Andy Taylor finds there is life after Duran Duran
Hundreds of thousands of girls worldwide know of Andy Taylor. Until recently, the diminutive British musician was best known as one of the pretty popsters in Duran Duran.
The new Duran Duran still attracts notoriety
“There haven’t been as many screamers at our shows as in the past,” said bassist John Taylor, one of the heartthrobs in the British pop band Duran Duran. “It’s really been kind of nice because not only do we have newer, older fans, but we still have a lot of our fans from seven years ago. It’s like we’ve grown up together.”
A stroke of genius: He’s young and hungry but the ideas come fast
Frank Lindner was too young to buy a copy of Playboy at most stores when he went to work as the magazine’s art historian. Before leaving his teens, he had worked his way into a job that sounds like every man’s fantasy come to life. Today, the 22-year-old bachelor is works as a free-lance art director and illustrator for the Limelight nightclub. His latest work – a series of sensual murals dubbed “Erotic Haze” – is on exhibit through October at the Limelight, 632 N. Dearborn.
Poplar Creek will open with `nice’ Howard Jones
If you want to get on the bad side of British pop star Howard Jones, call him an entertainer. “God, I hate that word,” Jones said. “It reminds me of one of those lounge lizards singing in Vegas.”
Bon Jovi plays fairy godmother to Cinderella
The story of Cinderella reads like a rock ‘n’ roll fairy tale. The band’s debut album, “Night Songs,” has sold more than a million copies, and the four hard rockers are on their second major tour in two years. The Philadelphia-based quartet will be the opening act for the immensely popular Bon Jovi in concerts starting at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Rosemont Horizon.
Rockin’ Scots Hipsway will sway here
“Somebody was saying that I was too tall to be a rock singer,” Grahame “Skin” Skinner said. “Actually, I didn’t sing in most of the groups I was in before because I didn’t think I had a good voice. I played a little guitar — very little. The theory goes that a baritone doesn’t reach his potential until he’s 35, so I’ve still got several years to ago. Then I can make my comeback.”
Oingo Boingo — the group and music – defies pigeonhole
According to John Avila of the rock group Oingo Boingo, “Boi-ngo”– the title of their latest album – is Japanese slang for “big breasts.” “Don’t quote me on that, though,” Avila said, laughing. “I’m just the bassist, not the linguist. That’s not why we chose that name, though. It was just an interesting title that’s a play on the group’s name. It sounded like fun, and all of us agreed it was a catchy title, so we used it.”
The verdict is in: Judge Reinhold’s a star
If it weren’t for the makeup caked on his face, Judge Reinhold probably wouldn’t stand out from the crew members on the set of his latest movie, “Vice Versa.” Filmed in Chicago, “Vice Versa” marks Reinhold’s first starring role.
Ninja actor gets a kick from karate film work
Cannon Films is touting actor Michael Dudikoff as the next big action hero. Luckily for him, there’s not a lot he can’t do physically.A longtime fitness enthusiast, he’s adept at most sports – except karate. That may surprise fans who saw him play a martial arts expert in “American Ninja.”
Dudikoff’s latest film, “American Ninja 2: The Confrontation,” is now playing at local theaters. The sequel to the successful 1985 thriller marks Dudikoff’s return as stoic superhero Joe Armstrong.
Rank and File retools to rock
Back in 1982 when Chip and Tony Kinman were having critical success with their band Rank and File, the group was one of the forerunners in the return to rock’s country roots. They advertised themselves as being good ol’ boys from Austin, Texas, and Chip even spoke with a slight drawl.
By any other name, rock’s World Party is Karl Wallinger
Welsh musician Karl Wallinger doesn’t seem comfortable doing interviews. The singer-songwriter has no trouble coming up with answers, but isn’t used to the attention. “The last time I was in America, I was with the Waterboys,” Wallinger said by phone from New York. “Since Mike (Scott) was essentially the Waterboys, I got to sleep while he did most of the interviews. It was rather nice, actually.”
Pop star Paul Young is at home on tour
During Paul Young’s last visit to the United States, he impaled himself onstage and was propositioned on national television. He’s still not sure which made him feel more uncomfortable. “I’m never quite sure when I’m being chatted up,” said the soulful British pop singer. On NBC’s “Tonight” show, actress Sonja Braga indicated she was interested in more than Young’s British accent. “I just sat there thinking, `This can’t be happening.’ It’s quite easy to flirt when you’re onstage, but in private, it’s a totally different situation.”
15-year-old likes young roles
David Mendenhall said one of the secrets to his success is his youthful appearance. And although the 15-year-old actor is happy playing 12-year-olds, he said he’d eventually like to play older teens.
Newscaster job helped fuel Rocket’s film career
Charles Rocket launched his acting career in a different way than most of his peers. While colleagues were paying their dues in local theater and moonlighting as waiters, Rocket was appearing on the nightly news as a reporter.
Successful trial run kept `L.A. Law’ star in acting
If he had listened to his parents, Jimmy Smits would be teaching astronomy to Brooklyn high school students. Instead, Smits is earning his income as a lawyer. Smits, 31, appears as Victor Sifuentes, one of the attorneys on “L.A. Law.” NBC’s hit series about a fictional Los Angeles law firm airs at 9 p.m. Thursdays on WMAQ-Channel 5.
Rebecca Schaeffer — patient actress skips soap for bubbly `Sister Sam’ role
While many would-be actresses would jump at the chance of nabbing a three-year contract on a television soap opera, Rebecca Schaeffer passed it up. “If I give you the real reason why I didn’t take it, I’m going to sound so cocky,” Schaeffer said during a break from working on her role in “My Sister Sam,” a CBS sitcom that airs at 7:30 p.m. Mondays on
WBBM-Channel 2. “But I got offered a role on `Loving’ within a couple of months after I had moved to New York. So I thought, if I got this so quickly, I might want to hold out for something that I really wanted to do.”
Georgia Satellites extend orbit to city
Four Southern rockers called the Georgia Satellites have been lost in space during their current concert tour. “The crowds haven’t been what they should be, especially for having two good rock ‘n’ roll bands out together,” said guitarist Dan Baird in a phone interview from an Elektra Records office in Los Angeles.
Charming Anita Baker puts her audience in `Rapture’
At barely 5 feet and 90 pounds, Anita Baker is as talented as she is petite. Her soldout concert Saturday night at the Arie Crown Theater — the second of three consecutive Chicago dates – proved that she has no problem matching the exuberance and joy she expresses on her gold album, “Rapture.”
Patrick Francis Bishop wants recognition
A lot of people are fooled by his name. Patrick Francis Bishop sounds about as American as you can get. But the Eurasian star of “General Hospital” considers himself more Asian than Caucasian. “I think it’s the same for most kids of mixed marriages,” Bishop said. “If a person’s half black and half white, society tends to think of him or her as black.”
England’s General Public keeps the beat going strong
Blame it on the babies. That’s what General Public’s Ranking Roger (a.k.a. Roger Charlery) said when asked why the group took two years to release its second album. Both Roger and Dave Wakeling, the British nucleus of the band, became fathers for the second time during the recording of “Hand to Mouth,” the followup to 1984’s “. . . All the Rage.”