100. Rene Hell – The Terminal Symphony (Type)
99. King’s Daughters And Sons – If Not Then When (Chemikal Underground)
98. Wolfgang Voigt – Kafkatrax (Profan)
Country singer Billie Jo Spears has died at the aged of 74. Spears, who is best known for her 1975 hit 'Blanket On The Ground', passed away at her home in Vidor, Texas yesterday morning (December 14). She had been battling cancer. The singer's other hits included 'What I've Got In Mind', 'Misty Blue' and 'If You Want Me'. She continued to tour right up until her death, despite having triple bypass heart surgery in 1993. The Texan singer had been scheduled to make a number of UK appearances next May as part of her tour entitled 'Ladies Of Country', reports BBC News. During her career, she released 17 studio albums, six compilation albums, and 46 singles. Her breakthrough hit came in 1969, with 'Mr. Walker, It's All Over,' which peaked at Number Four on the Billboard Country Singles chart. The last single she released was 'Midnight Blue' in 1983 and her last album was 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry' in 2005. In November 2010 Spears was inducted to Vidor’s Wall of Fame. Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk.
Country singer Billie Jo Spears has died at the aged of 74.
Spears, who is best known for her 1975 hit ‘Blanket On The Ground’, passed away at her home in Vidor, Texas yesterday morning (December 14). She had been battling cancer.
The singer’s other hits included ‘What I’ve Got In Mind’, ‘Misty Blue’ and ‘If You Want Me’. She continued to tour right up until her death, despite having triple bypass heart surgery in 1993.
The Texan singer had been scheduled to make a number of UK appearances next May as part of her tour entitled ‘Ladies Of Country’, reports BBC News.
During her career, she released 17 studio albums, six compilation albums, and 46 singles. Her breakthrough hit came in 1969, with ‘Mr. Walker, It’s All Over,’ which peaked at Number Four on the Billboard Country Singles chart.
The last single she released was ‘Midnight Blue’ in 1983 and her last album was ‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’ in 2005.
In November 2010 Spears was inducted to Vidor’s Wall of Fame.
Dirty Three are set to release their first album in six years on March 5, 2012. The instrumental trio – made up of Jim White, Mick Turner and Warren Ellis – will follow up 2005's 'Cinder' with 'Toward the Low Sun', which will be released on the Bella Union label. The band's eighth studio album is pitched as a "punk avant-garde art-jazz record". Of the record, Ellis says: "Dirty Three has always been about the way we play together and feed off each other. We wanted this one to be a return to the more improvised and instinctive approach of the earlier recordings." The trio's violinist Warren Ellis also plays with Grinderman, who recently announced they were 'over'. Frontman Nick Cave broke the news at a festival in Australia. During the band's set at Meredith Music Festival in Victoria, Cave said: "That's it for Grinderman. It's over… See you all in another 10 years when we'll be even older and uglier." Grinderman began in 2006 and featured Warren Ellis, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos in the line-up alongside Cave. The quartet released two albums; their self-titled debut in 2007 and a follow up, 'Grinderman 2', in 2010. Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk.
Dirty Three are set to release their first album in six years on March 5, 2012.
The instrumental trio – made up of Jim White, Mick Turner and Warren Ellis – will follow up 2005’s ‘Cinder’ with ‘Toward the Low Sun’, which will be released on the Bella Union label.
The band’s eighth studio album is pitched as a “punk avant-garde art-jazz record”. Of the record, Ellis says: “Dirty Three has always been about the way we play together and feed off each other. We wanted this one to be a return to the more improvised and instinctive approach of the earlier recordings.”
The trio’s violinist Warren Ellis also plays with Grinderman, who recently announced they were ‘over’.
Frontman Nick Cave broke the news at a festival in Australia. During the band’s set at Meredith Music Festival in Victoria, Cave said: “That’s it for Grinderman. It’s over… See you all in another 10 years when we’ll be even older and uglier.”
Grinderman began in 2006 and featured Warren Ellis, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos in the line-up alongside Cave. The quartet released two albums; their self-titled debut in 2007 and a follow up, ‘Grinderman 2’, in 2010.
