Just another WordPress site
Seven weeks ’till Tibet…(roughly)
Tickets for next year’s
Benefit package tickets, which include prime seats at the concert and a supper party afterwards, are already on sale through
David Bowie, Philip Glass and The Kronos Quartet are the artists currently confirmed to play at the benefit on February 22nd, 2002, and the show will take place in the Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall at 7:30pm.
“I really wanted it to work for him, and be a memorable album.”
David Bowie recalls the recording of the ‘Transformer’ LP
during the shooting of the BBC’s all-star ‘Perfect Day’ video.
They’ll bury you in velvet, And place you underground…
“I was petrified that he said yes he would like to sort of work with me in a producer capacity, because I had so many ideas and I felt so intimidated by my knowledge of the work that he had already done. And, even though there was only that short time between us, it seemed like Lou had this great legacy of work.” – David Bowie on the terrifying prospect of producing Lou Reed.
ITV in the UK are scheduled to show the latest in the third ‘Classic Albums’ series: Lou Reed’s ‘Transformer’. Released commercially last month on DVD and video through Eagle Vision, ‘Transformer’ is due for broadcast here in the new year. The documentary really is a treat for Lou Reed fans, and it’s a fascinating look at the recording techniques of the early Seventies, and at the formidable Bowie/Ronson production team.
“I never had kids screaming at me particularly. They’d scream at David,
not at me…Me they would throw syringes and joints on the stage.”
Including exclusive interviews with Lou, and new acoustic performances of songs from the album by him, the documentary follows Lou’s career from the early days with Andy Warhol and The Velvet Underground, illustrated with rare footage of both. There are also interviews with some of the Warhol ‘Superstars’ that populate songs like ‘Walk on the Wild Side’, such as Holly Woodlawn and Joe Dallesandro and other characters from The Factory such as Gerard Malanga.
‘Transformer’ also uses rare archive footage and interviews with David Bowie and Mick Ronson (all the grabs in this item are taken from it), and talks to the original engineer Ken Scott. As we mentioned in our ‘Hunky Dory’ piece on Monday, you will know the name Ken Scott as co-producer with David of ‘Hunky Dory’, ‘Ziggy Stardust’, ‘Aladdin Sane’ and ‘Pin-Ups’.
“Woody, you stay here. Me ‘n Ronno are just nipping back to
last year to do Lou’s album.” A rare bit of backstage footage
of Ziggy and the Spiders from the ‘Transformer’ documentary.
As is the normal format for programmes in this series, Scott and Reed re-visit the original multi-track master tapes and dissect the construction of some of the songs. Particularly thrilling moments include an emotional a cappella playback of David’s incredible ‘Satellite of Love’ backing vocals (a vocal line that none of the cover versions of the song have dared attempt) and an amusing focus on David’s highly camp, Warholesque counterpoint to Lou’s character in ‘New York Telephone Conversation’.
Elsewhere, Mick Rock talks about the iconic ‘Transformer’ album cover he was responsible for, and makes a few observations on the whole scene in the way that only such a valuable eye-witness can. Herbie Flowers demonstrates how one of the most famous riffs in popular music, the bassline to ‘Walk on the Wild Side’, was recorded, and Musician Dave Stewart tells of Lou Reed?s musical influence as do musician Lenny Kaye, editor of Rolling Stone David Fricke, biographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and journalist Tony Stewart.
“So David…I’ll play at your 50th if you do ‘White Light, White Heat’
on your next few tours.” Lou ‘n’ David contemplate a bright future.
There can’t be many reading this not already familiar with this classic recording. Originally released 29 years ago on December 8th, an example of its lasting endurance is the fact that it recently re-entered the Top 20 Album Chart in the UK when it was re-issued as a budget price compact disc.
