Month: May 2014

 

“You’re always first online”

 

Today marks the 15th anniversary of David Bowie recording the first ever cyber song which was broadcast live on DavidBowie.com

The event took place right about now on Monday. May 24th, 1999, from 7 – 10 p.m. EST. The shot of Bowie here is from that very session.

Here’s an edited excerpt from the press release at the time.

 

David Bowie Records First Cyber Song ‘What’s Really Happening’ Live on the Web

 

In a prolific career spanning over 30 years, DAVID BOWIE has always been on the cutting edge of technology and artistic endeavours. As the first artist to launch his own Internet Service Provider (ISP), Ultarstar’s BowieNet (www.davidbowie.com) it is no surprise that Bowie has now turned to the Internet to let the whole world in on the creative process of writing, rehearsing, recording and mixing a song.

“What’s Really Happening,” the first cyber song, is the result of collaborative efforts between Bowie and co-writer Alex Grant, who was one of 80,000 people who submitted lyrics online to the Bug Music-sponsored BowieNet cyber song contest.

On Monday. May 24th, 1999, from 7 – 10 p.m. EST, the world can watch a webcast of the recording session live on the Web, at BowieNet, Tunes.com/RollingStone.com (http://www.rollingstone.com) and the Lucent Technologies FullView website  (http://www.fullview.com), as Bowie lays down the song tracks and makes history once again. This event will mark the first-ever public webcast using the 360-degree FullView camera.

 

The track was eventually released on the ‘hours…’ album and you can listen to it here.

 

“Heaven 17 loves ya”

 

Due to very healthy ticket sales for their first crack at David Bowie’s 1970 opus, The Man Who Sold The World, we’re happy to exclusively announce a second Holy Holy performance of the album.

The extra gig will take place at the O2 Academy Sheffield, hometown of singer Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17, who is tasked with lead vocal at the shows.

It will be a proud homecoming for Gregory on Thursday 18th September. He first saw Bowie live at the University in Sheffield on February 18th 1972, only the fifth gig of the first Ziggy Stardust tour.

He had this to say about that and the upcoming shows in December…

 

“I think I was fourteen years old when I first saw David Bowie. It was at the University in Sheffield (my hometown) I had to make a fake student union card to get in. I’m still amazed by that gig to this day!

And now here I am about to play a very special gig in my hometown where I will share a stage with some of those amazing Bowie musicians. It really is going to be a very special night.”

 

Benny Marshall will join his old ‘Ronno’ band mates, Woody Woodmansey and Tony Visconti, to play harmonica on The Jean Genie at both the dates.

Tickets go on sale at noon on Monday, May 26th, for the September 18 Sheffield show.

A few tickets remain for the first gig at the Garage in Highbury, London, on Wednesday 17 September.

See original story here.

 

“Diamond Dogs rule, OK”

 

In the same way that we recently set the cat among the pigeons with a revised release date for Aladdin Sane, we’re doing the same today with Diamond Dogs.

Despite most celebrations of the release taking place on April 24 and a few others waiting till next week, we’re pretty convinced the album was unleashed in the UK on May 24, 1974.

We won’t send you to sleep with the whys and wherefores of our conclusions again, suffice to say, scroll the images here for a glimpse of the release sheet from 1974 with today’s date on it.

Obviously we have more ‘evidence’ than that, but if you’re really that interested then send us a postcard addressed ‘Dog Lovers’ with your questions on it.

If you’ve resisted the charms of this canine beauty thus far, let the dogs lick you to death over on Spotify.

Pictured here is a print of Guy Peellaert’s original artwork and the withdrawn RCA sleeve before the poor pooch’s emasculation.

FOOTNOTE: In Diamond Dog years, the album is in fact 280 today!

 

“Well, now she ain’t more than two foot three”

 

No, it’s not a very small child holding a regular 45, it’s Morgan Howell: A normal sized bloke holding a bloody great big painting of a 45.

With a couple of weeks to go till the 50th anniversary of the release of Liza Jane, we’re proud to be able to exclusively reveal Morgan’s latest masterpiece.

His work has been featured on DavidBowie.com several times over the last few years, along with the half dozen or so Bowie releases he has painted. 

