Join us in wishing Michael a very Happy Birthday!
His new single “Drive to the Ocean” is available exclusively on http://MichaelStipe.com .
For 365 days, all of his proceeds from the download will go to @Pathway2Paris.
Watch the music video at: http://youtube.com/michaelstipeactual …
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Tony Hadley: Replaced with younger Spandau Ballet frontman; New album
It was revealed Spandau Ballet have found a new frontman.
As word got out that Ross William Wild, 30, will replace Tony, 57, as the new lead singer of the ‘80s hit band, he wrote on Twitter: “At last it's been announced that Ross William Wild is my replacement ... I've known for ages (can't really keep a secret in this business!), but didn't want to spoil the news. So good luck Ross!
He added: "Best wishes, Tone X”
Tone also reached out to his fans on social media by thanking them - and reminding them that his new solo album, Talking To The Moon, will be out in a week: “I can't wait to share new music with you all. Let know which shows you're coming to. Thanks for the continued support.”
Tony quit the band last year and cited “circumstances beyond my control” for his departure, which Steve Norman later called “bulls***”.
The remaining members of the group - including brothers Gary and Martin Kemp - have announced that a new album called The Next Line with the all-new line up will be released on June 6, and Ross will be making his debut appearance in a show at London’s Subterania club on the same day.
Ross previously played Elvis Presley in the West End show, Million Dollar Quartet, which he starred in with Gary.
The band had a No1 hit with True in 1983, then split in 1990 when Tony along with Steve and drummer John Keeble unsuccessfully tried to sue songwriter Gary Kemp over royalties.
The group reunited in 2009 and in 2014 for a tour the next year, before Tony dropped the bombshell that it was all over for the ‘80s crooners once again in 2017.
Happy birthday to Tony who celebrates his birthday on June 2nd.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Morrissey: "All The Young People Must Fall In Love"
"All The Young People Must Fall In Love" (Bob Clearmountain Mix) - 7" clear vinyl was listed for sale at some European sites.
The release date on the Fnac site is set for Apr. 20, 2018.
The release date on the Fnac site is set for Apr. 20, 2018.
Friday, March 30, 2018
Johnny Marr: 'Hi Hello' Old Style in New Single
Johnny Marr Says 'Hi Hello' to the Old Style in New Single
- Billboard
Johnny Marr is making a reintroduction to a new world on his latest single “Hi Hello” from his forthcoming third solo record Call The Comet.
‘It was one of the songs that just fell into my hands and mind as I was playing,” Marr tells Billboard. “The tune evoked something natural so I just followed it and it felt like I had to sing something personal, something we might all feel about someone sometime.”
The song loosely follows the overarching concept of the next record, which is informed by an alternate utopian reality, even as Marr looks ahead at a dystopian future. It calls back to some of the former Smiths songwriter’s most instinctive sensibilities with its jangly guitar and gloomy keyboard...
- Billboard
Johnny Marr is making a reintroduction to a new world on his latest single “Hi Hello” from his forthcoming third solo record Call The Comet.
‘It was one of the songs that just fell into my hands and mind as I was playing,” Marr tells Billboard. “The tune evoked something natural so I just followed it and it felt like I had to sing something personal, something we might all feel about someone sometime.”
The song loosely follows the overarching concept of the next record, which is informed by an alternate utopian reality, even as Marr looks ahead at a dystopian future. It calls back to some of the former Smiths songwriter’s most instinctive sensibilities with its jangly guitar and gloomy keyboard...
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Record Store Day 2018: New Songs From U2, The Alarm, Elvis Costello, Killing Joke...
4-21-18
Record Store Day 2018 Will Bring New Songs From U2, The Alarm, Elvis Costello, Killing Joke & More
Pink Floyd
Piper At The Gates of Dawn (Mono)
The psychedelic debut album by Pink Floyd was their sole album completed with original vocalist/guitarist Syd Barrett and featured the early classic "Interstellar Overdrive" plus
Astronomy Domine, Lucifer Sam and Bike.
The Rolling Stones
Their Satanic Majesties Request
Amongst the song highlights are the beautiful She’s A Rainbow, the powerful, riff-driven Citadel, and the imposingly dark, cosmic rocker 2000 Light Years From Home, with its sinister keyboard effects (courtesy of Brian). It also features Bill Wyman’s debut writing and singing credit on a Stones release – In Another Land.
The pioneering packaging – a ‘lenticular’ sleeve with a 3D-style Michael Cooper image of the band- and the album’s title (a mocking adaptation of the wording, ‘Her Britannic Majesty Requests and Requires…’ on British passports), both confirmed the group’s creative intent and also its satirical attitude.
Colored Splattered Vinyl
The Doors
STRANGE DAYS
A special RSD VINYL CLUB edition of The Doors STRANGE DAYS, re-issued on blue/grey swirl vinyl.
Grateful Dead
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA 2/27/69
Originally released as part of the limited-edition CD boxed, Fillmore West 1969: The Complete Recordings, the Grateful Dead’s Fillmore West, San Francisco 2/27/69 show will be issued on vinyl for the very first time exclusively for Record Store Day 2018. Limited edition 4-LP (8th side etching) set, on 180-gram vinyl.
Jimi Hendrix
"Mannish Boy" b/w "Trash Men"
Recorded at New York City's Record Plant on April 22, 1969, this uptempo reworking of Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy" marks Jimi Hendrix' first recording session with bassist Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles--the trio later became known as Band of Gypsys. First released on Both Sides of the Sky, a new studio album of rare and unissued Hendrix recordings.
Van Morrison
Alternative Moondance
An alternative version of Van Morrison’s landmark studio album Moondance, featuring the alternative versions from the 2013 deluxe edition. Featuring two previously unreleased alternative mixes of “And It Stoned Me” and “Crazy Love”.
The Stooges (Detroit Edition)
previously only available in the USA as a super limited edition release for sale exclusively at the Third Man record stores in Nashville and Detroit. Includes The Stooges self-titled debut album paired with a bonus LP including material lifted from the deluxe Stooges CD box.
Ramones
Sundragon Sessions
early mixes for the Ramones second album Leave Home, 1976 previously only available on CD in the 40th Anniversary Edition Leave Home Deluxe Box, and are now appearing for the first time on vinyl!
The Police
Roxanne
Reissue of their second single ‘Roxanne’, the first for A&M Records. Released in April 1978, it was the first single from debut album Outlandos d'Amour. Controversial in some territories, this seminal favourite was written about a man who falls in love with a prostitute. On re-release in 1979, the song peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.
David Bowie
Aladdin Sane
Vinyl reissue of Aladdin Sane available on April 20th.
The album debuted at the top of the UK charts and reached No. 17 in America, making it Bowie's most successful album commercially in both countries to that date. Features Panic in Detroit, Cracked Actor, The Jean Genie.
David Bowie
Bowie Now
a rare US only promotional-only LP from 1977 for RSD.
Includes V-2 Schneider, Always Crashing In The Same Car, Sons Of The Silent Age
Breaking Glass, Speed Of Life, Joe The Lion,The Secret Life Of Arabia and more
David Bowie
Welcome To The Blackout (Live in London '78)
previously unreleased 3LP was recorded live at Earls Court, London on the 30th June and 1st July, 1978 by Tony Visconti.
