Industry Buzz

CASH BOX JANUARY 28, 1995 4 INDUSTRY BUZZ

Cash Box By Sieve Baltin EAST COAST

Bush performed their first U.S. gig at the end of last year. The buzz-gar- nering U.K. band played at Dragonfly in L.A. to an audience filled with radio people. Not surprising, given the fact that the show was presented by KROQ, who are one of many Modern Rock stations all over the first Atlantic recording group Hootie & The Blowfish recently made a $1 0,000 single “Everything’s Zen” from Bush’s debut record on Trauma/Inter- donation to the Carolina Children’s Home, following their participation scope. Entitled Sixteen Stone, the album is the first to benefit from the in VHI’s “Fairway To Heaven” charity golf tournament. The inde- newjoint venture between Trauma and Interscope. Pictured (l-r, seated): pendently-run Carolina Children’s Home provides secure and supportive Willobee Carlin, KEDJ Phoenix; Gavin Rossdale, Bush; (standing): Paul homes for up to 100 homeless, desperate or unwanted children each Palmer, Trauma Records; David Dorrell, manager of Bush; Sean Zebarth, year. The band’s donation is particularly timely, following a fire that KXRK Salt Lake City; Mike Jacobs, Blaze KRZQ Reno; and Bush’s Nigel caused over $1 60,000 worth of damage to the Home’s Columbia campus. Pulsford, Robin Goodridge and Dave Parsons. The South Carolina-based band’s Gold debut Cracked Rear View contin- ues to climb the pop charts and is quickly closing in on Platinum. Shown SEAN McDONNELL, the lead singer for the up-and-coming Atlantic during the presentation of the check are (l-r): CCH development director recording act Surgery, passed away recently at the age of 29. McDonnell Jonathan Holmes; Darius Rucker of the band; CCH executive director Dr. died in Brooklyn, N.Y. the morning of January 11 after slipping into an Sipe; Rusty and Jim Suzanne group manager Harmon; bandmembers asthma-related coma. “Soni” Sonefeld, Mark Bryan & Dean Felber. Atlantic Records president Val Azzoli commented; “Everyone at

Atlantic is deeply saddened by the loss of this talented musician and warm LYRICS songwriters in an informal structure where they can relate anecdotes, Surgery released their debut album for Atlantic, Shimmer, last April to perform their music and discuss the craft. This season was set to begin on strong reviews and word-of-mouth. Though it passed with little fanfare in January 22nd & 23rd with “An Evening with Alan & Marilyn Bergman.” the mainstream, many critics recommended it and thought of Surgery as a The duo have co-authored numerous gems including “The Way We band who were going to make a lot of noise in the future. Were,” “The Windmills Of Your Mind” and “Nice ’N’ Easy,” and Ms. MTV’S NEW SERIES FOR ’95: MTV is taking to heart the part of the Bergman is now president of ASCAP. cliche that says “in with the new” with a slew of new programming. The Also scheduled is an evening in tribute to the late Jule Styne (“The first of these new shows to premiere will be “Superock,” a new weekly Party's Over,” “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend,” etc.) Feb. 26th & music series reflecting the changing face of rock music in the ’90s. Set to 27th; Burton Lane (“Old Devil Moon,” “How Are Things In Glocca debut February 18 at 12:00 p.m., “Superock” will combine rock, hard- Morra”), April 9th & 10th; Charles Strouse (“Put On A Happy Face,” edged alternative and alternative rap music and look at the lifestyle trends “Tomorrow,” “All In The Family” theme “Those Were The Days” and of today’s music fans and the bands they follow. The show will be shot on “Bye Bye Birdie”), May 7th & 8th; and a 25th anniversary party to recall remote locations around the country, with the host joining bands behind- some of the L & L highlights from the last 24 years. Guesting throughout the-scenes. The series will air regularly on Saturday nights from midnight the series will be some of the finest pop and cabaret voices, including KT to 2 a.m. Sullivan, Ann Hampton Calloway, Phillip Officer, Marilyn Caskey and Another of the new MTV programs will be “Interact,” where MTV Nancy LaMott. viewers are the news. The network will invite viewers to call a toll-free AALIYAH, after her Gold and Platinum and chart-filled 1994, begins the 800 number with their story ideas. MTV will then provide selected viewers new year on the East Coast. The Blackground/Jive Records artist has with the camera to get their story on the air. Among the stories in the already left samples at the Civic Center in Roanoke, VA on Jan. 1 1th, opening episode, set to debut in May, is a report on unsafe body-piercing Wilcomico CivicCenter in Salisbury, MD on the 13th, N. Y.C.’s Apollo practices told by a professional body piercer as well as the story of a heavy Theatre on the 14th, and Newark, NJ’s Symphony Hall on the 15th. smoker who turns his habit into a good cause to help the homeless. The MENTORS & PROTEGES—Jazz Mentors and Models, a concert series show will be hosted by current MTV News correspondent Alison Stewart. at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, featured GRP Records’ Dr. Billy MAY CONCERT NEWS: In the you-can-never-plan-too-far-ahead cate- Taylor & Trio with guest artist saxist/composer Benny Golson on Friday gory comes news of two of the biggest tours of ’95 both hitting the Los the 13th; Gil Scott-Heron, whom many now feel helped pave the way for Angeles area in May. Tickets just went on sale for R.E.M.’s three today’s rap and hip-hop soldiers, celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr.’s announced dates this weekend. R.E.M. will be joined by Sonic Youth for birthday with a show at S.O.B.’s on the 15th; the NARAS Protege their May 9 Eorunt show. May 12 at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim and Showcase series will present Atlantic Records artist Roberta Flack at the May 14 at Blockbuster Pavilion . Jimmy Page and Robert Plant will hit Bottom Line on Jan. 23rd. Flack will spotlight her discovery Jareese. the Forum the week after R.E.M. do, with a May 16 date set. Joni JANUARY JAZZ SOUNDS abound in the Apple. Jazz at Lincoln Mtichell will make a very rare in-concert/Online appearance as part of a Center’s artistic director Wynton Marsalis hosted the latest in his Jazz For promotional campaign for her new highly acclaimed Reprise album Young People series with a “What Is Improvisation?” concert at Alice Turbulent Indigo. The singer/songwriter will perform at the 240-seat Wells fully Hall on the 14th. ..David Murray, one of the most prolific tenor sax Fargo Theater at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in L.A. on players to come along in the last decade and a co-founder of the World January 26. The audience will be made largely of radio contest winners. Saxophone Quartet, led his Octet through spirited sessions at the Knitting In addition to winners from the host station, L A ’s AAA outlet KSCA Factory Jan. 11- 14th. The Octet’s latest CD is Picasso Suite on DIW 101.9, winners will be flown in from Boston, Minneapolis, Seattle, Records.. . Eric Reed is an outstanding pianist, and he & his trio played Denver, Portland and San Francisco. Following her hour-long perform- with stunning technique and fire at a one-night-only set at the Iridium ance, which will be broadcast over 150 stations nationwide, Mitchell will Room on the 16th. The gig was in support of his new Mojazz CD The converse with fans on Cyber-Talk, Warner Bros. Records’ interactive Swing And /. interview program on America Online.