Illinois Entertainer May 2023 | Page 4

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Cover Photo : Kevin Westenberg ; Masthead : American Recordings
May 2023 • Volume 49 , Number 07 • www . illinoisentertainer . com
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COVER STORY : LOVE AND ROCKETS

Not that a random Google quest can sum up the alpha / omega significance of any particular subject . But when you punch in ‘ Love and Rockets , band ’ on the search engine , one of the keys Frequently Asked Questions it churns up is a deceptively simple “ Is Love and Rockets Goth ?” It ’ s a conundrum that still confounds bandleader Daniel Ash himself , and therein hangs the spectral tale . Even though the Englishborn , psychedelic-splashy trio ( which also features bassist / vocalist David J and his percussionist brother Kevin Haskins ) hasn ’ t recorded a new album since Lift , its seventh and final set back in 1998 , it will forever be associated with its catacomb-creepy predecessor , the Peter Murphy-fronted Bauhaus a quartet that practically defined the term Goth rock . “ Because we are Goth , a little ,” the vocalist / guitarist allows , on the eve of Love and Rockets ’ surprise spring reunion tour and a corresponding Beggars Banquet remastering / reissuing campaign of all seven albums on colored vinyl . Tom Lanham spoke to Ash and Kevin Haskins . Yes the Goth godfathers .

HELLO , MY NAME IS SUSANNA HOFFS
Ex-Bangle Susanna Hoffs , since her band ’ s official breakup in 1989 , has steadily released four solo sets , plus three Under the Covers cover-song anthologies with Matthew Sweet , also her bandmate in Ming Tea , Mike Myers ’ faux-mod backing group that first inspired his zany Austin Powers movies ( which Hoffs ’ husband Jay Roach directed ). So she ’ s never suffered for work . “ But I dunno — for me , it ’ s gotten so crazy recently , it ’ s just been nonstop , and I think that ’ s a good thing ,” she marvels over her Herculean lockdown achievements : A new fifth album , the Peter Asher-produced The Deep End , a collection of mostly-obscure acoustic covers , plus the completion of her very first novel , This Bird Has Flown , with a backing book tour . Hoffs took time out from her book tour to bring us all up to speed …
PAGE 20 : LOVE AND ROCKETS
File
Hello My Name is Susanna Hoffs .
CinemScopes
May Films and Streams , including Guardians of The Galaxy VOL . 3 .
Spins
Metallica , Pink Floyd , Cory Branan and more .
Media
Andrea ’ s Illini Calling .
Calendar
1350 shows and 3000 bands , it ’ s IE ’ s live music calendar .
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Publisher John Vernon
Contributing Editors
Curt Baran Mik M illinoisentertainer . com may 2023
Advertising Sales Scott Assmann Mike Engel
Contributors : Andy Argyrakis , Guy Arnston , Penelope Biver , Patrick Conlan , Deena Dasein , Jaime de ' Medici , Andy Derer , Jeff Elbel Terrence Flamm Steve Forstneger
Address All Correspondence to :
Illinois Entertainer
4223 W . Lake St ., Suite 201
Chicago , IL 60624 il
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