The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 9

6 i D. rn St. UN uuu MONTREAL, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1988 Rroblem-ridden Bethune miniseries wraps up 2 years of filming the actor for being "egomaniacal" and accused him of trying to find another scriptwriter for the project. Allan, who is the co-author of the Bethune biography, The Scalpel and the Sword, had been working for 12 years to get his script made into a movie. He was also a close friend of the late Bethune, who is still revered in China for his efforts tion on the project to go ahead.

Aside from financial difficulties, internal dissension between Bethune writer Ted Allan and its star Sutherland threatened to abort the entire project. Last March, Allan charged that Sutherland was delaying production on the project because he was working on another film. He also blasted miniseries epic is based on the life of legendary Montreal surgeon Dr. Norman Bethune. Canadian actor Donald Sutherland stars as Bethune.

Shooting on the film began in China in the spring of 1987. But there was a delay of 13 months and speculation the project would be scrapped before filming resumed last month in Montreal. Shooting in Spain lasted during the revolution in the 1940s. 5 The film and TV miniseries is! directed by Phillip Borsos and also) stars Britain's Helen Mirren-France's Anouk Aimee. Filmline producer Nicolas Cler- mont hopes to have the film ready; for the Cannes Film Festival in May.

1 two weeks. Filmline International, the Montreal-based producer of the project, was unable to finish filming in Montreal and Spain in October 1987 because of financial problems. Telefilm Canada, the federal film-funding agency, and Bethune's Chinese co-producers put up an additional $2.5 million to allow produc By BILL BROWNSTEIN of The Gazette Shooting wrapped yesterday in MadHd on Bethune: The Making of a Hero, one of the most ambitious and Controversial Canadian film projects ever undertaken. A Canadian-Chinese $18-million movie and TV Soud DGU Zesty new Nutcracker refurbishes old tradition Glass, who lives outside Toron By GRAEME HAMILTON of The Gazette to, admits that playing ZZ Top over and over becomes "wear very weekend, young. Montrealers decked out in their best jeans and leather Ail-star cast of dancers iis expected for benefit 'ti Twenty of the world's foremost ballet stars have confirmed their participation in the fourth annual Don des Etoiles benefit at Place des Arts next September, 'r They include dancers from the U.S.S.R.'s famed Bolshoi and Kirov ballets as well as some from companies in New York, San Francisco, Paris, Marseille, Toronto and Osteopathy research Andris Liepa, the Soviet superstar on loan this season to American Ballet Theatre from Uk.

Bolshoi, is also ing." "We've been playing it so much that we really don't have to think about it. It's kind of like automatic pilot." On the flip side, the group has had plenty of opportunity to polish its imitation. In fact, Glass says, Tres Hombres are so polished they can outplay ZZ Top. "To be quite honest, I think they have a tremendous charisma, a class about them," he says of his Texan progenitors. "But I believe that we play better.

"We're tighter, certainly." Tres Hombres was one of the pioneers of the current tribute craze, and their success has spawned imitators. When they play the Pioneer in January they will be following a month on the heels of Zone Rangers, a "Tribute to ZZ Top." Kirby, who represents Tres Hombres, says the Zone Rangers "are sort of a tribute to Tres tJhV" fy Le Grand) Ballet Canadian' The Nut- cracker at Place des Arts last night. Chore- ography by Fernand Nault, music by Tchal- kovaky, orchestra conducted by Vladimir Jelinek. Repeated in 1 1 performances through Dec. 30.

By LINDE HOWE-BECK Special to The Gazette Splendidly refurbished last The Nutcracker is getting better; every year. It's as if the sumptuous sets by Peter Home and costumes by Francois Barbeau have injected newj vitality into the Ameers as well as; into the production that has been Montreal holiday staple for 24 years. Dancers live up to their sparkling; costumes, drawing on energy and! style that is becoming a company; trademark. They look relaxed and; hannv in their roles and dance with' troop out to see big-name rock 'n' roll, live. Groups like Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, ZZ Top.