The Shins are set to release their fourth album, 'Port Of Morrow', in March 2012. The band left Sub Pop in 2008, so the album will be released on band leader James Mercer’s Aural Apothecary label via Columbia Records. The 10 tracks were produced by Greg Kurstin in both Los Angeles and Portland over the past year. The band – made up of James Mercer, Yuuki Matthews, Jessica Dobson, Richard Swift and Joe Plummer – are set to tour next year. The new album is their first since 2007's 'Wincing The Night Away'. In 2009, James Mercer joined up with Danger Mouse to form the band Broken Bells. After releasing their debut self-titled album in 2010, they released a follow-up EP 'Meyrin Fields' earlier this year. The 'Port Of Morrow' tracklisting is: 'The Rifle's Spiral' 'Simple Song' 'It's Only Life' 'No Way Down' 'September' 'Bait and Switch' 'Fall of '82' 'For A Fool' '40 Mark Strasse' 'Port of Morrow' For information on a specific release date for the new album as well as information on live shows, fans have been told to keep an eye on theshins.com. Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk.
The Shins are set to release their fourth album, ‘Port Of Morrow’, in March 2012.
The band left Sub Pop in 2008, so the album will be released on band leader James Mercer’s Aural Apothecary label via Columbia Records. The 10 tracks were produced by Greg Kurstin in both Los Angeles and Portland over the past year.
The band – made up of James Mercer, Yuuki Matthews, Jessica Dobson, Richard Swift and Joe Plummer – are set to tour next year. The new album is their first since 2007’s ‘Wincing The Night Away’.
In 2009, James Mercer joined up with Danger Mouse to form the band Broken Bells. After releasing their debut self-titled album in 2010, they released a follow-up EP ‘Meyrin Fields’ earlier this year.
The ‘Port Of Morrow’ tracklisting is:
‘The Rifle’s Spiral’
‘Simple Song’
‘It’s Only Life’
‘No Way Down’
‘September’
‘Bait and Switch’
‘Fall of ’82’
‘For A Fool’
’40 Mark Strasse’
‘Port of Morrow’
For information on a specific release date for the new album as well as information on live shows, fans have been told to keep an eye on theshins.com.
Pulp are set to reissue their 1983 debut album 'It' along with their 1987 LP 'Freaks' and 1992's 'Separations'. The re-releases were supposed to come out in August on the Fire label, but a delay means that all three albums will now be released in February 2012. The albums will be accompanied with new liner notes from rock critic Everett True and have been remastered, as well as coming with new artwork and added bonus tracks. The 'It' reissue will feature four bonus tracks, including the single version of 'My Lighthouse', an alternative mix of 'Blue Girls', the previously unreleased 'Sink Or Swim' and 'Please Don't Worry' from the band's 1981 John Peel Session. 'Freaks' will come with a bonus disc made up of the non-album singles 'Little Girl (With Blue Eyes)' and 'Dogs are Everywhere' as well as b-sides 'Tunnel' and 'Manon', while the 'Separations' bonus material includes 'Death Goes To The Disco', 'Is This House', an extended version of 'Countdown' and 'Death Comes To Town'. Pulp's frontman Jarvis Cocker recently blamed the tabloids for contributing to Amy Winehouse's death. He claimed the constant media attention the late singer received on a daily basis forced her to turn to drink and drugs and he went through a similar situation during the height of his fame during the Britpop era. Cocker told The Guardian: "Amy Winehouse passed away this year and it was all 'Drugs killed Amy Winehouse'. I think that the press killed Amy Winehouse as much as drugs did, because it sends people into that place where they've got no peace, and so they just try to escape. And sometimes you use drugs and drink to do that." Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk.
Pulp are set to reissue their 1983 debut album ‘It’ along with their 1987 LP ‘Freaks’ and 1992’s ‘Separations’.
The re-releases were supposed to come out in August on the Fire label, but a delay means that all three albums will now be released in February 2012.
The albums will be accompanied with new liner notes from rock critic Everett True and have been remastered, as well as coming with new artwork and added bonus tracks.
The ‘It’ reissue will feature four bonus tracks, including the single version of ‘My Lighthouse’, an alternative mix of ‘Blue Girls’, the previously unreleased ‘Sink Or Swim’ and ‘Please Don’t Worry’ from the band’s 1981 John Peel Session.
‘Freaks’ will come with a bonus disc made up of the non-album singles ‘Little Girl (With Blue Eyes)’ and ‘Dogs are Everywhere’ as well as b-sides ‘Tunnel’ and ‘Manon’, while the ‘Separations’ bonus material includes ‘Death Goes To The Disco’, ‘Is This House’, an extended version of ‘Countdown’ and ‘Death Comes To Town’.
Pulp‘s frontman Jarvis Cocker recently blamed the tabloids for contributing to Amy Winehouse‘s death. He claimed the constant media attention the late singer received on a daily basis forced her to turn to drink and drugs and he went through a similar situation during the height of his fame during the Britpop era.
