Month: January 2009

Count them, fifteen ’round a table…

As you well know by now, (01.11.2009 NEWS: WAR CHILD’S ‘HEROES’ ALBUM FULL TRACKLISTING & 01.26.2009 NEWS: TVOTR’s WAR CHILD COVER OF ‘HEROES’ ON PITCHFORK) the War Child “Heroes” album Volume 1 will be released through EMI?s Parlophone label on February 16th.

The following week on February 23rd, a 15 x 7″ 45 box set (above) will be released and it will be limited to 5,000 sets worldwide.

This strictly limited set holds fifteen heavyweight 7″ singles packaged in a presentation box, see above.

The A-side of each 7″ has the new cover recording by the current artist and the B-side of each 7″ will contain the original ‘Legend’s’ version of the song.

For example, Record 6 has “Heroes” by TV On The Radio on the A-side and David Bowie’s original 1977 version on the B-side. I believe it’s the single edit of the Bowie version.

I’ll leave you with the full breakdown…

Record 01 ~ Side 1: Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat by Beck – Side 2: Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat by Bob Dylan
Record 02 ~ Side 1: Do The Strand by Scissor Sisters – Side 2: Do The Strand by Roxy MusicRecord 03 ~ Side 1: Straight To Hell by Lily Allen Featuring Mick Jones – Side 2: Straight To Hell (Album Version) (1999 Digital Remaster) by The Clash
Record 04 ~ Side 1: Live And Let Die by Duffy – Side 2: Live And Let Die (2001 Digital Remaster) by Wings
Record 05 ~ Side 1: Running To Stand Still by Elbow – Side 2: Running To Stand Still by U2
Record 06 ~ Side 1: “Heroes” by TV On The Radio – Side 2: “Heroes” (1999 Digital Remaster) by David Bowie
Record 07 ~ Side 1: Transmission by Hot Chip – Side 2: Transmission (Album Version) by Joy Division
Record 08 ~ Side 1: Victoria by The Kooks – Side 2: Victoria by The Kinks
Record 09 ~ Side 1: Wonderful/Song For Children by Rufus Wainwright – Side 2: Wonderful/Song For Children by Brian Wilson
Record 10 ~ Side 1: Search And Destroy by Peaches – Side 2: Search And Destroy by Iggy And The Stooges
Record 11 ~ Side 1: Atlantic City by The Hold Steady – Side 2: Atlantic City by Bruce Springsteen
Record 12 ~ Side 1: You Belong To Me by The Like – Side 2: You Belong To Me by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Record 13 ~ Side 1: Sheena Is A Punk Rocker by Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Side 2: Sheena Is A Punk Rocker by The Ramones
Record 14 ~ Side 1: Call Me by Franz Ferdinand – Side 2: Call Me by Blondie
Record 15 ~ Side 1: Superstition by Estelle – (No Side 2 due to licensing issues)

Future Legend…

No, it’s not a Keith Moon tribute, it’s only Lenny bleedin’ Beige though, ain’t it? There’s not much I can say about Lenny that hasn’t already been said…and I don’t want to say any more, so here’s the official blurb stuff instead…

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Beige is Back with his Night of Legends at The Pigalle Club, Piccadilly, in London’s West End. The King of Cabaret and Light-Entertainment leviathan pays tribute to the cream of musique in shows that combine guests, chat and a heavy dollop of Beige magic. It’s the perfect medicine for these rather depressing credit-crunching times.

In the first show Beige pays tribute to Bowie the musical chameleon and man who began his long and illustrious career citing Anthony Newley as his major influence. A man who just so happens to be Lenny’s idol and surrogate father figure.

Beigefact No.198: Did you know it was Lenny who suggested Bowie sacked his band live on stage at the Hammersmith Odeon for the final date of the Ziggy Stardust tour? Beige had done the same thing the month previously with his band at a night headlining Lenny Beige’s Platinum Plated Palace of Varieties and Boothed Showbar in Diss.

Expect some of Bowie’s biggest hits reworked by Beige and the Malcolm Edmonstone Quartet alongside guests like: Guy Pratt, David McAlmont, David Arnold, Brucie Lee, Jess Robinson, Glen Richardson, and more to be announced. (Due to the flakey nature of showpeople names will change before the final line-up is confirmed. That is only to be expected. Many performers find it hard to master the intricacies of running a diary. Don’t worry as the shows are always first class and the Beige-talent filter means only the highest quality of act is booked).

We have frozen tickets at 2008 prices!!!! You may feel nauseous when you read tickets are £45. But when we tell you this also includes not only the show but a three course slap-up supper cooked by some of Europe’s finest gastronomes the nausea passes and you are filled with elation as the sheer value for money good-will courses through your veins.

Beige’s Night of Legends have sold out for the past season. You know that Lenny is a top draw and booking is therefore advisable. Really, it is!!

The first show, Legend of Bowie, is on Wednesday 18th February.

