Month: August 2009

When I’m Five…

The very charming Nicholas Pegg has been in touch with details of the fifth update of his The Complete David Bowie, (above) and a signing session when the book is launched next month.

The Complete David Bowie will be available at the session in London’s Covent Garden on Saturday 26th September and you can read more about both the book and the launch event in the press release section above.

Meanwhile, the collectors among you may be pleased to learn that the four editions above are the only previously published versions of the book, so you can stop trying to find the three unpublished ones below.

These three are simply early mock-ups sent to online retailers but have never actually existed as published books.

PRESS RELEASE August 27th 2009

Reynolds & Hearn Ltd announces

THE COMPLETE DAVID BOWIE

by Nicholas Pegg

Expanded and Updated Fifth Edition – Publication date: 26 September 2009

 

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I can?t imagine how this book could be better … the definitive read for Bowiephiles?

? Uncut

?Absolutely thorough, absolutely definitive and absolutely entertaining?

? BBC Radio 5 Live

?An indispensable guide for all serious collectors of David Bowie?s music?

? BowieNet

?This is not just a trainspotter?s manual ? Nicholas Pegg has a keen critical intelligence?

? Sunday Telegraph

?The Complete David Bowie certainly lives up to its title … Pegg?s opinionated and witty prose turns it into that rare thing: a reference book that sparkles?

? MOJO

　

Critically acclaimed in its previous editions, Nicholas Pegg?s ground-breaking reference book The Complete David Bowie has been widely recognized as the foremost source of detailed information and perceptive critical analysis of every aspect of David Bowie?s career. It has won nominations as music book of the year from Uncut magazine (?I can?t imagine how this book could be any better?) and BBC Radio 5 Live (?Absolutely thorough, absolutely definitive and absolutely entertaining?) among many other plaudits.

Reynolds & Hearn Ltd are now delighted to announce the publication of the fifth edition. Published on 28 September 2009, The Complete David Bowie has once again been fully revised and updated, expanding on previous editions to provide even more detail and discussion than before.

All the latest developments will be included in the new edition, ranging from David Bowie?s recent studio collaborations with artists like Scarlett Johansson and TV On The Radio, to his latest forays into acting in productions as diverse as Extras, August, Bandslam and even SpongeBob SquarePants, and recent archive releases including the 5.1 remix of the classic Young Americans album and the VH1 Storytellers and Glass Spider DVDs.

As well as incorporating all the latest updates, the new edition includes substantial additions to the earlier chapters. ?The encyclopaedic nature of the book means that every chapter needs constant updating,? explains author Nicholas Pegg, ?and for this edition I?ve had the opportunity to add extensive new material to several chapters, particularly the A-Z of songs. Things might have been a little quiet on the Bowie front recently, but over the last few years a great deal of new information has emerged about the classic recordings, not to mention information about a host of little-known demos, out-takes, and rarities like the unreleased albums Leon and Toy. The result is a considerably bigger update than the previous one: for this edition I have added around 30,000 words of new material to the overall count, which is nearly twice as much “new stuff” as last time. There are fresh nuggets of information and insight scattered throughout the book.?

As before, The Complete David Bowie will include:

* The Albums ? detailed production history and analysis of every album from 1967 to the present day.

* The Songs ? hundreds of individual entries reveal the facts and anecdotes behind not just the famous recordings, but also the most obscure of unreleased rarities ? from ?Absolute Beginners? to ?Ziggy Stardust?, from ?Abdulmajid? to ?Zion?.

* The Tours ? set-lists and histories of every live show.

* The Actor ? a complete guide to Bowie?s work on stage and screen.

* Dateline ? the most exhaustive day-by-day calendar of Bowie?s career ever published.

* Plus ? the videos, the BBC radio sessions, the paintings, the Internet and much more.

From the 11-year-old?s skiffle performance at the 18th Bromley Scouts? Summer Camp in 1958, to the 62-year-old?s cameo appearance in Bandslam in 2009, The Complete David Bowie discusses and dissects every last move in rock?s most fascinating career.

