Rockworld unity would seem to be at an all-time high judging by the following brief encounters out on the road:
A poetry benefit at St. Mark's Church in New York drew such local celebs as Judy Nylon, Blue Oyster Cult's Allen Lanier, radical '60s priest Ted Berrigan, Allen Ginsberg (who read his "Ode to Plutonium"), the Erasers, and — of all people — Elvis Costello, who showed up in greaser drag to join Richard Hell and the Void Oids (featuring ace new-wave guitarist Bob Quine) for a set that included Hell's "You Got to Lose" and "Love Comes in Spurts," and a rousing rendition of the Stones' "Shattered." Hot stuff.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Bruce Springsteen turned up at Greg Kihn's Roxy debut to catch Kihn's live version of the Boss's "For You," and was so pleased he stopped backstage afterwards for a chat. Later, Springsteen jumped onstage to jam with the Knack, an L.A. four-piece who've gotta have something going for them — among the other admirers who showed up at their series of gigs at the Troubadour and Starwood clubs recently were Steve Stills, Eddie Money, Tom Petty and ex-Door Ray Manzarek. Watch these guys.
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