Circus

 
 

Circus MAgazine

 
  • Article Title

  • Magazine

  • Country

  • Issue

  • Date

  • Pages

  • Rick Nielsen comes clean to the Dream Police

  • Circus Magazine

  • USA

  • Issue #234

  • November 27, 1979

  • 24-27

Outside of one photo of the Hamer B12A 12-string bass, there is no other 12 content. There is however an interesting story about the song ‘Gonna Raise Hell’ from the Dream Police album:

“Nielsen does come clean on the subject of “Gonna Raise Hell”, which he says was “written about religious and political fanatics, something sinister like the Jonestown massacre. I didn’t know who or when or how many, but seeing all the Krishnas and religious and political fanatics and nuts around the world, I knew something was going to happen.”

“Tom Werman adds that the song was actually recorded two weeks before the Jonestown massacre with an eerie premonition in Robin’s bloodcurdling cry of “Mother!” during the instrumental break - Jim Jones later screamed “Mother!” as he led his followers to their deaths. Nielsen says “Robin was really shaking when he did that” and Werman confirms “it still gives me chills when I hear it.”


  • Article Title

  • Magazine

  • Country

  • Issue

  • Date

  • Pages

  • Cheap Trick Takes a Giant Step

  • Circus Magazine

  • USA

  • Issue #185

  • July 6, 1978

  • 28-29

The article includes a photo of the prototype Hamer 10-string bass. A quote about the album Heaven Tonight: “The album’s title track, “Heaven Tonight”, further establishes the band’s humorous originality, featuring this galaxy’s only 12-string bass playing from Tom Petersson (“they thought I was crazy when I asked to have it designed”) and a contraption called the mandacello [sic] played by Rick.”

 

The seldom seen back side of the prototype Hamer 10-string bass.

 

  • Article Title

  • Magazine

  • Country

  • Issue

  • Date

  • Pages

  • Trick’s a Treat

  • Circus Magazine

  • USA

  • Issue #196

  • October 31, 1978

  • 34-37

Two photos of the prototype Hamer 10-string bass are included.


CircusMagazine10.gif

Issue 250, December 31, 1980

The article reads, in part, “Replacing Petersson, playing bass and 12-string bass, is dark-haired double Pete Comita, who’s ‘lived in Chicago about 20 years,’ according to Nielsen, but still an Italian citizen.” Rick Nielsen also stated, “ Besides playing bass, guitar and keyboards, Comita can write and sing, and should neatly fill the gap Petersson has left.”


Jeff Ament on stage with Pearl Jam with his Hamer “Ament” B12A 12-string bass, now showing some signs of heavy use on the road.

June 30, 1994 Issue