NEWSFLASH: Sabbath Release Dio Era Remasters

Black Sabbath, one of the most prominent and influential faces of the 70’s Rock topography were, by the decade’s end, a band in disarray. Once the masters of their own reality; the Birmingham four-piece were now battle weary veterans, wearing the deep scars of a near ten year album-tour-album cycle. Black Sabbath’s latest album, Never Say Die!, released in September 1978, would transpire to be their final studio recording with Ozzy Osbourne, who in less than a year, would no longer be with the band.

The loss of the iconic voice might have signalled the end of the band. But, that wasn’t to be the case…
Ronnie James Dio, Rainbow’s founding lead vocalist whose lion’s roar had taken the band to gold and platinum status also parted company with his band. Several phone calls later and a chance meeting in, of all places, the Rainbow Bar & Grill on Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, Iommi invited Dio to join the remaining members of Black Sabbath for an impromptu rehearsal. Within fifteen minutes and one brand new song later (‘Children Of The Sea’), a new era of Black Sabbath was born.
The resultant album releases over the next few years proved without question, that this match was one without peer and succeeded without question in carrying the name of Black Sabbath (later with Vinnie Appice replacing Bill Ward on drums) proudly into the new decade. With an accompanying soundtrack featuring some of the most exciting and dramatic Heavy Metal to ever grace a studio or stage, Black Sabbath rose once more to a place of highest regard within elite Rock circles.
Such was the chemistry between these players, that two reformations of this Black Sabbath line-up have since been made, the second of which, occurring in 2007, went under the title of that first ground-breaking album, Heaven And Hell, and still survives at the dawn of yet another exciting new decade for Heavy Metal.

“Heaven And Hell” was the first album to be released by the new Black Sabbath lineup of Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, in 1980. It remains one of the most important and influential of Black Sabbath’s releases and the deluxe expanded edition comes with a bonus disc of live material.
1981’s “Mob Rules” featured largely the same lineup, although Vinnie Appice replaces Bill Ward on drums. The deluxe expanded edition, again, features a bonus disc of live material.
1982’s “Live Evil” caught a band at the height of their powers. The classic lineup of Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinnie Appice giving a flawless performance.

NEWSFLASH: mGMT Announce New Album + Free Download

MGMT have announced they will be releasing their new album Congratulations, on Monday 12th April in the UK.
As the first teaser from the new album the band are giving away a free Mp3 of new track ‘Flash Delirium’ from www.whoismgmt.com.

One of 2010’s most eagerly anticipated new releases, Congratulations is the successor to MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular, the 2008 debut album which established the band’s potential as a visionary force in pop music.
Congratulations is a collection of nine individual musical tours de force sequenced to flow with sonic and thematic coherence:  “It’s Working,” “Song for Dan Treacy,” “Someone’s Missing,” “Flash Delirium,” “I Found a Whistle,” “Siberian Breaks,” “Brian Eno,” “Lady Dada’s Nightmare,” and “Congratulations.”
Produced by MGMT and Sonic Boom (Spacemen 3, E.A.R., Spectrum), Congratulations was recorded throughout 2009 in upstate New York, Malibu, and Brooklyn and features Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, MGMT’s core duo, performing with Matt Asti (bass, backing vocals), Will Berman (drums, backing vocals), and James Richardson (guitar, backing vocals), the band’s live line-up.
Congratulations offered MGMT the opportunity to work with a couple of their musical idols and influences including album co-producer Sonic Boom (Pete Kember) and Royal Trux front-woman Jennifer Herrema, who contributed guest vocals.  “We’ve been lucky enough to meet and work with some of our all-time musical heroes,” Andrew says, marveling at MGMT’s good collaborative karma.  “It’s so great to be around such amazing and unusual musical minds.”
Ben and Andrew first met the mythic Sonic Boom (Spacemen 3, E.A.R., Spectrum) at a Spectrum show in London in February 2009 and wound up onstage jamming with the band on “Suicide,” a vintage Spacemen 3 track paying homage to another light in MGMT’s musical pantheon.
MGMT have become an international festival favourite with performances at South By Southwest, Coachella, Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo in the States and the Glastonbury extravaganza in the UK.  The band have toured with Beck, Yeasayer and Of Montreal, among others, while becoming a headline concert attraction in its own right.  MGMT are confirmed to appear at the 2010 Coachella and Bamboozle festivals.
With Congratulations, MGMT unlock a new musical world whirling in its own space/time grid infused with hints of music from the past five decades.  Soulful and complex, Congratulations is a surprising and delightful quantum step forward in MGMT’s ongoing pop revolution.

NEWSFLASH: Imperial Leisure Tour Dates + Free Download

Imperial Leisure are touring the UK this month showcasing new tracks from their forthcoming new album which will be released in the summer.

