European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 16, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse By h1llel Italie associated press Sinead a coming to town a of Connor that is. She shot. The kids love her. Critics Tod. The albums gone Platinum. Her concerts sell out everywhere and that look. Her shaved head is As distinctive As the beatle mop top was in 1964. That a what Joe Poggi is thinking. He a the marketing director at Kurg in Houston. He needs a gimmick a Way to get More listeners. Something outrageous if necessary. He s got it Madonna was just in town one Stop on her Quot Blond ambition Why not play off that and go one better. Take o Connors name and shout it from the highest rooftops a literally. Quot we had our afternoon Jock get on the top of the Summit which overlooks the Southwest freeway Quot explained Poggi referring to the City a sports Arena. Quot on the marquee we had them put Energy 95 presents the Bald ambition Quot you see the show sold out and we had a pair of front Row tickets. But you had to be the first person to come there and let professional stylists Cut your hair. Quot we had a person show up at 3 15 with hair Down to his shoulders. He s a swim coach and we put him upon the marquee. And at 4 30, just when Rush hours really Good we started cutting his hair. People were laughing and honking some pulled Over and Highway haircuts and Rush hour remotes May not seem the most dignified Way to Greet the Best Selling author of songs about dead boyfriends and police brutality even if she does shave her head. But this is hit radio and a new look plus a Platinum up Means Gold for the Happy Happy world of morning zoos and celebrity Wake up Calls. Quot i Don t think we did it to make fun of her Quot said Mark Todd operations manager for Kulz in los Angeles another Quot shave your head Quot promoter. A people Are fans and we did it out of fun. We weren t doing it to put her Down. We play her records constantly. It s basically intended to let the listeners participate in something. It makes for Good Quot when it was discovered she was coming into town for a concert our phones were screaming Quot said Cris Dockett assistant promotion manager at Wimms in Cleveland. Quot anybody willing to shave their head received tickets plus we gave them Cash. They were willing to do it. One of them even brought her own Hairdresser into the but All the hype has caused much sorrow for the 23-year-old Irish performer who toured North America from May 1 to june 11. Of Connor whose / do not want what i Haven t got album quickly topped the charts was especially upset when she Learned that a san Diego radio station had taken to the airwaves to track Down her hotel. A in America people Are obsessed a the Singer complained in a phone interview from Austin Texas Quot its really really shocking. It s so frightening. They follow you around and it freaks you out. Anything could be happening. What am i supposed to do Quot Quot it s All been a rude Surprise for Sinead Quot said o Conner s publicist Elaine Schock. Quot she s used to walking the streets. When i would go to see her in England shed Greet me at the subway. Intellectually she understood that becoming famous would change things but in her heart she was hoping it Quot Many promoters can sympathize but insist o Connor will have to get used to it. Its All part of being in the limelight they say. Rock n1 Roll stars Are fair game As Are All celebrities they argue. Sell a million records and you a better bring a pair of sunglasses and keep the phone off the Hook. Quot we can do stuff like that with anybody Quot said producer Telephone Tony of Whitz in new York another station on the Quot shave your head Quot network. Quot when Prince was out he had the same Type of thing and Michael Jackson too. We had sightings for Madonna around Central Park. We were having listener reports. It was great. Quot in a sure it probably bothers her Quot the producer said of o Connor. Quot in be listened to her album and it s a really serious artistic piece. But the fact that she has Short hair and the fact she s unique opens up the joke Mike Novack program manager and operations director at Kumb in san Diego said his station has a group of people they Call Quot hotel weasels Quot who let them know where celebrities Are it gets worse much worse. In Chicago whup morning Host Jonathon Brandmeier likes to Greet visiting luminaries with Wake up Calls a live Wake up Calls. Jonathan Winters pretended he was Bob Dell in town for a plumber s convention when he was called. Robert de Niro Hung up. Steve Martin threatened Legal action. Brandmeier was broadcasting from los Angeles in june and switched from ringing phones to ringing doorbells sending a producer for Surprise Earty morning visits to such stars As George Burns Peter Falk and Gene Kelly none of whom Ever came to the door. Quot its All done for the sole purpose for garnering ratings for the radio station Quot said Carey Curelop program director of Wlos in los Angeles. Quot some people have More scruples about it than others. It depends what your threshold of respect for the artist so o Connor better be prepared when she returns to the United states on aug. 1 for a month Long North american tour. What can she do not much it seems. Schock noted she already has tight Security and said nothing new was planned for the upcoming shows. Quot How do you Stop radio stations or contests those Are things beyond everybody s control Quot Schock said. Quot she never thought of being a Star As a goal in her life. She s had to make adjustments. Going out and going shopping is not the same and o Connor who briefly ran away when she 16, can Only wonder if it s time to disappear again Quot in a enjoying it and i enjoy playing and love All that aspect of it it also brings things that i really can t stand As Well Quot she said. Quot when i finish the show. I m off duty. I Don t want to be intruded upon it s no wonder that people end up on drugs and drinking. People treat you As something which in t monday july 16, 1990 the stars and strikes a a a Page 17