Cocker told The Guardian: “Amy Winehouse passed away this year and it was all ‘Drugs killed Amy Winehouse‘. I think that the press killed Amy Winehouse as much as drugs did, because it sends people into that place where they’ve got no peace, and so they just try to escape. And sometimes you use drugs and drink to do that.”
Peter Hook has announced plans to play Joy Division's 'Unknown Pleasures' and 'Closer' albums on a full UK tour in 2012. The ex-New Order bassist has lined up eight dates with his band The Light across the country kicking off at Buxton Opera House on February 25, where he will play both albums. Further shows in Liverpool, Glasgow, Nottingham, Sheffield, Birmingham and Oxford will see them play just 'Unknown Pleasures' while a gig in London will feature just tracks from 'Closer'. Tickets for the shows go on sale at 9am on Friday (December 16). To check availability of [url=http://nme.seetickets.com/Tour/PETER-HOOK-THE-LIGHT?affid1nmestory=see&filler3=id1nmestory]Peter Hook And The Light tickets[/url] and get all the latest listings, go to [url=http://www.nme.com/gigs]NME.COM/TICKETS[/url] now, or call [B]0871 230 1094[/B]. The gigs come [url=http://www.nme.com/news/new-order/59326] following his recent homecoming shows at The Lowry Theatre in Salford[/url] last month. Peter Hook will play: Buxton Opera House (February 25) Liverpool O2 Academy (May 25) Glasgow Oran Mor (26) Nottingham Rescue Rooms (27) Sheffield Leadmill (29) Birmingham O2 Academy (30) London O2 Academy Islington (June 1) Oxford O2 Academy (2) Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk.
Peter Hook has announced plans to play Joy Division‘s ‘Unknown Pleasures’ and ‘Closer’ albums on a full UK tour in 2012.
The ex-New Order bassist has lined up eight dates with his band The Light across the country kicking off at Buxton Opera House on February 25, where he will play both albums.
Further shows in Liverpool, Glasgow, Nottingham, Sheffield, Birmingham and Oxford will see them play just ‘Unknown Pleasures’ while a gig in London will feature just tracks from ‘Closer’.
Tickets for the shows go on sale at 9am on Friday (December 16). To check availability of [url=http://nme.seetickets.com/Tour/PETER-HOOK-THE-LIGHT?affid1nmestory=see&filler3=id1nmestory]Peter Hook And The Light tickets[/url] and get all the latest listings, go to [url=http://www.nme.com/gigs]NME.COM/TICKETS[/url] now, or call [B]0871 230 1094[/B].
The gigs come [url=http://www.nme.com/news/new-order/59326] following his recent homecoming shows at The Lowry Theatre in Salford[/url] last month.
Peter Hook will play:
Buxton Opera House (February 25)
Liverpool O2 Academy (May 25)
Glasgow Oran Mor (26)
Nottingham Rescue Rooms (27)
Sheffield Leadmill (29)
Birmingham O2 Academy (30)
London O2 Academy Islington (June 1)
Oxford O2 Academy (2)
A rare copy of the Sex Pistols classic 'God Save The Queen' is being sold online for £10,000. According to online music store 991.com, the unplayed 1977 vinyl disc was obtained from an "ex-industry source with impeccable credentials" and is in mint condition. The listing adds: "This is not only one of the rarest records in existence but is certainly the most sought after and no serious record collection is complete without it." The record's high pricing comes after most copies of the song were destroyed when the band were dropped by A&M Records before its release. When the punk anthem was first released in 1977 it made it to Number Two in the Singles Chart. However there was a strong suspicion that the authorities had banned the track from topping the charts, as it was the Queen's Silver Jubilee and the song’s anti-authoritarian power was deemed unacceptable to the establishment. Meanwhile, a [url=http://www.nme.com/news/sex-pistols/60566] university academic recently campaigned to have graffiti[/url] drawn by the Sex Pistols on the walls of their London flat, declared to be a national landmark. Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk. Uncut have teamed up with Sonic Editions to curate a number of limited-edition framed iconic rock photographs, featuring the likes of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and The Clash. View the full collection here.
A rare copy of the Sex Pistols classic ‘God Save The Queen’ is being sold online for £10,000.
According to online music store 991.com, the unplayed 1977 vinyl disc was obtained from an “ex-industry source with impeccable credentials” and is in mint condition.
The listing adds: “This is not only one of the rarest records in existence but is certainly the most sought after and no serious record collection is complete without it.”
