Month: August 2006

We want to live…

David Bowie has confirmed he will guest “with a couple of songs” for Keep A Child Alive‘s (KCA) Annual Black Ball On November 9th, 2006, at NYC’s Hammerstein Ball Room.

Keep A Child Alive is a project close to David’s heart, and one he obviously felt strong enough about to lend his support to, as evidenced by the stunning image above from the forthcoming poster campaign.

BowieNet members can view a larger version of the poster by clicking on it, but for those that can’t make out the wording in the above version, it reads thus:

I AM AFRICAN

HELP US TO STOP THE DYING. PAY FOR LIFESAVING AIDS DRUGS THAT CAN KEEP A CHILD, A MOTHER, A FATHER, A FAMILY ALIVE. VISIT KEEPACHILDALIVE.ORG TO HELP

A clear message that outlines the aims of www.keepachildalive.org pretty neatly.

A pair of VIP tickets for the event on November 9th are being auctioned off over at www.charityfolks.com with the promise: “Meet Alicia Keys, David Bowie And Others With Two VIP Tickets To KCA’s Annual Black Ball”.

But with the bidding already at $5,000.00, I think these VIP tickets may be beyond the financial reach of most reading this.

However, it’s probably worth bearing in mind that events like this are primarily organised to raise funds for important charities like KCA, and aren’t designed to particularly satisfy the wishes of the fans of each performer on the night.

I’m not sure at the moment if and when any tickets for the event might go on general sale. They did last year, so we’re hopeful. But, either way, as soon as we have the official line on that we’ll let you know.

Iman will be co-hosting the evening with Alicia Keys.

There are currently no plans for any other live performances by David Bowie before next May’s Highline festival. Yes, that line may sound familiar, but there are honestly no plans.

Growing up and I’m fine…

Happy 6th birthday to you, young Miss Jones, wishing you many happy returns of the day from everybody here at BowieNet.

Hope you have a very special day, Lexi, with everything you wished for and too much cake and jelly and stuff.

Members can leave their own well wishes here on the MBs.

Blockbuster Productions & OYT Present

SEQUINNED SUITS & PLATFORM BOOTS

Edinburgh Festival Fringe August 2006

 

Mark Wheeller?s glam rock tribute play Sequinned Suits and Platform Boots affectionately recalls the glittering 70?s and one teenage boy?s ambition to be Starman. The music of David Bowie, T-Rex, Suzi Quatro, Roxy Music, Slade, Mott the Hoople, The Sweet, Alice Cooper and Mud provides the upbeat nostalgic soundtrack. Already featured on David Bowie?s own website news page, SEQUINED SUITS AND PLATFORM BOOTS is will be embraced by All the Young Dudes!

 

The fun, flamboyant music and fashion of the 70s are the pulse of SEQUINNED SUITS AND PLATFORM BOOTS. Based on Wheeller?s own youthful admiration of glam groups in British and American musical culture, this is a tale of a young boy?s simultaneous efforts to be a rock star and to woo local girl Lorraine Izoff. The boy, named Shakey Threwer, is guided by a mystical superhero character called The Blockbuster.

 

?Quirkily, original, funky and funny? looking at teenage dreams with an excellent portrayal of the animated characters. Set to a soundtrack from the glam rock era, the show is interesting for any music fan, glam rock or not?

Southampton Institute Newspaper

 

Playwright Mark Wheeller has six plays touring throughout UK schools. Too Much Punch For Judy has been performed 4755 times… quite a record for a contemporary play! Graham ? World?s Fastest Blindman was ?Pick of the Fringe? under the title Race To Be Seen. Kill Jill was commissioned by and premiered at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 2005.

 

SEQUINNED SUITS AND PLATFORM BOOTS is a collaboration between Oaklands Youth Theatre and Blockbuster Productions. Oaklands Youth Theatre have performed at both the National Student Drama Festival in Scarborough, and Lloyd?s Bank Theatre Challenge at the Royal National Theatre. The group has toured in the USA (Texas), have performed in France, and have performed twice previously at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. SEQUINNED SUITS AND PLATFORM BOOTS will especially appeal to Young Americans and Children of the Revolution!  Bang a gong, Get it On and get a ticket!

