| CMU Daily - on the inside 6 Jun 2003 |
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In today's CMU Daily:
• Reading & Leeds lose Love
• Rapper's are in danger!
• Review: Jet Johnson - Donnie
• DJs at the NT
• Weiland to head ex-G'n'R members new band
• Guilfest update
• Johnnie Walker goes public over his cancer
• Bertelsmann sued over Napster again
• Morissey signs
• Album in shops: Vandross in coma
• Robbie rocks
• The Face gets a makeover
• Review: LSK - Outlaw LP
• T in the Fringe Festival
• Coldcut & dub legend back to back
• Spineshank cancel tour
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READING & LEEDS LOSE LOVE
It appear that Courtney Love forgot to look at here diary when agreeing to perform at the Reading and Leeds festivals. Due to appear at Leeds on August 22 and Reading on August 24, Love said that she has "recording commitments" adding that she is putting the finishing touches on her new solo album 'America's Sweetheart'.
Love's spokesperson said: "She is sorry to have disappointed her UK fans but hopes that they understand that her focus must be the new album, Courtney's first in four years."
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RAPPER'S ARE IN DANGER!
Last Tuesday witnessed the arrest of hiphop's Master P for carrying six hollow tip bullets.
In line with legal requirements, the MC had told security that he was carrying a legal, unloaded firearm on his way to LA, but during an inspection security found the bullets in a separate clip.
P is now in custody and could face up to 18 months in prison if he is found guilty.
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REVIEW: Jet Johnson - Donnie (Soda)
In these post war days where we suffer a reluctant Summer of Cheeky Girls and the dismal prospect of another twelve weeks of watching strangers sleeping, it is refreshing to conjure up images of a happier time. A time, perhaps, where youngsters, complete with Mum-made bowl cuts spend hours-on-end sitting on beds and nod their heads from side to side (in that way that can only mean that this is the'70's) to the sounds of the latest pop sensation, gazing all the while at the wholesome face on the record sleeve before them that seems to smile right back. Ignoring the fact that I wasn't around back then, this is the kind of scene that 'Donnie' (re: Donnie Osmond), the debut release from Jet Johnson brings to the my minds eye. The trio's sweetly simple sound of bass, guitar and minimal drums captures the mood and sentiment perfectly and will surely suck you straight into their rose-tinted take on yester-year. Add to this the B-side, 'Cats in Heaven' - even more twee than 'Donnie' - and Jet Johnson will have you crying for a past that you never witnessed. TM
Release date: 23 Jun
Press Contact: Seriously Groovy IH [all]
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DJS AT THE NT
The National Theatre is again holding its annual free outdoor summer festival, Watch This Space. This year's event is due to take place in Theatre Square between 20 Jun and 23 Aug.
Now in its sixth year, the festival will see DJs playing in the Square on Saturdays 2.15pm - 4pm throughout the 10 week festival. As well as music the festival showcases theatre, acrobatics, comedy and dance.
DJ's so far:
Sat 28 Jun Etmo and DJ Olivier Tison
Sat 5 Jul Max Reinhardt
Sat 12 Jul Nick Luscombe XFM Flo-Motion
Sat 19 Jul Ben Osbourne (Semi D-tached)
Sat 2 Aug Future World Funk
Sat 16 Aug Hint
Sat 23 Aug A Man Called Adam
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WEILAND TO HEAD EX-G'N'R MEMBERS NEW BAND
Scott Weiland may have a number of issues with narcotics and the LAPD, but it seems ath the still has what it takes, as he has been chosen by ex-Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum to head their new band - currently known as 'The Project'
Although the Stone Temple Pilot singer announced in mid-May that he was to front the band - the band said that no formal agreement had yet been reached, sources say that they want Weiland to sort his drug and rehab problems out.
Weiland has already recorded with the band: a cover of Pink Floyd's 'Money' for the new 'The Italian Job', and a new track 'Set Me Free' for 'The Hulk'. The latter - due for release 17 Jun - leaked onto the Internet and has already been getting radio play on WBCN in Boston.
Having been arrested for smack and coke possession last week, the band are trying to help the singer - proposing rehab, methadone treatment, 24-hour supervision and martial-arts programs.
Weiland had started work on his second solo album with producer Josh Abraham before starting up with the Project.
A name has not been chosen yet, but apparently Velvet Revolver is in the running. Nice.