Come back here nearer the 50th anniversary for your chance to win a related prize in celebration of both the release and Morgan’s work.

Meanwhile, the prolific painter has a one man show, 45 Revolutions, at  Proud Galleries in July which will feature a couple of dozen of his more iconic 45s. Keep reading for further details.

 

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45 Revolutions by Morgan Howell, Proud Chelsea, 10th July – 2nd September 2014 www.proud.co.uk

This summer Proud Galleries is pleased to introduce 45 Revolutions, an exhibition of supersized original paintings and prints of seven inch singles by artist Morgan Howell. This exhibition will celebrate the golden age of ‘the 45’ and will feature the most important and iconic single sleeves in 20th century culture.

This unique collection of painted singles is set to rekindle the long-standing love affair between music devotees and vinyl. The seven inch single revolutionised the music industry with its recognisable sound quality and thought-provoking artwork. Everyone shares a memory of the time they bought their first vinyl and the obsessive collecting that inevitably followed. In a digital age where the ease of MP3 has replaced the collectible aura of vinyl, Proud Galleries celebrate the format that gave birth to rock n’ roll. Vinyl is the physical and emotional manifestation of our musical choices, defining part of our identities, and act as time capsules to special moments in our past.

Artist Morgan Howell celebrates this nostalgic love affair through his supersized art works. His unique mixed-media paintings are approximately fifteen times the surface area of the classic seven-inch singles on which they are based and he unsparingly captures the essence of each sleeve, recreating every little detail down to the crinkles and creases on each record.

Staged at Proud Chelsea on London’s historic King’s Road, the very heart of the counterculture movement of Sixties London, the exhibition will delve into the bands that drew their musical inspiration from their surroundings in Chelsea at that time. From The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to David Bowie and The Kinks, this exhibition reveals an insight into the singles that where produced during this period of creativity and freedom that has defined generations of music that followed.

 

Morgan Howell

A long-term member of the Royal Society of Art, Morgan Howell came up with the idea for creating these artworks in a moment of genius triggered by the call for entries to the RA Summer Exhibition. He rediscovered his formative years when music was everything and captured its’ essence in a series of ‘supersize’ singles. Each of his painted singles measures 27 x 27 inches, approximately fifteen times the surface area of the original singles on which they are based, unsparingly capturing the essence of each sleeve.

Howell’s supersize paintings have achieved a cult following amongst music enthusiasts and his unique paintings of David Bowie’s “The Jean Genie” sits proudly on the wall at Sony Music. Further examples of his work are a permanent feature of the Radio 2 Green Room alongside Elton John’s piano, and when the BBC interviewed The Rolling Stones in London’s Dorchester Hotel in the run up to their concerts at the 02 in November 2012, three of his supersize Rolling Stones singles formed the backdrop. Vinyl is making a come-back and British artist Morgan Howell is at the centre of it.

 

“Listen”

 

The first Tin Machine album was released on this day in 1989.

It’s an album that has long been underrated in our opinion, often by folk who have not really given it a fair listen.

Indeed the album came 26th in our poll of 27 David Bowie albums last year. (The second Tin Machine album came last)

If Tin Machine is a release you’ve avoided to date, give it a try on Spotify now, you may be pleasantly surprised.

A quarter of a century later, it mainly still kicks bottom somewhat.

 

“Became the special man”

 

You may have already stumbled upon this one, but if not, it’s certainly well worth a look.

The Blank on Blank team collaborate with animators and video artists to bring vintage interviews to life.

They’ve dusted off a Bowie one by Joe Smith from 1988 and cleverly animated an accompanying visual for the latest instalment of their PBS Digital Studios series.

New episodes are released on YouTube every other Tuesday and you can check them all out, including the Bowie interview, here.

 

“All the days and memories”

 

Regular visitors to this page will be well aware of the importance of Aylesbury Friars in the development of the Ziggy phenomenon.

Indeed, the Bowie and The Spiders gig on July 15, 1972, was awarded best show of all time at the venue.

It seems appropriate to have a dedicated Bowie night during the current Aylesbury Friars exhibition, so here’s the blurb from the official site outlining details of that very thing.