Or at least groups similar to Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and ZZ Top. The real names are Presence, Midnight Ramblers, Clearlight and Tres Hombres, and they serve up "tributes" to the original acts, complete with borrowed makeup, posturing and between-song ban-; ter. Part of a growing legion of tribute bands, they earn their livelihood copying someone else's music in bars across the country. Last weekend, Club Soda featured Canada's best known clone band, the Blushing Brides, whose act is a tribute to the Rolling Stones. And since the Pioneer Bar Salon in Pointe Gaire adopted an all-tribute format last September, it has become a regular haven for tribute bands.

Love music expected to perform. It woulibe his third consecutive appearance at the gala-event, the proceeds of which help crippled children who are patients of the Canadian Foundation for Teaching and Research in Osteopathy. In its brief history, Le Don des Etoiles has been a smash hit with bothjts public and the artists who donate their time to perform for the assuredness of technique that en-! courages them to explore the emo-; tional dimensions of their parts. Character parts 0 i The Nutcracker is choc-a-bloc full of ripe character parts as well as couple of purely classical roles! meant to show dancers' To display the company strengths; this season, no fewer than four part-; nerships share the title roles of the; Sugarplum Fairy and her For some of the bands, it's a simple question of playing the music they love. "To us, Led Zeppelin's the ultimate band," explains Brian Wall, the drummer for the Hamilton-based band Presence, which played at the Pioneer recently.

"We're paying homage to them." "We're keeping their music alive," adds the band's guitarist and founder, Larry Spiak, formerly with another tribute to Led Zeppelin, Ruins. For others, though, it's a calculated business decision to play mu Lesser roics are aiso aivviea up. con-. vincing evidence that Les Grands no; rd-' longer suffers from a lack of front-; and-rentre talent. New and nromis- ing dancers are emerging en'.

masse. However not all have the spit and; polish of Andrea Boardman and Rey Odieue. Dave Dizon who danced the lead roles last Nick Sanopoli: "I'm up there portraying a character." night. Some are rising talents like the radiant Julie Houle whose, warmth dominates the Waltz of the; Led Zeppelin reigns as the most-covered band, he adds. "It's ridiculous how many bands do Led Zeppelin." Original groups But if some original groups are over-covered, some just shouldn't have been covered in the first place, Kirby says.

A glaring example from the height of the tribute boom: a now-defunct tribute to Cyndi Lauper. Whether they're covering Alice Cooper or ZZ Top, tribute bands share one goal to burst out of the tribute ghetto and establish themselves as original acts. "We're working on our original stuff," says Alice Cooper clone Sanopoli. "We're just getting last-minute production down." Says Glass of Tres Hombres: "I'm writing, recording, doing demos, looking for a record deal." Until the elusive break arrives, music fans and bar owners are happy to have a ready pool of copycat rockers. Kevin Bracken, who runs the Pioneer with his brother, says the bar's switch from Top 40 to tribute bands has attracted more customers.

"With regular bar bands it's always the same thing. You can have four different bands in four different weeks, but it's always the same music." For the moment, anyway, the tribute acts are a novel change. And as patron Gary Burge explained before a recent Presence show, the bands' appeal is obvious. "For Led Zeppelin, this Is as close as I'm going to get to the real thing." benefit. Nowhere else in North America does a gala engender so much" interest among ballet stars.

Programming is a problem only because so many dancers wish to participate, says director-general Victor Melnikoff. Tjie National Ballet of Canada's Frank Augustyn is both artistic director and one of the performers for this annual event: He will partner the Boston Ballet's Marie-Chi istime Mouis. Nissincn and Ludmilla Lo-plikhova from the San Francisco Ballet will make their Montreal debuts at the event. Bolshoi's beautiful Nina Anan-iashvili will return with Irek Mukha-madev, as will Farouk Rouzimatov and Altynai Asylmouratova, sensations from the Kirov. Superstar returns Other participating dancers Include Valcntina Kozlova of the New York City Ballet, Marianna Tcher-kassy from American Ballet Theatre aod Robert Hill and Julio Bocca.