Reading like a Lou Reed greatest hits package, the original album boasts at least four all-time classic rock songs in: ‘Vicious’, ‘Perfect Day’, ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ and ‘Satellite of Love’. And, apart from these, the documentary also looks at ‘I’m So Free’, ‘Andy’s Chest’, the aforementioned ‘New York Telephone Conversation’, ‘Make Up’ and ‘Goodnight Ladies’. Sadly there is no mention of David’s contribution to the song ‘Wagon Wheel’ for which he is generally reckoned to be an un-credited co-writer of.
‘Transformer’ DVD cover.
If ‘Transformer’ isn’t scheduled for a television broadcast in your territory, you may want to treat yourself to the DVD anyway, as it contains extra interview footage not included on either the video or the TV broadcast. Even if you aren’t a fan of Lou Reed’s work (?????), ‘Transformer’ is worth checking out for the occasional glimpses of the ghost of Ziggy that are scattered throughout.
Filthy Fokker?…no it’s The Junkers Ju 87 Stuka I think…Oh Hell,
where’s my copy of Jane’s Fighting Aircraft Of WW2 when I need it?
I’ve never caught a glimpse, Of how the others must see the faker…
Had a few of you asking what David Bowie’s contribution to this years RCA SECRET exhibition was, apart from the postcard above, which most of you seem to have found over at
Well the other card David donated became part of a David Bowie/Marc Quinn competition in the London edition of Time Out magazine. The winner of the competition is now the proud owner of the amusing piece below, which is one of just two cards that David donated. Much more I cannot say.
Never look back, walk tall, act fine…
The December 2001 issue of Pride magazine in the UK has a six-page spread on Iman, and the above cover. Talking to Pride via a transatlantic telephone call “about life after 11 September, self-esteem, and motherhood”, Iman was again forthright about the fashion industry’s treatment of black women:
“We are always a trend, we go in and out of favour. It’s always perplexing to discover that, because of the colour of your skin, you’re not even considered a human being, you’re just a trend to make a statement. You’re exotic, you’re sassy, sexy…but never just plain beautiful. It is absolutely insulting.”
And on motherhood:
“I can probably say I have more patience now, as a mature woman. I’d done this before, but, like, 23 years ago, it’s not like you remember! Biologically, and by nature, we forget so we can go through it again. Otherwise, forget it!”
Keep an eye on
As an amusing aside, I have to say that when I bought Pride from my local newsagent, I received one of the strangest looks ever from the girl who handed me my change. I guess the source of the girl’s bemusement was the fact that I fitted none of the three descriptions particularly convincingly, as I purchased the magazine “For the modern black woman”. The look she gave me sent me straight back to my early teens when I would scour the pages of Mirabelle, Jackie, Diana, and most likely Bunty, for the tiniest of snippets relating to David Bowie, while ignoring the tutting and looks of disdain coming my way from the Showaddywaddy fan behind the counter!
The original UK ‘Hunky Dory’ sleeve from 1971.Click
image to take you to more from the Blammo archives,
and possibly the longest window in BowieNet history!
There’s a man, back-a-ways…
December 17th, 1971, saw the release of one of the most important albums in the history of rock. With ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’ almost in the can, and the unveiling of the new look that would accompany the most famous Bowie alter ego just weeks away, the release of ‘Hunky Dory’ was almost overlooked in the UK. Not least of all, it would seem, by David himself who was excited by the next phase of his career and the prospect of the success that surely would come with ‘Ziggy Stardust’.
