| CMU Daily - on the inside 11 Apr 2003 |
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In today's CMU Daily:
• Pressure piles on Rhode Island club owners
• Astoria licence battle continues
• One big line up
• Dannii gets Capital gig
• Flash upset at rap label
• Review: Society One -Exit Through Fear
• Kerrang! Festival this weekend
• Madonna booked for Ross show
• Fox plan another Jacko doc
• Billboard expected to announce new Editor in Chief
• Sky set date for music channels
• Download update
• Turnmills launch DJ competition
• Review: Meatloaf - Couldn't Have Said It Better
• Beckham to front fashion campaign in Japan
• Kylie the most played
• David plays mini-gig on the Clyde
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CMU POP QUIZ
Win a free 12 month subscription to Xfm's new monthly music magazine X-Ray. Here's how - email the answers to this week's pop quiz questions (all on a one hit wonder theme) to [email protected] by Sunday at 5pm to go into the draw to win the subscription.
Q1: What was Anita Ward's one hit, back in 1979?
Q2: What was Partner In Kryme's one hit, back in 1990?
Q3: What was Mr Oizo's one hit, back in 1999?
Q4: What was Norman Greenbaum's one hit, back in 1970?
and today's question...
Q5: What was Doop's one hit, back in 1994?
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PRESSURE PILES ON RHODE ISLAND CLUB OWNERS
Whether or not investigators into that club fire in Rhode Island find in favour of the venue's owners (ie they accept their claim that the Great White's management didn't warn them they would be using pyros), the aftermath of the whole tragedy is going to be pretty difficult for the proprietors Jeffrey and Michael Derderian. Firstly owners have found a document in the rubble which suggests the owners planned to sell 550 tickets for the Great White gig, when their license from the local authorities only allows 404. The document is an unsigned contract between the venue and Great White's management which states the club's capacity is 550.
Although the Derderian's lawyers point out the contract is unsigned and claim the brothers did not draw it up the document, when you couple the find with the fact the Pollster directory of US venues also lists a 550 capacity questions are sure to be asked about how many people were in the club on the night of the fire. Secondly the brothers face a $1 million fine from the state's Department of Labor and Training because it has materialized they had no employers liability insurance – meaning there is no provision to compensate employees injured in the fire. The brothers' lawyer has admitted the club did not hold what is know as workers' compensation insurance in the US since they bought the club in March 2000. They will be fined $1,000 a day for the 2 years, 11 months they owned the club which totals $1.06 million. The brothers are likely to appeal.
Meanwhile senators in the US are discussing new legislation which would ban pyrotechnics being used in bar venues which have a capacity of under 1000, and which would force smaller older venues that have side stepped tighter fire regulations to install sprinkler systems. The bill, which requires House and Senate approval, would increase fire marshals' authority and make the illegal use of pyrotechnics a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison.
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ASTORIA LICENCE BATTLE CONTINUES
London Astoria, who assumed they had secured a new license when the Magistrates Court overturned a decision by Westminster City Council to knock back a licence renewal, are facing a longer legal fight that they hoped. A resolute City Council is now going to the County Court to appeal against the decision of the Magistrate's Court. Speaking to Reuters a spokesperson for Westminster City Council said: "We are seeking further legal advice as how best to proceed but in the meantime we are working with the club to ensure that the general public's safety is paramount. Any improvements to a bad situation are welcome. But now we're taking this further up to the foodchain to a Crown Court."
The licencing troubles for the venue began when there was a shooting at that So Solid Crew party in 2001 – though the council stress that is not the only reason for their concern pointing out that in the eight months up to May last year there were 152 calls to emergency services, 27 assaults and 15 more reported assaults. But Mean Fiddler chairman Vince Power insisted the company had dealt with past problems: "We've had problems, but they're now solved, the police said things are now OK, and this is now getting political. This would be an appalling waste of public money, and I struggle to understand what the council would stand to gain from seeking its closure."
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ONE BIG LINE UP
Radio 1 have confirmed Badly Drawn Boy, Stereophonics and Feeder will headline their One Big Weekend mini-festival which will take place in Manchester's Heaton Park on 3 and 4 May. Also confirmed are The Coral, Aqualung and Dirty Vegas, plus DJ sets from Judge Jules and Fergie, Eddie Halliwell and Good Greef's Rob Tissera. 10,000 free tickets will be available for each day, which will be given away in a Radio 1 promotion in central Manchester later this month.