Fernando Bujones of the National Ballet of Canada will partner in Corsaire. -On Sept 2, Charles Jude and Elizabeth Platel of the Paris Opera will perform, and superstar Patrick Du-pond will return along with Manuel Lcgris. Erie Vu An and Monique Lou-dieres. as well as the Paris Opera's brightest new superstar Sylvie Guil-Icm. have Indicated they will return to "dance at Le Don.

The Royal Winnipeg's Evelyn Hart, will dance with the National's Rex Harrington. Flowers, and Judith Johnson with; the shapely and explicit legs whose Snow Queen is impressively regal. Special flavor There's much more to this Nut-' cracker that technique, Children who add special flavor to; the production, particularly in the; sic that will fill the bars and pay their bills. "U2 at least gets us through the door," says Andy White, drummer with Joshua, which promotes itself as "the Pride of U2." "We wouldn't be able to come here doing all originals." Members of Joshua say they chose U2 partly because the Irish band is known more for weighty lyrics than flamboyant outfits. "We didn't have to get hair extensions or leather pants to play the stuff," says bassist Scott Draper.

"With U2 you can Just be yourself." For Nick Sanopoli of Scarborough, on the other hand, being himself was never a consideration when he began his clone act. The founder and load singer of Just Alice, a tribute to Alice Cooper, he considers his show a hybrid of music and theatre. "I'm not Just singing. I'm up I.ivi.mi yn ijf avmr ill mui.ii tiiv iiw owe, iiara, is iniruuuceu. Clara's nightmare of mice battling Police cover band who broke out on their own and became instant teen heart throbs.

"They weren't even a good Police band." Kirby remembers. He points out that other Canadian me ga-bands like Rush and Triumph began by covering Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hcndrix. Fame arrives Before fame arrives, though, the top tribute bands can make a decent living. Kirby says groups like Joshua and Over the Garden Wall, who emulate Genesis, pull in $10,000 a week. Lonnie Glass, who grew a long beard, honed his Southern drawl and created the ZZ Top tribute act Tres Hombres five years ago, says he personally earns an average of $1,500 to 12.000 a week.

there portraying a character," he said in an interview. Sure enough, when he takes the stage he is not just singing. He's dodging the axe swipes of a Frankenstein character who thunders on stage, he's smashing a little doll to bits with a hammer. And that's just the first set "In the second set there's blood all over," Sanopoli says. "We chop up Ronald Reagan, we do the hanging.

I slice my wrist with a sword." Dave Kirby, a Toronto talent agent whose company handles 14 different tribute acts, says if bands put In time pretending they're somebody else, it could open the door to the big time. "There's nothing to stop them from going Into the studio and becoming another Platinum Blonde," he says, referring to the former clad magician. Dr. Drossrlmeycr.J This is a production full of childish pleasures, right-scene tension gives way to comic action as confused, troups manage to defeat skittcry mice. A comic touch continues- throughout the fin.il act with its end less as the buffoon-! Ish King of Candyland links every-; thing together with slapstick; mimirrt Linde Howe-Beck Guitarist Healey's skill invites comparisons to rock greats Interspersing the band's own songs like See the Light with searing takes on AH Along the Watch-tower and oxcy Lady.

Healey won an Immediate following here. ROCK TALK Mark Lepage Jeff Healey is usually identified In interviews, concert reviews and press releases as a guitar hero. It's a title that stems from his Innovations the Instrument and It a title Hcatcy re "They have to justify your pres- rnce by comparing you to some-; body else," lloalry Mid in a phone interview from Milwaukee, where he and his band bassist Joe Rockman and drummer Tom Stephen were winding up a U.S. tour. Natural comparisons Comparisons between Healey and somrbnrfy rtws like Jim! Hcndrix, fcric Clapton or Slrvie Hay Vaugfun occur iwturatty to anyone in the crowd at a llralcy how.

