A Tribute to Yoko From the Tater Totz

Yoko Ono said she was “flattered” recently when presented with a copy of “Alien Sleestacks From Brazil,” an album that includes several of her songs done by the Tater Totz, a motley aggregation of Los Angeles underground rockers.

Imagine how Pat Fear, the guitarist who released the album on his own Gasatanka label through New York-based Giant Records, felt when he heard about her response.

“I was jumping up and down,” said Fear, noting that previous attempts to get the record to Ono through her fan club failed, largely because she had been out of the country.

For Fear, a member of the group White Flag, Yoko’s seal of approval means a lot, given that the Tater Totz is often taken as a joke--not too surprising, considering that the Totz cast also includes irreverent rockers like Jeff and Steve McDonald of Redd Kross and members of the Pandoras, Frightwig, Celebrity Skin and Mad Monster Party, not to mention guest appearances by Danny Bonaduce of “The Partridge Family” and former Runaway Cherie Curry.

Such selections as Ono’s squeaking ode to her daughter, “Don’t Worry Kyoko,” plus “Don’t Count the Waves” and a medley of “Give Peace a Chance” and Queen’s “We Will Rock You” add to the tongue-in-cheek impression.

“Of course the whole thing’s something of a joke, but the Yoko stuff is serious,” insisted Fear, who has been a devoted Ono fan since his childhood. “I first heard about her when she and John (Lennon) got together and did ‘Two Virgins.’ She immediately became my favorite Beatle.”

As further proof of the affectionate nature of the Totz tribute, Fear says that there is more to come. A 12-inch single called “Mono-Stereo (Sgt. Satanic’s Exploding Plastic Eastman Band Reprise)” featuring a dance version of Ono’s 1971 song “Why,” Lennon’s “Instant Karma” and the 1910 Fruitgum Co.’s “1,2,3, Red Light” is due in October. A second Totz album with the Beatles’ “Rain” and the only Wings song with Linda McCartney on lead vocals, “Cook of the House,” joining more John and Yoko material should be out by Christmas.

CHANGING HORSES: Jennifer Warnes . . . Laura Branigan . . . Julie Christensen?

What could Christensen, former singer of the raucous L.A. band Divine Horsemen, possibly have in common with those two pop singers? Well, she’s followed in their footsteps as the featured backup singer with singer Leonard Cohen, who made a recent stop here for a concert at the Wiltern Theatre. And like Warnes and Branigan, Christensen hopes the slot will help launch her into a solo career.

But don’t expect Christensen’s career direction to parallel either Warnes’ or Branigan’s. “What I’m doing is probably going to have a lot more soul and jazz influence,” she said. “That says something for Leonard’s diversity in choosing people to work with.”

The gig with Cohen, who is known for his examinations of deep, dark emotions, couldn’t have been better timed, coming on the heels of some personal travails for Christensen, including the break-up of the Horsemen.

“Having Leonard around as a sign post that you can go through those things and come out the other side was inspiring,” she said.

BUZZ WORDS: Congrats to House of Freaks drummer Johnny Hott and long-time girlfriend Ashley Goodwin, who got married recently in their hometown of Richmond, Va. Meanwhile, Hott and his Freaks partner Bryan Harvey are in the process of choosing a producer for their follow-up to this year’s acclaimed debut album, “Monkey on a Chain Gang.” Names being discussed include ex-Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill (who just finished producing the Balancing Act), John Leckie (Dukes of Stratosphere) and Scott Litt (R.E.M.’s “Document”). Word is the Freaks want to elaborate on their guitar-drum sounds this time out.