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DANNII GETS CAPITAL GIG
Dannii Minogue must have impressed Capital Radio bosses when she presented an edition of the Capital Takeover (where popstars pick and introduce their favourite tunes) because they have handed her a five-figure deal to host a regular Sunday night show on the station. Dannii will host the one hour Neon Nights show every Sunday at 7pm from 8 Jun. Talking to the Daily Mirror Dannii said: "This is my first job on the radio. I still can't believe it's really happening. I'll be calling up all my DJ friends and blagging all their favourite records. I can't wait but I'm sure I'll be petrified the first time I get behind the mic." As well as the music Dannii will be doing a bit of interviewing – with sister Kylie reportedly lined up to appear.
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FLASH UPSET AT RAP LABEL
Grandmaster Flash nearly threatened to cancel an Australian tour after an Aussie music website previewing the gigs called him "Grandmaster Rapper". Not too keen at being labeled a rapper, Flash emailed Undercover exclaiming: "The article looks fine but this can cause me to totally CANCEL this tour ... be CLEAR Grandmaster Flash is NOT a Rapper. I'm a DJ always was always will be. To the journalist who put this together you are causing mass confusion ...I repeat I am NOT a rapper would you please RETRACT and Correct". While admitting to referring to Flash as a rap performer the website points out that in Australia the specific distinctions between types of hip hop music are not well known, and that the reference to rap appeared in a very positive piece. But they have apologized and hope the legendary hip hop DJ (?) was exaggerating and will still grace the Aussie gig circuit.
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REVIEW: Society One - Exit Through Fear (Earache)
Let's start with some of the song titles: 'Nothing'. 'Everyone Dies'. 'Hate'. 'No-One'. 'Me'. 'Kill Myself'. Have you stopped laughing yet? Next, the accompanying PR guff: growling S1 frontman, "infamous extremist" and obvious virgin Matt Zane is a "world-renowned director" and the man behind a "massive" porn empire, inherited from his dad at 22. Which all begs the question: why does he bother with this appalling-yet-hilarious sulky speed/death/thrash/nu/twat (delete as appropriate) metal? Come on dude, lay off all the faux angst, for all our sakes. "Exit Through Fear", if we must continue to talk about it, is loud, wears lots of black, doesn’t get on with its parents, and has yet to master the art of forming meaningful relationships with girls. Imagine Marilyn Manson, NIN, Linkin Park etc, except speeded up, and stripped of all vestiges of melody, intelligence, glamour or originality. Mercifully short at just 30 minutes, ‘ETF’ - the very epitome of 'Call this music? It’s just noise?' – is insufferable, although it inadvertently succeeds admirably in its quest to be shocking. MS
Release date: 24 Apr
Press contact: Earache IH
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KERRANG! FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND
The festival season continues this weekend with the Kerrang! Festival. Akin to the All Tomorrow's Parties event in that it is based around the Pontins holiday complex at Camber Sands, the Kerrang fest will be offering the loud line up you’d expect plus some extreme sports and alternative cabaret. Artist wise we're looking forward to, among others, Amen, Glassjaw, The Hellacopters, Killswitch Engage, Capdown, The Icarus Line, Shadows Fall, American Nightmare, Charger, Hiding With Girls, Johnny Truant, Kinesis, Murder One, Poison the Well, The Revs and Winnebago Deal. Our man will be there and his review will appear in the CMU Festivals Update, which will go online at http://www.cmuonline.co.uk next week.
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MADONNA BOOKED FOR ROSS SHOW
Madonna, busy doing the global pr circuit for new album 'American Life' will be giving her main UK interview to Jonathan Ross for his BBC 1 chat show. She will chat and perform on the 2 May edition of the show. Talking about the interview Ross told reporters: "She is without doubt, still the most exciting woman working in rock today and with a life like her's, you're never in danger of running out of interesting questions. For any talk show host she's a dream guest and I can't wait to sit down and start grilling her."
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FOX PLAN ANOTHER JACKO DOC
Having screened the Bashir-backlash documentary 'Michael Jackson: The Footage You Were Never Meant to See' earlier this year, the US based Fox Network has teamed up with Jacko once more to compiled 'Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies', which they will screen on 24 Apr. According to a Fox spokesman the two-hour special will include a new Jackson interview along with videos narrated by the singer from his personal archive, including footage of friends and family.
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BILLBOARD EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE NEW EDITOR IN CHIEF
Billboard, whose editor in chief Timothy White died suddenly early last summer, are about to announce his successor. According to the New York Daily News it was likely the job would go to Keith Girard, currently editor of the US trade mag Investment News.
