A New Decade...

No better way to usher in the roaring '20s than with the sweet sounds of The Verve...

Have a safe, healthy, peaceful, and prosperous New Year + new decade!

Classic Alternative 2019: It's The End Of The Year As We Know It...

Classic Alternative 2019: It's The End Of The Year As We Know It...

Revisit the year that was 2019 with a three hour hosted mix of music and memories from the world of Classic Alternative.

This week's show features music from Electronic, The Cure, Public Image Ltd, Bauhaus, David Bowie, Ministry, Depeche Mode, and more.

Stream below or here and catch up with the archive of previous episodes here or here.



R.I.P. to Vaughan Oliver, graphic design legend who brought so much music to life. Oliver created iconic artwork for Pixies, The Breeders, Cocteau Twins, Lush, This Mortal Coil, and legions of other 4AD recording artists. Oliver's death was announced this morning (December 29th) after the year end show was recorded and was not included in the In Memoriam portion of the program.

R.I.P Big Black bassist Dave Riley

Big Black's Dave Riley has died. According to Riley's friend Rachel Brown, the bassist was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in August which had spread to his lungs by the time of diagnosis. Riley was 59.

Big Black founder Steve Albini told Rolling Stone:

“Dave was a fantastic musician and a critical part of the Chicago music scene. He bridged the gap between raw enthusiasm and outstanding musicianship better than anybody else in our peer group and I always admired him for it."

Classic Alternative - Episode #136: If The Fates Allow...

Classic Alternative - Episode #136: If The Fates Allow...

A two hour hosted mix of classics and cult classics from the heyday of Classic Alternative.

This week's show features music from Iggy Pop, The Cure, Public Image Ltd, Ride, David Bowie, Pete Shelley, The Housemartins, and more.

Stream below or here and catch up with the archive of previous episodes here or here.

Early recording by The Smiths unearthed

An early recording by The Smiths has been unearthed. The Smiths' demo/recording of "I Want A Boy For My Birthday" is a cover of a song originally released by The Cookies in 1963. The cassette demo was recorded in Johnny Marr's attic some time in 1982 prior to The Smiths' debut show in Manchester.

The demo was uploaded onto You Tube this week by Dale Hibbert, original bassist for The Smiths. Hibbert was given the demo by Marr in order to learn/create bass parts for the song so he'd be able to play it live at their debut gig. Hibbert held onto the demo and at the beginning of this year shared a snippet of "I Want A Boy For My Birthday" and promised he'd unleash the full song by the end of the year. He made good on his promise Tuesday, which was timed to coincide with Hibbert's own birthday, which is December 16th.

Hibbert revealed to fansite Morrissey Solo:

I suppose the main question is "why now" ? It's been a long time. I once had a friend, who found a singer, for six months we rehearsed, talked, examined possibilities. The friend convinced me to leave the band I was with, and join him. We were kids, to be fair, but...

It's a sweet, innocent, charming recording and one that I am fond of.
Anyhow, this means a lot more to some people than it does me, it's out there because it brings joy to people.

We change as we age, if you can make people happy then do it, that's "why now". It was set to premiere on my birthday because anticipation is exquisite, we now live in an "on demand" society, I prefer the old ways.

Stream the recording below along with two other demos and head here to read several theories regarding why The Smiths chose to demo this particular song.

UPDATE (12/21): Hibbert pulled down his You Tube account after becoming annoyed with "laziness of journalists" and various "clickbait" stories about the song and figured that everyone that wanted to hear "I Want A Boy For My Birthday" likely already has. Of course many fan sites have uploaded the demo, so...it is now all over the net despite Hibbert pulling his account.

Bauhaus announce reunion shows for 2020

Bauhaus announced two more reunion shows that will take place in 2020.

The reunited Bauhaus featuring Peter Murphy, ‪Daniel Ash‬, Kevin Haskins, and David J will play Alexandra Palace in London on April 8th and Radio City Music Hall in New York on June 26th. Tickets for both shows go on sale Thursday, December 19th at 10am (local time). For more info on the shows, head here.

Gershon Kingsley, R.I.P.

Legendary synth/moog pioneer Gershon Kingsley has died. The innovative German-American "Pop Corn" composer died at his home in Manhattan on December 10th at the age of 97. Kingsley's 1969 track is considered to be one of the first electronic dance tracks and has been covered over the years by a number of artists including Kraftwerk, Hot Butter, Marsheaux, and more. Kingsley's work popularized the moog synthesizer while his musical project First Moog Quartet is credited with being the first electronic act to perform at Carnegie Hall.

R.I.P.

Classic Alternative - Episode #135: Sashay

Classic Alternative - Episode #135: Sashay

A two hour hosted mix of classics and cult classics from the heyday of Classic Alternative.

This week's show features music from Ministry, The Cure, Social Distortion, XTC, David Bowie, Skinny Puppy, The Stone Roses, and more.

Stream below or here and catch up with the archive of previous episodes here or here.

The Cure share pro-shot 'Disintegration' footage

The Cure played a series of 30th anniversary Disintegration shows at the Sydney Opera House earlier this year. The performances saw the band playing the legendary album from front to back with additional tracks such as b-sides and fan favorites. This week Robert Smith revealed that the May 30th show was captured by director Nick Wickham, a longtime friend of the band and according to Robert Smith "the release of the whole concert can't be too far away"! In the meantime stream three incredible videos from the concert below.