Despite this general indifference towards ‘Hunky Dory’ by the record-buying public, the critics were unanimous in their declaration of Bowie’s genius:
“David Bowie is the most singularly gifted artist creating music today. He has the genius to be to the ’70s what Lennon, McCartney, Jagger and Dylan were to the ’60s.” – Rock Magazine
“The most intellectually brilliant man yet to choose the long-playing album as his medium of expression.” – The New York Times
“…Bowie’s most engaging album…David Bowie, the swinging mod Garbo, male femme fatale, confidante to and darling of the avant-garde on both sides of the Atlantic, and shameless outrage, is back, and with a bang.” – Rolling Stone
“Anyone who believes in pop music enough to wish to save it from swallowing its own excretion should buy this album. ‘Hunky Dory’ is a masterpiece from a mastermind.” – New Musical Express
“One of the strongest and strangest unrecognised talents around.” – Milwaukee Journal
“A peculiarly sensitive, hard-edged, precise, and truly shimmering perception.” – Changes Magazine
“A singer-composer with brains, imagination and a good idea of how to use a recording console comes up with a quick-change tour de force that is both catchy and deeply felt.” – Village Voice
“‘Hunky Dory’ beats a week at the shrink.” – Rock Magazine
The recording of the album saw the beginning of a four album association with Ken Scott sharing the producer’s chair with David. ‘Hunky Dory’ was also the first of a classic string of Bowie albums for RCA that ended less than ten years later with ‘Scary Monsters’.
The iconic sleeve featured a beautiful hand-tinted Brian Ward photograph, a photographer who witnessed the birth pangs of ‘Ziggy’ via the ‘Egyptian’ shots, the ‘Hunky Dory’ sleeve, the ‘Ziggy Stardust’ sleeve itself, and the session that was used on the re-issue of ‘The Man Who Sold The World’. ‘Hunky Dory’ was also the second of three sleeves for which David would enlist the help of his long-term friend, George Underwood. The other two being the original Philips ‘David Bowie’ album, and ‘Ziggy Stardust’.
‘Hunky Dory’ has truly stood the test of time, and it sounds as fresh to a generation of new ears as it did to those of us lucky enough to have lived with it for the past thirty years. But possibly the best way to celebrate the 30th birthday of this incredible recording is to go listen to it again right now. I’ll leave you with David’s own thoughts on ‘Hunky Dory’ that he wrote all those years ago…
Excerpt from David’s original notes used in press adverts at the time of the release of ‘Hunky Dory’. Click for full version.
Changes – This album is full of my changes and those of some of my friends.
Pretty – The reaction of me to my wife being pregnant was archetypal daddy – Oh he’s gonna be another Elvis. This song is all that plus a dash of sci-fi.
Eight – The city is a kind of high-life wart on the backside of the prairie.
Life On Mars – This is a sensitive young girls reaction to the media.
Kooks – The baby was born and it looked like me and it looked like Angie and the song came out like – if you’re gonna stay with us you’re gonna grow up Bananas.
Quicksand – The chain reaction of moving around through out the bliss and then the calamity of America produced this epic of confusion – Anyway, with my esoteric problems I could have written it in Plainview – or Dulwich.
There is a time and space level just before you go to sleep when all about you are losing theirs and whoosh void gets you with its cacophony of thought – that’s when I like to write my songs.
Fill – Biff Rose song.
Andy – A man of media and anti-message, with a kind of cute style.
Bob – This is how some see B.D.
Queen – A song on a Velvet Underground-Lou Reed framework s’about London sometimes.
Bewlay – Another in the series of David Bowie confessions – Star Trek in a leather jacket.
You’re always first on the line
Pioneering and beautiful : Folha de São Paulo : 12/3/01 In an article from one of Brazil’s best known national newspapers, entitled ‘Remixes Androginos’, Shirley Manson of Garbage is profiled. Her new haircut is compared to one of David’s styles, and the Garbage website, which offers the opportunity to remix one of the tracks from their latest album, is compared to the ‘pioneiro e lindo’ (pioneering and beautiful) Bowienet. They say “It´s good ideas like these that create a relationship between artists with the listener ? they feel they are part of the creation of the music – much more pleasing.? (welovedb)
Moulin Rouge : The Independent : 12/5/01 Moulin Rouge / Music From Baz Luhrmann’s Film / Interscope Records, is chosen by the Independent newspaper as one of the Top Ten CD’s of 2001. They say : If there’s one thing Baz Luhrmann showed the world with his take on Romeo And Juliet, ÂÂand boy did he show us a lot, ÂÂit was that he is one of the true masters of linking music with vision. The use of the film’s stars reaches its zenith in the Elephant Love Medley where Nicole and Ewan’s characters get to spar through song…. That it all ends in a full-blown version of Bowie’s Heroes will raise a lump from your stomach to your throat. Stirring stuff. This is music with a vision. Listen and all will be revealed.
