Datsun singer splits head open in tumble

By ALAN PERROTT

One of The Datsuns has suffered a ding while recording a video in London for the New Zealand band's new single Blacken My Thumb.

Bass-playing lead singer Dolf de Datsun, real name Rudolph de Borst, was taken to a hospital for stitches after falling and splitting his scalp during filming.

A spokeswoman for the garage rock band told English music website NME.com: "There was blood everywhere. It was like a zombie movie."

The video was being shot in London with Swedish director Henry Moore Selder, who has worked with bands such as Starsailor, Garbage and The Hives.

The Datsuns' second album, Outta Sight/Outta Mind has been produced by former Led Zeppelin bass and keyboard player John Paul Jones and will be released on June 7, midway through the band's tour of Britain and Europe.

Dolf de Datsun has said the new album will be a departure from their self-titled first effort, which earned the band album of the year, best group, outstanding international achievement and breakthrough artist of the year at last year's New Zealand Music Awards.

"[The new album] goes from really hard rock and then there's waltzes and different things," he said. "The first one was very foot-on-the-floor and quite full on, whereas this one has a lot more groove - it's a lot more danceable."

On May 27, the Datsuns will perform a showcase gig in London presented by legendary DJ John Peel and broadcast live on his Radio 1 show.

The group recently released an internet-only single That Sure Ain't That Right which can be downloaded from www.thedatsuns.com