Their new streamlined features IL original members Denis Smith on vocals, AJ White on guitar, Dan Dobson on bass, Scott Vining on drums, Stu Maxwell on keyboards and new boy Jerome Harper guesting on brass. The sound is leaner and meaner, whilst retaining its truly distinctive British flavour that includes fan favourites and stand out tracks such ‘In A Letter’, ‘Jenny’ and the skantastic ‘Man On The Street’. Other highlights include ‘The Beast’ and ‘The Landlord’s Daughter’ all delivered with the new line-up so expect a few extra twists as well as a cheeky peppering of new album tracks.  
Imperial Leisure spent the last two years laying markers across the UK with memorable live performances that have created a fervent live fan base.  Selling out shows and playing at festivals across the UK including Glastonbury, Bestival, Reading, Lovebox, and Fruitstock to name but a few. Imperial Leisure are happy headlining, supporting or springing spontaneous gigs on unsuspecting but hugely appreciative crowds in shopping centres, parks, and on beaches around the UK; oh yeah and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
 
Tour Details
 
Thu 11th Mar – The Flapper, Birmingham
Fri 12th  Mar – The Roadhouse, Manchester
Sat 13th Mar – Thekla,  Bristol
Thu 18th Mar – Ride Café, Plymouth
Fri 19th Mar – The Koola, Newquay
Sat 20th Mar – Mr Kyps, Poole
Fri 26th Mar – Engine Rooms
Sat 27th Mar – Garage, London

Free download and order tickets: www.musicglue.com/imperialleisure
Order Tickets Here:  http://www.artistticket.com/link/?s=imperial+leisure

NEWSFLASH: Strange Death Of Liberal England Announce Editors Support Slots + Download Single

The Strange Death Of Liberal England return after an 18 month hiatus punctuated by a sole theatre show in their native Portsmouth. Their debut mini album, ‘Forward March’ and live shows saw the band heralded by NME ‘for the chiming elegance of their kaleidoscopic post-rock’, whilst The Guardian praised ‘music that roars and sighs, swoops and swoons.’ During that time away from the public gaze, the band have been hard at work with producer Dave Allen (The Cure, Depeche Mode), orchestras and all manner of other experiments to create a quite astounding debut album proper, a new single from which, ‘Flagships’, will be a download only release via Republic Of Music on 8th March and is available here
The Strange Death Of Liberal England accompany Editors on their UK tour before playing their own London headline show. The band will be at the following venues in MARCH.

Sunday 7th – Preston, Guildhall
Monday 8th – Bradford, St. George’s Hall
Wednesday 10th – Glasgow, Academy
Thu 11th – Dundee, Fat Sams
Friday 12th – Inverness, Ironworks
Saturday 13th – Aberdeen, Music Hall
Monday 15th – Newcastle, Academy
Tuesday 16th – Manchester, Apollo
Wednesday 17th – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
Friday 19th – Bournemouth, Academy
Saturday 20th – Brighton, Dome
Sunday 21st – Cardiff, University
Tuesday 23rd – Folkestone, Leas Cliff Hall
Wednesday 24th – London, Brixton Academy
Thursday 25th – London, Lexington Arms (HEADLINE SHOW)
Sunday 28th – Portsmouth, Guildhall
Monday 29th – Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall
Tuesday 30th – Birmingham, Academy

www.tsdole.com

We The Kings’ New Album Available To Stream + Tour Dates

www.myspace.com/wethekings  |  www.wethekingsmusic.com  |  www.twitter.com/wethekings
 
STREAM THE ALBUM HERE
 
Florida’s We The Kings have secured themselves as one of the most original & exciting bands in the pop-rock circuit, with a heavily dedicated fan base, having toured the US with bands such as Boys Like Girls, All Time Low, Cobra Starship and, most recently, headlining the 2009 Vans Warped Tour. 
 
Sophomore album, ‘Smile Kid’, will be released on March 8th and infectious first single, ‘Heaven Can Wait’, is already climbing the charts in the US, becoming the band’s fastest rising single to date & reaching the Top 10 on the Alternative Singles Chart.  It’s the band’s third Top 40 charting single in the US. 
 
Produced by S*A*M and SLUGGO (Gym Class Heroes, Cobra Starship) ‘Smile Kid’ follows their self titled smash debut which hit # 1 on Billboard’s New Alternative Album sales chart. 
 
Time in the studio gelled the band’s already energetic and tight sound. Instantly addictive tracks such as ‘Heaven Can Wait’, ‘She Takes Me High’ & ‘We’ll Be A Dream’ (featuring Disney’s Demi Lovato) brim with youthful vibrancy and enthusiasm, clocking in at short and sweet three-minute bursts.
 
The world of We The Kings is a never-ending buzz of activity, where fans and band are equal participants.  They are constantly tweeting, updating blogs & websites and documenting life on the road in their online mini sitcom, “The Kings Carriage”.
 
