Bowie's Influence Becomes A Bit Of A Blur

This is a Low...

In a recent story about new cyber-band Gorillaz I mentioned a "rather successful UK real-world band who have a co-writer credit with Bowie/Eno." I don't think I disguised too heavily that the name of that band is Blur. The Blur song M.O.R. was apparently considered indebted enough to 'Boys Keep Swinging' to earn the Blur/Bowie/Eno credit.

The January 2001 edition of Uncut has a review of Blur's brilliant 'blur: the best of' that makes even more of the Bowie influence on the band. If you feel a twinge of interest, go here.

Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)

Can Bowie Be Xmas No1 In The Uk?

The race for Xmas No. 1 is quickly turining into a two horse...um.....race between WestLife and Bob The Builder. For those who don't know, Bob The Builder is the UK's current animated "phenomenon" who has a glorious little song out called "Can We Fix It?" Now get this: It samples the mostly excellent Bowie song Let's Dance! (Only the intro, which it repeats another 2 or 3 times during the song). Also: Early figures put Bob in front of Westlife. It so close, daddy! (yes, daddy!) Thanks, Aleczandah!

Emm Gryner Interview

Here is the conclusion of Emmanouil's interview with Emm from October. Way to go, Troll!!

Part III

Part IV

Thanks, Emmanouil!

Emm Gryner Interview

As a follow up to the recent interview we posted with Gail Ann Dorsey, here is another interview by BowieNutter Emmanouil (the Program Director for WRGM, George Washington University Radio) this time with Emm on October 1st. Here is the first half of the interview, with the second half to follow tomorrow.

Part I

Part II

Thanks, Emmanouil!

Mahir : The Video!

Check out Dotmusic's new microsite "Mahir Kisses You"

Our Man in Turkey has made a hilarious full-length video for his new I Kiss You single which Blam told us about recently.

You can buy the single online and there is also a downloadable I Kiss You office game, in which Mahir explains, "you kiss me and you have points". You get a maximum three points for kissing those infamous swimming trunks...ewww....lol.

There is even a button to click if "your boss, he come".

Go and have a giggle.

Thanks, Spaceface!

Fresh Blood Over At Bowieart

Striped with blood and emblazed tattoo...

The January 2001 issue of 'Dazed & Confused' caught my eye this month for a cover feature on the ultimate manufactured band, Gorillaz. Worth the cover price alone for the free CD ROM of the band's brilliant video for 'Tomorrow Comes Today'. Gorillaz are the new badly-drawn boys in town, fronted by heart-throb singer 2D, that's him on the right above. Actually they're drawn really rather well, and one of 'em is a girl! But, there are those that have suggested that some persons from the very horrid real world are actually behind the project, including 2D, whose rather successful UK real-world band has a co-writer credit with Bowie/Eno. Whatever, with all this extra-curricular activity his life must be a Blur right now!

Anyway, I digress, leafing through the magazine I chanced upon a rather stylish full-page advert that struck me as a bit of a rip-off of one of the recent BowieArt splash pages. In fact it wasn't just a rip-off, it actually was an advert for Bowieart! Simply emblazoned with the legend: 'FRESH BLOOD' across the middle of the landscape, the only other text on the ad is the suggestion: BOWIEART.COM and photographer Jeremy Coysten's credit. This enigmatic advert is the latest push to publicise the wealth of new talent on BowieArt, even if it does seem exclusively worded for Lee Wagstaff!

A piece about the re-launch of the site on benzedrinerecords.com reports how Bowie is managing to agitate the art world yet again after his successful Nate Tate wind up: "In what is sure to become considered a revolutionary and confrontational move in art world circles, Bowieart takes absolutely no commission from any sales made through its site. The usual practice among galleries is to deduct as much as 50% from the artist's purse on any sale of an artwork." Great stuff, go check out the new blood over at the 'Never Mind The Bollocks' of the art world that is BowieArt now!

Total Blam Blam (European Correspondent)

Annette Peacock : Mojo Raves

Seemed a good idea...

