ZANG TUMMM TUMB ARTICLES “the first draft of history”

Whispers at the chambers of horrors

Power Station? Pah! Who needs ‘em? Certainly not Nick Rhodes and Simon Le Bon, currently working on an album in Paris with Roger Taylor on drums, Masami Tsuchiya (ex Japan) on guitar, Mark Egan (ex Miles Davis) on bass and Andy Mackay on sax. Andy Mackay used to be in a group called Roxy something or other, who were a big influence on Duran Duran. Alex Sadkin produces.

Whispers hears that Nick and Simon are just a teensy bit jealous of all the publicity John Taylor has been receiving of late. We also learn, despite strong denials from the group last month, that Power Station may well tour after all.

But! — and this is the exciting news for Duran fans — Whispers also hears that Duran themselves are pencilling in British December dates. Eek, squeal, swoon etc…

Anyone hear Mirror man John Blake on TVam telling the world that DD were to split up? All totally untrue of course, but who was Blakey talking about when he mentioned a band called Power House? Search Whispers

Daryl Hall is delighted with Paul Youngs version of ‘Every Time You Go Away. “Our stuff gets covered a lot but Pauls version is special,” he says. Hall And Oates are rumoured to be visiting Britain for summer dates…

Frankie and George Michael are getting on like hot cakes. Georgie Boy went to Birmingham to see the band last week and after the show it was decided theyd all try to blag their way into David Bowie and Tina Turners hotel ten miles out of town, Bowie having guested with the squawking siren that same night. So various Frankies nipped into Georges car, full of excitement, meeting old hero, blah blah. Imagine their surprise on arrival at finding David and Tina had gone to bed with flu!

Anyroad, the by now bevvied party drowned their sorrows in the hotel bar where Michael haughtily proffered his American Express card as payment. “Just a minute, sir,” says the barman superciliously and goes off to check GMs credit rating! “I just dont believe this,” muttered a blushing Michael.

The evening ended in high spirits however with a return journey, taken up by a singalonga Whamafrankie, popping of Moet magnums and much ribald laughter. Then, as they pulled back into Birmingham poor old George was taken poorly and blooergh! He deposited the contents of his stomach all over the car, bye bye glamour boy image, open the windows quick somebody! Naughty Nasher suggested they collect the resulting pavement pizza and raffle it off…

A disgustingly brown Steve Dagger returned briefly from Oz where he tells us Spandaumania has reached double knicker wetting proportions.

No.1 Spandau competition winner Janine Brindle got off to a good start when she enjoyed a Bon Voyage meal in London with Siobhan of Bananarama, and Mark OReilly of Matt Bianco who gave her lots of rude questions to ask Gazza, Mart and the boys. Keep off the Fosters, Simper!…

Europes first rocknroll museum opened in the hippy hamburger haven Hard Rock Cafe last Sunday amidst much trumpeting and passing of relish. The museum includes Jimi Hendrixs belt, a Beatles poster from Aldershot 1962 where three people and a dog turned up, Blues Brothers hats, Little Richards boots and a telegram from Elvis Presley welcoming The Fab Four to America for the first time. A party was thrown of course. Guests included FGTH, Queen, Al Pacino and Nik Kershaw…

Holly Johnson has had his hair cut. He looks just like Tin Tin. Not Steve Duffy, you fools! Meanwhile The Three Lads are going to the Channel Islands later this year to lock themselves away “and get down to some serious writing and bevvying,” says Mark OToole. He reckons theyve already written a sure fire numero uno. Indeed?…

Blancmanges Neil Arthur has moved to a small flat in South London where he decided hed need advice from the local crime prevention officer. Get a doggy, suggested the CPO. “Ive decided to get a chinchilla,” says Neil, “cos they go grrr, dont they? Or I might just rig up a sensitive beam across the window so that if anyone like Steve tries to break in, a tape of a dog comes on barking like mad. Itll be cheaper and I wont have to take it for walks.”

Blancmange are working on possible singles right now. Top of the list are two songs called ‘Dont You Love It All and ‘Lose Your Love

Paul Youngs tour has been been christened The Nine Go Mad with Davy Crockett tour. Apparently on-tour hi-jinx include late-night camp fire renditions of the Davy Crockett song…

Incidentally, David Bowies flu make a remarkable recovery when Paul Young went to see him and Tina Turner at Birmingham. Paul met DB and got on famously… Keith Airey, the blond hunk guitarist with Nik Kershaws Krew, recovered from the humiliation of seeing his Sunderland boys beaten by Norwich to play in the orchestra at the West End ‘musical Cats last weekend…

Miaow!