Includes tracks Warszawa, “Heroes”, Be My Wife, Blackout, Speed Of Life, Sound And Vision, Breaking Glass,
Fame, Beauty And The Beast, Five Years, Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City, Station To Station, TVC 15, Stay, Rebel Rebel and more
David Bowie
Let's Dance (Full Length Demo)
12” single features the first appearance of the full length demo of ‘Let’s Dance’, previously released in an edited form through digital download.
mixed by Nile Rodgers (original co-producer of the demo with David) in December of last year. The demo is backed by the live version of ‘Let’s Dance’, which was recorded live at Pacific National Exhibition Coliseum in Vancouver on 12th September 1983 and mixed by Bob Clearmountain.
The Who
The Kids Are Alright
Legendary companion album to the band's classic documentary film of the same name from 1979. Features the extraordinary 1967 Smothers Brothers TV show version of My Generation – including exploding drum-kit finale! Double LP on red and blue heavyweight colored vinyl with original LP packaging including 20-page booklet - long out of print on vinyl! Features one of the most iconic rock images on the front cover – photographer Art Kane’s shot of the band draped in the Union Jack flag at the Carl Shurz Monument in Morningside Heights in New York City on the morning of Friday 5 April 1968, the day of the first of the two concerts at Fillmore East, for a feature on new rock groups for Life Magazine. Includes three performances from Woodstock – Sparks, Pinball Wizard & See Me, Feel Me, classic 1960s TV performances of Magic Bus and Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere, and the definitive performance of A Quick One, While He's Away, the version they played at the Rolling Stones' Rock & Roll Circus -- a performance so good that, according to legend, it's the reason why the Stones shelved the show for 20 years!
Jerry Garcia
Run For The Roses
Originally released in 1982, Run for the Roses is Jerry Garcia’s fourth and final solo studio album. Produced by Garcia and John Kahn, the track list includes several new Garcia/Hunter originals, including the album’s title track, “Midnight Getaway" and “Valerie”, plus choice covers Bob Dylan and The Beatles, among others. Run for the Roses features the first appearance by organist Melvin Seals. The album’s artwork was created by legendary psychedelic visual artist Victor Moscoso, individually numbered on black/orange marbled vinyl.
Prince
1999
Reissue of the seven track single LP version of 1999, featuring the original alternative front cover and 'eye' picture labels, has been unavailable on LP for 35 years, since its initial pressing in 1983.
Features the massive pop hits "1999", "Little Red Corvette", "Delirious"
Soft Cell
Say Hello Wave Goodbye
Soft Cell’s classic ‘Say Hello Wave Goodbye’ and the fan favorite album track ‘Youth’. Soft Cell were legendary for their well-crafted extended 12” mixes and on these new versions original member Dave Ball uses the original studio parts to create what he and Marc would have wanted fans to hear in 1982.
Not remixes, but exquisite period reimaginings.
Madonna
You Can Dance
Reissue of Madonna’s first remix album, featuring remixes of seven of Madonna’s hit songs; "Spotlight", "Holiday", "Everybody", "Physical Attraction", "Over And Over", "Into The Groove" and "Where’s The Party". Producers include John “Jellybean” Benitez, and Nile Rodgers. You Can Dance has not been available on vinyl for over 30 years, since its original release in 1987. This Limited Edition Record Store Day title will be available on red vinyl.
Iggy Pop
Live At The Ritz, NYC 1986
Recorded live at the Ritz in 1986, pressed on double vinyl.
Real Wild Child, Blah Blah Blah, Five Foot One, China Girl, Cry For Love and more.
Bob Dylan & The Grateful Dead
Dylan & The Dead
in 1987, two legends joined forces for an unforgettable tour. Now, Dylan & The Dead, featuring The Grateful Dead backing up Bob Dylan on seven of his classic songs, including "All Along The Watchtower", "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and "Gotta Serve Somebody" is available on red and blue tie-dye vinyl.
Eek-A-Mouse
Ganja Smuggling
Green vinyl picture sleeve, printed on hemp paper. Classic ganja anthem backed with super rare and in-demand dub performed by Roots Radics
Eurythmics
1984 (For The Love of Big Brother)
This mostly instrumental sountrack to the British film adapatation of George Orwell's renowned dystopian novel (also released in 1984) is one of the Eurythmics' most experimental works. Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart's diverse electronic stylings accentuate teh dark mood of the film, and "Sexcrime (1984)" became the duo's sixth consecutive UK Top10 hit.
The Cure
Torn Down (Mixed Up Extra)
a new pressing of their 1990 remix album, Mixed Up, and a brand-new album called Torn Down (Mixed Up Extra) that features 16 new remixes by Robert Smith of classic Cure tracks.
The double-LP pic disc includes reworkings of tracks such as “Three Imaginary Boys”, “Just One Kiss”, “Never Enough”, “The Drowning Man”, “Cut Here”, and more.
Torn Down (Mixed Up Extras) career spanning tracklist includes
Three Imaginary Boys, M, The Drowning Man, A Strange Day, Just One Kiss, Shake Dog Shake, A Night Like This,
Like Cockatoos, Plainsong, Never Enough, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Want, The Last Day of Summer, Cut Here, Lost, It’s Over.
Elvis Costello
Someone Else's Heart
More than three decades after producing Squeeze's album East Side Story, Elvis Costello teamed up with ?uestlove, Kirk Douglas, Owen Biddle, Ray Angry, and Frank Knuckles to cover "Someone Else's Heart" from the album for this limited edition 45 single! This version of “Someone Else’s Heart” was recorded in 2011 and marked the first time that Elvis and ?uestlove collaborated, igniting the spark that led to 2013’s Wise Up Ghost.
Killing Joke
Absolute Dissent
First ever US release of Killing Joke's 13th studio album from 2010, featuring the band's original lineup reunited for the 1st time on record in 28 years. Comes on 2LP.
The Alarm
Where The Two Rivers Meet
The first release of new Alarm material since 2013 comes in the form of this Where The Two Rivers Meet EP, which is being released exclusively on RSD 2018. Featuring eight tracks (five exclusive to the EP), almost 40 mins of new music, as a prelude to an album scheduled for May 2018. Also featuring a special guest appearance from The Cult guitarist Billy Duffy.
The EP reflects Alarm tradition with the use of both Electric & Acoustic sides.
U2 is releasing a 12" featuring two versions of “Light Of Home” — a "St. Peter’s String Version" and something called the "Free Yourself/Beck Remix".
Among the other releases to look for: a cassette version of AC/DC's Back in Black, turn of the century live Duran Duran, B-52'S and Lou Reed albums, and a collection of Marvin Gaye "Sexual Healing" remixes.