The record’s high pricing comes after most copies of the song were destroyed when the band were dropped by A&M Records before its release.
When the punk anthem was first released in 1977 it made it to Number Two in the Singles Chart.
However there was a strong suspicion that the authorities had banned the track from topping the charts, as it was the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and the song’s anti-authoritarian power was deemed unacceptable to the establishment.
Meanwhile, a [url=http://www.nme.com/news/sex-pistols/60566] university academic recently campaigned to have graffiti[/url] drawn by the Sex Pistols on the walls of their London flat, declared to be a national landmark.
Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk.
Uncut have teamed up with Sonic Editions to curate a number of limited-edition framed iconic rock photographs, featuring the likes of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and The Clash. View the full collection here.
Lost footage of David Bowie performing on Top Of The Pops has surfaced. Retired cameraman John Henshall recently unveiled a performance of the legend performing 'Jean Genie' in 1973 at the British Film Institute for the first time since it went out on air. BBC producers wiped the original footage and it was thought to be lost until Henshall stepped forward with film from the show. He said: "I didn't realise that it had been wiped by the BBC. They'd been looking for it for years, hoping that somebody had maybe pointed an 8mm home movie camera at the screen, because there was no VHS in those days." Henshall added: "I just couldn't believe that I was the only one with it. I just thought you wouldn't be mad enough to wipe a tape like that." Bowie's performance of 'Jean Genie' was recorded on 3 January 1973 and transmitted the following day for the first and only time, reports the BBC News. After his time with Top of the Pops, Henshall went on to film professional music videos for Blondie, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Kate Bush, Spandau Ballet, Roxy Music and Queen. Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk. Uncut have teamed up with Sonic Editions to curate a number of limited-edition framed iconic rock photographs, featuring the likes of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and The Clash. View the full collection here.
Lost footage of David Bowie performing on Top Of The Pops has surfaced.
Retired cameraman John Henshall recently unveiled a performance of the legend performing ‘Jean Genie’ in 1973 at the British Film Institute for the first time since it went out on air.
BBC producers wiped the original footage and it was thought to be lost until Henshall stepped forward with film from the show.
He said: “I didn’t realise that it had been wiped by the BBC. They’d been looking for it for years, hoping that somebody had maybe pointed an 8mm home movie camera at the screen, because there was no VHS in those days.”
Henshall added: “I just couldn’t believe that I was the only one with it. I just thought you wouldn’t be mad enough to wipe a tape like that.”
Bowie’s performance of ‘Jean Genie’ was recorded on 3 January 1973 and transmitted the following day for the first and only time, reports the BBC News.
After his time with Top of the Pops, Henshall went on to film professional music videos for Blondie, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Kate Bush, Spandau Ballet, Roxy Music and Queen.
Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk.
Uncut have teamed up with Sonic Editions to curate a number of limited-edition framed iconic rock photographs, featuring the likes of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and The Clash. View the full collection here.
I suspect this will be the last playlist of 2011, so thanks once again for all your encouragement and support over what has been a slightly erratic year of blogging. Some interesting things in here for February and March, including the Disappears album which is playing as I type; perhaps some kind of New Year’s resolution will encourage me to blog more regularly again in 2012. In the meantime, this may be one of my last blogs of the year (though I’ll repost my albums of the year on a single blog in the next day or two), but please add your own 2011 charts here and keep in touch on Twitter: @JohnRMulvey. I’ll keep working at that. Happy Solstice, and so on… 1 The Necks – Mindset (ReRMegacorps) 2 Mikal Cronin – Tide/You Gotta Have Someone (Goner) 3 Mi & Lau – If Beauty Is A Crime (Important) 4 The Necks – Aether (ReRMegacorps) 5 Eyvind Kang – Live Low To The Earth, In The Iron Age (Abduction) 6 James Ferraro – Far Side Virtual (Hippos In Tanks) 7 Various Artists – Pop Ambient 2012 (Kompakt) 8 Dustin Wong – Dreams Say, View, Create, Shadow Leads (Thrill Jockey) 9 Eyvind Kang – The Narrow Garden (Kranky) 10 Palace Songs – Hope (Domino) 11 Mouse On Mars – Parastrophics (Monkeytown) 12 Neal Morgan – In The Yard (Self-Released) 13 Lambchop – Mr M (City Slang) 14 Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself (Bella Union) 15 Disappears – Pre Language (Kranky)
I suspect this will be the last playlist of 2011, so thanks once again for all your encouragement and support over what has been a slightly erratic year of blogging.