Annette Peacock's new record, An Acrobat's Heart gets a rave review from Mojo this month. Readers of David's Journal will remember that she has been working with David on his next studio album.

Chris Ingham has this to say about her :-

(she) initiated ground-breaking synthesizer work in the late 60's and early 70's and evolved a fascinating, elliptical style of songwriting. A favourite of David Bowie - and currently collaborating on his new album - Peacock ends a long (12 years) period of silence with a startling song cycle for voice, piano and string quartet. ...this is evocative, unsettling music....delivered by Peacock's curiously blank-eyed but compelling voice. Four years in preparation, this is ultra-rarefied stuff....

For lovers of haunted women stroking a grand piano, Annette is Big Mommy. This is the real deal.

You can read more about Annette and order An Acrobat's Heart here.

There is also an unofficial fansite about her, here.

Thanks, Spaceface!

Yet Another Competition...viva La Difference!

Seemed a good idea...

You're all familiar with the sleeve for 'Never Let Me Down' pictured above, but look again, you may not be quite as familiar with it as first you thought. In another attempt to release some of the goodies from the vault, this new 'Spot The Difference' feature is the first winner in the recent 'Competition Suggestion' task we set you.

We've had lots of great ideas so far, but a 'Spot The Difference' competition was suggested by UK fan Paul Kinder, who actually has a Bowie website of his own. Don't worry if you feel you have sent in an equally good idea, many of the suggestions received will be used. Only chose this one first as it was the easiest to administer.

Thanks to the wonders of modern image manipulation programs, I have introduced ten subtle differences to the original sleeve of 'Never Let Me Down'. Simply click on the above image to take you to the before and after versions, the original is on the left. Sorry about the size of the file, but I figured if you are the type who plays 'Spot The Difference', then you most likely have time on your hands! };-)

When you think you have spotted all ten ch..ch..ch..changes, and believe me there are ten, then send your list of differences that appear on the version on the right to me at: MrTotalBlamBlam@AOL.Com with a subject heading of 'Spot The Difference December 2000'. This one is open until December 23rd so that The Random Selector (TM) can notify the winner before the 25th. Said person will get to choose something from the prize list to make their Winter Celebrations that little bit extra special!

Total Blam Blam (European Correspondent)

Dee Bee Cover Project On Mp3

By now you've surely heard about David Bowie on MP3.com; all you need do is own a particular Bowie CD and you can add it to a my.mp3.com account for free (enabling you to play them from any location with a 'putah). Plus there's two tracks available to anyone for download: "Let's Dance" and "Ziggy Stardust."

But, did you know that the cover songs from the Dee Bee Cover Project are on MP3.com as well? Indeed, they are! You can hear them here (hear here)! Congrats again to all participants for submitting such high quality, original work!!!

Mojo Name The Best Releases Of 2000

The January 2001 edition of MOJO is on the shelves with it's best of 2000 round-up. 'Bowie at the Beeb' has a number two placing in the Box Sets and Compilations top ten of the year. And in a return endorsement, Andy of Travis gives the album the thumbs up after Bowie did the same for Travis' 'The Man Who' album earlier in the year.

'Bowie at the Beeb' is further recognised for the masterpiece that it is in a Virgin MegaStore advert in the magazine. Under the banner "Added Credibility For Your CD Collection" the 3CD set is pictured along with seven other CDs including Grandaddy, Lambchop and Gomez. 'The All Back To My Place' page this month has all-round diamond geezer, Mani of Primal Scream (ex of The Stone Roses), admitting that The Jean Genie was the first record that he ever bought.

Total Blam Blam (European Correspondent)

Mojo Name The Best Releases Of 2000

The January 2001 edition of MOJO is on the shelves with it's best of 2000 round-up. 'Bowie at the Beeb' has a number two placing in the Box Sets and Compilations top ten of the year. And in a return endorsement, Andy of Travis gives the album the thumbs up after Bowie did the same for Travis' 'The Man Who' album earlier in the year.