See all the releases at
recordstoreday.com/SpecialReleases
Morrissey's 'Viva Hate' Turns 30
Morrissey's 'Viva Hate' Turns 30:
How His Solo Debut Predicted His Post-Smiths Career
by Kenneth Partridge
14th March, 2018
"In his days as the headstrong, enigmatic lead singer of The Smiths, the most important U.K. guitar band of the ‘80s, Morrissey wasn't itching to go solo. Why would he? The band was defined by his peculiar psychology—narcissism tempered by self-effacement topped with a wicked sense of humor—and driven by a genius guitarist, Johnny Marr, with no desire for the spotlight. It was a nice arrangement.
When Marr left The Smiths in 1987, ending the group’s run after four brilliant albums, Morrissey felt bewildered and betrayed. “The split is our final loss of innocence,” Moz writes in Autobiography, the 2013 memoir that reveals little about what actually what actually broke up indie’s Leiber and Stoller. To make matter worse, Morrissey soon learned he was contractually obligated to give EMI another album. Such was the impetus for his debut solo, Viva Hate.
Viva Hate is the singer’s only album produced and co-written by Stephen Street, who’d overseen the Smiths’ final effort, 1987’s Strangeways, Here We Come. With Strangeways, Marr had been determined to ditch the jangling guitars The Smiths had become known for, and Street seemed eager to pick up where Johnny left off.
The result was an uneven, unfocused album that nevertheless proved Morrissey capable of making music without Marr. It wasn’t that Street was the wrong man for the job—it was more that the job of writing Morrissey solo music hadn’t yet been defined. That would come on Moz’s next few albums, where he culled from rockabilly and glam to create a musical identity separate from The Smiths. On Viva Hate, Street and guitarist Vini Reilly of The Durutti Column try a bit of everything, giving Morrissey drum loops, synths, and strings to sing over. Some experiments work better than others, but the team fares best when it sticks to traditionally Smiths-y sounds.
“Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together,” a dramatic chamber-pop piece seemingly about suicide but actually written for Marr, who'd already begun playing with other musicians. It’s a classic case of Morrissey offering sympathy for someone while digging into them at the same time. “When they've used you, and they've broken you, and wasted all your money…” Morrissey sings, dwelling on these indignities a little longer than he needs to before finally pledging his devotion. It’s like his backhanded reassurance on the early Smiths tune “Reel Around the Fountain”: “People see no worth in you, but I do.”
How His Solo Debut Predicted His Post-Smiths Career
by Kenneth Partridge
14th March, 2018
"In his days as the headstrong, enigmatic lead singer of The Smiths, the most important U.K. guitar band of the ‘80s, Morrissey wasn't itching to go solo. Why would he? The band was defined by his peculiar psychology—narcissism tempered by self-effacement topped with a wicked sense of humor—and driven by a genius guitarist, Johnny Marr, with no desire for the spotlight. It was a nice arrangement.
When Marr left The Smiths in 1987, ending the group’s run after four brilliant albums, Morrissey felt bewildered and betrayed. “The split is our final loss of innocence,” Moz writes in Autobiography, the 2013 memoir that reveals little about what actually what actually broke up indie’s Leiber and Stoller. To make matter worse, Morrissey soon learned he was contractually obligated to give EMI another album. Such was the impetus for his debut solo, Viva Hate.
Viva Hate is the singer’s only album produced and co-written by Stephen Street, who’d overseen the Smiths’ final effort, 1987’s Strangeways, Here We Come. With Strangeways, Marr had been determined to ditch the jangling guitars The Smiths had become known for, and Street seemed eager to pick up where Johnny left off.
The result was an uneven, unfocused album that nevertheless proved Morrissey capable of making music without Marr. It wasn’t that Street was the wrong man for the job—it was more that the job of writing Morrissey solo music hadn’t yet been defined. That would come on Moz’s next few albums, where he culled from rockabilly and glam to create a musical identity separate from The Smiths. On Viva Hate, Street and guitarist Vini Reilly of The Durutti Column try a bit of everything, giving Morrissey drum loops, synths, and strings to sing over. Some experiments work better than others, but the team fares best when it sticks to traditionally Smiths-y sounds.
“Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together,” a dramatic chamber-pop piece seemingly about suicide but actually written for Marr, who'd already begun playing with other musicians. It’s a classic case of Morrissey offering sympathy for someone while digging into them at the same time. “When they've used you, and they've broken you, and wasted all your money…” Morrissey sings, dwelling on these indignities a little longer than he needs to before finally pledging his devotion. It’s like his backhanded reassurance on the early Smiths tune “Reel Around the Fountain”: “People see no worth in you, but I do.”
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Peter Murphy canceled at the Chapel
Update: Peter Murphy has canceled his entire run of February
shows at the Chapel as of Tuesday, Feb. 6, according to the venue’s
marketing manager Paul Chalker.
He added that they are looking to reschedule the British singer’s San Francisco residency to June 26 through July 15 — a year after it was originally set to take place. All tickets purchased for the original run of shows will be honored for the new dates.
“We’ve put everything we have into making this residency happen, but unfortunately Peter’s visa has still not come through and we simply could not, in good conscience, carry on rescheduling these dates piecemeal as we all know firsthand how frustrating that is, and we are no clearer to any indication that the situation will not last all the way through to the end of the scheduled dates,” Chalker said.
Peter Murphy has once again postponed the dates for his monthlong residency at the Chapel in San Francisco, citing ongoing visa issues that have prevented him from entering the country.
As of Thursday, Feb. 1, the former frontman for the British post-punk band Bauhaus had canceled nine of his planned shows.
Murphy has lived with his family in Istanbul for 25 years and has converted to the Sufi branch of Islam, which may have played a factor in the deferment.
He added that they are looking to reschedule the British singer’s San Francisco residency to June 26 through July 15 — a year after it was originally set to take place. All tickets purchased for the original run of shows will be honored for the new dates.
“We’ve put everything we have into making this residency happen, but unfortunately Peter’s visa has still not come through and we simply could not, in good conscience, carry on rescheduling these dates piecemeal as we all know firsthand how frustrating that is, and we are no clearer to any indication that the situation will not last all the way through to the end of the scheduled dates,” Chalker said.
Peter Murphy has once again postponed the dates for his monthlong residency at the Chapel in San Francisco, citing ongoing visa issues that have prevented him from entering the country.
As of Thursday, Feb. 1, the former frontman for the British post-punk band Bauhaus had canceled nine of his planned shows.
Murphy has lived with his family in Istanbul for 25 years and has converted to the Sufi branch of Islam, which may have played a factor in the deferment.
Thursday, February 1, 2018
This Is Radio Clash: International Clash Day 2018
Now, more than ever, the world needs The Clash.
For International Clash Day, KZSC's "Living In The '80s" joins KEXP in highlighting the band’s activism and political messaging on Saturday, February 3rd from 4-6 pm.
Even their band name carries political weight: bassist Paul Simonon was inspired when he noticed the word appearing frequently in the daily newspaper.
A clash between classes, between races, between the police and the people — are we talking about the late ’70s or now?
Frontman Joe Strummer once said, “Punk rock for me was a social movement. We tried to do the things politically we thought were important to our generation and hopefully would inspire another generation to go even further.”