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SKY SET DATE FOR MUSIC CHANNELS
Sky have set a launch day for their three new music channels. Flaunt, Scuzz and The Amp, which, as previously reported, have already begun test transmissions, will officially launch at 2pm on 17 Apr. They will broadcast on channels 469, 471 and 473 on the Sky programme guide, putting them at the back of the system's music section – the gaps between channels suggesting some sort of spin off channels are in the pipeline. Sky's head of music, Lester Mordue, who has been tight lipped on the channels, implied the formats would be akin to EMAP's jukebox channel but with more remote control interactivity – he told reporters yesterday: "These channels will push the boundaries of music TV by allowing viewers to vote with their remote control for the next video to be played."
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DOWNLOAD UPDATE
Despite the continuing battle against illegal downloaders some interesting developments in the world of online music. First there seems to be growing support in the majors for the Apple Mac backed online service (designed for use with Mac's iPod) which is hoping to set up a comprehensive download catalogue where every track is 99 cents. Latest word is the service could be up and running before Christmas. Meanwhile rapper Ice-T is reported to have signed a deal with less than legit download site Kazaa to sell a download version of his new album 'Repossession' for $4.99. The album will be available via secure platform developed for peer-to-peer services developed technology company Altnet.
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TURNMILLS LAUNCH DJ COMPETITION
London club Turnmills are launching a new regular Djing competition called DJ Death Match where two superstar DJs will be set against each other to see who can spin the best beats. How a winner is decided we're not sure, but the first date on 12 Jun sounds good - Marshall Jefferson will compete with Robert Owens while there will be support from David Dunne and Sarah Foote. More info at http://www.turnmills.co.uk
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REVIEW: MeatLoaf - Couldn't Have Said It Better (Mercury)
Not many people are aware of Jim Steinman, the man behind MeatLoaf. That's because he's the man *behind* MeatLoaf. Five years I've waited to use that gag, and at last a new album from rocker-come-actor Mr Loaf. Though the aforementioned Jim Steinman, the producer who wrote Bat Out Of Hell for himself but brought in MeatLoaf on vocals after he damaged is own vocal chords, isn't involved in this album. And while it would be a cliché to say "you can tell", you can, erm, tell. It would be unfair to say only the Steinman produced MeatLoaf songs are any good, but he did write most of the really memorable ones. And this album, while of the theatric rock opera style of Steinman's work, lacks the variety and power (and quirkiness) of 'Bat Out Of Hell' or 'Bat Out Of Hell II', consisting mainly of those MeatLoaf power-ballads rather than the more rock 'n' roll numbers I personally prefer. That said, if you're a MeatLoaf fan (and we're a bigger bunch than you'd imagine) this is a welcome return and certainly a fine addition to your collection. If, like most normal people, you treat Mr Loaf with that combination of wonder and contempt you won't find a stand out track (akin to 'Bat Out Of Hell', 'Dead Ringer', 'I Would Do Anything For Live') that you inexplicably find yourselves singing at drunken karaoke nights. Which, I'm guessing, is a big plus point. CC
Release date: 21 Apr
Press contact: Mercury IH
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BECKHAM TO FRONT FASHION CAMPAIGN IN JAPAN
Fashion company Samantha Thavasa have signed up Victoria Beckham to front an advertising campaign for designer handbags in Japan. As previously reported the Beckhams have become huge icons in Japan since the World Cup and the former Spice Girl's record sales have been boosted as a result. The fashion company will be hoping to gain a similar boost in sales as a result of Beckham's involvement.
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KYLIE THE MOST PLAYED
The Radio Academy have confirmed that Kylie Minogue was the most played artists on British radio last year. Good news for EMI Parlophone, less good news for sister label EMI Chrysalis – Robbie Williams slipped down to number 5, the first time in the chart's four year history that he hasn't come top. The chart is compiled by Music Control and is based on the music played on over 90 radio stations during 2002. The top five looks like this:
1. Kylie
2. Blue
3. Pink (new entry)
4. SugaBabes (new entry)
5. Robbie 1
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DAVID PLAYS MINI-GIG ON THE CLYDE
Craig David knew he was playing an intimate gig for listeners of Scottish radio station Clyde 1, but it wasn't until he got to Glasgow that he realized he would be playing on a ferry. The R&B star played a set to 250 competition winners on the small Renfrew Ferry on the Clyde. Talking to the Daily Record David commented: "Here we are on a barge in the middle of Scotland. It's weird. But the sun is out, which has made it all worthwhile. I didn't know where we'd be performing until we got here and realised it was a boat. It has character, which I like, and it feels like you can really connect with the crowd. The biggest show I did was at the New York Giants stadium in the US. It was a crazy scenario because it is enormous."