Classic Alternative - Episode #162: Vector
Sunday, June 28, 2020
Thursday, June 25, 2020
New Order issue 'Touring Technique' limited edition t-shirt
The Touring Technique t-shirt is a nod to New Order's Technique and uses a black/purple combo similar to Technique's iconic artwork. All proceeds will be donated to New Order's crew members who have been out of work since the pandemic hit.
Read New Order's comments on the t-shirt and head here to pre-order. The t-shirt ships July 24th.
"We’ve toured the world with our crew, they work really hard, they’re really professional, kind, funny people who we care about enormously. They are all facing no income for some time to come because of the current pandemic. Our shows are nothing without them and we need them to be able to come back and work with us next year otherwise we can’t tour! 100% of the proceeds from this specially designed exclusive crew shirt are being donated to them, thanks to Warner merchandising for helping us facilitate this.
If you like New Order live and want to see us play next year, please buy a shirt and help our crew keep going!"
Wayne Hussey to issue 2020 version of "Tower Of Strength" with all star line
Wayne Hussey is releasing a 2020 remake of The Mission's classic "Tower Of Strength" featuring a lineup of musical luminaries.
The collective is titled Re-Mission Interational and includes Martin Gore, Gary Numan, Budgie, Lol Tolhurst, Andy Rourke, Jay Aston, Michael Aston, Michael Ciravolo, Rachel Goswell, Billy Duffy, and more. Proceeds from the single will be donated to several Covid19 related charities chosen by the artists involved in the project.
Hussey revealed a few details surrounding the project last month, and this past week he shared another list of participating musicians. The single is still a work in progress and no details regarding the release date have been made available yet, so stay tuned.
Meanwhile, since Hussey announced both Jay and Michael Aston are involved in ReMission International, inquiring minds want to know how exactly Hussey was able to convince the estranged twins to agree to work together again. It turns out Michael Ciravolo of Beauty In Chaos addressed that very issue in a blog he posted earlier this week:
"I guess I take the blame or credit, depends how you look it it of suggesting them. I have remained friends with Michael Aston since being part of the Gene Loves Jezebel Anniversary tour in 1997-1998...I can’t say I remained friends with Jay, as in his brain, I sided with his brother in their ‘dispute’. Wayne however, has remained in touch Jay as his ‘version’ of GLJ has supported The Mission over the years, even on the most recent pre-covid tour. So he and I both reached out to our respective Aston and asked them to sing on this.
As for the future? Who knows.. I don’t think this will lead to an Aston brothers reunion, but stranger things have happened. Hopefully, it as least opens the door to some sort of reconciliation, even if it doesn’t include GLJ."
Read Ciravolo's full blog post here.
Mark Gardener + 2Square premiere "Chained" video
Mark Gardener and 2Square (aka Telepopmusik's Stephan Haeri) premiered the video for their fantastic new collaborative single "Chained."
Michael Stipe + Big Red Machine perform on 'Tonight Show'
Michael Stipe and Big Red Machine (Aaron Desner of The National) filmed a performance for Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show: At Home Edition which aired earlier this week.
Stipe and Desner performed the new single "No Time For Love Like Now" which was written last year prior to the pandemic, though perfectly captures 2020.
Other than a slight wardrobe change (button up/crewneck combo) the Tonight Show performance appears to have been filmed in the same studio around the same time as the official video which premiered a few weeks ago.
Watch the elegant performance from Stipe and Desner below.
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Monday, June 22, 2020
Depeche Mode global streaming event planned for June 25th
Depeche Mode have announced a global LiVE SPiRiTS concert streaming event.
The never before seen full concert will stream live one time only this Thursday, June 25th at 3pm ET on You Tube. The concert stream is in celebration of the release of Spirits In The Forest, which arrives on BluRay and DVD this Friday, June 26th.
Live Spirits was captured live on the Global Spirit tour in Waldbühne, Berlin on July 23rd and July 25th 2018 and is included as bonus material on the Spirits In The Forest BluRay/DVD. A companion audio-only version of the Live Spirits concert (aka Live Spirits soundtrack) will also be released on June 26th. Head here to view all the pre-order options.
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Classic Alternative - Episode #161: Confession By Fire
Classic Alternative - Episode #161: Confession By Fire
Kraftwerk issuing German language editions digitally
Original German versions of five Kraftwerk albums will be issued digitally for the first time in July.
Radiohead releasing 'Fragmentary Time Waster' jigsaw puzzle
Radiohead are set to release their very own jigsaw puzzle.
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Classic Alternative - Episode #160: Those Who Find Danger
Classic Alternative - Episode #160: Those Who Find Danger
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Michael Stipe teams up with Big Red Machine for new single
Michael Stipe has teamed up with Big Red Machine for a new song titled "No Time For Love Like Now."
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Classic Alternative - Episode #159: Indulgent Self
Classic Alternative - Episode #159: Indulgent Self
Echo & The Bunnymen 'Shine So Hard' EP reissued + watch companion film
Echo & The Bunnymen’s live EP Shine So Hard has been reissued by Rhino.
New Kevin Cummins photobook 'While We Were Getting High: Britpop and the '90s'
Legendary photographer Kevin Cummins is set to release a new book While We Were Getting High: Britpop & The 90s.
Milltown Brothers return with new single "F.I.L.A."
Milltown Brothers are back with new music this week.
The Waterboys announce new LP 'Good Luck, Seeker'
The Waterboys announced details behind a new album.
The album is titled Good Luck, Seeker and arrives on August 21st. The first offering from the record is titled "My Wanderings In The Weary Land" and is available to stream below. Head here to view pre-order options for the record.
Monday, June 1, 2020
Matt Johnson reveals details behind scary throat infection; announces release date for The The single
Matt Johnson of The The has revealed frightening details behind his recent hospitalization and throat infection.