Bookings can be made in advance by calling The Pigalle Box Office on 0845 345 6053 or through www.seetickets.com

Extra warm-up shows: In order to start to get back in shape after a Chanukah hiatus Beige is planning a couple of warm up shows.

The first is an appearance at The Paradise Music Room in Kensal Rise, West London on Wednesday 11th February and then?Notting Good Taste at the Century Theatre on Westbourne Grove on Friday 13th ? unlucky for some ? ie; those that won?t attend and miss the great man up close and intimate. This night is hosted by Beige?s long time bass playing pal, Guy Pratt.

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How can you resist? Read more about Beige here and get a flavour of the man in action via his showreel here.

I’ll leave you with a challenge from the man himself: “You show me a better show and I will show you a liar. With the aid of a mirror. Pointed at your face.”

Do you remember, your President Nixon? (Well he started it!)

Rolling Stone has a neat item in the latest edition of the magazine entitled: Obama’s Secret Record Collection. (Issue 1071 – February 5, 2009)

Today’s Times newspaper in the UK précised the piece down to this paragraph for those of you wanting a quick gist: “Swinging President Obama is being urged to update the White House?s collection of vintage vinyl. The library, including LPs by the Sex Pistols and David Bowie with the presidential seal on each sleeve, was sent to the basement by the Reagans. A treasure trove for Sasha and Malia to discover.”

However, for those of you needing more, the Rolling Stone piece was a little more informative, so here’s an excerpt from it:

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“During the waning days of the Nixon administration, the RIAA, the record companies’ trade group, decided the official White House Record Library should include sound recordings as well as books. In 1973, the organization donated close to 2,000 LPs. The bad news: The selection was dominated by the likes of Pat Boone, the Carpenters and John Denver. In 1979, legendary producer John Hammond convened a new commission to update the list for the hipper Carter administration. “They felt they needed to redress some of the oversights that might have taken place the first time around,” says Boston music critic and author Bob Blumenthal, who was put in charge of adding 200 rock records to the library.

At the commission’s first meeting, Blumenthal brought up Randy Newman’s thorny dissection of Southern culture, Good Old Boys, to determine what restrictions the panel might face. “That was exhibit A,” Blumenthal says. “And I was told, ‘Oh, the president loves that album! Go ahead!’ ” So Blumenthal and his advisers ? including Paul Nelson, then Rolling Stone’s reviews editor ? compiled a list to reflect “diversity in what was going on in popular music.” They picked the Kinks’ Arthur for its “theme of empire,” and Blumenthal snuck in favorites like David Bowie’s Hunky Dory.”

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As to whether Obama will liberate the collection from the White House basement, (where the Reagans banished it to) remains to be seen.

However, considering Hunky Dory is the album that Changes first appeared on, it seems likely that Obama already has his very own well-worn copy. (01.22.2008 SNIPPET: DAVID BOWIE INSPIRES US PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES & 03.04.2008 NEWS: AF PERFORM HEROES AT BARACK OBAMA RALLIES IN OHIO & 07.24.2008 NEWS: BARACK OBAMA ENTERS TO THE SOUND OF BOWIE & 09.22.2008 NEWS: BARACK OBAMA HOOKED UP TO ANOTHER BOWIE TUNE & 11.05.2008 NEWS: OBAMA WINS & 11.06.2008 NEWS: BOWIE OBAMA T-SHIRTS DOING GOOD BUSINESS)

Like to be a gallery…

NME.com has today launched a mini photo gallery of fourteen shots from the Genesis Publications’ book of Geoff MacCormack‘s Bowie photos: From Station To Station.

It’s to tie in with the free Rockarchive Bowie exhibition in London which we told you about recently, (01.15.2009 NEWS: FS2S EXHIBITION FEATURES IN ANGLOMANIA AND TIME OUT) and which runs until February 6th.

See aforementioned news stories for gallery times, etc., and click on the NME logo above to reach their FS2S mini gallery.

What’s Really Happening…

It’s time for the annual Coachella denial. (11.21.2007 NEWS: BOWIE AT COACHELLA 2008…NOT)

The story goes that David Bowie was in talks to perform his Ziggy Stardust album at the festival this year, the rumour really took hold and the ‘news’ was reported online around the globe and in the English press.

You may have already seen the denial over at NME.com, but I’m sure the majority of you saw this tale for what it was anyway: poppycock!

However, we feel duty-bound to deny this particular story here too, lest members be fleeced of their hard-earned.

While we’re about it, David Bowie does not have a Twitter account.

The tracks are on TVOTR…

Self explanatory. Click on the TV above to have a listen to TVOTR performing David Bowioe’s “Heroes” for the War Child CD.