Infectious high spirits and camaraderie energize their live performances.  The boys hit our shores March 2010 supporting You Me At Six on a Nationwide tour.
 
March 9                Birmingham O2 Academy
March 10             Kingsway Newport Centre
March 11             Sheffield O2 Academy
March 12             Manchester Apollo
March 13             Newcastle O2 Academy 2
March 14             Glasgow O2 Academy
March 16             Leeds O2 Academy
March 17             Nottingham Rock City
March 18             Southampton Guildhall
March 19             Norwich UEA
March 20             London Brixton Academy

Florida’s We The Kings have secured themselves as one of the most original & exciting bands in the pop-rock circuit, with a heavily dedicated fan base, having toured the US with bands such as Boys Like Girls, All Time Low, Cobra Starship and, most recently, headlining the 2009 Vans Warped Tour. Sophomore album, ‘Smile Kid’, will be released on March 8th and infectious first single, ‘Heaven Can Wait’, is already climbing the charts in the US, becoming the band’s fastest rising single to date & reaching the Top 10 on the Alternative Singles Chart. It’s the band’s third Top 40 charting single in the US. Produced by S*A*M and SLUGGO (Gym Class Heroes, Cobra Starship) ‘Smile Kid’ follows their self titled smash debut which hit # 1 on Billboard’s New Alternative Album sales chart. Time in the studio gelled the band’s already energetic and tight sound. Instantly addictive tracks such as ‘Heaven Can Wait’, ‘She Takes Me High’ & ‘We’ll Be A Dream’ (featuring Disney’s Demi Lovato) brim with youthful vibrancy and enthusiasm, clocking in at short and sweet three-minute bursts. The world of We The Kings is a never-ending buzz of activity, where fans and band are equal participants. They are constantly tweeting, updating blogs & websites and documenting life on the road in their online mini sitcom, “The Kings Carriage”. Infectious high spirits and camaraderie energize their live performances. The boys hit our shores March 2010 supporting You Me At Six on a Nationwide tour. March 9 Birmingham O2 Academy March 10 Kingsway Newport Centre March 11 Sheffield O2 Academy March 12 Manchester Apollo March 13 Newcastle O2 Academy 2 March 14 Glasgow O2 Academy March 16 Leeds O2 Academy March 17 Nottingham Rock City March 18 Southampton Guildhall March 19 Norwich UEA March 20 London Brixton Academy

Check Out A Charity Single You’ll Want To Keep On Your iPod!

SHANE MACGOWAN & Friends present ‘I PUT A SPELL ON YOU’
A single in aid of Concern Worldwide’s work in Haiti

Featuring NICK CAVE, BOBBY GILLESPIE, JOHNNY DEPP, CHRISSIE HYNDE, MICK JONES, CAIT O’RIORDON, GLEN MATLOCK, PALOMA FAITH & ELIZA DOOLITTLE

Release date March 8th 2010 via download only

Video link – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf69vIQL_u8

A mere two and half weeks after the calamitous events in Haiti, Shane MacGowan alongside a hitherto unseen musical line-up of like minded souls, friends and musicians entered a London studio.

So moved by the plight of the people of Haiti, Shane and his long term girlfriend, writer Victoria Clarke made calls to friends and associates from which began the process of recording a track from which all proceeds go to Concern, a charity who have provided assistance to some of the poorest countries in the world including Haiti, even before the earthquake struck.

The track, a cover of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 1956 hit ‘I Put A Spell On You’ couples Shane’s life long admiration for an artist who died ten years ago to the day that the earthquake hit Haiti and a fascination with a country, its people and in particular attracted by the nations “deep spirituality”. Hence the choice of song which he has always felt was a modern day “hymn for hope and love”.

‘I Put A Spell On You’ will be available from IRL Records on download only via pre-ordering the single by clicking here – http://bit.ly/bj2ieH . Or text SPELL (all in capitals) to 78789 (the text cost £1.50).

The full team sheet is:
Vocals: Shane MacGowan / Nick Cave / Bobby Gillespie / Glen Matlock / Chrissie Hynde / Paloma Faith / Eliza Doolittle
Guitar: James Walbourne / Mick Jones / Johnny Depp
Bass: Cait O’Riordan
Hammond organ/piano: Carwyn Ellis
Drums: Rob Walbourne
Fire Hydrant: Mick Jones

NEWSFLASH: Exclusive Track for Ash A-Z Subscribers!

Subscribe to the groundbreaking A-Z Series before midnight Thursday 25th February 2010 and receive an exclusive bonus track, ‘Night Terrors’. Night Terrors is the 3rd free and exclusive bonus track to be given away to Ash’s A-Z series subscribers.
NIght Terrors is for anyone with a loved one who has been royally fucked over, and wishes the guilty party could suffer eternally in the grip of their own diabolical insanity. Thiis dark and menacing memorial merges spiky new-wave punk guitars with uptempo disco beats, overdriven synthesizers and a chorus hook that would kick Dr. Who into a parallel universe.