"Living In The '80s" airs Saturdays 4-6pm on KZSC, Santa Cruz.
facebook/KZSC80s
Stream The Clash music
International Clash Day on KEXP
Are you ready to Rock the Casbah? KEXP's day of on-air programming for International Clash Day is on Wednesday, February 7th, 2018.
One Friday in February 2013, KEXP Morning Show host John Richards decided that one Clash song wasn’t enough, and so International Clash Day was born.
We also celebrate all of the world governments that have declared International Clash Day an official holiday: The City of Seattle, The State of Washington, The City of San Francisco, The City of Vancouver, BC, The City of Austin, and potentially more on the way!
City of San Francisco Proclamation:
On Feb 8th, 1979 The Clash chose the City of San Francisco
for their second show in the United States and returned to perform in San
Francisco a total of eight different times throughout their career as a band.
Be it resolved that Edwin Lee, Mayor of the City
and County of San Francisco in recognition of their artistic achievements
and socially conscious music do hereby proclaim Feb. 7, 2017 as
INTERNATIONAL CLASH DAY in San Francisco!
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Mark E. Smith: Frontman of British post-punk band the Fall, dead at 60
ABC NEWS
Mark E. Smith, frontman of the prolific and influential U.K. post-punk band the Fall, died this morning at his home. He was 60.
Smith's passing was announced via a Facebook post from the Fall's manager Pam Vander.
Smith had battled a number of ailments during the past year, including throat, dental and respiratory issues that forced him to cancel U.K. shows in November 2017 and a U.S. tour earlier last year.
Smith formed the Fall in 1976 and was the only constant member in the group, which underwent frequent lineup changes. The band released more than 30 studio albums over the years and scored a few hits on the U.K. indie charts during the early 1980s.
The Fall even broke into the top 40 of the U.K.'s pop singles chart twice, in 1987 with "There's a Ghost in My House" and 1988 with a cover of The Kinks' "Victoria."
The Fall's edgy, guitar-driven sound was highlighted by Smith's nasal, slurred spoke-sung vocals and cryptic lyrics.
Mark E. Smith, frontman of the prolific and influential U.K. post-punk band the Fall, died this morning at his home. He was 60.
Smith's passing was announced via a Facebook post from the Fall's manager Pam Vander.
Smith had battled a number of ailments during the past year, including throat, dental and respiratory issues that forced him to cancel U.K. shows in November 2017 and a U.S. tour earlier last year.
Smith formed the Fall in 1976 and was the only constant member in the group, which underwent frequent lineup changes. The band released more than 30 studio albums over the years and scored a few hits on the U.K. indie charts during the early 1980s.
The Fall even broke into the top 40 of the U.K.'s pop singles chart twice, in 1987 with "There's a Ghost in My House" and 1988 with a cover of The Kinks' "Victoria."
The Fall's edgy, guitar-driven sound was highlighted by Smith's nasal, slurred spoke-sung vocals and cryptic lyrics.
Monday, January 15, 2018
Cranberries: Singer Dolores O'Riordan Dead at 46
LONDON (AP) — Dolores O'Riordan, lead singer of Irish rock band The Cranberries, died suddenly on Monday. She was 46.
O'Riordan died in London, where she was recording, publicist Lindsey Holmes said.
"No further details are available at this time," Holmes said, adding that the singer's family was "devastated" by the news.
Formed in Limerick, Ireland at the end of the 1980s, The Cranberries became international stars in the 90s with hits including "Zombie" and "Linger" that fused the alternative rock edge with Celtic-infused pop tunefulness.
O'Riordan was The Cranberries' chief lyricist and co-songwriter, and her powerful, sometimes wailing, voice was key to the band's distinctive sound.
The group's 1993 debut album "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?" sold millions of copies and produced the hit single "Linger."
The follow-up, "No Need to Argue," sold in even greater numbers and contained "Zombie," a howl against Northern Ireland's violent Troubles that topped singles charts in several countries.
The Cranberries released the acoustic album "Something Else" in 2017 and had been due to tour Europe and North America. The tour was cut short because O'Riordan was suffering from back problems.
O'Riordan died in London, where she was recording, publicist Lindsey Holmes said.
"No further details are available at this time," Holmes said, adding that the singer's family was "devastated" by the news.
Formed in Limerick, Ireland at the end of the 1980s, The Cranberries became international stars in the 90s with hits including "Zombie" and "Linger" that fused the alternative rock edge with Celtic-infused pop tunefulness.
O'Riordan was The Cranberries' chief lyricist and co-songwriter, and her powerful, sometimes wailing, voice was key to the band's distinctive sound.
The group's 1993 debut album "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?" sold millions of copies and produced the hit single "Linger."
The follow-up, "No Need to Argue," sold in even greater numbers and contained "Zombie," a howl against Northern Ireland's violent Troubles that topped singles charts in several countries.
The Cranberries released the acoustic album "Something Else" in 2017 and had been due to tour Europe and North America. The tour was cut short because O'Riordan was suffering from back problems.
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Tom Bailey: New Single 'Come So Far'
Tom Bailey's fantastic new single entitled 'Come So Far' is available at pledge music as a limited edition 7" coloured vinyl.
You can pre-order your copy at www.thompsontwinstombailey.co.uk
and watch Tom Bailey as he talks about his new band and his return to the stage after a break of 27 years.
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Top Ten '80s Band Releases for 2017
1. Depeche Mode - Where's the Revolution 17,495,067 views
2. U2 - You’re The Best Thing About Me 12,969,501 (Rel Sep 27)
3. Michael Jackson - Blood on the Dance Floor X Dangerous 5,039,816
4. Depeche Mode - Cover Me 3,636,974 views
5. Morrissey - Spent the Day in Bed 3,081,727 views
6. U2 - The Blackout 2,847,228 views (rel Nov 13)
7. Depeche Mode - Going Backwards 2,666,525
8. U2 - American Soul 1,431,062 views (rel Nov 20)
9. Gary Numan - My Name Is Ruin 1,133,592
10. Blondie - Long Time 1,132,609 views
2. U2 - You’re The Best Thing About Me 12,969,501 (Rel Sep 27)
3. Michael Jackson - Blood on the Dance Floor X Dangerous 5,039,816
4. Depeche Mode - Cover Me 3,636,974 views
5. Morrissey - Spent the Day in Bed 3,081,727 views
6. U2 - The Blackout 2,847,228 views (rel Nov 13)
7. Depeche Mode - Going Backwards 2,666,525
8. U2 - American Soul 1,431,062 views (rel Nov 20)
9. Gary Numan - My Name Is Ruin 1,133,592
10. Blondie - Long Time 1,132,609 views
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Morrissey: "Spent The Day In Bed" Enters UK Top 40
'Spent the Day in Bed' has climbed 279 places up the UK airplay chart to #34, over the last week (Oct 5th to 11th). His first UK top 40 since 'I'm throwing my arms around Paris'.
UPDATE 13TH OCTOBER - the song is now in the Airplay Top 30 (at #29)
Morrissey also appeared on "Later... with Jools Holland" on Oct. 3. He did 3 songs including the new single 'Spent the Day in Bed'. The other 2 are 'I wish you lonely' and 'All the young people must fall in love'.
