her new bands. And ya know what? I actually dug it. Just about "90 percent of the unsigned bands at this con self-titled Mercury release, ripping through the vention don't deserve to get signed." all of it. With a few minor exceptions, this metal- infectious "Something Wicked This Way convention virgin enjoyed herself quite a bit. A plethora of uninnovative cheezy pop-metal Comes" and the lovely "Only You," written by This Sheraton place was one big hotel; completely re and repetitive disturbing death rock or thrash Gene Simmons. She also revived old Warlock served for the convention; ready to be swarmed with metal groups invaded the convention, all hop material, stoking the crowd with the well- close to 4,000 metalheads, all ready to rage hard. Check ing to get noticed. Hmmmmmmmmm. known favorite "All We Are." The little lady can ing in was cool, we got a huge bag chock full o' music During his keynote address, Judas Priest's rock. and lots of other goodies. Rob Halford urged the writers and performers Friday night brought a blitzkrieg of stage pre of tomorrow to "continually challenge After settling in and checking out things a bit, we sence starting with Two Bit Thief, a fresh cruised on over to the radio panel room. Being college yourselves" as he spoke intelligently, honestly flower in the hard rock garden which brings DJ types, A.J. and I thought we might leam a thing or and modestly about his career experiences and back a few of the Attitude Adjustment boys. two. Hell no, it was boring with a capital "B," just a the condition and position of the industry today These guys garnered an incredible audience, es bunch of commercial radio jocks arguing with one ob in relation to the Tipper Gores who have in pecially considering that "that Judas Priest noxious college DJ about stupid shit. Dude, obviously vaded America. Band" was on next in the other ballroom. (Lead college and commercial radio are at opposite ends of Halford went on to say that "some of the more recent bands understand the value of or- See METAL, p.5A See HEAVY, p.4A 2 A Thursday, September 20,1990 Daily Nexus 9); avant-garde artist and machine builder/wreckcr Mark Pauline (October 8); and the masterful harmonies of the Angeles String Quartet (October 12). In coming months actor Patrick Stewart re-creates Marley, Scrooge and all the other special characters of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (November 17). The Paul Taylor Dance Company (February 18 & 19), last here in 1978, will demonstrate why his company is ranked among the elite of modem dance, and the National Council for the Traditional Arts offers Masters of the Steel String Guitar (February 27), featuring rockabilly powerhouse Albert Lee. Tickets Going Fast Single tickets for all UCSB Arts & Lectures performing arts events of the 1990-91 season go on sale today. And remember, half of the performing arts events sold out last year, so don’t delay only to discover you’ve missed out. For more information and a free season brochure, call UCSB Arts & Lectures at 893-3535. Barbara Jordan MM The Power of the Word University of Texas to pursue public service with a Barbara Jordan Speaks Out sense of purpose and integrity. Fun for Film Fans In July 1974, then Congresswoman Barbara Jordan This4all, UCSB Arts &. Lectures offers our Tickets for Barbara Jordan will go on sale at delivered a 15-minute speech during the House International Cinema Series, a selection of Judiciary Committee’s impeachment proceedings UCSB Campbell Hall one hour before her foreign and domestic films that brings you a against former President Richard Nixon. Stressing address. Tickets are $6 for the general pubic and $4 for UCSB students. world’s worth of entertainment. Screening at that reason, not passion, should guide the UCSB Campbell Hall on Thursday and Sunday deliberations, she eloquently and succinctly nights at 8 PM, all films are in the original argued the case for continuing the impeachment It Is a Very Full Year process. The speech marked a moment of triumph languages with English subtitles as necessary. for the constitutional system of government and Barbara Jordan’s appearance initiates the 1990-91 Powwow Highway, focused the country’s attention on Jordan, who has UCSB Arts &. Lectures season, and you couldn’t The series begins with been called the finest orator in America. ask for a more high-powered start to a season of Sunday, September 30, the offbeat story of two distinguished speakers, amazing dance, music and very different Cheyenne Indians who are thrown She speaks on Saturday, September 22 at 4 PM in theater, and terrific international cinema. In the together for a journey along the Powwow Highway. UCSB Campbell Hall. Her topic is the role of first two weeks of October alone, events include the Other films in the series include Zu: Warriors government as moral arbiter. traditional gamelan music and dance by the From the Magic Mountain, Thursday, October 4, Children of Bali (October 2); columnist and First a sword and scorcery tale set in the enchanting When Jordan was elected to the House of Amendment specialist Nat Hentoff discussing the land of Zu; Bellman and True, Sunday, October 7, Representatives from the 18th District of Texas in effect of speech codes on college compuses a taut thriller that revolves around a computer 1972, she became the first Black woman from a (October 5); and the witty modem dance and expert forced to electronically rob a bank; and Southern state to serve in the United States a cappella boppin’ and rockin’ of ISO and The Black Rain, Thursday, October 11, a poignant look Congress. During her six years in Congress, Jordan Bobs (October 6). at the survivors o f the atomic blast at Hiroshima. distinguished herself particularly in the area of civil rights and was a key player in the embattled Series tickets for the International Cinema series, 1975 extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. at a 50 percent discount, are available in advance at the UCSB Arts & Lectures Ticket Office and at the In 1976 Jordan became the first Black and the first door.