Night Terrors will NOT be available anywhere else, the ONLY way to get this track is to subscribe to the A-Z Series now in the Ash store. The free bonus track will be sent to both new and current subscribers the w/c 1st March.

ASH VIDEO COMPETITION

To celebrate Ash Wednesday we’re offering our A-Z Series Subscribers the unique chance to make an official Ash music video!
So far we’ve given our subscribers two bonus tracks, Lay Down Your Arms and Gallows Hill now these tracks need videos!
Your video can be for either track and feature any footage… live performance, a white rabbit as he terrorises down town New York, a monster destroying London or a space kidnappings…. anything goes, as long as you don’t break any copyright laws!

To enter this competition simply upload your effort to a video streaming site (e.g. YouTube) and send the link to ashcomps@ash-official.com before midnight Tuesday 2nd March 2010. The band will then pick the winners!

NB: This competition is only open to A-Z Series subscribers.

www.ash-official.com

NEWSFLASH: Alan McGee Brings His Greasy Lips Night To The South

ALAN MCGEE is bringing his famous GREASY LIPS CLUB to SOUTHAMPTON and YOU will have the chance to be a part of it.

This new night will feature a host of the best unsigned bands handpicked to perform by none other than Alan McGee.

With the focus very much the untamed talent on show, Alan will offer his time, knowledge and advice to the bands and also push the acts and event through his blogs, making the opportunity to perform on the Greasy Lips Club stage a real sort after setting. The acts Alan McGee been involved with over 20 years read like a who’s who of modern British indie/rock (the guy has managed everyone from Mogwai to The Charlatans to The Libertines).

Not only did he fashion Britpop out of his Creation Records imprint and triumphantly return with the Poptone label. As you can imagine, this new concept club night not only offers a platform for those involved to push their sound, but a chance to really develop their own path for the future.

Alan McGee himself will be hosting the event and will be DJing through the evening with a few special guests lined up. The man responsible for launching the careers of Oasis and The Hives, plays a DJ set that will take the roof off any London venue! McGee’s sets are notoriously eclectic, spanning Punk, Indie, Rock and always a few surprises thrown in for good measure.

DJ set from Mr ALAN MCGEE himself and a VERY SPECIAL guest….(which will be announced as soon as this group grows to over 1,000)

http://www.myspace.com/greasylipsclubnight

NEWSFLASH: Chapel Club Announce UK Tour

Chapel Club are pleased to announce details of their biggest shows to date.

The band who have just completed their first live shows out of London with a whirlwind seven show blast around the UK spread their collective wings even further with a series of shows throughout April and May.

Having garnered plenty of play with the track ‘Surfacing’ and their first single ‘O Maybe I’ , Chapel Club certainly seem to be ruffling the right feathers with approving noises emanating from their early live performances.

Chapel Club play a venue near you…

April:
07th Portsmouth, Cellars @ Eastney
08th Guildford, Boileroom
09th Oxford, Jericho Tavern
10th Bath, Moles
12th Cardiff, Barfly
13th Wolverhampton, Slade Rooms
15th Sheffield, Bungalow & Bears
16th Liverpool, Korova
17th Leeds, A Nation Of Shopkeepers

May:
19th York, Stereo
20th Newcastle, The Other Room
21st Edinburgh, Cabaret Voltaire
22nd Glasgow, Stag & Dagger Festival @ Stereo
24th Southampton, Joiners
25th Cambridge, Haymakers
27th London, Village Underground

www.chapelclub.com

NEWSFLASH: We Are Scientists Announce New Single + Album

Keith Austin Murray (‘Keith’) and Christopher Ian Cain (‘Christopher I. Cain’) are back. Armed with a new single, and a record that sees them return to the stripped-down production sensibilities of W.A.S.’s gold-selling debut, With Love & Squalor, whilst continuing to hone the melodic knack that has made them popular with fans and men who work for months at sea.
The duo have also announced a show at Hoxton Bar & Grill on February 23, which sold out in record time (3 minutes and 25 seconds to be precise). The bands first show in London since December 2008, will see them recruit Andy Burrows (former hitter-guy to Razorlight) to drum.
The album, ‘Barbara’ was recorded in NYC, London and Los Angeles, and will be released in June. With the first single “Rules” hitting the streets on April 5.

More about Chris and Keith
Keith plays guitar and sings, but Chris plays bass guitar and handles vocals. Chris grew up in Utah, yet to this day is not Mormon. Keith grew up in Miami, the setting for Scarface, TV’s Dexter, and one book. Keith lives in Brooklyn. Chris has two cats that he doesn’t really give a shit about, at the end of the day.

www.wearescientists.com