See previous news item for the full tracklisting and release details of the War Child “Heroes” album. (01.11.2009 NEWS: WAR CHILD’S ‘HEROES’ ALBUM FULL TRACKLISTING)

I’m happy, hope you’re happy too…

When we posted an exclusive first look at pictures of DB and DJ from the premiere of MOON at the Eccles Theatre in Utah on Friday evening, (01.23.2009 NEWS: DB ATTENDS SUNDANCE MOON PREMIERE WITH DUNCAN) we promised some more pictures and DB’s reaction to the film.

Well, here are some more pictures and when I asked David what he thought of his son’s endeavours yesterday, this was his reply…

“It’s such a great movie. It’s hard to believe it’s his first. I’m so happy for him and proud as Punch.”

Stay tuned for more MOON news and hopefully that long-awaited definite theatrical release date. As things stand, Sony Pictures Classics will commercially distribute the film in late June 2009.

In a statement released on Friday, Duncan had this to say: “I have always hoped for the opportunity to work with Sony Pictures Classics on the distribution of our film, even before arriving at Sundance. Having their involvement is a huge point of pride for all of us and an incredible opportunity for ‘Moon’.”

Come to the show tonight…

BowieNetter Mask, probably better known as cow-lovin’ photographer Myriam Santos, has been in touch with details of the above Hollywood School Of Rock event.

But, it’s not any old Bowie tribute…if such a thing exists, because this one features Myriam’s twelve-year-old son, Ethan, singing on many of the songs and playing guitar on a couple too.

But, Ethan’s not any old son…if such a thing exists, because he was encouraged down this route by one Mr David Bowie himself!

It transpires that Ethan, (pictured by his mother in the shot above) met DB at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in January 2004. Over to you Myriam…

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David is the one that talked him into being a singer back at The Shrine, told him to be a singer first, then an actor, not the other way around. His first time on stage was at The Shrine holding David’s hand, he’s never forgotten that. A few years later, Perry Farrell personally invited him to sing at Lollapalooza, kinda cool.

DB is his favorite. The fact that this man inspired me to even pick up a camera, and then years later inspired my son to sing, is really almost too much. I may have to give him my kidney or a lung as a thank you.

All that with my not drowning Ethan in Bowie’s music, I really made an effort not to push my taste on him, he got there all on his own. The boy knows brilliance when he hears it.

Here are some of the songs they are performing at The School Of Rock this weekend:

Red Sails
Oh! You Pretty Things
Moonage Daydream
Space Oddity
Starman
I’m Afraid Of Americans
Fame
“Heroes”
Life On Mars?
Scary Monsters
Diamond Dogs
Rebel Rebel
Queen Bitch

One other thing I should mention is that Ethan and his song writing partner/guitarist, thirteen-year-old Tiana Jimenez, have just been asked to write a song for the upcoming movie Promised Land , they are going today to watch some footage before tonight’s School Of Rock show at the Mint. Promised Land is produced by Terin Alba & Andrea Monier, Directed by Garret Noel, it’s a vintage Southwest drama.

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Thanx Myriam, that’s all very cool. But I also happen to know from a Vegas friend that you have some of your work showing at the high roller poker room at the Hard Rock Casino in Vegas…around seventeen of Myriam’s pictures adorn their walls, the smallest of which is 3 x 7 feet. Apart from DB, the display includes, Willie Nelson, Perry Farrell, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Tricky, Pete Wentz, Ozzy, and a few others.

When I asked Myriam about it, this was her comment:

“Bowie has the biggest piece, well, that goes without saying, but also the biggest image in the place. Actually, there are two of my Bowie photographs on display and they get the most comments of all. One is a huge shot they have on the wall behind the bar, (from the book: David Bowie: Live in New York, see picture above) the other is a portrait.”

How can one household contain so much talent under one roof…doesn’t seem right. Good luck for the weekend shows, Ethan. If anybody out there manages to get along, please do tell us how it went.

Hooked to the silver screen…

David Bowie and his son Duncan attended the premiere of MOON together at the Eccles Theatre, Park City, Utah, earlier this evening.

The screening was the first of two sold out performances at this 1500 seater theatre and the film was being shown as part of the Sundance Film Festival 2009.

Also in attendance were producer Trudie Styler and husband Sting, (Sting pictured above with DB) producer Stuart Fenegan, screenwriter Nathan Parker and Director of the Sundance Film Festival, Geoffrey Gilmore.

As you can see from the pictures above, even when wrapped for winter weather, DB still manages to look particularly good.

Stay tuned for more pictures and DB’s reaction to the film. As ever, many thanx to WireImage for the use of the pictures.

Always in trouble, Never to blame, Must be your double…

The headline says it all, but be warned, this one really does contain spoilers.

If that doesn’t bother you though, this interview really is worth a read as it sheds some light on the filming process and some of the complications that Duncan and Sam had to work hard to overcome while making MOON.

Check out defamer.com for the full interview.

If you missed it the first time, check out our MOON news item we posted a couple of days back for a bunch of cool MOON stuff. (01.19.2009 NEWS: MOON Q&A PLUS CLIPS AND REVIEWS ROUND-UP)