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April 2007 Archive

28.04.2007

Mani is Uncut Magazine's interviewee this month - as usual - answering questions sent in by fans and readers of the magazine. Mani is showing mixed feelings on a Roses reunion at present, when answering a question on whether he'd be the catalyst for a reunion he firstly responsed: "I'm the only person who could bring it back together again. John Squire knows how to craft a tune, Ian Brown knows how to craft a tune. I don't know if any of us are powerful without each other. The magic was the power of four." but continued to say: "But at the end of the day I'm not going to lose any sleep over a reunion, because those days are gone. It's disrespectful for Bobby and Andrew and Duffy for people to say, 'When are the Roses reforming?' Why bother? I'm in Primal Scream. It would be nice to do, but I've got my family now." He also answers questions on when he realised the Roses were over (he mentions hearing Love Is The Law coming from John's studio), the early days before the Roses, favourite between Bobby/Ian, a bit on Freebass which he describes as being "just a matter of finding the time to finish it" and surprisingly asks anyone reading who's able to write a good tune and sing it to get in touch, which is contrary with reports from Peter Hook last month that state that they've found their man and he answers many more questions too. Uncut's June issue is now in the shops.

28.04.2007

Can you believe it? it's now been 10 years since the Seahorses released their first single Love Is The Law (the actual release date was 28th April 1997). I can't believe it was that long ago, I remember waiting so long to hear that song for the first time... infact, here's an excerpt I wrote (for what-once was intended to be my Stone Roses book) on the single release. Where are they now? we are still waiting for John Squire's musical return (after he promised a ferocious guitar-fueled album and teased us with some very tantalising instrumentals last year), he remains the prolific artist, presenting a commericial exhibition coming later this year. Vocalist Chris Helme now fronts The Yards (2nd album due out this year) and still plays the odd acoustic gig too, Stuart Fletcher provides bass for both The Yards and Rick Witter & The Dukes (debut album released this month). Drummer Andy Watts is still writing songs, enjoying playing solo and recently appeared on Stuart Staples' (Tindersticks) album 'Songs for the Young at Heart' and latter-day drummer Mark Heaney who was also in The Shining and provided some drums on Time Changes Everything is currently working with Gang Of Four and also on a solo CD. Click to view the band perform the track on MTV, Later and at Glasto 97.

24.04.2007

The current Youtube phenomenon has given rise to all sorts of bizarre clips of home footage, mostly leaving us with a bizarre expression on our faces. Other videos that appeared in great number ranging for intriguing Spike Islands (no doubt the best Japanese Stone Roses cover band out there) to the downright perplexing. Thankfully though, the best stuff (for this category) are the numberous self-shot recordings of fans displaying their guitar skills, performing alongside the songs penned John Squire and The Stone Roses. One chap though stands streaks ahead of the rest: Graffiti Maze man Ben Clarke. I'm sure most of you will have already come across a few of his videos, but those that haven't should check out his youtube page. As well as recreating Squire near-flawlessly on earlier tracks like I Am The Resurrection and One Love, he's also perfected Second Coming tracks like Tears and pinned down the most complex parts of Seahorses' Love Is The Law solo, he's also impressively recreated the Daybreak / Breaking Into Heaven combo live from the Feile Festival 1995 (Crimson Tonight live EP). He even produced a video of him jamming along with Ian Brown's brand new On Track (instrumental) which I personally quite like and think that it even almost touches Squire-esque-ness at times (particularly around 02:35-03:20) which shows how the two styles could still come together with an Ian Brown penned track, almost... And if that doesn't make you sick enough on its own, he's also penned a number of his own songs, which are available on his website. Personal favourites for me are Chase The Sun, Don't Feel Sorry For Yourself and Take You Away for its gorgeous guitar work. Don't Stop caught up with the man behind it all, Ben Clarke, to find out just where he got his enviable talent and how he goes about writing his out material, read the interview.

19.04.2007

The Sun reported today that new track, taken from forthcoming The World Is Yours, 'The Magic Man' was written about up and coming magician extraordinaire, Dynamo (real name Steven Frayne). The track and its inspiration was first revealed last October by the official Ian Brown forum when it became the answer to a competition to win an exclusive art print. Apparently Ian was so blown away by the magician that he decided to write the track, shown by the chorus lyrics: "Magical offerings — the suspension of time/Some like bending spoons/ Dynamo'll bend ya mind." and another line which reads: "At the greatest show on earth/Folks are slack-jawed by The Magic Man." Ian debuted his song, The Magic Man, at a showcase for Dynamo's Concrete Playground DVD before Christmas. Dynamo told The Sun: "Me and Ian hit it off. He was interested in my magic and we kept in touch. I get on well with his kids. We all went to London Zoo recently to check out the monkeys. "I was properly delighted when he told me he was writing a song about me. I opened a gig for him at the MEN Arena in front of 14,000 screaming fans. "I went to his studio and he gave me the lyric sheet with a note to me on the bottom. He's a legend." The DVD 'Dynamo - Concrete Playground' also seems to have a chapter called 'Underground Magic: In Town With Ian Brown', which you can download here (purchase), there's a 30-sec preview that you can watch.

12.04.2007

Rick Witter & The Dukes release their debut album 'The Year Of The Rat'. The Dukes are: Rick Witter (vocals, ex-Shed Seven), Rob Wilson (guitar), Stuart Fletcher (bass, also The Yards, ex-Seahorses) and Matt Lunn (also The Officers, ex-Colour Of Fire). The album was produced by the band and Will Jackson (Pigeon Detectives, Embrace, The Music). The album, which is available to order now, through the band's website in the form of a limited collector's tin, with card slip case and fold out lyric poster, which is strictly limited to 1,000 copies. The band have a downloadable full version of title track 'The Year Of The Rat' along with samples of 3 others and full tour dates for April/May on their myspace. The Year Of The Rat 01. The Year Of The Rat 02. He Was The Boy Who Waited So Long He Forgot What He Was Waiting For 03. The Other Way Around 04. The Devil Will Be Waiting For You 05. Flying Blind 06. Sleeping In Airports 07. Sky Falls Down 08. Forever Gone 09. Torn Up Memory 10. Pull Together 11. Dead On Arrival For the Don't Stop review, please click here.

12.04.2007

This month's Q's The Jury podcast sees Mani and Stereophonics front man Kelly Jones join The Jury and review and rate the month's latest releases which featured the Manic Street Preachers, Kings Of Leon, Bright Eyes, Avril Lavigne, Maximo Park, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Modest Mouse (now featuring Johnny Marr). Mani chats a little bit about what he's currently upto in Primal Scream about halfway through and suggests an album would be released next year which as yet could fall under the guise of any genre. You can download the podcast by visiting the Q music website.

04.04.2007

John Squire announces two new art exhibitions which are to be held in London this year. The information appeared on John's website after it went down yesterday and now claims to be under construction, when it returns it will no doubt have all his latest pieces including the series similar to the '462' piece (pictured) that I revealed after the RCA Secret 2007 exhibition. 4th - 29th July 2007, John Squire New Work:, The Smithfield Gallery, London EC1A 6th September - 4th October 2007, John Squire New Work: Dazed and Confused Gallery, London EC1V The 'John Squire New Work' suggests that possibly you won't be able to view his back catalogue of legendary record cover artwork on this occasion but as I was previously told that these would be commerical exhibition, there may be an opportunity to purchase prints of the new pieces.

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