'Bowie at the Beeb' is further recognised for the masterpiece that it is in a Virgin MegaStore advert in the magazine. Under the banner "Added Credibility For Your CD Collection" the 3CD set is pictured along with seven other CDs including Grandaddy, Lambchop and Gomez. 'The All Back To My Place' page this month has all-round diamond geezer, Mani of Primal Scream (ex of The Stone Roses), admitting that The Jean Genie was the first record that he ever bought.

Total Blam Blam (European Correspondent)

Reeves Chat Transcript At Launch

If you missed the Launch chat with Reeves, you can read the transcript online here.

uta-11: What was your favorite project that you have ever worked on?

launch-reeves-gabrels: For me, personally, from the stuff I did with Bowie, with David, I'd say the Earthling record. And then, for my own thing, probably my new record, the Ulysses album. With other people, I'd say anything I've done with Robert Smith from the Cure............

Thanks, Spaceface!

New Mick Rock Book Next Year

I am the blood at the corner of your eye...

Mick Rock (pictured above with the answer to the recent calendar competition at the Rock Style exhibition in London) has a new photo-book out in April of 2001. This beautifully designed large format volume, entitled Blood and Glitter, is a pictorial record of the Seventies Glam Rock scene, and it will feature a foreword written by David Bowie. Mick gave me a sneak preview of the book earlier this week, and I for one can't wait for this mouth-watering gem to become available.

Apart from rare and unpublished photographs of all the usual suspects, such as Bowie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, and Queen, pretty well all of the key players of the Glam Rock movement are represented here, including shots from various historical Glam events like The New York Dolls at Bibas. Many of the people around David at the time are pictured in all their glittering glory, such as Lindsay Kemp, Freddi Burretti, Pierre Laroche, Amanda Lear and a cast of crazies, some for the first time. More details to follow very soon. Yum yum, yum!

Total Blam Blam (European Correspondent)

Bowienet Members Special Feature : David Bowie In The Elephant Man

As some of you may know, we have been working on putting together a special feature on David's appearance in the stage play The Elephant Man. We are happy to announce that this area is now open, accessible through a link in the MUTATIONS box on the home page! It keeps growing, and already it is probably the biggest document on the subject on the web or in print. If you have something to contribute, please do!

The feature is very special, as it not only tells some of the story of this great performance, but also tells you what the performance meant to some of your fellow fans all around the world, and shows you their keepsakes.

We hope it also shows David how much he is loved and how enduring that love has been for so many people.

David saw a preview some weeks ago and said "The pages you've done are really great." Go to the new box on the homepage and enjoy some nostalgia and some giggles, or read about it for the first time. If you have a contribution to make, e-mail us. We will show the updated feature regularly.

Thanks spaceface, susans, rexray, eriwilde, demerson, laughing gnome, steve edelson, bound, gilly, The David Bowie Archives, leeza, ladygrin, lalalinda, bianca, margot, total blam blam!

Bowienet Members Special Feature : David Bowie In The Elephant Man

As some of you may know, we have been working on putting together a special feature on David's appearance in the stage play The Elephant Man. We are happy to announce that this area is now open, accessible through a link in the MUTATIONS box on the home page! It keeps growing, and already it is probably the biggest document on the subject on the web or in print. If you have something to contribute, please do!

The feature is very special, as it not only tells some of the story of this great performance, but also tells you what the performance meant to some of your fellow fans all around the world, and shows you their keepsakes.

We hope it also shows David how much he is loved and how enduring that love has been for so many people.

David saw a preview some weeks ago and said "The pages you've done are really great." Go to the new box on the homepage and enjoy some nostalgia and some giggles, or read about it for the first time. If you have a contribution to make, e-mail us. We will show the updated feature regularly.

Thanks spaceface, susans, rexray, eriwilde, demerson, laughing gnome, steve edelson, bound, gilly, The David Bowie Archives, leeza, ladygrin, lalalinda, bianca, margot, total blam blam!

Bowie, Cavett And The Year Of The Diamond Dogs

Cane and barely able...or how David Bowie dodged the draft

The December issue of MOJO (NOT the January 2001 issue, sorry, running a little late with this one) has a report on David Bowie's extraordinary appearance on The Dick Cavett Show, first shown 26 years ago on December 4th 1974. Most of you, if you haven't actually seen it, are almost certainly aware of this classic performance that was recorded the previous month on November 2nd, bang in the middle of the Soul Tour, or Philly Dogs tour as it is more widely known.