Morrissey has a new upcoming album "Low in High School," his first full-length since 2014, arrives November 17.
Track titles include “The Girl from Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn’t Kneel,” “Who Will Protect Us From the Police?,” and “Israel.”
The new album was produced by Joe Chiccarelli and recorded at La Fabrique Studios in France and Ennio Morricone's Forum Studios in Rome.
Friday, October 13, 2017
The Smiths: "The Queen Is Dead" Remastered
The Smiths' masterpiece "The Queen Is Dead" is getting the royal
remastered and expanded treatment and makes its debut on Friday 10/20!
Widely considered to be both The Smiths' finest work and one of the greatest albums ever made, The Queen Is Dead has cast a significant influence over subsequent generations since it was first released in the summer of 1986.
The album features several of the band's finest moments including the title track and "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out," as well as the iconic singles "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" and "Bigmouth Strikes Again."
This reissue represents the first time that The Smiths' back catalog has been revisited in such a way.
It follows two recent limited edition vinyl singles sourced from the archives: a demo mix of "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" which was released for Record Store Day, and a "The Queen Is Dead" (live at Irvine Meadows) 7" which debuted at #1 on the official vinyl chart in the U.K. when it was released in June.
Warner UK released a demo mix version of The Boy With The Thorn In His Side as a physical 45. The sleeve is by Morrissey, with layout by Darren Evans at Warner UK.
The B-side is a previously unissued version of Rubber Ring.
The sleeve image is Salford actor Albert Finney.
Tracklist for "The Queen Is Dead" 12 inch includes "Oscillate Wildly" plus "Money Changes Everything" and "The Draize Train."
"The Queen Is Dead" entered the UK singles chart at #85 and the vinyl singles chart at #1 on June 23, 2017.
There are three physical formats for this release – which has updated artwork – a 3CD+DVD deluxe includes
the remastered album,
a bonus CD of demos, alternates and b-sides,
a further CD: Live In Boston (recorded at the Great Woods Center For The Performing Arts on August 5, 1986) and
a DVD featuring the 2017 master of the album in PCM stereo. The DVD also includes The Queen Is Dead – A Film By Derek Jarman.
Disc One:
Original Album – 2017 Remaster
Disc Two:
Additional Recordings
“The Queen Is Dead” (Full Version)
“Frankly, Mr. Shankly” (Demo)
“I Know It’s Over” (Demo)
“Never Had No One Ever” (Demo)
“Cemetry Gates” (Demo)
“Bigmouth Strikes Again” (Demo)
“Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others” (Demo)
“The Boy With The Thorn In His Side” (Demo Mix)
“There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” (Take 1)
“Rubber Ring” (B-side)
“Asleep” (B-side)
“Money Changes Everything” (B-side)
“Unloveable” (B-side)
Tracks 1-7 and 9 are previously unreleased.
Track 8 was released on 7? for Record Store Day.
Tracks 10 and 11 are 2017 masters of b-sides from The Boy With The Thorn In His Side.
Tracks 12 and 13 are 2017 masters of b-sides from Bigmouth Strikes Again.
Disc Three:
Live In Boston (Previously Unreleased)
“How Soon Is Now?”
“Hand In Glove”
“I Want The One I Can’t Have”
“Never Had No One Ever”
“Stretch Out And Wait”
“The Boy With The Thorn In His Side”
“Cemetry Gates”
“Rubber Ring/What She Said/Rubber Ring”
“Is It Really So Strange?”
“There Is A Light That Never Goes Out”
“That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”
“The Queen Is Dead”
“I Know It’s Over”
Recorded at the Great Woods Center For The Performing Arts on August 5, 1986.
A five-LP box set (good value a $91) includes all the audio listed above
(the album, an outtakes double LP, and the live album double LP).
A two-CD edition pairs the remaster with the bonus disc of demos, etc.
remastered and expanded treatment and makes its debut on Friday 10/20!
Widely considered to be both The Smiths' finest work and one of the greatest albums ever made, The Queen Is Dead has cast a significant influence over subsequent generations since it was first released in the summer of 1986.
The album features several of the band's finest moments including the title track and "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out," as well as the iconic singles "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" and "Bigmouth Strikes Again."
This reissue represents the first time that The Smiths' back catalog has been revisited in such a way.
It follows two recent limited edition vinyl singles sourced from the archives: a demo mix of "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" which was released for Record Store Day, and a "The Queen Is Dead" (live at Irvine Meadows) 7" which debuted at #1 on the official vinyl chart in the U.K. when it was released in June.
Warner UK released a demo mix version of The Boy With The Thorn In His Side as a physical 45. The sleeve is by Morrissey, with layout by Darren Evans at Warner UK.
The B-side is a previously unissued version of Rubber Ring.
The sleeve image is Salford actor Albert Finney.
Tracklist for "The Queen Is Dead" 12 inch includes "Oscillate Wildly" plus "Money Changes Everything" and "The Draize Train."
"The Queen Is Dead" entered the UK singles chart at #85 and the vinyl singles chart at #1 on June 23, 2017.
There are three physical formats for this release – which has updated artwork – a 3CD+DVD deluxe includes
the remastered album,
a bonus CD of demos, alternates and b-sides,
a further CD: Live In Boston (recorded at the Great Woods Center For The Performing Arts on August 5, 1986) and
a DVD featuring the 2017 master of the album in PCM stereo. The DVD also includes The Queen Is Dead – A Film By Derek Jarman.
Disc One:
Original Album – 2017 Remaster
Disc Two:
Additional Recordings
“The Queen Is Dead” (Full Version)
“Frankly, Mr. Shankly” (Demo)
“I Know It’s Over” (Demo)
“Never Had No One Ever” (Demo)
“Cemetry Gates” (Demo)
“Bigmouth Strikes Again” (Demo)
“Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others” (Demo)
“The Boy With The Thorn In His Side” (Demo Mix)
“There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” (Take 1)
“Rubber Ring” (B-side)
“Asleep” (B-side)
“Money Changes Everything” (B-side)
“Unloveable” (B-side)
Tracks 1-7 and 9 are previously unreleased.
Track 8 was released on 7? for Record Store Day.
Tracks 10 and 11 are 2017 masters of b-sides from The Boy With The Thorn In His Side.
Tracks 12 and 13 are 2017 masters of b-sides from Bigmouth Strikes Again.
Disc Three:
Live In Boston (Previously Unreleased)
“How Soon Is Now?”
“Hand In Glove”
“I Want The One I Can’t Have”
“Never Had No One Ever”
“Stretch Out And Wait”
“The Boy With The Thorn In His Side”
“Cemetry Gates”
“Rubber Ring/What She Said/Rubber Ring”
“Is It Really So Strange?”
“There Is A Light That Never Goes Out”
“That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”
“The Queen Is Dead”
“I Know It’s Over”
Recorded at the Great Woods Center For The Performing Arts on August 5, 1986.
A five-LP box set (good value a $91) includes all the audio listed above
(the album, an outtakes double LP, and the live album double LP).
A two-CD edition pairs the remaster with the bonus disc of demos, etc.