 

Listings information

Venue: C, venue 34, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Dates: Monday 14 to Saturday 19 August 2006

Time: 4.25pm (55mins)

Tickets: £6.50 / concs £5.50

Venue box office: 0870 701 5105 / www.CtheFestival.com

Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com

 

Further information available from    

Mark Wheeller 07970 625 645 / Mark_Wheeller@yahoo.co.uk or

the C venues press office on 0845 260 1060 / press@cvenues.com

 

For latest Wheellerplays News… for details of SEQUINNED SUITS AND PLATFORM BOOTS in Edinburgh and coverage in this weeks Times Educational Supplement… please go to: http://www.amdram.co.uk/wheellerplays/news2006.htm

 

For details of Too Much Punch For Judy and other plays by Mark Wheeller please visit: http://www.amdram.co.uk/wheellerplays

The past it almost shimmers now…

I’m sure you all remember Mark Wheeler‘s (BowieNetter eedsud) play, Ziggy’s Band, which we told you about on these pages last year. (01.29.2005 NEWS: ZIGGY’S BAND TAKES TO THE STAGE NEXT WEEK & 02.03.2005 REMINDER: SEE ZIGGY’S BAND LIVE IN THE UK TONIGHT & 12.14.05 NEWS: ZIGGY’S BAND NOMINATED FOR CURTAIN CALL AWARDS)

We also made mention at the time of that last posting of the equally popular follow-up, Sequinned Suits and Platform Boots.

Well if you’re intending to visit the Edinburgh Festival Fringe next week you really should pop along and give Mark a bit of support, as Sequinned Suits and Platform Boots. will be playing throughout the week from Monday to Saturday.

Though he may not be a household name among adults in the UK, it seems Mark’s plays are well known among schoolchildren of a certain age. Here’s a bit from the press release about Mark’s plays which appeared in last week’s Times Educational Supplement in the UK…

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In this weeks TES (Times Educational Supplement) there is an article saying that unknown (to the general public) author Mark Wheeller’s plays are as popular in school GCSE exams as those written by Sir Alan Ayckbourn, John Godber and David Campton.

Two of Mark’s plays have been received over 4000 professional performances! As these are outside the West End I’ll wager you haven’t heard of them!

Mark’s latest play is coming to Edinburgh, again premiered by a non professional group, but will it like seven of his other plays go on to be presented by professional actors in substantial tours?

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Here follows the listings information:

Venue: C, venue 34, Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Dates: Monday 14 to Saturday 19 August 2006
Time: 4.25pm (55mins)
Tickets: £6.50 / concs £5.50
Venue box office: 0870 701 5105 / www.CtheFestival.com
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com

Check out the Press Release section above for even more details.

Good luck Mark…If anybody reading this manages to get along, please let us know how it went.

Made for a real world…

Thanx to BowieNetter Georg on the MBs for pointing out the latest release in the German Vinyl Classics range of CDs: David Bowie’s Heathen.

This is possibly one for collectors only, as there is nothing beyond the packaging to tempt those that already own the album. Though anybody who can sell a range of CDs under the banner Vinyl Classics by printing a vinyl like finish on a CD has to be applauded…That German sense of humour gets me every time!

If for some bizarre reason you don’t yet own Heathen, you’d be better off holding out for the double disc version which shouldn’t be too hard to track down.

Failing that, if you’re a BowieNet member, you could enter the contest we’re about to set to win one of ten copies of the Heathen limited edition CD in 12″ LP style gatefold packaging that is proving quite hard to find these days. I could only find one on eBay and that was going for £19.99 (Approx.US $38) and it’s selling for up to £28.99 (Approx.US $55) at one online stores.

And so, on to the contest. I have an unpublished manuscript in my possession written by a long term Bowie fan and successful author who shall remain nameless. The book is entitled, appropriately enough: Made For A Real World.

Anyway, reading through it I was struck by the sudden realisation that the passage below had managed to use every word from the combined titles of every track on Heathen …apart from one song. Weird eh?

Here’s the passage, that also seems to have flashbacks of other Bowie lyrics that may help to disorientate you a little…

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It was 5.15 on a balmy summer Sunday evening as I pushed through the market square. The rays from the sun machine were still coming down, stretching a long alien-like shadow from a solitary cactus that was yet to find a home. There was something in the air, a kind of bubbling madness hidden behind a superficial calm created by the unbelievable events of recent weeks.

