| CMU Daily - on the inside 16 Oct 2002 |
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In today's CMU Daily:
• ITV merger is on, Leeds police search for festival rioters,
• Townshend on the future of the Who,
• Kylie storms Aussie Brits,
• Review: Aim ft Kate Rogers – The Girl Who Fell Through The Ice,
• Midnight Oil on Bali attacks,
• Glastonbury play premieres,
• Coxon no longer considers Blur mates friends,
• Joni Mitchell ashamed of music biz,
• Carey and Timberlake duet,
• No Brit edits in 2003,
• Review: Slam feat. Dot Allison - Visions Remixes,
• Gallery champions new DJ talent
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According to legend whose idea was the band name ‘Led Zeppelin’, and what was the logic behind it?
Answer tomorrow
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ITV MERGER IS ON
The merger between ITV giants Granada and Carlton looks like it will definitely go ahead under the terms discussed last week in which Granada shareholders will own two thirds of the new business, Granada boss Charles Allen will become chief executive and Carlton founder Michael Green chairman. The £2.6 billion deal will essentially see the creation of one ITV company in England and Wales
"One ITV has been a vision long in the making," Green has told reporters. "One company, with one management and one focus can now set its sights firmly on beating the opposition and giving viewers and advertisers what they want".
Many reckon the two companies' financial problems – caused by an advertising slump and the huge losses made on the failed ITV Digital venture – have encouraged the two companies to finally come together (past merger talks have failed). The deal will need government backing – the advertising industry and Channel 4 will both need reassuring it is the best way forward for commercial broadcasting at large.
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LEEDS POLICE SEARCH FOR FESTIVAL RIOTERS
West Yorkshire police yesterday published pictures of 24 people they claim were involved in the rioting at the end of the Leeds Festival last August. A team of detectives has been scouring security video footage and now plan to use that evidence to make arson, criminal damage, assault and public order charges against those who tarnished the Leeds wing of the Carling weekend. Police are now encouraging festival goers to check their website and supply them with any appropriate leads.
"Up to 50,000 people, including many families, visited this event each day and had a good time," Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Kerry of Killingbeck Police told reporters. "The event was marred by a small minority who were involved in violence which put public safety at risk. This type of behaviour will not be tolerated. We would ask members of the public to help identify these people."
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TOWNSHEND ON THE FUTURE OF THE WHO
Pete Townshend has been discussing the future of The Who on his official website. The band have just completed their US tour which continued despite the tragic death of John Entwistle at the outset. Townshend admits he is “wrestling” with whether to continue collaborating with vocalist Roger Daltrey as the Who, under some different moniker, or at all. Billboard reckons the 27 date tour grossed some $27 million drawing over 368,000 fans.
"Because of the power of the shows, and their financial success in a slightly depressed marketplace, there are those who conclude that I will naturally continue to perform with Roger under the Who banner," Townshend says. "There are those, who perhaps think they know me better (as a grouch, a spoiler, a self-obsessed creative, an insecure and pretentious self-styled artist etc), who conclude that now it is all over. On the first issue, the recent return to touring, and to me playing electric guitar -- albeit more quietly than I used to in the '70s -- has led to further deterioration of my hearing. My right ear, which encounters both my own edgy guitar, and the machine gun strokes of the drums, has suffered badly. Luckily for me, I still have my left ear, which seems to be less f****d up. I have no idea what I can do about this. I am unable to perform with in-ear monitors -- in fact they increase the often unbearable tinnitus I suffer after shows."
As for the future sessions with Daltrey he says, "I still don't think I can write new songs for this thing we all call the Who. The Who is a brand name, and two old guys called Roger and Pete. I think I'm going to stick with the two old guys and let the brand name look after itself. It has done pretty well without my help - and despite a huge amount of my active interference - for the 20 years since 1982 when I did my last studio session with the band."