Monday, October 2, 2017
Tom Petty: Led the Heartbreakers, Dies at 66
from Rolling StoneTom Petty, frontman who led the band the Heartbreakers, was found unconscious, not breathing and in full cardiac arrest at his Malibu home Sunday night and rushed to the hospital and placed on life support.
EMTs were able to find a pulse when they found him, but the hospital found no brain activity when he arrived. He died on Monday at 66 years old.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers recently completed a summer tour last Monday with three nights at the Hollywood Bowl.
The trek marked the band's 40th anniversary and found him playing rarely played deep cuts like their first album's opener, "Rockin' Around (With You)," and a selection of Wildflowers cuts. It was intended to be his "last trip around the country." He told Rolling Stone, though, that it wasn't his intention to quit playing. "I need something to do, or I tend to be a nuisance around the house," he said.
Songs like "The Waiting," "You Got Lucky," "I Won't Back Down," "Learning to Fly" and "Mary Jane's Last Dance" all dominated Billboard's rock chart, and the majority of Petty's albums have been certified either gold or platinum.
Petty, who also recorded as a solo artist and as a member of the Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
His most recent release, Hypnotic Eye, debuted at Number One in 2014.
Read more:
Tom Petty's final interview: There was supposed to have been so much more
Tom Petty's daughter: Sent heartbreaking Instagram dispatches as the rock star clung to life
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Michael Jackson: SCREAM a Collection of 13 of His All-time Tracks
Sony Music confirmed the album's upcoming release, saying that "Michael Jackson SCREAM" is "a collection of 13 of his all-time most electrifying and danceable tracks including 'Ghosts,' 'Torture,' 'Thriller,' and 'Dirty Diana.' that will be released on September 29."The highlight of the album is "Blood on The Dance Floor X Dangerous," a newly-created mash-up of five songs from remixer The White Panda.
"Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix," is from a collection of songs and short film released in 1997.
"The choice of tracks for SCREAM reflects The King of Pop's affection for this time of the year and its themes of costumes and disguise, darkness and light, character transformations and surprise," the press release said.
The album will also be available in CD and glow-in-dark vinyl (available October 27), each containing a poster unique to the format.
"Scream" is also the title of the hit 1995 duet by Jackson and his sister Janet, the video of which earned the Guinness Book of World Records title for most expensive music video with a reported price tag of $7 million.
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Husker Du: Drummer Grant Hart, Dies at 56
by Greg Kot
Chicago Tribune
Husker Du: Even if you took away Bob Mould’s songs and just kept Grant Hart’s, you’d still have a great band — one of the most important and influential of the last 40 years.
Hart, who died Thursday at 56 of cancer, was Husker Du’s protean drummer and shared lead vocals and songwriting with Mould. After the band’s bitter late-'80s breakup, Mould went on to enjoy a celebrated solo career that is still in high gear. In contrast, Hart recorded and toured only sporadically, and in recent years his illness kept him off the road completely. But his legacy towers over indie music. It began with the band he co-founded with Mould in St. Paul, Minn., in 1979.
Mould paid tribute to his former bandmate with a lengthy farewell note on social media. “Grant Hart was a gifted visual artist, a wonderful story teller, and a frighteningly talented musician,” he wrote.
Green Day covered one of Husker Du’s Hart-written songs, “Don’t Want to Know if You are Lonely,” and Billie Joe Armstrong once said, “I wanted to be Husker Du when I started Green Day.”
Husker Du formed soon after Mould met Hart at a record store a block away from Mould’s Macalester College dormitory. Hart was blasting punk rock on the store speakers, and the two started a friendship and soon after a band.
With the addition of bassist Greg Norton, the trio became one of the most punishing hardcore bands on the nascent punk circuit.
Husker Du's classic single written by Grant Hart from the album Candy Apple Grey was released in 1986.
Chicago Tribune
Husker Du: Even if you took away Bob Mould’s songs and just kept Grant Hart’s, you’d still have a great band — one of the most important and influential of the last 40 years.
Hart, who died Thursday at 56 of cancer, was Husker Du’s protean drummer and shared lead vocals and songwriting with Mould. After the band’s bitter late-'80s breakup, Mould went on to enjoy a celebrated solo career that is still in high gear. In contrast, Hart recorded and toured only sporadically, and in recent years his illness kept him off the road completely. But his legacy towers over indie music. It began with the band he co-founded with Mould in St. Paul, Minn., in 1979.
Mould paid tribute to his former bandmate with a lengthy farewell note on social media. “Grant Hart was a gifted visual artist, a wonderful story teller, and a frighteningly talented musician,” he wrote.
Green Day covered one of Husker Du’s Hart-written songs, “Don’t Want to Know if You are Lonely,” and Billie Joe Armstrong once said, “I wanted to be Husker Du when I started Green Day.”
Husker Du formed soon after Mould met Hart at a record store a block away from Mould’s Macalester College dormitory. Hart was blasting punk rock on the store speakers, and the two started a friendship and soon after a band.
With the addition of bassist Greg Norton, the trio became one of the most punishing hardcore bands on the nascent punk circuit.
Husker Du's classic single written by Grant Hart from the album Candy Apple Grey was released in 1986.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
The Church: "Man Woman Life Death Infinity" the 26th album
"Man Woman Life Death Infinity" is the 26th album by the Church
and will be released on October 6th.
The album is their second with the rejuvenated line-up Steve Kilbey, Peter Koppes, Tim Powles and Ian Haug.
The epic return of 2014's critically lauded Further/ Deeper blossomed into a road-hardened beast over four tours of the USA, two back home in Australia, and a new career high in front of 20,000 Spanish fans on a lap of Europe.
"Man Woman Life Death Infinity" is where the revitalized quartet's freshly tuned chemistry reaches a new potency and precision: ten songs, 45 minutes, and a quantum leap into unexplored territory as strange as it is irresistible.
"Music is like inner space and we're astronauts," says guitarist Koppes, who co-founded the Church in Sydney in 1980. "It's a spellbinding thing. It's hypnotizing. That's why people like it. It takes them into another world and we're here to open those doors."
"This is the Church's water record," says Kilbey, singer, lyricist and bassist. "I guess water is my element. I've always marveled at the sea and rivers and rain. It wasn't conscious at all but on reflection, it definitely is a preoccupation on this record. What that means, I don't know."
"Tim borrowed my son's little electronic drum kit," Haug reveals, "so we had a mutated kit, half acoustic/ half electric, and we were just firing off each other.”
"Peter is like the mad professor of guitar theory. I've learned a lot from him over the last few years but I'm not trying to analyze the harmonic integrity of anything. If it sounds good, I'll keep going down that path. I think we complement each other really well in that way."
For up to date information visit:
thechurchband.net
Another Century (Official Music Video)
Undersea
and will be released on October 6th.
The album is their second with the rejuvenated line-up Steve Kilbey, Peter Koppes, Tim Powles and Ian Haug.
The epic return of 2014's critically lauded Further/ Deeper blossomed into a road-hardened beast over four tours of the USA, two back home in Australia, and a new career high in front of 20,000 Spanish fans on a lap of Europe.