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GUILFEST UPDATE
Guilford's Guilfest Festival is set for 4 Jul this year, and features CMU favourites, The Darkness. Other highlights include Alice Cooper and Arthur Brown, of The Crazy World Of... and carnival party band, Ozomatli - who's unprompted crowd conga encores always go down a storm.
The main highlights:
Friday 4th July
Alice Cooper
Love With Arthur Lee
The Wildhearts
The Darkness
Arthur Brown
Ozomatli
Cosmic Rough Riders
Thea Gilmore
Carina Round
Adam Masterson
Hip Slinky
Bez (Happy Mondays)
Clint Boon (Inspiral Carpets)
Carpetface (Live)
Comedy:
Norman Lovett
Andy Zaltzman
Mc - Adrian Poynton
Jovanka Steel
Mark Felgate
Alistair Barrie
Mc - Des Bishop
Saturday 5th July
Madness
Stranglers
Skin
Aqualung
The Vessels
Richard Thompson
Steve Hackett
Linda Lewis
Jackie Leven
Peter Case
Marc Carroll
Jamie Cullum
Thomson
Alistair Cowan
The Freestylers
Scratch Perverts
Tayo
Comedy:
Mc - Drew Barr
Jack Russell
Rhys Darby
George Egg
Mc - Adam Montgomery
Sunday 6th July
Atomic Kitten
Mavericks
Tom Mcrae
Daniel Bedingfield
The Androids
Jemini
The Jeevas
Dennis Locorriere
Drunk In Public
Oysterband
Jesse Malin
Steve Wynn
Brian Kennedy
Songdog
Chris Coco (Radio 1)
Pineapple Tribe
Comedy:
Dan Antapolski
Nick Wilty
Mc - Keith Fields
Addy Bhorg
Hal Cruttenden
Steve Gribbin
Mc - Martin Davis
For more information contact: Kari at Excess Press
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JOHNNIE WALKER GOES PUBLIC OVER HIS CANCER
Veteran DJ Johnnie Walker, 58, shocked listeners to his BBC Radio 2 drivetime show, revealing live on air that he is fighting a battle against colonic cancer, calling it 'a toughy'.
Walker said that although he would liked to have kept it private, he went public because he would have to take time off from his show for treatment.
He said: "Before I go there is something I want to mention. It is something that normally a person in my position would want to keep close to their chest but, because of the occasional time off I might be taking, I wanted to go public with it. Five weeks ago I was diagnosed with cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, which is apparently a very treatable type of cancer. I am kicking off the treatment tomorrow and will be taking a week off and will see how it goes. To all those who are facing that challenge - and those who love people and are part of a family facing that challenge - it's a toughy isn't it? I know how you feel."
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BERTELSMANN SUED OVER NAPSTER AGAIN
On Tuesday, EMI became the second major label to sue Bertelsmann over its relationship with Napster.
The copyright-infringement suit was filed in New York. EMI alleges that Bertelsmann "materially contributed to the massive infringement" of its works by funding Napster and participating in the management and decision-making of the service. EMI seeks $150,000 in damages for each copyright allegedly infringed.
Universal Music Group and a group of music publishers have already brought suits against Bertelsmann who loaned the network $50m in October 2000. subsequently Napster shut down under court order in July 2001.
EMI said: "By investing both millions of dollars and management resources in Napster -- which was an illegal enterprise built on the unlawful distribution of copyrighted works -- Bertelsmann enabled and encouraged the wholesale theft of copyrighted music."
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MORISSEY SIGNS
Morrissey's new LP will be come out on the resurrected Attack label, through Sanctuary Records, and will be distributed via BMG in the US, Pinnacle in the UK.
Morrissey signed on May 20 and will begin recording his first album since 'Maladjusted' in 1997.
The Attack label was part Trojan Records, and saw releases from The Pioneers, Gregory Isaacs, The Upsetters, Big Youth and I Roy between 1969 and 1980.
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ALBUM IN SHOPS: VANDROSS IN COMA
Luther Vandross's new album 'Dance With My Father' on J Records, hits shops next Monday. Vandross considers it the best of his career, but has done no press, TV or live publicity due to the fact that the. 52-year-old singer has not yet regained full consciousness after a stroke in April.
Dead artists are no problem to promote: Aaliyah's post-humous release sold more than a million copies, but promoting the work of an incapacitated artist is more problematic.
