Oregon daily emerald., July 14, 1983, Page 7, Image 7

Loverboy returns to headline Oregon Jam
Joan Jett, Triumph also play
By Cort Femald
Of ft** Emerald
Autzen Stadium is usually filled with
arching footballs and the sounds of
cheering (sometimes groaning) foot
ball fans. The carpet is usually oc
cupied by a scramble of grunting foot
ball players.
But on Saturday Autzen Stadium will
be filled with the thunder of rock'n’roll
— heavy metal rock’n'roll — and
thousands of celebrating fans in the
stands and on the carpet when the
University’s athletic department and
Double Tee Promotions Inc. of
Portland presents "Oregon Jam ’83.”
Tickets are still available and will be
the day of the show. Tickets are $1/
and can be purchased at Everybody's
Records, G.l. Joe’s and the University
athletic department.
This is the third ‘‘Jam’’ in as many
years and the eight-hour outdoor event
has become a mid-summer classic
known throughout the state. Headlin
ing the “Jam” this year will be Lover
boy, Triumph, Joan Jett and the
Blackheads, with Night Ranger and
Quiet Riot as suppoding acts. The
Greg Kihn Band, previously announced
to appear, has cancelled due to
scheduling conflicts.
For crowd favorites Loverboy and
Jett, this will be encore performances
at Autzen. Jett appeared in the “Jam"
last year, while Loverboy has played
every “Jam” since 1981,
In past years “Jam” crowds have
numbered between 35,000 and 40,000.
They have been surprisingly well
mannered for a crowd that size. No ma
jor incidents of unruly behavior and
severe injuries have occurred in past
years.
The weather has usually been hot to
a scorching 120 degrees in 1981. This
“Jam" probably won’t be as hot in the
crowd though it will be hot on stage.
The "Jam” kicks off at 11 a.m. with
Quiet Riot, then Night Ranger, Jett,
Triumph and Loverboy.
Quiet Riot are doubtless the most
appropriate band to start the "Jam.”
They play raw energy rock'n’roll that re
tains the inspiration of The Who, Faces
and Mott the Hoople.
The band was initially formed in 1975
by Kevin DuBrow and the late Randy
Rhoades, whose guitar work with Ozzy
Osbourne is legendary. The line-up has
changed since 1975 and now consists
of DuBrow, bassist Rudy Sarzo,
guitarist Carlos Cavazo and Frankie
Banali on drums. Quiet Riot's most re
Courtesy ot Columbia Records
This is the third “Jam” appearance for Canadian supergroup Loverboy.
Emerald photo
At last year's “Jam" 40,000 screaming fans enjoyed the sun and rock at Autzen
Stadium.
cent release is “Metal Health." The
album features “Slick Black Cadillac”
and Slade’s “Cum Feel the Noize.”
Night Ranger is a band now reaching
the heights of popularity. They’ve been
touring and knocking out audiences.
Their debut album “Dawn Patrol” on
Neil Bogart’s Boardwalk Records has
been receiving critical acclaim —
especially the single "Don’t Tell Me
You Love Me.” The single has been a
radio hit and, more importantly, is on
the MTV rotation.
Night Ranger, like Quiet Riot, has a
connection with Ozzy Osbourne. Brad
Gillis, second lead guitar alongside
Jeff Watson, filled the vacancy in
Osbourne s band following the death
of Rhoades.
Other members of Night Ranger are
songwriting-vocalists Kelly Keagy and
Jack Blades. Night Ranger’s keyboar
dist and founder is Alan “Fitz” Fit
zgerald. He’s played bass for Ronnie
Montrose and keyboards for Sammy
Hagar. Fitzgerald is credited with
distilling the chemistry of Gillis, Wat
son, Keagy and Blades into the suc
cessful mix of Night Ranger.
Coming back for a second go ’round
at the “Jam” is the penultimate woman
rock’n’roll artist Joan Jett. Well, that’s
a sexist statement. Regardless of
gender, Jett is a consumate
rock’n’roller.
Jett’s story of splashy success with
the underage Los Angeles band The
Runaways in the mid-’70s, then virtual
obscurity until the hit album “Bad
Reputation” in the '80s brought her
back to the spotlight, is well known. If
any artist has struggled and sacrificed
for recognition it’s Jett.
When Jett re-emerged she was sur
rounded with creative people like pro
ducers Kenny Laguna and Ritchie Cor
dell. Some of the musicians she played
with, such as Sex Pistols’ Steve Jones
and Paul Cook, Blondie’s Clem Burke
and Frank Infante, were equally
talented. Jett’s present Blackheads
consist of well-polished musicians
Ricky Byrd on guitar, Lee Crystal on
drums and Gary Ryan on bass.
The work has paid off for Jett. Spec
tators at the “Jam” last year
remarked that Jett and the Blackheads
were “the best" — maybe even better
than the top act Foreigner.
By the time Triumph takes the stage
the build-up of all the bands before will
be only a jump from which they will
leap to new heights of energetic
rock'n’roll. Triumph is known for its
spectacular stage shows and the
Autzen crowd will not be disappointed.
Explosions and smoke will punctuate
the solid crash of Rik Emmett’s power
chords.
Drummer Gil Moore said Triumph’s
sound “is kind of English progressive
meets American blues rock’n’roll, and
it’s full of surprises.”
Triumph really enjoys performing.
According to Moore “Nothing can
match the feeling of the building ac
tually vibrating. Rock is power, there’s
Continued on Page 8
WOW Hall hosts
vaudeville alive
at Saturday show
Vaudeville will come alive Saturday
at the WOW Hall with a performance
of "Vaudeville Lives!”
The extravaganza, which includes
music, magic, comedy, juggling and
bubble magic is $4 general admission
and $2 for those under 10 or over 60
years of age. Showtime is 8:30 p.m. at
WOW Hall, on the corner of Eighth
Avenue and Lincoln Street.
Tom Noddy, who will perform bub
ble magic and puppet satire, has ap
peared twice on Johnny Carson’s
“Tonight Show” and twice on “That’s
Incredible." He also has performed
for British, French and Irish
television.
Eugene’s Moz Wright, recently
featured at the Winnipeg Interna
tional Children’s Festival and on the
television show “Switchback,” will
perform his firebreathing and sword
swallowing act.
The show also will feature two
magicians from C’est Cheese Theatre
of San Fransisco along with a variety
of music.
Friday, the Robert Cray Band will
perform danceable blues music
beginning at 9 p.m. Cost is $3.50.
The Community Center for the Per
forming Arts is hosting the entertain
ment this weekend.
Beer and wine will be served
downstairs.
Rent an
Electric Typewriter.
Rent now!
Availability iimited.
At your Bookstore.
Jo’s Happy Hours
2 for 1 Drinks!
11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. M-F
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sat. & Sun.
Midnight Special Sun. — Thurs.
2 for 1 on all drinks! 12 to 1 a.m.
Jo Federigo’s • 259 E. 5th
r
Tire Sale j
Buy 2 specialized tires
and get 2 tubes ($5 value)
for FREE
w«th coupon only • good through July
j
663 E. Thirteenth Eugene. Oregon 97401 • 343-7086