"Man Woman Life Death Infinity" is where the revitalized quartet's freshly tuned chemistry reaches a new potency and precision: ten songs, 45 minutes, and a quantum leap into unexplored territory as strange as it is irresistible.
"Music is like inner space and we're astronauts," says guitarist Koppes, who co-founded the Church in Sydney in 1980. "It's a spellbinding thing. It's hypnotizing. That's why people like it. It takes them into another world and we're here to open those doors."
"This is the Church's water record," says Kilbey, singer, lyricist and bassist. "I guess water is my element. I've always marveled at the sea and rivers and rain. It wasn't conscious at all but on reflection, it definitely is a preoccupation on this record. What that means, I don't know."
"Tim borrowed my son's little electronic drum kit," Haug reveals, "so we had a mutated kit, half acoustic/ half electric, and we were just firing off each other.”
"Peter is like the mad professor of guitar theory. I've learned a lot from him over the last few years but I'm not trying to analyze the harmonic integrity of anything. If it sounds good, I'll keep going down that path. I think we complement each other really well in that way."
For up to date information visit:
thechurchband.net
Another Century (Official Music Video)
Undersea
Monday, September 11, 2017
Gary Numan: Releases "Savage: Songs From A Broken World"
Gary Numan releases his newest album in 4 years called "Savage: Songs From A Broken World", out September 15th.
Gary Numan will be on tour in November at the Fillmore.
My Name Is Ruin is the first video from the new album.
When The World Comes Apart
What God Intended
Gary Numan will be on tour in November at the Fillmore.
My Name Is Ruin is the first video from the new album.
When The World Comes Apart
What God Intended
Monday, August 28, 2017
Spandau Ballet: Gary Kemp talks Tony Hadley’s Exit, Band's Future
by Lyndsey Parker
‘There's still creativity left in this band’
Not long ago, new wave legends Spandau Ballet, who originally disbanded in 1990 and re-formed in 2009, seemed poised for a major comeback. Their performance at South by Southwest 2014 — their first stateside concert in 28 years — was one of the hottest tickets of the Texas festival, where they also premiered their critically acclaimed documentary, Soul Boys of the Western World. The following year, Spandau launched a successful U.S. tour … and after that, fans eagerly awaited new music from these New Romantics.
No Longer a Member
But then, in July of this year, lead singer Tony Hadley posted a cryptic and seemingly out-of-the-blue message on Twitter, announcing that due to “circumstances beyond his control,” he was no longer a member of Spandau Ballet.
For now, Spandau is forging ahead and promoting their second documentary (this one about their newly remastered 1986 album, Through the Barricades, with plenty of ironic and now bittersweet scenes about the bandmates’ brotherly bond and willingness to “die for one another.” And this week, the band’s guitarist and principal songwriter, Gary Kemp, speaks about Hadley’s departure and what it means for the future of the group.
Dysfunctional Relationship
“This has been Tony’s stance for the last 20-odd years, where it’s kind of ‘makeup to breakup.’ And there’s only so long you can go in and out of a dysfunctional relationship,” Kemp says. “I actually feel much better now that maybe we don’t have to pretend or worry about it anymore.”
Kemp admits that there has “always been tension” between him and Hadley, and that they “were always poles apart — politically, artistically, socially. We were very, very extremely different people.” Kemp also says Hadley never quite got over an ultimately unsuccessful 1999 lawsuit that he, multi-instrumentalist Steve Norman, and drummer John Keeble filed over Kemp’s songwriting royalties.
However, Kemp stresses that around the time of Spandau’s 2014–2015 reunion, he felt a renewed kinship with the frontman. “Coming back together, it felt really good. … It seemed to be running rather smoothly, going well. But I think Tony had a line in the sand, and he didn’t go beyond that. And that was in his head; he didn’t express that to us at the time. We thought we were going to continue.”
Still, Hadley’s exit wasn’t as abrupt as it may have seemed to the band’s fans. “He told us in Hong Kong, on the last show of the tour [in September 2015], that he didn’t want to do it anymore,” Kemp reveals. “He said that he wouldn’t want to do it for another five years, at least — and when you get to our age, that sounds like the rest of your life! And then we had a lot of offers that came in and came in and came in and came in, and he kept saying, ‘No, no, not interested.’ So that, to me, is leaving the band. Tony’s heart was just always much more towards being a solo artist after the last tour, which was frustrating for everybody.”
Kemp looks at the renaissance that Spandau’s friendly ’80s rivals, Duran Duran, have enjoyed over the past few years, and he acknowledges that Spandau could have been in a similar position if they’d been able to take advantage of their post-SXSW momentum. “It’s a shame that Tony didn’t want that, because it was there, and we’d worked quite hard, with the leverage of the film and the tour. So yeah, it’s very frustrating. … We could have been so much more creative as a unit. But if one person doesn’t want to do it, then it makes it much harder.”
Solo
Hadley has continued to perform solo, crooning Spandau’s Kemp-penned classics. “It’s fine. Yeah, he’s still singing my songs. I mean, his solo career seems to be singing our songs, so that’s fine,” Kemp chuckles — though he adds that he’s less than thrilled that Hadley appears on so many nostalgia package tours like this summer’s “Lost ’80s Live”. “That’s the one thing that I would never, ever do, is have the name Spandau Ballet attached to any of those ’80s revues. And I suppose it’s my sadness, with Tony doing those.”
So, will Spandau soldier on sans Hadley? “If we find the right guy,” Kemp answers.
The band revealed in a Facebook Live Q&A Tuesday that they are “actively looking” and will be holding rehearsals in “a couple of weeks” to audition new singers. “We’ve got a process that we’re going through. But that’s all I’m saying.
Kemp elaborates: “I think the sound the four of us make together is exciting, and I think that sound has got a lot to do with the band members apart from Tony. … I mean, there’s plenty of groups that are not the original members, and we may well be one of them going forward. I mean, if Queen can do it.! I just saw Journey doing Dodger Stadium with a Filipino kid [Arnel Pineda] singing for them. Foreigner haven’t even got one original member left! So who knows?
“If Tony doesn’t want to do it, I think we can still plug in. I think there could be other versions of the band, and I think there’s also more new material to be had. I’m sitting in my studio now and I’ve been writing lots of stuff of late, and whether or not that ends up with a band called Spandau Ballet or not, I’m not sure. But I think there’s still creativity left in this band. … On the future side, yes, I still would like to be creative under the umbrella of the name Spandau Ballet.”
Through the Barricades
In the meantime, while fans await the band’s next move, Kemp, his bassist brother Martin, Norman, and Keeble are enthusiastically promoting the reissue of their fifth album, Through the Barricades. A rougher and more arena-rocking effort, partially influenced by their surprising friendship with Def Leppard, the album didn’t make much of dent in the U.S. due to a series of record label misfortunes (and perhaps due to American listeners and radio programmers expecting more smooth blue-eyed soul from the “True”/“Gold” hitmakers) — but it was actually bigger than Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. and Michael Jackson’s Thriller in countries like Italy. And it’s the Spandau era of which the band is most fond.