I had been waiting for you for the better part of the afternoon and though time was suddenly more precious than ever, I had managed to slip away just for the day. We had agreed to meet to plan what was left of our ‘future’…But, with the morning’s indigestible news that we had but five years, what would already be known as the slow burn had begun and I was afraid you had changed your mind.

The horrid reality of the ‘real world’ had rarely had any effect on the one we inhabited, but this was a rude awakening indeed and I felt this trip was a necessary journey to a place I’ve never dared venture in the past, and certainly not somewhere I would have gone alone. Your beliefs meant that you considered me somewhat heathen, and, though you were no slave to your religion, you felt it was right that I too took the vows that meant as much to me as the fact that you were a Gemini…it didn’t matter, but it seemed important to you.

As I turned another corner I was aware that my senses had become more finely attuned to my surroundings, and even though I was sure none of this could be real, every detail became sharper…it even smelled like a street. Then, there in the distance like some shimmering palace of angels stood the spaceship, and my pulse quickened as I realised you were probably already onboard.

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Just to help you on your way here is the Heathen tracklisting:

Sunday
Cactus
Slip Away
Slow Burn
Afraid
I’ve Been Waiting For You
I Would Be Your Slave
I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship
5:15 The Angels Have Gone
Everyone Says ‘Hi’
A Better Future
Heathen (The Rays)

So, ignoring punctuation and capital letters, etc. you have to work out which song title is not used in any shape or form in the passage above. The words are also jumbled up, so don’t expect to find, for example: I Would Be Your Slave, as a complete string of words in any one sentence.

When you think you’ve found the missing song title, send it to me here.

The contest is open to BowieNet members only and it ends two weeks from now at midnight UK time on Wednesday August 23rd. The winners will be announced soon thereafter. Good luck, kidz!

Everything has changed…

We set this competition a couple of weeks ago to celebrate the fact that the Observer newspaper in the UK chose The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars as one of the 50 albums that changed music. (07.23.2006 NEWS: ZIGGY STARDUST IN OBSERVER TOP 50…WIN THE SACD)

These spot the difference contests always prove to be very popular, and most of you managed to find all five changes to the cover easily enough, as highlighted in the animation above.

But, here are the five members that The Random Generator chose as winners…

arabia
dreamgirl
kindt
mooose
tonyp

If you folx would be so kind as to furnish me with your real names and addresses, a Ziggy SACD will be with you pronto!

Stay tuned for another contest tomorrow.

Well I wouldn’t buy no merchandise…

Had a few e-mails asking me about a slew of recent Bowie DVD releases and whether they are officially endorsed or, as is the case more often than not, a lot of old toilet best avoided. Generally the rule of thumb is that if we haven’t given something a mention on BowieNet before its release, it’s unlikely to be officially endorsed.

Having said that, I know there are those of you (OK, us) that need to own everything with the name Bowie attached to it, regardless of it’s origin or quality. Nevertheless, we’ll continue to try to give you an indication of whether these products are worth spending your cash on.

First up is Starman (above) which is a “2 DISC SPECIAL EDITION – Including a rare and previously unreleased interview CD”, it also boasts a 32-page booklet. On the surface Starman seems to be a pukka release in that it’s another version of the splendid American A&E Biography Channel DVD. That same DVD was later issued as the region 2 Sound & Vision DVD, which we gave away copies of earlier in the year. (04.12.06 NEWS: DB ON BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL IN UK – WIN DVD)

It looks like it’s been licensed again for this Starman release, but I have to say the inclusion of an interview CD normally indicates unofficial product, on account of interview material not normally having any copyright concerns. Anyway, Starman is a region 2 DVD and is out now.

Total Rock Review (above left) is another region 2 release due next month (September 4th) and for this reason I’ve yet to view a copy. However, the title makes me immediately suspicious that it’s another of the myriad ‘critical dissection DVDs created for ‘educational’ purposes. These are often shoddy compilations of poor quality footage using a loophole in copyright law to fleece unsuspecting fans. If I’m proved wrong I’ll let you know, but in the meantime I would suggest you avoid Total Rock Review.

No such ambiguities with Music Box Biographical Collection – David Bowie… it’s proper crap! But don’t take my word for it, BowieNetter Zardoz kindly agreed to view the thing and here follows his conclusions…

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MUSIC BOX BIOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION – DAVID BOWIE

What can I say about this DVD?. Words fail me. Diabolical, amateurish, pish poor, wank. That about sums it up. The short running time of 32 minutes is a blessing in disguise as it is torturous to watch.

An overlayed graphic of a TV screen remains for most of this recycled drivel masking out the content. (Examples above) Two ‘expert talking heads’ appear from time to time to enlighten us with their insight into all things Bowie. God help us.

It begs the questions: How can these guys get away with this? How many times can the Nationwide footage be ripped off? Why did I buy this?

Avoid at all costs.

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Thanx Zardoz…I think we get the message. Music Box Biographical Collection – David Bowie is not a recommended release!

People stared at the make-up on his face…

BBC 6 Music’s host of Rocket Science and MINT, Marc Riley, hasn’t let the notion of growing old gracefully deter him from experimenting with make-up, hair removal and contact lenses.

Judging from the picture above, one could argue as to the success of his experiments. But, one thing’s for sure, you can’t argue with the success of the funny fellow’s radio shows…or his newly acquired uncanny likeness to Donald Pleasance.

Whatever, today’s Rocket Science promises to be an absolute feast for Bowie fans.

Live music will be provided by the aptly-named The Suffrajets, while Marc will be delving into the BBC archives for a classic 1972 David Bowie session.

There will also be the chance to win a special Bowie bag of goodies in the shape of the complete back catalogue on CD, a signed-by-DB Serious Moonlight DVD poster, and, possibly most desirable of all, an Abbey Road 12″ promotional only vinyl acetate of the upcoming Baal digital download that we told you about last month. (07.12.06 NEWS: BAAL EP AND BTWN EXTRAS DIGITAL DOWNLOADS DUE)

These acetates are going to be strictly limited to ten copies, of which a couple have already been earmarked for a forthcoming BowieNet contest nearer the release of Baal in September.

Rocket Science and MINT are online and on DAB radio every week at the times indicated in the station ID thingummy above.

But don’t fret if you missed the initial broadcast while attending the event below, as you can still listen online up until the following week’s instalment.

Drive-In Saturday…

I know many of you like to be kept informed on the live intentions of the various Bowie tribute bands out there…well in that case, in alphabetical order, here we go…

First up, and probably the busiest of the bunch, is UK band The Bowie Experience, pictured above. Laurence and the boys have a very busy August, including headlining a David Bowie Tribute Convention at The Cavern Club in Liverpool on August 12th.

Here’s the full remaining August schedule, kicking off with a show on Saturday…

August Dates
Saturday 5th – Laurence as David Bowie (solo) – Dorchester Trinity Club, Trinity Street, Dorchester, Dorset.
Saturday 12th – thebowiexperience – The Cavern Club, Liverpool. – Tel, 0151 2369091
Thursday 17th – Laurence – The Antelope Inn, 13 West Street, Wareham, Dorset – Tel, 01929 552827
Friday 18th – Laurence – BH13 Restaurant, 37 Haven Road, Poole. – Tel, 01202 701101
Saturday 19th – The Beatless Brothers, Mark & Laurence, Beatles songs done acoustic – The Clockhouse Inn, Main Street, Chideock, Dorset – Tel, 01297 489423
Friday 25th – Laurence – The Waterfront Inn, Golf Links Road, Westward Ho!, North Devon, EX39 1LH
Saturday 26th – Laurence – The Green Man, 1 Victoria Road, Wimborne, Dorset – Tel, 01202 881021
Sunday 27th – Laurence – The Spice Ship, 240 Preston Road, Preston, (N`r Weymouth) Dorset. Tel, 01305 834651

www.thebowiexperience.com
www.myspace.com/thebowiexperience

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Next up is Diamond Dogs who have two August shows in Montreal lined up including one tomorrow on Saturday 5th. Here’s the details of both shows…

DIAMOND DOGS TRIBUTE TO DAVID BOWIE IN MONTREAL (DAVID MOLLET AS DAVID BOWIE)

Hello everyone!