 

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SPECIAL BOWIE NIGHT AT EXHIBITION ANNOUNCED

 

There will be a special evening at the Buckinghamshire County Museum in Church Street, Aylesbury on Thursday June 12th between 6.30pm and 9.00pm.

 

Friars Aylesbury Phase 2, 1971 – 1972

The David Bowie Years

Thursday 12 June, 6.30pm – 9.00pm

 

A special event that will bring back memories of Friars in the 1971-72 period when legendary artists David Bowie, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, Fleetwood Mac, Mott The Hoople and The Velvet Underground played.

David Stopps will be recalling his years running the venue, including those that witnessed the famous Bowie shows. Other eye-witness guests are expected to join the conversation.

The evening includes a private view of the Friars Aylesbury exhibition and a free glass of wine from 6.30pm with talks starting at 7.30pm.

Tickets are on sale now at £10 per person and are purchasable from the museum in normal museum opening hours (Tuesday-Saturday 10am to 5pm – no extra charges).

To book online visit www.theticketsellers.co.uk or call 0844 870 0000 (Booking fees and other charges apply).

Buckinghamshire County Museum, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

 

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You can view a short TV report from the exhibition, including an emotional David Stopps reading out a brief message from David Bowie, here.

 

“You’re face to face, With The Man Who Sold The World”

 

Tickets are on sale now (http://smarturl.it/TMWSTWtix) for a very exciting event in London this September, when Tony Visconti and Woody Woodmansey perform David Bowie’s classic The Man Who Sold the World album with supergroup Holy Holy.

Keep reading for further details of this and Holy Holy’s debut 45 with a Bowie cover on the B-side, not to mention a few words from a clearly excited Tony and Woody regarding the event.

 

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Tony Visconti and Woody Woodmansey to perform David Bowie’s classic ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ album with Holy Holy

 

Legendary Bowie bandmates, producer/bass player Tony Visconti and drummer Woody Woodmansey, will play together for the first time since 1971 at the Garage in Highbury, London, on Wednesday 17 September, with a band  of world class musicians that includes Steve Norman of Spandau Ballet and Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17.

On 22 February 1970 David Bowie took to the stage with The Hype to perform what is widely accepted to be the first Glam Rock performance.

The Hype represents a turning point in David Bowie’s career; a hugely significant step away from being a one-hit wonder – with 1969’s Space Oddity – to finding the formula for enduring success. The Hype, comprising John Cambridge on drums, Tony Visconti on bass and Mick Ronson on guitar was the progenitor of The Spiders from Mars; the band that made David Bowie and helped to define popular culture in the 1970s.

David Bowie’s seminal album The Man Who Sold the World, masterfully produced by Tony Visconti, was recorded in 1970 after The Hype’s performance at the Roundhouse, with the powerful drumming of Woody Woodmansey replacing John Cambridge.

The Man Who Sold the World is unusually sonically heavy and dystopian for a Bowie album; with lyrical themes including annihilation and a totalitarian machine. The sound combines riff-laden heavy rock with futurist synth sounds and Visconti’s innovative production techniques. The distinctive and robust guitar playing which contributed so much to the artistic success of this remarkable record was Mick Ronson, who sadly died in 1993. Mick’s daughter Lisa, his sister Maggi and niece Hannah will perform the album with Tony and Woody.

Tony Visconti on bass, and Woody Woodmansey on drums, will be joined by Woody’s stellar supergroup Holy Holy, at this gig, including:

 

Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17), vocals

Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), sax, guitar, percussion and vocals

Erdal Kizilcay (David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Freddie Mercury), keyboards and vocals

James Stevenson (Generation X, Scott Walker, Gene Loves Jezebel), guitar

Paul Cuddeford (Ian Hunter, Bob Geldof), guitar

Rod Melvin (Ian Dury, Brian Eno), piano

Malcolm Doherty (Rumer), 12 string guitar and vocals

Lisa Ronson (A Secret History), vocals

Maggi Ronson, backing vocals and recorder

Hannah Berridge Ronson, backing vocals, recorder and keyboards

 

Woody Woodmansey says:

 

“I’m genuinely excited about the Holy Holy gig at The Garage, Islington on Sept 17th.