“We never came to America on that tour, but that tour was by far Spandau in its pomp. That was us at our best. … When we all got back together in 2009, the one show that we watched back, that we thought we would want to emulate to reinvent ourselves, was the Through the Barricades tour, because it’s by far the band at its best live.”
As for where a glamorous band like Spandau — with or without Tony Hadley — will fit in the current or future pop landscape, Kemp is unsure. “We were lucky enough to make music at a time when music was everything to young people. It was more important than it’s ever been and ever will be,” he says.
Perhaps that’s why it’s important to Kemp to preserve Spandau’s legacy with projects like the Through the Barricades reissue and with a possible new frontman. “I’ve been the one nurturing the heritage of the band for a long time,” he notes. “I think while I’m still around, we have to take great care of the product and make sure it’s still remembered well. I’m interested in that for myself, regardless of whether or not Tony is interested in it. It’s a shame — I would have liked to have done it with Tony, but he’s an extremely stubborn guy.”
‘There's still creativity left in this band’
Not long ago, new wave legends Spandau Ballet, who originally disbanded in 1990 and re-formed in 2009, seemed poised for a major comeback. Their performance at South by Southwest 2014 — their first stateside concert in 28 years — was one of the hottest tickets of the Texas festival, where they also premiered their critically acclaimed documentary, Soul Boys of the Western World. The following year, Spandau launched a successful U.S. tour … and after that, fans eagerly awaited new music from these New Romantics.
No Longer a Member
But then, in July of this year, lead singer Tony Hadley posted a cryptic and seemingly out-of-the-blue message on Twitter, announcing that due to “circumstances beyond his control,” he was no longer a member of Spandau Ballet.
For now, Spandau is forging ahead and promoting their second documentary (this one about their newly remastered 1986 album, Through the Barricades, with plenty of ironic and now bittersweet scenes about the bandmates’ brotherly bond and willingness to “die for one another.” And this week, the band’s guitarist and principal songwriter, Gary Kemp, speaks about Hadley’s departure and what it means for the future of the group.
Dysfunctional Relationship
“This has been Tony’s stance for the last 20-odd years, where it’s kind of ‘makeup to breakup.’ And there’s only so long you can go in and out of a dysfunctional relationship,” Kemp says. “I actually feel much better now that maybe we don’t have to pretend or worry about it anymore.”
Kemp admits that there has “always been tension” between him and Hadley, and that they “were always poles apart — politically, artistically, socially. We were very, very extremely different people.” Kemp also says Hadley never quite got over an ultimately unsuccessful 1999 lawsuit that he, multi-instrumentalist Steve Norman, and drummer John Keeble filed over Kemp’s songwriting royalties.
However, Kemp stresses that around the time of Spandau’s 2014–2015 reunion, he felt a renewed kinship with the frontman. “Coming back together, it felt really good. … It seemed to be running rather smoothly, going well. But I think Tony had a line in the sand, and he didn’t go beyond that. And that was in his head; he didn’t express that to us at the time. We thought we were going to continue.”
Still, Hadley’s exit wasn’t as abrupt as it may have seemed to the band’s fans. “He told us in Hong Kong, on the last show of the tour [in September 2015], that he didn’t want to do it anymore,” Kemp reveals. “He said that he wouldn’t want to do it for another five years, at least — and when you get to our age, that sounds like the rest of your life! And then we had a lot of offers that came in and came in and came in and came in, and he kept saying, ‘No, no, not interested.’ So that, to me, is leaving the band. Tony’s heart was just always much more towards being a solo artist after the last tour, which was frustrating for everybody.”
Kemp looks at the renaissance that Spandau’s friendly ’80s rivals, Duran Duran, have enjoyed over the past few years, and he acknowledges that Spandau could have been in a similar position if they’d been able to take advantage of their post-SXSW momentum. “It’s a shame that Tony didn’t want that, because it was there, and we’d worked quite hard, with the leverage of the film and the tour. So yeah, it’s very frustrating. … We could have been so much more creative as a unit. But if one person doesn’t want to do it, then it makes it much harder.”
Solo
Hadley has continued to perform solo, crooning Spandau’s Kemp-penned classics. “It’s fine. Yeah, he’s still singing my songs. I mean, his solo career seems to be singing our songs, so that’s fine,” Kemp chuckles — though he adds that he’s less than thrilled that Hadley appears on so many nostalgia package tours like this summer’s “Lost ’80s Live”. “That’s the one thing that I would never, ever do, is have the name Spandau Ballet attached to any of those ’80s revues. And I suppose it’s my sadness, with Tony doing those.”
So, will Spandau soldier on sans Hadley? “If we find the right guy,” Kemp answers.
The band revealed in a Facebook Live Q&A Tuesday that they are “actively looking” and will be holding rehearsals in “a couple of weeks” to audition new singers. “We’ve got a process that we’re going through. But that’s all I’m saying.
Kemp elaborates: “I think the sound the four of us make together is exciting, and I think that sound has got a lot to do with the band members apart from Tony. … I mean, there’s plenty of groups that are not the original members, and we may well be one of them going forward. I mean, if Queen can do it.! I just saw Journey doing Dodger Stadium with a Filipino kid [Arnel Pineda] singing for them. Foreigner haven’t even got one original member left! So who knows?
“If Tony doesn’t want to do it, I think we can still plug in. I think there could be other versions of the band, and I think there’s also more new material to be had. I’m sitting in my studio now and I’ve been writing lots of stuff of late, and whether or not that ends up with a band called Spandau Ballet or not, I’m not sure. But I think there’s still creativity left in this band. … On the future side, yes, I still would like to be creative under the umbrella of the name Spandau Ballet.”
Through the Barricades
In the meantime, while fans await the band’s next move, Kemp, his bassist brother Martin, Norman, and Keeble are enthusiastically promoting the reissue of their fifth album, Through the Barricades. A rougher and more arena-rocking effort, partially influenced by their surprising friendship with Def Leppard, the album didn’t make much of dent in the U.S. due to a series of record label misfortunes (and perhaps due to American listeners and radio programmers expecting more smooth blue-eyed soul from the “True”/“Gold” hitmakers) — but it was actually bigger than Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. and Michael Jackson’s Thriller in countries like Italy. And it’s the Spandau era of which the band is most fond.
“We never came to America on that tour, but that tour was by far Spandau in its pomp. That was us at our best. … When we all got back together in 2009, the one show that we watched back, that we thought we would want to emulate to reinvent ourselves, was the Through the Barricades tour, because it’s by far the band at its best live.”
As for where a glamorous band like Spandau — with or without Tony Hadley — will fit in the current or future pop landscape, Kemp is unsure. “We were lucky enough to make music at a time when music was everything to young people. It was more important than it’s ever been and ever will be,” he says.
Perhaps that’s why it’s important to Kemp to preserve Spandau’s legacy with projects like the Through the Barricades reissue and with a possible new frontman. “I’ve been the one nurturing the heritage of the band for a long time,” he notes. “I think while I’m still around, we have to take great care of the product and make sure it’s still remembered well. I’m interested in that for myself, regardless of whether or not Tony is interested in it. It’s a shame — I would have liked to have done it with Tony, but he’s an extremely stubborn guy.”
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