Month: January 2003

If I can talk on television…

Perhaps you have more Mariah Carey memorabilia than a mad thing, or the biggest CD (Celine Dion) CD collection on the planet. Do you want Whitney or do you think there is nobody on Earth who feels for Freddie more than you do? Perhaps you quite like David Bowie?

Whatever, in a follow up to Spaceface’s piece on Thursday (01/23/03 NEWS: VOTE FOR DAVID IN MTV’S ’22 GREATEST: VOICES’ POLL), MTV have asked us to post the following request (sorry about the CAPS, but I can’t be arsed to retype that lot!):

SHOOTING FROM 1/28-2/4 – MUST BE IN NYC & BE WILLING TO LET US FILM YOU AT YOUR HOME.

Hi AGAIN!! – HERE IS ANOTHER GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SOUND OFF & GET YOURSELF ON TV TALKING ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST, AS AN EXPERT FAN ON THE ARTIST (You are the focus of the show) THIS IS ONLY FOR THOSE LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY, (SORRY) DUE TO OUR SHOOTING LOCATION.

WE HAVE TABULATED THE M2 VOTING POLLS & THIS IS WHAT THE VIEWERS HAVE COME UP WITH FOR OUR TOP 22 VOICES OF MTV 2. IF ANY OF THE ARTISTS BELOW HAVE SHAPED YOUR LIFE, INFLUENCED YOU OR INSPIRED YOU IN ANY WAY , WE WANT TO KNOW! IF YOUR ANSWERS ARE STRONG , YOU WILL GET INVITED TO THE MTV STUDIO.

You will get to tell us on TV why this voice is 1 of the 22 GREATEST VOICES OF ALL TIME & HOW THAT VOICE AFFECTS YOU AS WELL AS THE WORLD.

PLEASE ANSWER THIS SMALL LIST OF QUESTIONS IN YOUR RETURN E-MAIL – WE SHOOT NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!!! HERE IS THE LIST:

WHO IS YOUR PICK FOR THE GREATEST VOICE ON THIS LIST & WHY?

HOW HAS THE ARTIST PERSONALLY TOUCHED/INSPIRED/AFFECTED YOU?

WHAT KIND OF MEMORABILIA DO YOU HAVE OF THAT ARTIST (PHOTO, AUTOGRAPH, E-MAIL, LETTERS, TICKETS, ROOM FULL OF POSTERS, CD/RECORD COLLECTION, ETC) VISUALLY SHOWING THAT YOU ARE A HUGE FAN & YOUR OPINION CARRIES WEIGHT.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN THIS ARTIST LIVE? WHAT WAS THE ARTIST DEFINING MOMENT?

Favorite song (record, verse, lyric) & why?

Include your name, phone #, address, pictures of memorabilia / souvenirs & of yourself.

Choose from this list of artists:

01) Alicia Keys
02) Alanis Morissette
03) Bjork
04) Bono
05) Bruce Springsteen
06) Celine Dion
07) Chris Cornell
08) Christina Aguilera
09) David Bowie
10) Elton John
11) Eminem
12) Freddie Mercury
13) Kurt Cobain
14) Mariah Carey
15) Michael Jackson
16) Michael Stipe
17) Sade
18) Sarah McLachlan
19) Steven Tyler
20) Thom Yorke
21) Tupac Shakur
22) Whitney Houston

So, if you think you fit the bill, send a short note to:

Michael Petolino
Casting Director
1633 Broadway
32nd floor ( 32-214)
NY, NY 10019

with all the information that you’ve been asked for in the piece above, NOW!

Dick Mac and the rest of you mental NY BowieNetters, is this your chance to shine? How about a BowieNet collective? Go for it!

In the port of Amsterdam, There’s a sailor who sings…

Bert Dijkstra, of Dutch creative supermarket Shop Around, has written to tell me about a new exhibition of paintings of David Bowie called Up the Hill Backwards: The Golden Years of David Bowie. Starting on February 16th at the Stip gallery in Amsterdam, the exhibition runs through to March 9th, and exhibits work by seventeen artists who have all chosen to represent a different period of David’s career, from Sixties Mod to latter day Heathen.

Here’s a bit from Bert himself:

All the artists that have contributed artwork, are renowned for their work. The contributing artists include Luuk Bode (he’s an absolute God in Holland), Peter Pontiac, Typex, Cosh, Erik Kriek and many others.