"I do not want to write with Roger so we can pass ourselves off as a 'new' Who. I want to see whether we can write together, and if he and I have anything we can say together, that we could not say separately. I am not shying away from the usual division of labor -- Roger is more of a singer than a writer, and I am claiming to be a more of a writer than a performer. What I am shying away from is trying to pick up the Who recording legacy where it was dropped in 1976. Whether we call an album a Who album is not the point. We can call it what we like. It is how we approach it that matters."
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KYLIE STORMS AUSSEY BRITS
The Aussey Brits, the Australian Record Industry Association Awards, were held yesterday at the Sydney SuperDome. Kylie stole the show with best pop release and best-selling single for ‘Can't Get You out of My Head’, highest-selling album for ‘Fever," and an outstanding achievement award.
Elsewhere Silverchair, who gave their first public performance in six months at the awards, were given awards for the best rock album (for ‘Diorama’), best rock group award, and artist of the year (voted for by viewers of music channel Channel V's).
Despite an Aussey backlash after their success in the UK and US, the Vines won best new artist single for ‘Get Free’. Alex Lloyd, who had a little success in the UK a few years back, took the award for best male performer.
Host Rove McManus, making reference to the terrorist attack in Bali, said the event was "not just a celebration of Australian music but a celebration of the Australian spirit”.
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REVIEW: Aim ft Kate Rogers – The Girl Who Fell Through The Ice (Grand Central)
When I saw these guys perform this song I nearly wept and fell deeply in love with Kate Rogers – her sweet heart-wrenching voice and the expression of trauma on her face. This track is without doubt the finest on the album, with its laidback beats and sweet vocals. The 12” comes in two limited edition pieces of vinyl, with mixes from Jon Kennedy and Gripper. Absolutely beautiful. JG
Release date: 21 Oct
Press contact: Pomona [CP, RP], Grand Central IH [CR, RR, NP, NR]
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MIDNIGHT OIL ON BALI ATTACKS
Rob Hirst of Aussey band Midnight Oil, has been talking to Aus music website Undercover about the Bali terrorist attack. "My own thought immediately was that this was a case of us being dragged into a war that we had no business in," he said. "As we have been in all of the 20th Century calamities, world wars and skirmishes we are the first to put our hands up to be involved in a war and suffer the consequences itself. It is a little bit to early to determine if that was the actual case in the Bali incident, I think. I guess we have a feeling now of what New Yorkers went through.”
“I guess 911 was a bit distant for most Aussies and Kiwis but now with our own being blown up in such a horrifying fashion you get a sense of what it is like to live under terror. We make New York a base on all of our tours. It has always been a big area for us and we know quite a few people who were directly involved or who lost loved ones. It was just horrifying".
But he concluded it was hard to claim this was actually an attack on Australia. "I was looking at the number of people from all of the countries. There were about 25 countries involved. In New York it certainly wasn't just New Yorkers and it certainly wasn't Anglo centred Christians. It was people from all nationalities and backgrounds. It was just this indiscriminate blowing up of people. There were just more Aussies because that is our closest holiday playground. I don't think we can extrapolate that it was an Aussie attack".
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GLASTONBURY PLAY PREMIERES
A play about the Glastonbury Festival - directed by Keith Allen and designed by Damien Hirst - is premiering in a tent in Cardiff. The play, called simply ‘Glastonbury’, revolves around the experiences of seven different people meeting and partying at the festival. Actors Allen, Kieran O'Brien (Cracker, Messiah), Chris Coghill ('Bez' in 24 Hour Party People), Bronwyn Davies (Spooks) and Paul Broughton all appear. Talking about the show Allen - a self-confessed “Glastonbury veteran” – told reporters he wanted to bring some excitement and mystery back into theatre, with each performance featuring a surprise appearance by a rock band to bring the Glastonbury spirit alive (New Order, UB40 and Ocean Colour Scene are believed to be featuring). The show will visit Brighton, Manchester and Birmingham before ending up at London's Roundhouse theatre next spring.
