For those of you who love the late great John Lennon (one of the few to which this term really applies), there is a MOJO special out on November 27th which includes previously unseen pictures, and new interviews. "MOJO Lennon tells the full story of John Lennon's life and music........ Interviews with Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney, Pete Best and more, while 40 Lennon fans from David Bowie to Paul Simon, Tina Turner to Noel Gallagher, choose their favourite Lennon moments." Thanks, Spaceface!
Sheena's First Record
In this month's MOJO magazine, Sheena Easton is asked about the first record she ever bought, and the place where she bought it.
"Ziggy Stardust. I'm not just saying that to sound cool, it really was. I got it at the record store in Bellshill. I was about 12 and I got it on a day in town at the store on the corner where they sold records. I can't remember the name. There were always records in the house : my older siblings played The Beatles and The Stones so I was really lucky because I heard good stuff early on."
(Our very lovely European Correspondent, Total Blam Blam, has more to come from Mojo, later this week).
Thanks, Spaceface!
Cybernauts Are Coming
So where were The Spiders?
Cybernauts are the band that used to be billed as Joe Elliot with The Spiders From Mars. You may remember the outfit from the two Mick Ronson Memorial concerts (London and Hull) at which the band played David Bowie songs from the Mick Ronson era, plus a couple of songs that Mick recorded as a solo artist. Go here for more information about Cybernauts and forthcoming Bowie associated releases from the band.
Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)
Bowie Realises Power Of Internet, Shock!
lovely, gooey, sticky kind of fun-filled...
This morning's Guardian in the UK has in its Media section a spread punningly headed: Star-e, star-e sites, in which they discuss how: "...the stars themselves are realising the power their own websites can give them." This story is not new, as is made clear early on in the piece: "Creative thinkers from David Bowie to Badly Drawn Boy have been using the internet to disseminate their material for almost as long as the internet has been around."
The article makes much of David's quote regarding interactivity with fans on this site: "...this gives me a lovely, gooey, sticky kind of fun-filled feeling." ...a quote the Guardian clearly enjoyed, as it is used three times! Of more interest to those of you that can nip along to a newsagent before they close today, is a three-quarter length live shot of Mr Bowie at Net Aid in 1999, during a lovely, gooey, sticky kind of fun-filled moment, which you can glimpse by clicking on the image above.
Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)
Hello! Says Goodbye To Paula Yates
Heaven is smiling down, heaven's girl in a wedding gown...
HELLO! (issue dated November 21st) has a fourteen page picture retrospective taken throughout Paula's adult life. Mostly by Brian Aris, the photographs are an affectionate record of Paula's colourful, but ultimately tragic journey, up until three weeks before her untimely death. A full page photo from her wedding to Bob Geldof in 1986 pictures the happy couple with a cast of popular rock stars from the time, including the best man, who is popular to this day, particularly on this site.
Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)
Music Of The Millennium 2
A new double album is released this month continuing the series to mark the coming of the new millennium. The 40 tracks represent some of the biggest hits. Here is a sample of the track list.
Queen and David Bowie : Under Pressure
Radiohead : Paranoid Android
Rolling Stones : Start Me Up
David Bowie : Life On Mars
Prince : Kiss
Portishead : Glory Box
Robbie Williams : Angels
Frankie Goes To Hollywood : Relax
Supertramp : Logical Song
Bob Dylan : Like A Rolling Stone
Paul McCartney and Wings : Jet
Thanks, Spaceface!
Bowie Wins Bafta
First mention I saw of this one was in the DOORS section of The Sunday Times last week (12th Nov). Apparently David Bowie won an award at the annual Interactive Entertainment Awards presented by BAFTA. "Who BAFTA?"...some of you non-Brits may be asking:
"The British Academy of Film & Television Arts is the UK's leading organisation promoting and rewarding the best in film, television and interactive media. Renowned for its high- profile Award ceremonies covering Film, Television, Children's and Interactive Entertainment the Academy does much more than this?"
The Sunday Times described BowieNet thus: "Heavily design-orientated website that keeps even the most ardent Bowie fans up to date." Which, if I may be so bold, I guess me and my fellow employees can consider a pat on the back. A quick glance at the winners at the BAFTA site tells us that the actual award David won was "THE BERNERS-LEE AWARD for the best personal contribution to the Interactive Industry" in The Special Awards category.
So, well done again Mr B, BowieNet and all that sail in her!
Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)
T.j. Wilcox
American artist T.J. WILCOX who specialises in film and video as his medium of choice has just exhibited at Gavin Brown's Enterprise on 436 West 15th Street in Chelsea, New York. Two of his short films were shown, one entitled "The Little Elephant" merges 'Barbar' and 'The Elephant Man' to tell the story of a traumatised ugly duckling who, in a charming passage of film animation, travels from the jungle to the big city. Once there he is transformed into DAVID BOWIE and, it seems clear, will live happily ever after, with the support of an elderly patroness Wendy Hiller, who has lots of money, a sly smile and likes his style. Wilcox's art form is a labour-intensive method which transforms his film into an almost physical object, similar to flickering, kinetic paintings. Each piece of film or animation, whether vintage or newly shot clips, are process-pasted together. By copying the film onto video and back again, it establishes a generational distance between the sources and the projected 16mm film feels almost like a physical object. Wilcox graduated in 1989 with a BFA from the School of Visual Art in New York and completed his MFA at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California in 1995. Most recently, his work has been featured in a solo exhibition at Gavin Brown's Enterprise in New York, the 1997 Biennial Exhibition at the Whitney, and at the 1997 Venice Biennale. Thanks, Rednik!
