Ready, Steady, Freddie!
Are you ready to be Freddie? Freddie For A Day is an organisation set up in order to both honour the man himself Freddie Mercury (always taking place around his birthday), and to raise funds in order to support the continued fight against HIV AIDS worldwide through the Mercury Phoenix Trust.
It was an initiative dreamed up by city worker Liz Swanton, who spent a whole working day dressed as Freddie. After publishing online her experience of the day, Liz was overwhelmed by the public response, and it was then decided to make FFAD an annual event.
Freddie For A Day will take place this year on September 3rd. It’s simple to join in, all you need to do is dress up as Freddie and get your friends, family and colleagues to sponsor you – they can do so online at www.justgiving.com, or alternatively by sending cash or cheques to the Mercury Phoenix Trust. For information on what to wear and how to get involved, visit the Mercury Phoenix Trust website: www.mercuryphoenixtrust.com. And have fun being Freddie!
The Pop Group Reform
Seminal Bristol post-punk band The Pop Group have announced their reunion and four intimate live dates.
The original line-up, Mark Stewart (Vocals), Gareth Sager (Guitar, Keys, Sax), Bruce Smith (Drums) and Dan Catsis (Bass), will play two London dates, at The Garage on the 11th and 12th September, and two dates in Italy with the possibility of more to come. The gigs are intended to “blow the dust off the old songs and pick up where we left off.”
The band only released two albums in their original lifespan, ‘Y’ and ‘For How Much Longer Must We Tolerate Mass Murder’, but remain a significant on the bands that followed their 1981 split.
Speaking about the reunion and live dates the band issued a statement reading: “There was a lot left undone,….we were so young and volatile….Let’s face it, things are probably even MORE fucked now than they were in the early 80′s…..and WE are even more fucked off!”
Tickets for the two intimate London shows taking place at The Garage on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th September 2010 are priced at £17.50 + booking fee and are on sale from today via www.atpfestival.com
Tom Jones Gets Staples Seal Of Approval
Soul music legend Mavis Staples has spoken of her joy on hearing Tom Jones has covered The Staple Singers’ ‘You Don’t Knock’ on his new album:
“Really? Yes, I find that surprising. But then not really. Tom Jones went down to Memphis one time to do an album – I don’t know what happened to it – but he actually had another song that he liked by The Staple Singers called ‘Getting Too Big For Your Britches’. I don’t think it ever came out. This guy in New York was producing that. But it just makes you feel so good to know that. That is surprising that Tom Jones has recorded ‘Don’t Knock’ – I would love to hear that! That is wonderful to hear. I love Tom Jones – he has always been great, and for him to want to sing one of the songs that Pops [Staples] wrote is a double plus.”
The praise for his back to basics album will be welcomed following the criticism directed his way by the head of his own record label who labelled it a “sick joke” (read ClashMusic’s news story about it HERE). Tom Jones new album ‘Praise And Blame’, featuring his versions of many classic soul, gospel and traditional songs, is released on July 26th.
The full interview with Mavis Staples will appear in Clash in September, to time with her own new album, ‘You Are Not Alone’, produced by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy.
Read a previous Clash interview with Mavis on ClashMusic.com .
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Opens Today
The next installment of the Twilight film saga, ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’, opens in cinemas today and ClashMusic has three new clips for you to watch.
The official synopsis of this third film, based on the books of Stephenie Meyer, is “Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between Edward and Jacob — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella is confronted with the most important decision of her life.”
The film also boasts a decent soundtrack with Metric, UNKLE, Fanfarlo, Muse, The Black Keys and Band Of Horses all contributing.
Watch three new scenes from The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ below:
Klaxons Announce Single, Tour
Returning ‘nu-rave’, Mercury Prize winning band Klaxons have announced details of a new single, ‘Echoes’, and a three date UK tour.
The band, who claimed the prize with their ‘Myths Of The Near Future’ debut album in 2007, will release new single ‘Echoes’ on August 16th on cd, backed by ‘Sorcerer City’, and 7″ vinyl, backed with ‘Birdman’.
Their three date live jaunt takes place in July with dates in Glasgow, Manchester and London. The full details of the shows are:
July 13th – King Tuts Wah Wah Hut – Glasgow
July 14th – The Ruby Lounge – Manchester
July 27th – Village Underground – London
Buy ticket to see Klaxons live HERE.
The band’s new album, ‘Surfing The Void’, follows the single release on August 23rd through Polydor. The track listing for the album is:
Swans Deliver New Album
Rejuvenated noise merchants Swans have confirmed details of their startling new album ‘My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky’.
Swans are one of the most important yet unheralded acts in American music. Outsiders, their love of noise connected the No Wave scene to wider rock music.
Helping to inspire Sonic Youth, the band focussed their noise roots to find something much more universal. Moving through industrial, grunge and more the group’s output is nothing if not varied.
Now Swans have returned. Leader Michael Gira has brought the band out of hiatus, confirming a number of UK tour dates. In addition to this, the group have been working on their first new material for over a decade.
Issuing a statement Gira was unequivocal. “THIS IS NOT A REUNION. It’s not some dumb-ass nostalgia act. It is not repeating the past. After 5 Angels Of Light albums, I needed a way to move FORWARD, in a new direction, and it just so happens that reviviing the idea of Swans is allowing me to do that.”
Swans have reformed with members from the band’s celebrated mid-period, promising to be as brutal and forward thinking as ever. New album ‘My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky’ moves between acid folk to noise drone, switching mood in a second.
The Horrors Art Exhibition
The Horrors singer Faris Badwan is set to open a major new exhibition of his work in London’s Book Club gallery.
The Horrors borrow freely from Britain’s rich art school tradition. Acts such as Roxy Music were born in the hot house conditions of the art school, blending fashion with impeccable musical influences.
Returning with their Krautrock inspired second album ‘Primary Colours’ The Horrors launched themselves into the upper echelons of the British indie scene. Yet away from the music, the band nurtured other creative outlets.
Singer Faris Badwan attended St Martins College Of Art, using his skills to craft inventive cover designs for the band. Releasing fanzines and t-shirts, his aesthetics have helped to define the group’s visual appeal.
In addition to this, Badwan has designed artwork for Hatcham Social, Lumina and The Charlatans.
Back in 2007 the frontman opened his first stand alone exhibition, taking his art to The Bodhi Gallery on London’s Brick Lane. Last year the singer held a new show in Bristol, and will now return to London for a major new exhibition.