J Records' label founder Clive Davis said: "We have no plans to make videos without Vandross. In effect we're just releasing the music; the rest will take care of itself. I think the music will tell its own story."
"I think he was very much at a creative peak. He felt that it was the best album he had ever recorded. Everyone knows that he wanted his music to be out."
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ROBBIE ROCKS
Irish band Ash is to support Robbie Williams when he plays his mammoth sell-out gigs at Knebworth Park this summer.
Helping Robbie entertain the 325,000 fans will also be CMU favourites, The Darkness - who's forthcoming LP 'Permission To Land' is set to take the world by storm.
With his hard-rock entourage, Williams sold out his two planned weekend dates on 2 Aug and 3 Aug in less than eight hours so another date was quickly added.
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THE FACE GETS A MAKEOVER
The Face is to receive its first revamp in more than a decade in an effort to boost dwindling sales.
In its 80s and early 90s heyday The Face was renowned for its innovative design and writing, but since the launch of other anti-style stye mags, and in particular Dazed & Confused, sales have fallen off. The magazine's first art director Neville Brody (81-86), established a reputation as one of the world's leading graphic designers and influencing advertisers and designers alike.
Editor Johnny Davies was replaced last year by Neil Stevenson, best known for his Popbitch website, and has hired designers Lee Swillingham and Stuart Spalding to undertake the redesign of the magazine. The decision to bring established outsiders in has angered staff who would rather see money spent on internal resources.
According to the latest figures, sales have suffered a 13.6% drop.
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REVIEW: LSK - Outlaw LP (Sony)
Leigh Stephen Kenny was one the first people I ever interviewed, back in Brighton, when his debut 12" 'Hate and Love' was getting as much play as hype. I was under the impression from his accent - not to mention the fact he said he was from Leeds - that LSK wasn't from London, but his second LP is littered with 'geezaaaah'; a linguistic epidemic sweeping our nation known as 'Estuary-isation'. The follow up to debut LP 'Mind Elevation' is a dub heavy venture with elements of 15 years of dance, a dollop of hiphop and UK urban-truth-poems delivered in a Jamaican accent - when not speaking in geezaaaah. Despite my confusion and knee-jerk contempt, the LP is a chirpy lighthearted take on contemporary reggae-roots music, like an optimistic Roots Manuva. A great album; accessible and interesting. Props. JG
Release date: 9 June
Press Contact: Sony/Ian Cheek
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T IN THE FRINGE FESTIVAL
Edinburgh's T in the Fringe festival will see performances from Interpol, The Polyphonic Spree and Hot Hot Heat.
Starting in August alongside the Edinburgh International Festival, the Corn Exchange, Reid Hall, The Liquid Room and The Queen's Hall will all host events.
The full line-up is:
Corn Exchange:
Kelly Osbourne (12 Aug)
Manu Chao (19 Aug)
Sum 41 (23 Aug)
The Polyphonic Spree (24 Aug)
Placebo (25 Aug)
Queen's Hall
Durutti Column (6 Aug)
Liquid Room
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci (4 Aug)
Best Of T Break (10 Aug)
Policechief (14 Aug)
The Trashcan Sinatras (16 Aug)
Elbow (17 Aug)
Ice-T (18/19 Aug)
The Ataris (20 Aug)
Hot Hot Heat (21 Aug)
Grandaddy (23 Aug)
Interpol (24 Aug)
Reid Hall
Brian Kennedy (20-22 Aug)
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COLDCUT & DUB LEGEND BACK TO BACK
The Royal Festival Hall will bear witness to Ninja Tune Records founders, Coldcut (Matt Black & Jonathan More) holding an audiovisual soundclash with legendary dub producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry, on 11 Jun.
The word on the street is that Coldcut are currently working on their new album which will see the light of day in Feb 2004.
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SPINESHANK CANCEL TOUR
Roadrunner Records announced yesterday that Spineshank's European tour with labelmates Chimaira has been cancelled.
One of the members of Spineshank is currently suffering bereavement due to the loss of a close family member.
The label said "Both bands offer their sincere apologies to fans and ticket holders. The highly anticipated dates, which were to precede the release of the band's third album Self Destructive Pattern, will be rescheduled for a later date."
"Self Destructive Pattern' will hit the stores on 14th July as planned