European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 25, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Richard Butler sweats out show i Cologne Germany and uses an electronic Gadget at one Point to distort his voice. Is photos by Ken George Butler spits out furs for love  staff writer o wrong band Richard Butler remarks lightly when a fan yells out a request for pretty no Fra the underground a Small club in Cologne Germany. Wrong band right voice. The fan obviously mistook Butler s new band love spit love for a new incarnation of the psychedelic furs the British new wave pop band of the 80s that Butler s voice signified for a decade. But Butler in t indulging his past by letting furs hits Fly this Early in his new Endeavor. I m eager for that nor to happen says Butler whose dispassionate slightly adenoid Al voice has shaken off its adolescent air Over the years. It would be a mistake i think to. Do it this Early Butler says of performing furs songs at love spit love shows. Once it the band has established itself we  it s not that the new foursome does t have its own hit to play. Love spit love s self titled album its first and Only to Date spawned the swirling alternative hit am i wrong earlier this year. Following am / wrong up the charts is change in the weather another Cut from the album. In a Telephone conversation before the show Butler says he had t known what kind of reaction to expect to love spit love s release. But he concedes that launching his new band is markedly different than starting out at the Bottom As had the psychedelic furs. I m kind of cheating he laughs. Having achieved some recognition with the furs he adds gives the new band a better  Butler credits the Advent of highly specialized radio genres Sukai alternative music radio that gave love spit love its boost for the new band s Success. In Europe it s a different Story. Over Here you re either part of a Large cult group or you have to have a hit record or people Aren t going to hear you Butler says. Voith his new band Butler says he was looking for a More guitar oriented much More dynamic sound than the furs. He also sought a rawer ambiance for the first album. Overproduction is a mistake he says. I wanted to leave it open for myself and for us to play like we were playing  he wanted too to seek out musicians with influences other than those that inspired him because As the furs career had continued the results of working together became All too predictable. I knew what it would sound like and i wanted something i did t quite know How it would sound Butler says. I needed something pushing me into a different  even Butler s brother Tim ultimately did t make the Cut a member of the furs Tim Butler played Bass on love spit love but he has since been replaced by Lonnie Hillyer. As Richard Butler tells it it appeared that a parting of the ways musically speaking anyway was inevitable As this band went further and  family ties be damned. But he says that he s discovering the pleasure of the expect the unexpected creative collaboration he sought As an example he mentions the sort Jigsaw from love spit love which barrelled out of one musical direction and ended up in quite another. It s like of we re doing a country Western song and now we add a keyboard and it sounds Ike a East european polka he says. \ As for the furs Well they had their moments Butler reflects. Actually they had quite a few finest moments " he says noting the a Burns talk talk talk and world outside. Butler has lived in the states for 10 years and Calls new York Home. He married an american last summer and plans to continue living on the North american Side of the Atlantic Ocean. Of his Homeland he admits i be never missed it. Never looked  Short take former Vilseck 61 _ wins Uso contest a Wychuck Vlinch Washington Bureau a childhood career As a gospel Singer served army spec. Ben Steagall Well As he was named the grand prize Winner of the second annual Uso countdown to stardom overseas military Talent search in ceremonies in Washington last week. Steagall 25, who was recently reassigned to fort Bragg n.c., after three years in Vilseck Germany won $5,000 and a free recording session at Sony music studios in new York. I m shocked said Steagall who began performing at the age of 6 with his family which travelled the Southeastern United states singing gospel music at various local events. I really never expected to  Ben Vereen longtime Star of stage to and film made the award to Steagall for the chemical equipment repair technician s powerful rendition of feel the fire. Vereen one of several music Industry representatives who judged videotaped performances of two dozen local winners overseas said he was blown away by Ste agals work. I be heard feel the fire Many times but this performance was unique Vereen said. Steagall s Road to the grand prize began with a local Competition in Nurnberg Germany. For several weeks in August and september  contests were held at 24 bases in 12 foreign countries including Germany Italy Iceland the United kingdom Spain Turkey and Bahrain. Base winners received $500 and the Chance to submit videotapes to a panel of judges that included Vereen Singer actress Vanessa Williams Earth wind & fire vocalist Philip Bailey and country singers Holly Dunn and Freddy fender. Gail Logan marketing director for at to which sponsors the event for the Uso said the Competition s popularity has grown quickly in its Short history. This year 287 musical acts competed at local bases before total audiences of More than 9,000 people. The response was so heavy that some bases had to hold qualifying rounds Logan said. Steagall a Gaffney s.c., native who is As Low key off stage As he is charismatic when performing said he would t mind trying to make a go of a recording career. I can t really say that it s been a lifelong dream but i d sure make More Money performing than i would in the army he said. Steagall and his wife Trina have two children 5-year-old Paul and 14-month-old Sarah Beth. His current enlistment ends in about a year and he is leaning toward getting out. It s too hard on my family to be apart As much As we be been he said. Steagall said he spent the first seven months of his three year Germany tour alone while . After his family arrived they spent a total of More than another year apart due to various Maneu vers and deployments Over the remainder of his tour. Yet he has positive things to say about his nearly four years in uniform. The army s been Good to me he said. The really grown up and become a lot More confident in myself. Whatever i end up doing my army experience will help  Friday november 25,1994 the stars and stripes 23