The broadcast is a wonderful snapshot of Bowie as he slips comfortably, on the surface at least, into yet another phase of his career, this time as a most convincing blue-eyed soul boy. By the time of the taping of the show, the transition was complete, as witnessed during brilliant performances of '1984', 'Young Americans', and 'Footstompin'/'Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate'. The interview, however, is infamous for David's out-there-ness. Go here for more evidence.

Total Blam Blam (European Correspondent)

'low' Editors Choice On Q4music

Whether 'Low' is a revered and beloved old friend, or a corner of David's music you haven't fully inspected yet, you will enjoy the in depth assessment and track by track audio which is available on the home page of Q4music this week.

They introduce it as :-

EDITOR'S CHOICE : No2. David Bowie's LowA record that fell to Earth, and one we're only now coming to terms with. Has so much beauty ever sprung from so much cocaine, red wine and Bratwurst?

and go on to say :-

While live ambient music wouldn't enter the pop mainstream for nearly a quarter of a century, Low's spirit and experimentation - through new wave and electronica, ambient and trance, would almost single-handedly shape the rest of the century.

Go here to read it all.

Enjoy!

Thanks, Spaceface!

The Crowd Say Bo Selector

Memory of an in-line-with-inflation festival

In its round-up of the best of 2000, Uncut magazine this month (issue dated Jan 2001) acknowledges what has been a good year for David Bowie: "With a rapturously received greatest hits set, Bowie clawed back some of the mainstream credibility that he has been carefully eluding for years." I guess this is recognition of the fact that artistic concerns are often more satisfying for Bowie than commercial considerations, and it is this approach to his work that ensures his "enduring influence" continues to be felt in music today, as referred to elsewhere in the article.

Round and round goes Arthur's head...

Uncut also mentions the possibility of Pulp's Jarvis Cocker directing the screen version of Harland Miller's 'Slow Down Arthur, Stick To Thirty' that we told you about much earlier in the year. The novel follows the fortunes of a Bowie impersonator in an early Eighties London and Sheffield, and it so impressed Cocker that he tried to buy the film rights, but was beaten to the punch by the Disney-owned Miramax.

Apparently the wonderfully foppish frontman is more qualified for the task than one might first imagine, having directed videos for Aphex Twin and Tindersticks after studying film in the late Eighties. Jarvis was also co-creator of the fascinating Pulp documentary, 'Do You Remember The First Time?" In another part of the movie gossip section, Uncut has attempted to revive the rumour that David has expressed an interest in appearing in the proposed Radio 4 Doctor Who series...I thought this story had breathed its last after a short flap around in the dirt long ago, but if it has any substance you know you will be the first to be told.

Total Blam Blam (European Correspondent)

Big Brother, Number One For Christmas?

He'll build a glass asylum...

OK, so number one is a little ambitious perhaps, but what nicer Christmas present could there be for Bard Oberon than helping him sell out of the first pressing of his excellent version of 'Big Brother'. Recently featured in Ramsey's inspired DeeBee Cover Project, the seven inch single can be purchased online by clicking on the sleeve above and following the links to your nearest stockist. The b-side, 'The Ecstasy Of Youth And Death', proves that Bard has a future beyond cover versions. Good luck my spooky friend.

Enjoy!

Total Blam Blam (European Correspondent)

David Most Influential : Reactions

David Bowie will be on "Featured Artist Thursday" on December 14th onWestwood One Network's 24-hour Adult Rock and Roll Format. The showwill be heard in over 60 markets around the U.S. (over 1.4 millionlisteners), and will also be carried by the Armed Forces Radio networkto miliatry bases around the world. A track from "Bowie At The Beeb"will be played every hour all day on Thursday. There will begiveaway/grand prize opportunities, with winners selected on December15th, Friday receiving autographed cd copies of the album. Check yourlocal radio listings.....