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COXON NO LONGER CONSIDERS BLUR MATES FRIENDS
In an exclusive interview with the NME Graham Coxon has said his relationship with the other Blur band members has deteriorated so badly that he no longer regards them as his friends. "They haven't particularly acted like my friends," he said. "I don't think they acted as friends would. I probably haven't for years. It's kind of good I don't have to pretend anymore. I think there was a lot of pretending to be friends. I remember Dave, years ago, said in a paper, 'If we weren't in a group together we wouldn't be fucking friends.' He's fucking right... in the end we were business partners. Basically. And that's the fucking truth. That's what Blur became as a band."
He continued: "I think they got more serious about what Blur was in a more professional, commercial way, and I guess I don't have much respect for professional and commercial. Blur and me shifted. We were always shifting but perhaps that was one shift too far this time. Maybe they'll be brilliant without me, maybe they're at their greatest now! I don't think the story's over with them. They'll carry on. Personnel is now... secondary to what Blur is."
The full interview will be in this week's NME.
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JONI MITCHELL ASHAMED OF MUSIC BIZ
Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, veteran singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell has hit out at the music industry saying she is "ashamed" to be part of it and, as a result, she may stop recording altogether. "I just think it's a cesspool," she said. "I would never take another deal in the record business, which means I may not record again, or I have to figure out a way to sell over the internet or do something else.” She went on to criticise the MTV culture saying: "It's tragic what MTV has done to the world.”
Canadian Joni Mitchell is well known for her outspoken opinions. She has slated Sting, Alanis Morissette and Sheryl Crow as singers and songwriters, despite all three claiming to be big fans of hers. She was once described by friend David Crosby as being "about as humble as Mussolini.”
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CAREY AND TIMBERLAKE DUET
Mariah Carey and Justin Timberlake have recorded a duet which could well appear on Mariah’s forthcoming album. The singers recorded their vocals separately with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
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NO BRIT EDITS IN 2003
The BRIT awards will be shown ‘as live’ next year. The TV show will air on the night of the actual event without any editing (unless something goes horribly wrong, which it probably will, in which case quick basic cuts may be made). Word is there will be a new award for Best British Urban Act, the category of Best Video is to be dropped, and Best British Newcomer will be re-branded as Breakthrough Act. The Brits Academy of industry and media people will be busy making its votes between now and the end of the year – nominations will be revealed on January 13.
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REVIEW: Slam feat. Dot Allison - Visions Remixes (Soma)
Lifted from last year’s excellent ‘Alien Radio’ album, comes this double pack 12”. The first contains the Vitalic remix, which is a brooding piece of industrial tech, with only a feather touch of Dot’s powerful lyrics. The Two Lone Swordsman attack it with bleepfest, using a shred more of Dot, and a crazy bass breakdown. The second 12 starts with the too retro Ewan Pearson (aka Maas) with an 80's style minimal cut and full Dot action (it’s a grower) while Phil Kieran’s go is a belting piece of hard house – strictly aim at a tough heaving dancefloor. New Soma signings Hystereo take it on with a pretty standard tribal feel, using a looped Dot to good effect. A diverse presentation of Visions – but one strictly for specialist shops and punters. PV
Release date: 11 Nov
Press contact: Soma IH @ 0141 229 6220 [all]
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GALLERY CHAMPIONS NEW DJ TALENT
The Gallery, Friday nights at London club Turnmills, will dedicate its decks in November to showcasing new DJ talent. The club, which helped the likes of Tall Paul and Lottie get noticed, will dedicate five nights to new talent. Established DJs Tall Paul, Judge Jules, Sister Bliss, Fergie and Lisa Loud have selected the new DJs to appear. More info at www.turnmills.co.uk
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Answer to Tuesday’s pop quiz:
John Lennon can be heard singing on a David Bowie track and on an Elton John track. Which tracks?
Lennon can be heard singing on Bowie track ‘Fame’ and in the background of Elton John’s version of Beatles song ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’.