Well, she’s come, been and gone…

After a six week break, the Michael Clark new work we’ve been telling you about (08.02.2009 NEWS: MORE MICHAEL CLARK THANK U MA’AM DETAILS) returns to the stage at the Edinburgh International Festival on Friday.

The performance is now called Come, Been and Gone and you can view an interview with Michael regarding this and his Bowie appreciation from this week’s Culture Show on the BBC iPlayer. The interview starts around sixteen minutes in to the programme.

It’s also worth checking out this BBC search page for all the recent items regarding the new work on the BBC.

The Edinburgh International Festival is hosting four nightly performances of Come, Been and Gone at The Edinburgh Playhouse from the 28th through to the 31st of August at 8:00pm each evening.

You can still purchase tickets on the EIF website, where you can also view some great shots from the new work, like the one above of dancer Benjamin Warbis, which seems to be a cross between Iggy Pop circa 1973 and the inside of the Aladdin Sane gatefold sleeve.

Perhaps the strange ones in the dome, Can lend us a book…

Well, don’t need to say anything more…August 29th is the issue date…though NME comes out on Tuesdays…which is the 25th…they always use the coming Saturday as the issue date…I’m waffling now.

Anyway, great advice from David to young Brian.

Woof woof…

BowieNetter Rich Kline has been in touch with details of a gig at Cleveland?s House Of Blues…here’s the stuff…

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The Bowie tribute DIAMOND DOGS?The Sound and Vision of David Bowie returns to Cleveland?s HOUSE OF BLUES Cambridge Room on Friday, August 28th for an evening of greatest hits spanning the gamut of David Bowie?s stellar catalog. The evening will feature favorite songs from every phase of Bowie?s career?from Ziggy Stardust until the present, and includes gorgeous costume changes to fit each episode of the chameleonic artist?s persona.

DIAMOND DOGS is the brain-child of David Bowie impersonator Rich Kline, who wanted to create an act that not only played Bowie?s music, but brought the image and electricity of the star to the audience, as well. Brought to life in 2002, the band has been performing to packed houses since its public premier in 2003. Kline (as David Bowie on Vocals and Guitar) brings with him to the stage talented band members Dave Maxson (Lead Guitar), Brad Wyner (Keyboards, Vocals), Russ Lafferty (Bass Guitar, Vocals), Dave Clark (Drums), Jim Cirillo (Sax, Percussion, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals), Janet Sherrill (Vocals), and Rita Kline (Vocals.) The resulting presentation is absolutely not to be missed.

DIAMOND DOGS take the stage at Cleveland?s House of Blues (308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland) in The Cambridge Room on Friday, August 28, 2009 at 9 PM. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 day of show. This is an All Ages show. For ticket information, go to www.hob.com, and for more information on DIAMOND DOGS, go to www.bowietribute.com.

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Rich also did an interview with Cleveland Scene recently, which you can read here.

Don’t you let my letters get you down…

Some of the props from Bandslam are up on eBay right now, including the above unanswered letters to David Bowie from Will and a Lodger poster that can be seen in various shots on Will’s wall.

You can view all the items here, though you can pick up the same Lodger poster for around $20 USD if it doesn’t have to be the actual one from the film.

Meanwhile, in a recent interview, Lisa Kudrow had this to say to The Examiner regarding David Bowie’s cameo…

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How much of the music in “Bandslam” were you familiar with before you did the movie?

I knew about Velvet Underground and David Bowie. I didn?t get to meet him. Isn?t that tragic? Cheap Trick, I knew. And the Bread song [“Everything I Own”] ?

What did you think of the David Bowie cameo in “Bandslam”?

Thrilling! It was thrilling that David Bowie was there ? I was up on my feet clapping for getting us in the film. [She says jokingly] They cut to me on my feet clapping ? Imagine me, endorsing the movie!

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I’ve no reason to think The Examiner misheard Lisa, but wouldn’t it have made more sense if she had said: “I was up on my feet clapping, forgetting I was in the film.” That’s the version I’m going with anyway.

Lisa expands on her Bowie appreciation in the October issue of Q magazine…

Finally, Bandslam is due on BD and DVD on December 7th.

He played it left hand…

Zardoz, the guitar-mental BowieNetter, pointed me at this one. It’s the September issue of Guitar Techniques and it shows you how to play the song Ziggy Stardust on your electric guitar.

As is the way with these things, there is the actual notation printed over three pages preceded by a page of technical guff and the above rather tasty full-page Ziggy/Ronno live shot.

There are also two instrumental versions of Ziggy Stardust…one with the lead parts to show you how it’s done, and another without for you to play along with. Careful with that Am7sus4.

I remember them all…

David Bowie gets the From The Capitol Vaults treatment in America in November with limited edition, 180-gram vinyl, releases of Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs and Young Americans. Here’s a bit from the press release…

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Capitol/EMI’s high quality From The Capitol Vaults U.S. vinyl campaign continues November 3 with the limited edition, 180-gram vinyl release of 11 classic, standout albums from EMI Music’s celebrated catalog.

Capitol/EMI’s November 3 From The Capitol Vaults releases, all previously out of print on vinyl, include The Band’s Cahoots and Stage Fright, The Beach Boys’ Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) and Today!, David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs, and Young Americans, Faust’s Faust IV, and Frank Sinatra’s Come Dance With Me!, Come Fly With Me, and In The Wee Small Hours.

November 3, 2009: “FROM THE CAPITOL VAULTS” [artist / title (configuration)]

The Band / Cahoots (1 LP, gatefold jacket, printed sleeve)
The Band / Stage Fright (1 LP, single jacket, printed sleeve, band photo)
The Beach Boys / Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (1 LP, single jacket, printed sleeve)
The Beach Boys / Today! (1 LP, single jacket)
David Bowie / Aladdin Sane (1 LP, gatefold jacket, printed sleeve)
David Bowie / Diamond Dogs (1 LP, gatefold jacket, printed sleeve)
David Bowie / Young Americans (1 LP, single jacket, printed sleeve)
Faust / Faust IV (1 LP, gatefold jacket, printed sleeve)
Frank Sinatra / Come Dance With Me! (1 LP, single jacket, printed sleeve)
Frank Sinatra / Come Fly With Me (1 LP, single jacket, printed sleeve)
Frank Sinatra / In The Wee Small Hours (1 LP, single jacket, printed sleeve)

All From The Capitol Vaults titles feature carefully replicated artwork and packaging true to their original single or gatefold jacket LP releases.

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There will be a postcard insert with Aladdin Sane, which I presume is some kind of facsimile of the original fan club application. For more information, visit From The Capitol Vaults

I could do with the money…

A few of you have e-mailed regarding the latest Bowie item to go on eBay for big bucks.

This one is an acetate for the Ziggy Stardust LP, dating from around February 1972, which still has the track Round And Round instead of Starman, which it would eventually be replaced by.

After a frenzied scramble (29 bids) the acetate eventually sold for a recession-ignoring US $4,772.00…unless rare records are the new fine wines for investors of course.

If the buyer is reading this, I would love to know if the later tracks to be recorded, Suffragette City and Rock ?n? Roll Suicide, are different mixes or exactly as the final album versions.

Anyway, the seller’s description of the acetate is wordy if nothing else, but it’s good to see that even a Bowie fan of my standing can still learn something from eBay…Here’s a tiny excerpt and apparently it’s “not some far-fetched theory”.

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Another theory, which makes even more sense, is that Bowie worked concurrently on a number of his future projects and albums and that the tracks recorded during the Ziggy Stardust sessions were split between this release (Ziggy Stardust) and his 1973 album (Pin-ups), with ?Round and ?Round originally planned for Pin-Ups, then for the Ziggy Stardust and then, ultimately, dropped from both.

This is not some far-fetched theory: mind you, we know for sure, that ?Sorrow?, Bowie?s 1973 single, was originally recorded during the Ziggy Stardust sessions and was initially planned for inclusion in the album, but ultimately ended up on his next release (Pin Ups), about a year later.

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Sorrow recorded during the Ziggy sessions eh? You learn something wrong every day.