 

The first set we’ll be playing is the whole of ‘The Man Who Sold The World’, which has never happened before, though we did do a couple of songs from the album during the Ziggy period. To perform that album with Tony Visconti who played bass on the album and also produced it will be amazing! It’s been a long time since we grooved together!

For me it was the forerunner to the Ziggy and Aladdin Sane albums. I always thought the band ‘kicked like a mule’.

 

It’s also an honour to have such an array of world class musicians in the band, Steve Norman, Erdal Kizilcay, Glenn Gregory, James Stevenson, Paul Cuddeford, Rod Melvin and Malcolm Doherty, plus adding even more significance to the night will be Lisa and Maggi Ronson, and Hannah Berridge Ronson, on backing vocals. See you there…”

 

Tony Visconti says:

 

“One reason I’m looking forward to playing The Man Who Sold The World album in its entirety is because lots of people ask me if I still play bass. I do, but I’ve since rarely played anything as ambitious and demanding as the music of that great batch of songs conceived by David Bowie. With Woody Woodmansey and Mick Ronson, two of the finest musicians I’ve had the pleasure of recording and playing with, we set out to create something both new and classic, we called it our ‘Sgt. Pepper.’ David gave us a chance to bring our unique talents to the table and we made up our parts within David’s framework.  Mick forced me to listen to Jack Bruce, however, and told me ‘that’s what great bass playing was all about’.  I got it, lead bass playing, as a guitarist this came natural to me.  With David as our charismatic frontman we were ‘Young Turks’ determined to spin heads and change the world of music. Well, we sold about 20 copies instead. But over the years members of the public finally got it and eventually the album sold a million or two. A great homage to us was to hear Nirvana perform the title track unplugged in the 90s on an MTV special, note for note. I’m sure Bowie picked up some new fans afterwards although a lot of people still believe that Kurt Cobain wrote it. 

 

So, do I still play bass?  You bet I do, and Woody and I will slam, bam, riff and groove the night away.”

 

Support will be from the exquisite singer/songwriter Gillian Glover and her band. Woody Woodmansey drummed on Gillian’s debut album, Red Handed, released in 2007

 

Holy Holy will release their debut single on the day of this gig; ‘We Are King’, written by Steve Norman, backed with a cover version of Bowie’s ‘Holy Holy’.

 

The Garage, 20-22 Highbury Crescent, London N5 1RD

 

Twitter: @holyholybowie

Facebook: www.facebook.com/holyholybowie

 

Curated by Tom Wilcox

A Maniac Squat Records / Symptomatic Presents Production

 

Tickets on sale now: http://smarturl.it/TMWSTWtix

 

“It’s happening now”

 

The V&A’s David Bowie exhibition got off to a great start at Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin last night.

The preview day was followed by a VIP party in the evening, with guests arriving in cars emblazoned with adverts for the exhibition, as witnessed in our collage created with pictures sent from Chris Duffy. (Swipe sideways to view)

Chris is pictured with a couple of fans, who entered into the spirit along with lots of other attendees approximating their own versions of David Bowie’s looks from across the years.

As promised, the Berlin room is expanded and includes a fair few previously unseen shots of David and friends during his time in the city, along with more art including some of the pieces that influenced Bowie’s own work at the time. 

The show is open to the public from today and there are still tickets available here.

 

“I put my face in tomorrow”

 

Chris Duffy (son of Brian) is pictured here today (Friday) at the CAMERA WORK gallery in Berlin where he will be launching the beautiful new book, Duffy Bowie: Five Sessions at a special presentation on Saturday. (May 17)

In this shot Chris is seen holding a copy of Five Sessions in front of the signed-by-Bowie print, David Bowie Aladdin Sane (Open Eyes) by Brian Duffy.

The print is only available at CAMERA WORK where it will be presented at tomorrow’s event.

The photograph is available as an edition of 25, 102 x 102cm prints, signed and certified by the Duffy archives. Read more here.

You can also enjoy a preview of a few spreads from the book here on issuu.com and on the ACC site.