Sinead O’Connor is set to release a new album, 'How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?', on February 20, 2012. The Irish singer songwriter will release the follow up to 2007's 'Theology' on the One Little Indian label. The album will feature a cover version of John Grant's 'Queen of Denmark' as well as brand new material, reports Rolling Stone. O'Connor will be touring next year to support the release of her ninth album. 2012 also marks the 25th anniversary of the release of her debut LP 'The Lion and the Cobra'. Last week the singer tied the knot with Barry Herridge in the back of a pink Cadillac at the Little White Wedding Chapel, Las Vegas, on the same day as her 45th birthday (December 8). The ceremony only lasted ten minutes before the couple lit candles and employees at the church sang 'Happy Birthday' to the bride, reported the Daily Mirror. O'Connor has been married three times before - to producer John Reynolds, journalist Nicholas Sommerlad and to Steve Cooney, whom she divorced earlier this year. Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk. Uncut have teamed up with Sonic Editions to curate a number of limited-edition framed iconic rock photographs, featuring the likes of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and The Clash. View the full collection here.
Sinead O’Connor is set to release a new album, ‘How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?’, on February 20, 2012.
The Irish singer songwriter will release the follow up to 2007’s ‘Theology’ on the One Little Indian label. The album will feature a cover version of John Grant‘s ‘Queen of Denmark’ as well as brand new material, reports Rolling Stone.
O’Connor will be touring next year to support the release of her ninth album. 2012 also marks the 25th anniversary of the release of her debut LP ‘The Lion and the Cobra’.
Last week the singer tied the knot with Barry Herridge in the back of a pink Cadillac at the Little White Wedding Chapel, Las Vegas, on the same day as her 45th birthday (December 8). The ceremony only lasted ten minutes before the couple lit candles and employees at the church sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to the bride, reported the Daily Mirror.
O’Connor has been married three times before – to producer John Reynolds, journalist Nicholas Sommerlad and to Steve Cooney, whom she divorced earlier this year.
Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk.
Uncut have teamed up with Sonic Editions to curate a number of limited-edition framed iconic rock photographs, featuring the likes of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and The Clash. View the full collection here.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are set to hit the road for a tour of the UK in the New Year. The band have lined up nine dates in early 2012 starting at Glasgow SWG3 on January 28 before closing at London's O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on February 8. To check availability of [url=http://nme.seetickets.com/Tour/CLAP-YOUR-HANDS-SAY-YEAH?affid1nmestory=see&filler3=id1nmestory]Clap Your Hands Say Yeah tickets[/url] and get all the latest listings, go to [url=http://www.nme.com/gigs]NME.COM/TICKETS[/url]. They will play: Glasgow SWG3 (January 28) Leeds Cockpit (30) Norwich Waterfront (31) Manchester Ritz (February 2) Liverpool Masque Theatre (3) Bristol Thelka (4) Birmingham HMV Institute Library (6) Brighton Coalition (7) London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire (8) The band are likely to perform tracks from their recent album 'Hysterical' during their UK jaunt. You can listen to the track 'Same Mistake' by scrolling down and clicking below. Same Mistake by CYHSYband Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk. Uncut have teamed up with Sonic Editions to curate a number of limited-edition framed iconic rock photographs, featuring the likes of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and The Clash. View the full collection here.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are set to hit the road for a tour of the UK in the New Year.
The band have lined up nine dates in early 2012 starting at Glasgow SWG3 on January 28 before closing at London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on February 8.
To check availability of [url=http://nme.seetickets.com/Tour/CLAP-YOUR-HANDS-SAY-YEAH?affid1nmestory=see&filler3=id1nmestory]Clap Your Hands Say Yeah tickets[/url] and get all the latest listings, go to [url=http://www.nme.com/gigs]NME.COM/TICKETS[/url].
They will play:
Glasgow SWG3 (January 28)
Leeds Cockpit (30)
Norwich Waterfront (31)
Manchester Ritz (February 2)
Liverpool Masque Theatre (3)
Bristol Thelka (4)
Birmingham HMV Institute Library (6)
Brighton Coalition (7)
London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire (8)
The band are likely to perform tracks from their recent album ‘Hysterical’ during their UK jaunt. You can listen to the track ‘Same Mistake’ by scrolling down and clicking below.
Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk.
Uncut have teamed up with Sonic Editions to curate a number of limited-edition framed iconic rock photographs, featuring the likes of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and The Clash. View the full collection here.
Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has admitted that he wants to write songs for Broadway. The singer told The New York Post that he harbours an ambition to pen tracks for musical theatre, but claimed that he wouldn't be attempting to write his own show tunes until he'd improved his craft. He said: "I want to be a better songwriter before I try Broadway and I wouldn't allow one of my old songs [to be used]. If I do Broadway, I'm not coming to write three-chord rock songs." Corgan also recently spoke out about his other passion and latest business venture – his [url=http://www.nme.com/news/smashing-pumpkins/60604]'indie' pro-wrestling company Resistance Pro[/url], which staged its first show last month in Chicago (November 25). Refusing to label the company a novelty enterprise, he said: "It's a serious endeavour. I want this to succeed strictly on its ideas. If I had to artificially prime the audience because of my musical life that's sad. This is going to succeed on its own ideas, not because I jumped the shark." Earlier this month, Corgan insisted that the Smashing Pumpkins would never bow to external pressure and [url=http://www.nme.com/news/smashing-pumpkins/60874]become "a nostalgia act"[/url]. They are set to release their new studio album 'Oceania' in 2012. The band, who recently completed a full UK tour, are also strongly rumoured to be in line to play a number of European festivals next summer. Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk. Uncut have teamed up with Sonic Editions to curate a number of limited-edition framed iconic rock photographs, featuring the likes of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and The Clash. View the full collection here.
Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has admitted that he wants to write songs for Broadway.
The singer told The New York Post that he harbours an ambition to pen tracks for musical theatre, but claimed that he wouldn’t be attempting to write his own show tunes until he’d improved his craft.
He said: “I want to be a better songwriter before I try Broadway and I wouldn’t allow one of my old songs [to be used]. If I do Broadway, I’m not coming to write three-chord rock songs.”
Corgan also recently spoke out about his other passion and latest business venture – his [url=http://www.nme.com/news/smashing-pumpkins/60604]’indie’ pro-wrestling company Resistance Pro[/url], which staged its first show last month in Chicago (November 25).
Refusing to label the company a novelty enterprise, he said: “It’s a serious endeavour. I want this to succeed strictly on its ideas. If I had to artificially prime the audience because of my musical life that’s sad. This is going to succeed on its own ideas, not because I jumped the shark.”
Earlier this month, Corgan insisted that the Smashing Pumpkins would never bow to external pressure and [url=http://www.nme.com/news/smashing-pumpkins/60874]become “a nostalgia act”[/url]. They are set to release their new studio album ‘Oceania’ in 2012.
The band, who recently completed a full UK tour, are also strongly rumoured to be in line to play a number of European festivals next summer.
Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk.
Uncut have teamed up with Sonic Editions to curate a number of limited-edition framed iconic rock photographs, featuring the likes of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and The Clash. View the full collection here.
Thanks for all your kind responses to my 100 Albums of 2011. In case you missed it the other day, one of the blog’s most diligent regulars, Nick, has put together a Wild Mercury Sound Spotify playlist with most of the 100 featured. Enormous thanks again, for that; let me know, of course, what you all think.
The Stone Roses have signed two record deals ahead of their reunion shows next year.
Universal Records have signed the band in the UK and worldwide, while Columbia, owned by Sony, have contracted the band in the US.
The Roses, who announced they plan to make new music at their reunion press conference in October, confirmed they had signed two agreements on [url=www.facebook.com/thestoneroses]their Facebook page[/url] today (December 10).
The four-piece will make millions from the deals, on top of the huge amounts generated by their live shows next summer.
Ian Brown, John Squire, Mani and Reni are playing three nights at Manchester’s Heaton Park in June, with further shows planned at festivals including V, T In The Park and Spain’s Benicassim.
Their second, and final, album, ‘Second Coming’, was released on December 5, 1994. The band are said to have been recording new songs during rehearsals for live shows.
Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder has hinted that the Manchester band could reform next year.
In an interview with The Sun, the singer confirmed he had been talking to other members of the band’s original line-up to discuss a comeback, but refused to reveal which specific people he had been sounding out.
He said: “I won’t say which members of the original line-up I’ve spoken to but there is a lot to look forward to next year.”
Rumours of a Happy Mondays reunion first circulated last week (December 5), when a report claimed that they [url=http://www.nme.com/news/happy-mondays/60778]were set to reform[/url] for a full tour and documentary next year.
However, the band’s representative told NME that [url=http://www.nme.com/news/happy-mondays/60786]the group had no immediate plans to reform[/url] with their original line-up and insisted that although Ryder and his brother Paul were on better terms, it was a “bit of a leap” to suggest that the Happy Mondays had anything planned for 2012.