Roseland
Low And Little Drummer Boy On Christmas Cd*
Smiling girls and rosy boys, Come and buy this CD with little toys on it...
It's A Cool, Cool Christmas has tenuous links to David Bowie, but I am certain he would be supportive of its aim. This release is a compilation Christmas CD compiled by Xfm and released nationally by Jeepster Recordings this coming Monday, November 20th. All profits from the sale of the CD will go to the Big Issue Foundation, who you may remember David has shown his support for on more than one occasion via exclusive interviews directly for the publication, and more recently by donating 'East Side Other' to the book 'Life's ups & Downs'. (See news item: 11/07/00 NEWS: BOWIE CONTRIBUTES TO LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS)
The 21 tracks featured on the album are either cover versions of Christmas songs like The Dandy Warhols' 'Little Drummer Boy' or Lauren Laverne's 'In The Bleak Midwinter' as well as original songs about Christmas, such as Grandaddy's 'Alan Parsons In A Winter Wonderland' and Low's 'Just Like Christmas'. Of the 21 tracks, 16 were recorded exclusively for the album. Click on the image above to see the full track-listing and to read a press release regarding the CD.
*Sorry about the misleading headline, but you try and think of a Bowie song with Christmas in it! First smart-arse in my mail box will receive an appropriate prize.
Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)
Q4music Launches
"Ol? Odd Eyes might just be the cleverest pop musician we shall ever see."
Q magazine has re-launched its website this month. If you type David's name into the search engine or the buyer's guide search, you will be led to lots of new writing about him. He has his own section (of course!) and Ziggy Stardust is ranked sixth of twenty in a list of albums which Q says define the 'Rock' genre. He features prominently almost everywhere, including 'celebrity top ten's, 'essential purchase' lists, and annual 'best of' lists.
Paul Du Noyer has this to say about him :-
"His birth certificate may say South London, but there were times when Ursa Major seemed more plausible. In the most creative period of his career, between 1970 and 1980, David Bowie was a one-man incubation chamber, inspiring entirely new ideas of music with each new record. From the bleak pop horror of his debut hit Space Oddity, through the warped futurism of Ziggy Stardust, the chilly disco of Young Americans and the magnificent melodrama of ?Heroes?, he brought a knowing artifice to rock, but he packed the music with an emotive power that all his theatrics could not obscure. Ol? Odd Eyes might just be the cleverest pop musician we shall ever see."
(Paul du Noyer is the former editor of Q, founding editor of Mojo and latterly the editorial director of the Q4music.com and Mojo4music.com)
Go and check it out.
Thanks, Spaceface!
Prayin' At The Bus Stop
...but are you sure that it really was him?
If it was a London bus, chances it was him. David Bowie, that is.
Capital Gold, the favourite radio station of London's baby-boomer generation, is to undergo a major image revamp. Owner Capital Radio has unveiled a new logo for its Gold brand and has recruited a raft of older rock acts to star in a marketing campaign for the new-look radio station.
From the end of this week, the faces of David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry and Sting will appear on 850 London buses beside the new logo to promote Capital Gold and remind consumers of the quality of its playlist.
Go to Media Guardian for complete details.
Thanks, Pozie!
Xfm Listeners Vote For 'life On Mars?'
He's in the best selling show...
The latest edition of X-RAY, the Bowie-friendly magazine of Xfm, has proof that it isn't only London that loves David Bowie now that the station has gone nation-wide. The champion of alternative music runs a listener-voted annual chart (compiled from Xfm listeners' three favourite tracks) called THE X-LIST. For the year 2000 Xfm listeners proved that they have open minds as well as impeccable taste by placing 'Life On Mars?' at number two in this year's chart. 'Changes' was also voted in at number sixty eight. Here is the top five from the list:
As well as listening to Xfm online you can influence the 2001 X-LIST by voting here. With this news and the ecstatic reaction to David's set at Glastonbury this year, it seems the kids really are alright!
Elsewhere in the X-RAY magazine, Hi-Jack, (Xfm's equivalent of Desert Island Discs) is represented by four recent celebrity choices. Three of those all-time favourite lists include a Bowie song. Here are those choices:
ALAN MCGEE chose 'Drive-In Saturday'
WEEN chose 'Cracked Actor'
THE WEBB BROTHERS chose 'Oh! You Pretty Things'
Impressive, eh? Well done sir. };-)
Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)
This Day In Music
The site which tells you all you could ever want to know about every day on the calendar, This Day In Music, has had a re-vamp. The bits and pieces section has some fun top ten lists, and db features in lots of them. You can choose from future stars, around the world and songs about people, among others.