Hcalry fUyj blurs bjd guitar with a fire lew ran match. Mind tmt childhood, he pUm the (tut- Hal his Up. fretting and playing ltm with all five fingrn on his left band He Punrtuatrs sopg by Iraping to hi Icrl 8d rerninc arros the stCP. all thf i 't, fe "At that point, we had a video out which was getting quite a bit of play, and had put out our own iwlo. pendent single, so it was sort of hit and mis In different areas.

But that was a good opportunity." The band has returned several times, to open for btursman Hubert Cray and to play Club Soda Next gigs The next Healey Montreal gigs occur at the Spectrum on Dec. 30 and New Year's rive. The latter show also features the Phantom and Hob HarrKson and the Montreal Illues All Stars. Those not superstitious enough to put off planning now for the new year will be intrresled In the follow ing concert announcement. As part of MrGill t'niversity's Winter Carnival, four local bands will fork the t'nion flaUroom Jan II Confirmed for the d.

ie are the Asaiual. Weatntr Permitting, Ant Farm and Medicine Men Ti let be 9V and the sport sofhtp of a Im al radio station is in the works Medicine Men are rurrrnUy recording an album In Morin Heights, to be ready before the end of January 'B9. The album will be the debut release on the new Shad-owral label Thoie whoe plans included taking in Alien Se Fiend at Les Fou-founes Klcttrique on Jan 10 can stay home with a good hook instead. The Fiends have cancelled for rrasons that remain mysterious Ray Conde and hi Hardroch Contra were the last and best band of the night at the recent Drjj YnoO I'arfHTiie Kspenence the Condo effect on New Year's Kac when the IUy howls out his fm'k' hard hiiltullv blurs at a bash at the HiaitoTnr.it re AKo ar peering ill be the Crue omei. Cnineit Shadowy Men on Shadowy Tlanet.

and Craiy Rhythm Dad-diet Tii Vets are available at the liiaito. rer-n rented yet ropipit if rf Who sorg raU'd IV 'vs VS jmt in tune fi'f Christmas termined to keep a firm hold on his career, It'i because he Is. Healey has been Involved in the business aspects of music ever since his first gigs. "In my teen years when I was with different bands I usually ended up as the guy that booked them, whether I was the nominal front man or not" Control music The Jeff Healey Band li managed by the members to thi day, with Healey. Stephen and Rock man adamant about controlling every aspect of the music.

There are no special stories about how the trio came together. Healey knew and jammed with Stephen. Stephen knew Hoc kman. the three tried it "(of a lark." and found It worked. There is something special about the attention the debut album 1h trjhf i- receiving See fe etit gld tn Canada, with sales of mote than S0.W9.

jn a few weeks, and has sold 110.009 copies in the t' Montrealers' first major tpo-sure to Healey was at an outdoor ronrrrt at the Montreal International Festival two years ago Slevie Ray Vaughan have gone on record with tremendous praN? for the 22-ye ar-old's command of tcch niqtic. vibrato and feedback, but HiMlcy rrfuscs to be typecast as a blucsman. "We don't srt? what we're doing as blurs. We do a lot of other things brsidrs blue Call it what you will, 'music with feeling "Somebody like a John Mrllrn-camp works on the wme principle. Just straight latrumrnU and doing stuff that ha some sort of meaning lo it musically" llralcy admits that the questions about the way he plays the guitar.

as opposed to the muir, ome times get to him "Uh sure, some day I almost have a nervoui breakdown Hut I'm goid enough at putting myself on the othrr Snip of te frnre. that of the general public ho Jut wants to know, the ame a I'd want to know abut jumrNxfy rte And that r-nly fair it part of the If that reads like Healey is de hiie ripping notrs from his gui- JEFF HEALEY 'No! blueaman' JUups guitarits It King and.