Happy Mondays have reunited twice before, most recently in 2004, but without founding members Mark Day, Paul Davis, Rowetta Satchell and Paul Ryder. Paul had sworn he wanted nothing to do with the band again when they split for a second time in 2000.
The band have released five albums during their career, with their most recent effort ‘Uncle Dysfunktional’ coming out in 2007.
Nick Cave announced that Grinderman are “over” at a festival in Australia.
The band, which is a side-project featuring Cave and the other members of his long-time band The Bad Seeds, were closing their set at the Meredith Music Festival in Victoria this weekend when Cave dramatically announced that Grinderman were no more.
The singer said: “That’s it for Grinderman. It’s over,” before later adding: “See you all in another 10 years when we’ll be even older and uglier.”
The band then left the stage without fuss, leaving many of the 12,000-strong crowd wondering if Cave was serious. The Meredith festival was the last stop on their recent Australian tour.
Grinderman, which also features Bad Seeds members Warren Ellis, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos, were launched by Cave in 2006 and have released two albums, with their self-titled debut dropping in 2007 before the follow-up, ‘Grinderman 2’, was released in 2010.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, meanwhile, released their last studio album ‘Dig Lazarus Dig!!!’ in 2008.
The last in our series of transcripts from the judges' discussions: Gillian Welch, "The Harrow And The Harvest". Allan Jones: Her first album for eight years, just her and her partner David Rawlings. It’s a very sparse and unadorned record, but simultaneously just so rich in abundance of detail. There are two tracks in particular, “Tennessee” and “Down Along The Dixie Line”, which approach a rare perfection, I think. Stewart Lee: It’s one of those albums where as soon as it starts you feel as if you’re in safe hands. I like the way the lyrics have original things to say, but at the same time have a relationship with traditional forms, the instrumentation of it. I kind of miss the fact that on her album Time (The Revelator) she started to get into more experimental areas, and I was hoping after such a long lay-off she might have gone further into that territory, that odd meeting place she seemed to be in of borderline avant garde and more traditional country music. It’s hard to make a case for it, in a way, because it’s doing something that already exists, she’s not necessarily breaking new ground. But I think it’s a fantastic record. Nick Stewart: Her last record [Soul Journey] was a thing of rare beauty, and I loved it. So it may surprise you to learn that I found this to be the most disappointing record in our bunch. I wanted so much more from it, I thought it was too sparse, there was something missing for me. I found myself thinking “Is this the best you can come up with?”, I really did. I was quite cross with her. I wanted to be absolutely blown away with some interesting musical ideas and tunes. I’m sorry, but there are not many tunes on this, in my opinion. I’m afraid I was disappointed, but having said that I’ll probably return to it and find I like it more. Mark Cooper: I think she’s one of the best artists on the planet, I love the world she writes about. What she’s doing is almost perverse, I remember somebody years ago describing it as Depression chic. Here’s this smart young couple, now in their early 40s, who’ve imagined this whole world that isn’t really there, but they’ve created this emotional dynamic that you totally believe in. They’ve brought this sort of post-modern art form to bluegrass, or mountain music. I think it still works. She reminds me of Morrissey, bizarrely, because there’s this weird kind of personal doom in her writing and her sense of hard times, you can hear it in “Dark Turn Of Mind”. The way that Morrissey writes religiously for his sense of self-pity, she writes for a similar kind of mindset, and I love her for it. Phil Manzanera: I hadn’t heard any of her previous records, but I think this is a great album. I bought this about two months ago, independently of it being considered for this award, and it’s really stayed with me, it’s got legs. The songs are beautifully crafted, some of them sound like songs you think you’ve known all your life. Tony Wadsworth: She’s one of my favourite artists ever, although I never think of her as a solo artist because I think what David Rawlings brings to the music is equally important. The quality is amazing, they’re the best two-part harmonies since... Richard & Linda Thompson. Linda Thompson: Haha! Tony Wadsworth: It’s interesting that they’ve chosen to go towards this very stripped-down way of working. It’s a remarkable album, you listen to it and ask yourself are these traditional songs that have been around for hundreds of years? They feel very real, and they can do no wrong in my book. Linda Thompson: They’re fantastic. I’ve been listening to Gillian and David for 20 years, and while this is not my favourite record of theirs it’s still better than most people’s best records. I think they are traditional artists, they operate in a framework that is very traditional. He’s a great guitarist, I love his playing, and she sings magnificently. They’re the real deal.