You can also check to see which stars share your birthday. Two of mine are Richie Blackmore and Sonja Kristina!
My favourite list is Star's birthday No 1's.
What was number one the day they were born?
1 : Whitney Houston, You're The Devil In Disguise : Elvis Presley
2 : Gary Barlow, Grandad : Clive Dunn
3 : Robbie Williams, Tiger Feet : Mud
4 : Liam Gallagher, Mama Weer All Crazy Now : Slade
5 : Britney Spears, Under Pressure : Queen & David Bowie
6 : Mel B, Stand By Your Man : Tammy Wynette
7 : Bono, Cathy's Clown : the Everly Brothers
8 : J : 5IVE, Combine Harvester : The Wurzels
9 : Mariah Carey, Wandrin Star : Lee Marvin
10 : Shaun Ryder, I Remember You : Frank Ifield
Go and have a giggle!
Thanks, Spaceface!
Emm & Emm
Calling All Canuck Bowienetters
Bowie back-up singer Emm Gryner takes her rocktastic pop extravaganza acrossCanada to close out the year. Have you seen her yet? Check her out! Dates are as follows:
Nov. 16 MONTREAL Club Zone
Nov. 17 OTTAWA Zaphod Beeblebrox
then the following dates acoustic with Ron Sexsmith:
Nov. 21 WINNIPEG West End Cultural Centre
Nov. 22 SASKATOON Place Riel Theatre
Nov. 23 EDMONTON SideTrack Cafe
Nov. 24 CALGARY Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts
Nov. 25 VANCOUVER Richard's on Richards
Nov. 27 VICTORIA Lucky Bar
Then the following dates with her rocktastic band, (Fil Bucchino (Flashlight) on bass, Dean Stone (Howie Beck) on drums and Vincent Spilchuk (Dalai Lamas) on keyboards, violin and other mischief.)
December 1 HALIFAX the Marquee
December 2 SYDNEY The Savoy
December 3 FREDERICTON, The Upper Deck
December 5 TORONTO, The Rivoli
December 6 TORONTO, The Rivoli
Breaking, Er...news...
Dot Music, just a wee bit behind, it seems, has realized that David is finishing up a new album entitled Toy. Good show, mates! In the article, rumors abound about more albums, more Roseland shows, etc. Check it out!
New Bowie Self Portrait Available Now
David Bowie/RCA Collaboration 2000
Bowieart has a new set of prints available for purchase. They tell the story like this:
"David Bowie invited three of the year 2000 graduates from the Royal College of Art, London to participate in a print set collaboration. What is presented in the set are a group of artists that David Bowie thought to be of particular interest and merit. Bowieart gives you the opportunity to enjoy the work of outstanding artists at the beginning of their careers. All the prints in this set are also available individually."
The set of four lithographs on Fabriano paper by David Bowie, Marta Marce, 360 corp and Lee Wagstaff are all signed limited editions. Pop over to Bowieart for more details and go here to view prints for sale and place your online order. You could be helping a starving artist through an otherwise bleak Christmas! };-)
Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)
Wild Eyed Boy At Cb's Gallery
And the mountain moved its eyes...
BowieNutter Freecloud - aka Huff - is appearing in Manhattan tonight at:
CB's Gallery - 315 Bowery @ Bleecker St.
7:00 PM
$5 cover
45 minute set starts and ends on time!
Here's what the buzz is about - if you were at the BowieNet Picnic in June then you know the deal!
"Huff's music needs to be chewed and digested - take the time!"
"I quite liked it."
- - David Bowie, on Huff's North Cathedral Way
"Clever.....reminiscent of Woody Guthrie and David Bowie"
- - The Berkshire Eagle
"Huff is always willing to throw a bit of sarcasm in his songs....butultimately Huff's songs are very poignant."
- - Songwriter's Monthly
....and here's a little trip down memory lane to get "in the zone" for the gig:
The Kids Are (still) Alright
As we all look forward to David's cover of Pictures Of Lily, I thought you might like to hear something about one of The Who's gigs on the European leg of the current Greatest Hits World Tour.
Click here for some great images, links and the story.
Thanks, Spaceface!
Bowie Smothered By Pellow
A puzzled man who questioned what we came here for...
Marti Pellow last night performed a very well-received version of 'Oh! You Pretty Things' during the first of two sold out shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Pellow is best known for his time with blue-eyed soul act Wet Wet Wet. (Love Is All Around 14 weeks at number one, 4 platinum albums in the UK etc.)
Mr Pellow is making his comeback after a well publicised drug problem, and while the trademark smile seems less evident than it used to be, the Scottish heart-throb certainly seemed to be enjoying himself last night. The tour is a precursor to his debut solo album, due in the new year, which he has just returned from recording in Memphis and New York with legendary soul producer Willie Mitchell.
Apart from the Bowie song, Pellow is currently also playing The Troggs' 'Love Is All Around' and The Beatles' 'With A Little Help From My Friends' both of which were number ones for 'The Wets' in the UK. No news yet as to whether he intends to commit 'Oh! You Pretty Things' to disc.
Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)