TV Star : BBC Prime : Forthcoming BBC Prime is a world-wide satellite pay channel, which is offering a Bowie night on Dec 21st, including Bowie at the Beeb, A Little Later, and Cracked Actor. Check it out and see whether your country is on the pull-down list. Further details are in our Bowienet Calendar. The site also includes a rather nice new biography, which has this to say as an introduction. “In a world full of musical wannabes, few genuine legends live on. One such glittering star continues to create unique magic, spellbind new generations and retain an untouchable air of effortless cool. Ladies and gentlemen, have you met Mr Jones?” Click the link to read the whole thing.
(contributors : welovedb, spaceface)
:))
DAVID BOWIE, one of the most influential musicians and writers in popular music, has taken the unprecedented step for an artist of his standing and decided not to re-sign with his record company, Virgin records, choosing instead, to create his own small, independent label. On Thursday morning BOWIE’s business representatives, RZO, sent a letter to Virgin records stating that “We respectfully decline your attempts to negotiate a new contract in light of the missed option pick-up of a year ago.”
All DAVID BOWIE’s future recordings, including the hotly tipped new album that he is recording with long-time collaborator Tony Visconti, will be released on ISO, his new label.
On taking the whole recording and marketing process into his own hands BOWIE commented ” I’ve had one too many years of bumping heads with corporate structure. Many times I’ve not been in agreement with how things are done and as a writer of some proliferation, frustrated at how slow and lumbering it all is. I’ve dreamed of embarking on my own set-up for such a long time and now is the perfect opportunity.”
DAVID BOWIE’s label ISO, which was registered as a record label over a year ago, will be based out of New York and London and has already signed two new artists, one solo and one band. Bowie and Visconti have also recently moved their projects into their own recording studio in Manhattan, New York, in anticipation of this new departure.
Said BOWIE, ” I want to keep the whole experience at a human level, To characterize ISO, I think I would use guitarist Robert Fripp’s phrase and describe it as aiming to be ‘a small, mobile, intelligent unit’.”
DAVID BOWIE was able to make this bold step as a result of an overlooked option in his previous deal with Virgin Records.
“With smaller, more focussed labels such as Relentless in London (3 number ones) and Artimus in the US proving that creativity and commercial success can go hand in hand, the chance is there to be taken and BOWIE is the perfect candidate to pull it off.”
We can give you sweet Hedwig…
Due to legislatory changes in European law there has been a delay in posting recent competition winners. Admittedly they’re my European laws, but you can’t deny the delay has been very real! And so, without further ado:
For your chance to win one of the above incredible huge
sex pose critique = Exquisite Corpse
leg fortnight = The Long Grift
Cow twit killed ten = Wicked Little Town
After whirring away for several moments, TRS? has picked this very lucky pair of smart-arses:
MzLizard@davidbowie.com
pisceanvelvet@davidbowie.com
If you could both please send your names and addresses to TotalBlamBlam@DavidBowie.com with a subject line of “Hedwig Winner”, Postmistress Susans will despatch your prize in a heavy duty tube forthwith. Please note my change of e-mail address and make sure you do use the subject line “Hedwig Winner” as the system is now fully automated.
Thanx again to
CinePosters.com has agreed to offer a 20 percent discount to BowieNet members on Labyrinth movie posters. Here is the direct URL:
This offer includes free shipping, too.
All you BowieNetters need to do is enter the Coupon Code “DBFAN” in the COMMENTS box when they check out. That will automatically apply the 20 percent discount to their order.