The last in our series of transcripts from the judges’ discussions: Gillian Welch, “The Harrow And The Harvest”.
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke and Massive Attack‘s 3D have hit out at the actions of bankers and the UK government in a rare interview.
The duo played a gig in an abandoned bank in London earlier this week (December 6) to show support for the Occupy movement and have spoken out about their desire for the UK government to take notice of the movement’s aims.
Speaking in a video interview, which you can see by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and clicking, Yorke said that he felt that the banks had “robbed” ordinary people and that those responsible were “not being held to account”, while 3D, whose real name is Robert Del Naja, called the banks’ behaviour “organised crime on a global scale”.
Yorke said: “The banks took the money that was supposed to keep us safe and robbed it and then said it was some kind of act of god. There are people who are responsible and they’re not being held to account.”
3D added: “It’s organised crime on a global scale. In any other situation it would not be protected by the law, but the laws for banks and politicians are the same”.
The Radiohead frontman also said that he believed the UK government were going to struggle to deal with the anger of the general public and were “siding with the wrong people”.
Yorke added: “If I was Prime Minister of this country, I would be wondering how I was going to keep this anger at bay, because the anger’s going to get worse. They’re siding with the wrong people. You cannot keep going with the current system”.
The singer also said that he believed the Occupy movement was the only way that people’s protests could be acknowledged as the other forms of expressing this had disappeared. He added: “How else are you going to register your protest in 2011? Are you going to go and talk to your MP?”
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Uncut have teamed up with Sonic Editions to curate a number of limited-edition framed iconic rock photographs, featuring the likes of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and The Clash. View the full collection here.
Sting is set to play at an office Christmas Party for £1 million next week.
The ex-Police frontman has agreed to perform at a bash staged by Czech tycoon Petr Kellner next Friday (December 16), reports The Sun.
The party at Prague Castle will mark 20 years in business for Kellner’s finance firm PPF. Sting is currently co-writing a musical based around the lives of people in his home city of Newcastle.
The show, which is set to be titled ‘The Last Ship’, will feature music and lyrics from Sting and a book by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning writer Brian Yorkey.
The musical is reportedly set in the 1980s in Newcastle, with characters set to include a priest, a industrial titan and a former shipyard worker.
Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Stevie Wonder recently performed at Sting’s 60th birthday for a special charity concert in New York.
The stars played a series of hits by The Police including ‘King Of Pain’ and ‘Can’t Stand Losing You’.
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Uncut have teamed up with Sonic Editions to curate a number of limited-edition framed iconic rock photographs, featuring the likes of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and The Clash. View the full collection here.
Karen O has revealed that she has been working on new material with her bandmates in the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
The New York trio have been on an extended break after they completed their promotional duties for their third album ‘It’s Blitz’, but the singer has now revealed that they have been working on new music.
Speaking to The Sun, O also said that she was also planning to open her opera ‘Stop The Virgens’ in London after its successful run in New York.
She said: “It’s [Stop The Virgens] a psycho rock opera in New York which was amazing and we want to take it to London. And I’ve been tinkering around on some new Yeah Yeah Yeahs music with the boys.”
O also spoke about her cover of Led Zeppelin‘s ‘Immigrant Song’, which she recorded with Nine Inch Nails‘ Trent Reznor for his soundtrack for the forthcoming film The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, revealing that she knew nothing about Led Zeppelin before recording the track. You can hear the track by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and clicking.
She said: “I plead total ignorance to Led Zeppelin. I am totally in the dark about them. That was the reason I could muster up whatever it took to actually cover that song. I didn’t have any reverence for the track as I didn’t really know it. When they asked I thought it was called ‘The Pilgrim Song'”.
O also described working on the track as “fun and liberating”, but recorded the cover while “feeling pretty angsty”.
She added: “When I went into the studio to record the song I was feeling pretty angsty. I poured all my torment into the track as Trent’s section was pretty rad. It’s ballsy with the primal scream in there which was really fun and liberating to do”.
Trent Reznor‘s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo soundtrack, which he has composed with Atticus Ross, will be released later today, with a sampler, consisting of six tracks, available for free download now from Dragontattoo.sandbaghq.com.
The remake of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo has been directed by David Fincher and stars Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara. It will be released in UK cinemas on December 26.
Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk.
Uncut have teamed up with Sonic Editions to curate a number of limited-edition framed iconic rock photographs, featuring the likes of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan and The Clash. View the full collection here.
