The Michigan Daily - Friday, August 10, 1984 - Page 9
Local Bands put out records
By Dov Cohen
"It was whoever had the time and
a six pack of beer, and could show
up at three o'clock. "
So said Jim Gertz in describing the
way he chose the band members for his
new release, Mr. Largebeat.
Mr. Largebeat, a 3 song collection of
"space wave music," is just one of four
recent releases by local artists. The
other three include a boogie woogie
piano album by Mr. B (Mark Braun), a
new ska single by Disband and a con-
temporary rock 45 by Aluminum
Beach.
The reasons for releasing these works
differ almost as much as the works
themselves. Some hope to hook up with
a major label. Others just want to have
a good time.
"I basically did it for fun," said Ger-
tz, who produced all of the 50 or 60 tapes
in one week for under $100. With that
rate of production, Gertz ought to do the
musical score for a Roger Corman
flick.
Although he does work on a small
budget, Gertz is no cheapie when it
comes to packaging his product. All the
tapes have an extra 40 seconds at the
end which Gertz filled up with a special
sound. Each ending is different, said
Gertz. "There's everything from a cat
meowing to a toilet flushing,...Each as,
a special toy surprise-just like
Cracker Jacks," said Gertz.
Also, all tapes come in a special han-
dmade pyramid. That's one of the ad.
vantages of getting on a record label,
said Gertz. "They have access to print
up stuff. Otherwise you're sitting there
cutting out pyramids all afternoon."
On the more expensive side,:
Disband's new single entitled Disband
features "A Night of Serious Drinking"
and "The Working Song." It is an ex-
perimental album, according to Kurt
Kurtiss, the bassist of the band and
author of "Working."
The single has been sent out to dif-
ferent radio stations around the coun-
try. "We'd like to explore different
areas, different markets...We're sen-
ding it out to people looking for new
bands," said Kurtiss. Kurtiss thinks
"The Working Song," which he
describes as "a ska version of 'Take
This Job and Shove it,"' will have par-
ticular appeal in the blue collar areas
of the Northeast.
Disband is also going into videos.
"Many producers will take you
seriously, if you have video backing you
up," said Kurtiss.
"You cannot separate video and
music," added Disband guitarist Doug
Heller. "If you're going to do music,
you have to do videos," he said.
The band currently has two videos in
, CRYING/
GREY
SlACKS
I -
up with his second lat
"It's not a big label,
good," said Mr. B.
The company has;
bring him to Europe for
get to play in some real
el, Oldie Blues.
but it's really
also agreed to
rtwo tours. "I'll
nice jazz clubs,"
.y
the works. One for "Consumption" and
one for "Dogs and Kids and Older
People." "Consumption" was shot at
the art fair and featured Phil Berman,
the group's drummer. Berman went
around to different people at the Fair
who were eating and "grabbed food and
drink from the (unsuspecting) bystan-
ders and then ate it right in front of
them," said Kurtiss.
At the end of the video, Berman at-
tempts a spontaneous breakdance. "He
almost broke his back...(I guess) it
made quite a loud noise," said Kurtiss.
Aluminum Beach will be touring the
east coast thanks to their new 45
Crying/Grey Slacks. The tour, which
was arranged by Frank Riley, agent of
the Violent Femmes and Love Tractor,
was contingent on them putting out a
single.
"You must establish yourself as a
recording artist," said bassist Paul
Sullivan.
"It (the single) is the first big step (in
our career). It's a culmination of four
years of (the band) staying together,"
said Sullivan.
Sullivan also said he sees the single
as a major step toward getting a label.
"The intent was not to make money,
but to promote the band...We set more
(records) aside for promotional pur-
poses, than for selling in town," he said.
Mr. B does not have to worry about
getting a label - his new album, B's
Bounce, has already gotten him one.
As a result of Bounce, he has hooked
he said.
The album, of which Mr. B has
already sold 600 copies, is comprised of
half originals and half "blues/boogie
standards which aren't around very
much."
These four titles along with other
local releases can be found at P.J.'s
Used Records andSchool Kids.
Gertz
... just wants tohave fun
Burton's funeral is
a somber, quiet affair
CELIGNY, Switzerland
(UPI)-Richard Burton, eulogized as
one of the world's great actors, was
buried yesterday in a tree-shaded
cemetery with three of his brothers
quietly singing in Welsh at the
graveside.
His widow, Sally Burton, placed a let-
ter, a simple flower, and a book by the
hard-drinking Welsh poet Dylan
Thomas on the coffin of the actor whose
own drinking and five marriages were
as legendary as his immense talent.
Burton, twice married to actress
Elizabeth Taylor and nominated seven
times for an Oscar he never won, died
last Sunday at the age of 58 after suf-
fering a massive cerebral hemorrhage.
Respecting the wish of the 35-year-
old widow, the former Sally Hay, only
about 80 family members and close
friends attended the funeral, although
loud speakers relayed the service to
mourners outside the church.
At the ceremony were Burton's
daughters from his first marriage,
Kate and Jessica, his adopted
daughter with Taylor, Maria, his
brothers and sisters from Wales, and
his closest friends.
Liza Todd, Taylor's daughter from
her marriage with film producer Mike
Todd, attended the ceremony with
Maria Burton. Burton raised Liza Todd
after the death of her father.
Celebrities did not travel to Swit-
zerland and instead were attending
later memorial services in London,
New York, Los Angeles and in Wales.
Taylor sent flowers and a private
message of sympathy from California.
NBC reported Taylor had told Burton's
brother Graham Jenkins she would at-
tend a memorial service scheduled for
Saturday at Burton's childhood home of
Pontrhydfen, Wales.
As the coffin was placed in the grave
chosen by Burton in the old Celigny
cemetery at the edge of a forest, three
of his brothers sang a hymn and then a
song often heard at games of
rugby-the national sport of Burton's
native Wales.
Burton's widow appeared composed
but his daughters Kate and Jessica and
sisters of the actor stared at the ground,
sobbing quietly.
"Gimme a D
Gimme an A
Gimme an 11 ,,L eY
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