The gallery is run by the internationally acclaimed tattoo artist and painter, Henk Schiffmacher (who also contributed a piece for this exhibition). You might know Henk through the work he did for the sleeve of the ‘SexSugarMagik’ album by The Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has also tattooed many stars of the world of music, of course all of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, but also Marc Almond and Brian Setzer, to name but a few.

Click on either of the above images to take you to an online version of the gallery. Some of the artists are still working on their pieces, but the site should be complete within the next couple of weeks. Thanx again for the info Bert.

Just playing that latest record…

Just a reminder that Lou Reed’s ‘The Raven’, containing David’s contribution to the track Hop Frog, (12/23/02 NEWS: LOU’S RAVEN RELEASED NEXT MONTH and 11/05/01 NEWS: BOWIE CONTRIBUTES TO NEW LOU REED ALBUM) is out in the UK on Monday (27th January) and on Tuesday (28th) in the USA. The advance reviews are generally excellent, with the album making Pop CD of the Week in last Friday’s Guardian. You can check out the whole review, here. NME were also complimentary and said:-

Godfather of sleaze’s musical. Bowie smooches by. …the blend of reading-group rock, goth showtunes and gold standard hamming from Willem Dafoe and Steve Buscemi is surprisingly compelling. …Most edifying.

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This is the trip and this the business…

The music industry bible, Music Week, quotes David as the 20th highest selling artist in the UK in 2002, with total album sales of 740,000. And while we are on the subject of sales, HMV reported bumper sales figures for the year, resulting in a strong share price. An article in the Guardian says:-

British music sales – the core of HMV’s business – unexpectedly rose 1%, boosted by the latest compact discs from Robbie Williams, David Bowie and Coldplay.

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Lady Stardust *danced her dance*…

If you are in the San Francisco area over the next week, be sure to check out Stardust, a new dance performance based on David Bowie’s songs. Choreographer, Alma Esperanza Cunningham has crafted this brand new show, which premiered at Venue 9 on Ninth Street last Sunday. Here is a little more from the Venue 9 website:-

Note the Second Coming of Cunningham! Innovative and fiercely original, Alma has crafted a site- specific work for Venue 9. Stardust is a suite of five dances with songs from David Bowie’s glam-rock period. The intriguing use of space, startling rhythms and theatrical experience make this a savvy, unconventional spin on pop culture. Cunningham has gained an avid following as a regular guest at Venue 9 and in shows at The Cowell, Dance Mission, The Lab, and ODC.

“I don’t know where she’s heading, but I’d follow her anywhere.” – Zimmer, Village Voice

Further performances on Saturday Jan 25th, Sunday Jan 26th, Thursday Jan 30th and Saturday Feb 1st. Click on the image for more.

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Don’t you wonder sometimes…

Just released on Thrill Jockey is One Bedroom by The Sea And Cake, which includes their cover of Sound And Vision. Their webpage says:-

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the record comes in their version of Bowie?s “Sound and Vision.” …The version remains faithful the original yet has the distinctive Sea and Cake stamp of creatively and precisely placed tone and color, delicate guitar touches, and driving rhythms. …In his lyrics Bowie asks listeners “Don?t you wonder sometimes about sound and vision”? Sound, vision, and envisioning a new Pop sound are the Focus of the Sea and Cake?s imagination and considerable musical skills.

(Thanks to Marc Riley for the pointer)

:))

She’s an old-time amBASSador…*

If you’re in the New York area and you didn’t get a chance to see Gail Ann Dorsey‘s shows at The Hudson River Theater last week, don’t forget you still have a chance to see her tomorrow and Saturday at Joe’s Pub @ The Public Theater. We posted the details a week or so ago, (01/14/03 NEWS: GAD GIG INFORMATION AND EXCLUSIVE QUEEN NEWS) but here they are again for those that missed ’em:

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Friday and Saturday, January 24th and 25th at Joe’s Pub @ The Public Theater425 Lafayette (between East 4th Street and Astor Place), New York City2 Shows: 7:00PM and 9:30 PM Reservations: phone 212.539.8777Website: www.joespub.comFirst chance to see the charm, wit, and unplugged elegance of The Chanteuse Club in New York City!!! Don’t miss it at one of New York’s coolest concert venues!

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The bad news is that the Queen show in South Africa that Gail was due to guest at as a member of Queen, has now been cancelled. However, this may not be the end of her association with Queen, as the band have told Gail that they would like her to join them for their induction into the Songwriters’ Hall Of Fame Awards in NY this June.