LES PRODUCTIONS DEUX C is bringing you back THE DIAMOND DOGS with new musicians and new Bowie songs. Don’t miss this explosive event on:

Saturday, August 5th 9PM @ Café Chaos (2031 St-Denis) MONTREAL, Qc and Wednesday, August 9th 8PM @ Diable Vert (4557 St-Denis) MONTREAL, Qc

Seven musicians on stage (wearing costumes), for more than 2 hours of show that will make you travel from the 70’s up to now.

An event not to be missed! See you there!

THE DIAMOND DOGS

www.diamonddogsband.com
www.myspace.com/thediamonddogs

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I think the general consensus seems to be that David Brighton’s Space Oddity is at least the most visually convincing of all the Bowie tribute bands, as I’m sure you’ll agree from the pictorial evidence above.

But if you’re in the Orange County area of Southern California tomorrow evening (Saturday August 5th) you can find out for yourself whether they are just as convincing to the ears.

Here’s a note about the show from DB himself. (David Brighton that is!)

Space Oddity – David Brighton’s Tribute to David Bowie Live In Concert at the Orange County Pavilion on August 5th.

Hello friends and Bowie fans. For those of you in the Southern California area, we’d like to invite you to come and celebrate the Bowie Spectacle with us in a venue that is tailor made for a David Bowie show.

The Orange County Pavilion is a beautiful theater with state of the art sound, lights and staging, so we hope all of you will be able to come and experience the full Space Oddity – David Bowie Tribute stage production with us.

David Brighton and the Space Oddity band have some special surprises up their sleeves, so we hope to see you there.

Here’s the info:

08/05/2006 08:00 PM – Orange County Pavilion
801 N. Main St., Santa Ana , CA 92701,US –
Doors: 5:00pm
Showtime: 8:00pm
Theatre $25
Balcony $30
Orchestra table $35
Orchestra booth $35
ADA seating is available by calling the venue box office at 714.550.0550
For a reservation at Ambrosia, the OC Pavilions 5 star restaurant, call 714-550-0811

www.DavidBowieTribute.com

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Finally, the freshest of the bunch, inasmuch as they are the most recent to form, The Thin White Duke (another UK outfit) are set to play in a couple of weeks at the Ship Inn, East Grinstead on Saturday 19th August. Lead singer Scott tells me it should kick off at 9:00pm and entry is free to all.

Visit www.thinwhiteduke.biz for more info and details of how to get there.

Indeed, keep an eye on all of these band’s websites for up-to-date gig information.

Get me to The Doctor…

For those of you that can be in London this afternoon, don’t forget that BowieNetter Nick Pegg will be signing copies of the revised and expanded fourth edition of his The Complete David Bowie book in Covent Garden.

If you missed last month’s news items regarding the book, (07.17.2006 NEWS: REVISED COMPLETE DB SIGNING AND LAUNCH PARTY & 07.22.2006 NEWS: COMPLETE BOWIE COMP AND NICK PEGG IN CHAT TOMORROW & 07.28.2006 NEWS: NICK PEGG’S COMPLETE BOWIE BOOK WINNERS) here’s the stuff from publishers Reynolds & Hearn again…

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REYNOLDS & HEARN LTD are pleased to announce a signing and launch party for THE COMPLETE DAVID BOWIE Revised and Expanded Fourth Edition by Nicholas Pegg.

The event takes place on Saturday 5 August 2006 at 2.00 pm till 6.00 pm In the basement room at:

The Corner Store
33 Wellington Street
Covent Garden
London WC2E 7BN

Directions: The Corner Store is on Wellington Street, on the same side and just a few doors up from the Lyceum Theatre (where ‘The Lion King’ is playing). Nearest tube stations: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line), Leicester Square (Northern & Piccadilly Lines), Temple (Circle & District Lines).

Admission is free. The book will be available to buy on the day, and the author will be in attendance to sign copies. The bar will be open of course, and there’s even a (very tiny!) dance floor, so feel free to pop in for a drink, a chat and a boogie. You can guess what the music will be!

We hope to see you there! With best wishes, Reynolds & Hearn Ltd

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If you’ve not met Nick before and you’re wondering who you should be looking for…he’ll probably be the chap sitting at a desk next to a big pile of Bowie books. Failing that, he may be hiding in a black Dalek, as he is in the picture above.

It’s a long story, but I’m sure he’ll tell you all about it if you ask nicely. };-)