European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 19, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse To Rafferty same music different message by Ron Mckinney staff writer scottish bom pop Singer Gerry Rafferty strums his guitar with the same Lack of Zeal that he displays As a showman in his current european tour. No histrionics from this Guy just a straight Forward feed of his trademark symphonic pop music that has not wavered since his City to City Days of the late 1970s when he was a fixture on the american pop charts. Rafferty stands behind the microphone and opens each song with a Brief history and ends the song with a Humble thank you. Thank consider this Intro this next song has a saxophone and then the. Band kicked into the spirited Baker Street Rafferty s biggest single seller. Maybe the minimalist introduction was because the no. 2 hit Baker Street needed no introduction especially to the 1,300 fans who flocked to the magnificent alte oper on feb. 10. Or maybe it was an example of Rafferty s droll sense of humor. Rafferty 45, needs that sense of humor these Days. Most of the songs on his latest european release album on a Wing and a prayer were inspired by the breakup of his marriage of 20 years. It came As i great Shock to me because it was not of my choosing. It was very traumatic Rafferty said. The band for this tour includes four guitarists three keyboardists a drummer a percussionist a saxophonist and a backup vocalist. Rafferty s most recent single the poignant easy to talk did t make much of an impression on the european charts but it was enthusiastically applauded by the German crowd. He said writing tunes like that one was a form of catharsis. That was based on a very close relationship to me and was based on the notion of being utterly attacked he said. Someone pointing out faults in yourself but failing to see the faults in their own self. That Way it s very easy to is Jimd Tolm Gerry Rafferty has not released an album in the states in a dozen years. Talk it s very easy to Point the Finger at someone else and say you Are this and you Are that " Rafferty has stayed True to the music that produced five american hits in the late 1970s, but his newer songs about divorce and betrayal Lack the evocative punch of his songs of love and everlasting commitment i Don t really think my music has changed in any remarkable Way he said in his thick scottish accent. I get this question quite frequently from music business journalists. They seem to expect that you should change Over the years. But then that s fashion. And i be never been involved in fashion of any that s also True when Rafferty is faced with a question about a recent techno music remake of Baker Street by think it was terrible absolutely dreadful. Awful. I hated Rafferty said he Cut Back his schedule in 1980 and that was the last americans have heard from the scottish pop Singer. However he has continued to release european albums. Although he has never gotten another american record contract Rafferty said he has never regretted his decision. That the family was far More important he said. The record sales i think too Many artists get caught in that whole thing figures and record sales they Don t pay enough attention to their personal life and make a Success of that As Little Richard in concert see pages 20-21 the Rock n Roll Hall of Famer brings his feel Good music to Europe beginning March a february 19,1993 the stars and stripes Short take Walker brings humor not Good times by Ron Mckinney staff writer Jimmie Walker May have been. Irreverently funny during his stand up comedy act in the def comedy connection s 90-Mlnute Stop at Hanau s Pioneer club but he fell Short of being Day no of be the 45-year-old Walker kept the crowd of about 400 laughing with his off color banter and by improvising non Stop dialogue with any poor soul walking by the stage. Noticeably absent though was his trademark punchline from his acting Days on the hit 1970s television sitcom Good times. Walker appeared on the comedy show which is currently appearing at military nightclubs throughout Germany with guests Cathy Melton and Dwonda White. Melton and White Drew consistent laughs with their routines but they were unable to match Walker s ability to rap with the audience. While some people May have wondered what had become of Walker since Good times went off the air in 1979, Walker says his career has never been off track. I be been writing and Workin and battling and that s it Walker said while pacing his dressing room during a Short interview before the show. Trying to sell shows just like anyone Walker said he Felt indifference when Good times went off the air. Just like people Walker die. It comes to an end he said. Although he said that he considered himself a comedian and not an actor he continued to pursue a television acting career. He starred in dad. Cats in 1980 and at ease in 1983, both Short lived add sitcoms. And even As a comedian he admitted his was never the hottest act. We had a hot sitcom but that was it he said. Walker said he s stayed Busy with pcs and Showtime television specials along with commercials. During the comedy show Walker was at his Best when poking fun at a few German gentlemen a lady whose pinned up hair looked like a japanese family was living in it and a Black Man who kept walking Back and Forth in front of the stage to show off the suit he just he also picked on Michael Jackson he had to have surgery on his Finger so he could pick his and White rapper Marky Mark yall had Larry Bird that s enough. 17