* Sorry };-)

Feel it in my voice…

MTV are counting down the 22 Greatest Voices of the last 22 years (the period since the launch of MTV in 1981), and David Bowie is one of their 22 nominees. They say:-

What if you had the power to transform a great voice into one of the greatest? Wonder no more, as we empower YOU to pick the 22 Greatest Voices of the last 22 years. Whether it’s a meaningful message, a unique style or simply one helluva set?a lungs you decide. We’re counting down to the number one voice as selected by you. It’s your chance to be heard as part of MTV2 Presents “22 Greatest: VOICES”, the first in a series of shows where it?s your vote that counts!

Click on the image to vote for David!

:))

I, I can remember (I remember)…

A new David Asks will be posted sometime later today, so keep your eye out by clicking on the image above. This one will take you as far back as you care to remember.

EMI Catalogue are proud to announce the release of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars ? The Motion Picture on 24th March 2003. Available on double CD, double vinyl and DVD, the soundtrack has been completely remixed for stereo and 5.1 by Tony Visconti and the film footage has been entirely remastered and reworked.

Available for the first time on CD here are the concert introductions along with David?s between the song chat. The famous farewell speech (unedited) is included, alongside the full length version of the track The Width Of A Circle.

The DVD includes a new 5.1 surround sound and stereo mix by the legendary producer Tony Visconti responsible for such Bowie classics as Low, ?Heroes? and Scary Monsters. Also included is a new commentary by director D. A. Pennebaker and Tony Visconti. Other DVD extras include a DVD ROM section which features a calendar, screen saver, desktop pictures & icons and weblinks.

It is truly a remarkable film documenting a momentous time in David?s career. The film print has been cleaned and digitally remastered and looks better than ever.

The CD is packaged in a clamshell box, with pull out poster, 12 page ?fanzine? booklet and mock ticket from the original July 3rd show.

The limited edition double LP is on red vinyl, each is individually numbered, with a gloss varnished gatefold sleeve and pull out poster.

The events of July 3rd 1973 at London?s Hammersmith Odeon made Rock and Roll history: David Bowie retired Ziggy Stardust!

His final concert appearance as Ziggy Stardust was the 60th of 40 dates (matinees included) and the last of the planned UK Ziggy Stardust gigs. It has famously become known as “The Retirement Gig.” The two Hammersmith Odeon concerts (2nd & 3rd July) were designed to take the place of a cancelled second show at Earl’s Court.

By July 1973, Bowie had been touring and promoting his album for nearly a year without a break. The original plan was for a Ziggy Stardust tour of Europe to follow the third UK Tour, then a third US Tour with 38 confirmed concerts beginning on 1st September 1973 and ending on the 31st October ?73 in Texas.

The retirement announcement at the end of the concert came as a major shock? to fans, the majority of the music press, and the Spiders From Mars themselves. It later transpired that Bowie had only told his manager and Mick Ronson of his plans to retire Ziggy Stardust.

Personnel on the night:

David Bowie, Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder, Mick Woodmansey

CD & Vinyl tracklisting:CD11. Intro
2. Hang On To Yourself
3. Ziggy Stardust
4. Watch That Man
5. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
6.All The Young Dudes
7. Oh! You Pretty Things
8. Moonage Daydream (start of side 2 of the LP)
9. Changes
10. Space Oddity
11. My Death

CD2 side 3 of vinylIntro (start of CD 2 & side 3 of the LP)
1. Cracked Actor
2. Time
3. The Width Of A Circle
4. Let?s Spend The Night Together (start of side 4 of the LP)
Suffragette City
White Light / White Heat
Farewell Speech
Rock ?n? Roll Suicide

DVD tracklisting:

1. Opening Credits/Intro
2. Hang On To Yourself
3. Ziggy Stardust
4. Watch That Man
5. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
6. All The Young Dudes
7. Oh! You Pretty Things
8. Moonage Daydream
9. Changes
10. Space Oddity
11. My Death
12. Cracked Actor
13. Time
14. The Width Of A Circle
15. Band Introduction
16. Let?s Spend The Night Together
17. Suffragette City
18. White Light / White Heat
19. Farewell Speech
20. Rock ?n? Roll Suicide
21. End Credits

Like that sailor leaves, come back again…

I’m sure one or two of you noticed that BowieNet has been out of action for a couple of days… But it all seems to be running quite smoothly now, so I think it’s safe to say we’re back to normal. When I asked the technical bods what the problem had been they tried to blame DB, when I protested his innocence they admitted it had really been the Data Base! };-)

Anyway, as I say, it all seems to be running fine again now, so I’ve filled in the news gaps that I hadn’t been able to fill since Saturday. Thanx for your patience, and here’s to a trouble-free future.