New Order's iconic "Blue Monday" covered for 'Wonder Woman 1984'

A new cover of New Order's iconic dancefloor anthem "Blue Monday" has been commissioned for Wonder Woman 1984. The dramatic thunderous version of the classic 1983 track was created by Sebastian Böhm and soundtracks the film's trailer which premiered earlier this week. Böhm's full cover was also issued this week as a digital single and is available to stream below. Wonder Woman 1984 opens nationwide in June 2020.

Perhaps the cover will stimulate Wonder Woman fans to seek out New Order's exquisite version and/or catalog. Here's hoping.

Classic Alternative - Episode #134: The Smoldering Embers Of Deceit

Classic Alternative - Episode #134: The Smoldering Embers Of Deceit

A two hour hosted mix of classics and cult classics from the heyday of Classic Alternative.

Includes music from The Stranglers, Radiohead, Ultravox, Morrissey, New Order, Siouxsie And The Banshees, and more

Stream below or here and catch up with the archive of previous episodes here or here.

New Order kick off Miami Beach residency with ∑(No,5k,20Mia) performance

New Order announced today that the first date of their upcoming Miami Beach residency will be a performance titled ∑(No,5k,20Mia). The January 14th show will see the legendary band performing the career-spanning setlist of songs/arrangements from their acclaimed 2017 Manchester International Festival shows, however it is important to note that unlike the MIF shows, the performance will not include a synthesizer orchestra or Liam Gillick's art installation*.

New Order's residency takes place January 14th, January 15th, January 17th, and January 18th. Tickets for all four shows, including the January 14th ∑(No,5k,20Mia) performance are available to purchase here.

The critically acclaimed Manchester International Festival performances spanned two weeks; the final show was recorded live and released this summer as the album ∑(No,12k,Lg,17Mif) New Order + Liam Gillick: So it goes.. (Live at MIF).



In case you care:

*The title of the upcoming Miami show ∑(No,5k,20Mia) is a nod to the original MIF shows but reflect the omission of Liam Gillick and the synthesizer orchestra. The original MIF shows were titled ∑(No,12k,Lg,17Mif) which stands for the sum of New Order, 12 piece synthesizer orchestra, Liam Gillick, and the 2017 Manchester International Festival. The new title removes Lg (Liam Gillick); the amount of synthesizers was changed from 12k to 5k to represent the five synthesizers that the members of New Order will be playing; finally the year/location notation was changed from 17MiF (2017 Manchester International Festival) to 20Mia (2020 Miami Beach).

Greg Dulli announces details behind debut solo LP 'Random Desire'

Greg Dulli of The Afghan Whigs has announced details behind his debut solo album, Random Desire. The album arrives on February 21st and features 10 songs which were written almost entirely by Dulli -- he not only wrote the lyrics, but also piano, bass, drums, and more. Dulli began working on the album in the "aftermath" of Afghan Whigs' last album In Spades after various members of the band began to focus on sideprojects. The result is an intriguing sounding record, described in the press release as follows:

"Random Desire​ is a clinic put on by a veteran master operating at the height of his powers, offering evidence of the hard-fought and weary wisdom learned from setbacks and victories alike. A lucid, confident and self-assured document of the songs of experience, the perils of existence, and the possibilities that offer themselves anew with each breath. Another death and rebirth from an outlaw who has seen it all and somehow lived to tell."

Dulli unleashed the first single from the record today. Stream "Pantomima" below and head here to view Random Desire pre-order options.

European dates in support of the album were announced today; U.S. dates will be announced shortly, so stay tuned.

Bauhaus play final reunion show in Los Angeles

Bauhaus returned to the stage in Los Angeles last night for their third and final reunion show at the Hollywood Palladium. The legends delivered a 15 song set, returned for a three song encore, then returned once more to perform one final song -- their rarely performed cover of Brian Eno's "Third Uncle."

Watch some of the glorious action below courtesy of PIT FLIKS and lestrange.

Classic Alternative - Episode #133: Drill

Classic Alternative - Episode #133: Drill

A two hour hosted mix of classics and cult classics from the heyday of Classic Alternative.

This week's show features music from The Dandy Warhols, Roxy Music, Felt, Pixies, Buzzcocks, The Clash, Primal Scream, The Cure, and more.

Stream below or here and catch up with the archive of previous episodes here or here.

The Cure issue 'Seventeen Seconds' 2020 calendar

The Cure's seminal post-punk masterpiece Seventeen Seconds turns 40 next year, and to mark the momentous occasion the band is issuing a limited edition 2020 calendar. The calendar includes "previously unseen photographs of the period" compiled by Robert Smith.

The limited edition calendar costs $15 dollars and is available to pre-order through The Cure's webstore. The calendar ships the week of December 13th.

'Mystify: Michael Hutchence' U.S. screenings announced

Mystify, the feature length Michael Hutchence documentary premieres in theaters in the U.S. next month. The film screens for one night only January 7th at participating theaters including several in and around the Detroit area including Dearborn, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, Macomb, Walled Lake, Livonia, and more. Head to Fathom Events to view the list of participating theaters.

Mystify features footage from Hutchence's private home movies, as well as video, insight, and  commentary from INXS bandmates, family, friends, and ex-girlfriends including Helena Christensen and Kylie Minogue.

The documentary is an intimate portrait on Hutchence and aims to delve beneath the public persona of the larger-than-life charismatic rockstar to reveal much more about the intriguing, mysterious, and sensual Hutchence.

Mystify was directed by Richard Lowenstein, the director behind many INXS music videos, and premiered in Australia in July. The film's soundtrack Mystify: A Musical Journey With Michael Hutchence features INXS hits, previously unreleased recordings, and spoken word/dialogue is available here. View the trailer for Mystify below: