2002. Hanoi Rocks reform with only two original members. To be fair, one had been fired (and his better-known replacement subsequently died) and so may not have wanted to return; another had largely turned his back on music; and the third original member, judging by comments in Andy McCoy’s book, would not have been made to feel welcome (although to this day he regularly works with Michael Monroe).
2004. The New York Dolls reform with only three original members. It should be noted that they were the only three still alive (I’m omitting Rick Rivets).
2011. The Dogs D’Amour reform with only one original member. As far as I know everyone that has ever been in the band is still alive. The case of the Dogs D’Amour is slightly different as the ‘classic’ line-up is arguably the one that counts, but even then only Tyla prevails. On bass, Dave Tregunna has some pedigree as he featured on some of the studio recordings that made up ‘The (Un)Authorised Bootleg Album’. As with the above re-unions, I'll still go ....
Friday, 11 November 2011
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Jellyfish - Bellybutton & Spilt Milk vinyl reissues
From omnivorerecordings.com:
There’s a fantastic line (among many) in Jellyfish’s “The Ghost At Number One” which says “How does it feel to be the only one who knows that you’re right.”
That Jellyfish quote works on a number of fronts. Mainly because that’s what this correspondence is about. (And, that it’s a great, flippin’ song.) We made some decisions that may not be popular, but will be better in the long run. In other words, we’ve done what we thought was “right.”
We’ve always said that we just don’t comment on new releases. Why? Because, things go wrong. Things go wrong all the time. Like the Jellyfish releases.
We could tell you the whole grizzly saga of what went wrong with these, why we’ve rejected test pressings and blah blah blah, but instead we just want to tell you that we’re presently working with the great folks at RTI and John Golden Mastering on a third round at making these right–third time’s a charm?
RTI, Golden Mastering and Omnivore Recordings have a firm commitment to stone cold quality. Period. So we’re getting them right–not just floating sub-standard records out there in the hope that you don’t notice.
Meaning? They’re not coming on October 10th, like we said after we had to bump them the first time. We’re taking quite the hit and pushing them back to January 10th and that will allow us the extra time needed to really make sure that these things blow your mind appropriately.
Here’s the really great news–we’re now pressing these on RTI’s wonderful 180-gram vinyl!
So a limited edition of 1,500 copies will be pressed on 180-gram vinyl (Bellybutton will still be on blue vinyl, Spilt Milk will now be on gold vinyl). And, that extra weight will not. Cost. You. Any. More. We’re keeping the price the same. Bellybutton will still have its original tri-fold cover for this first run. After the 1,500 copies are sold out, the Bellybutton cover will be a standard jacket and the vinyl for both will be standard weight black vinyl. Pre-orders should be saved in the distributors’ systems, but please check back with whoever you ordered them through.
Thanks for your patience and loyalty. We are not about to jeopardize our reputation by putting out inferior product. We care too much. And, as you’re on this mailing list, you do too.
That Jellyfish quote works on a number of fronts. Mainly because that’s what this correspondence is about. (And, that it’s a great, flippin’ song.) We made some decisions that may not be popular, but will be better in the long run. In other words, we’ve done what we thought was “right.”
We’ve always said that we just don’t comment on new releases. Why? Because, things go wrong. Things go wrong all the time. Like the Jellyfish releases.
We could tell you the whole grizzly saga of what went wrong with these, why we’ve rejected test pressings and blah blah blah, but instead we just want to tell you that we’re presently working with the great folks at RTI and John Golden Mastering on a third round at making these right–third time’s a charm?
RTI, Golden Mastering and Omnivore Recordings have a firm commitment to stone cold quality. Period. So we’re getting them right–not just floating sub-standard records out there in the hope that you don’t notice.
Meaning? They’re not coming on October 10th, like we said after we had to bump them the first time. We’re taking quite the hit and pushing them back to January 10th and that will allow us the extra time needed to really make sure that these things blow your mind appropriately.
Here’s the really great news–we’re now pressing these on RTI’s wonderful 180-gram vinyl!
So a limited edition of 1,500 copies will be pressed on 180-gram vinyl (Bellybutton will still be on blue vinyl, Spilt Milk will now be on gold vinyl). And, that extra weight will not. Cost. You. Any. More. We’re keeping the price the same. Bellybutton will still have its original tri-fold cover for this first run. After the 1,500 copies are sold out, the Bellybutton cover will be a standard jacket and the vinyl for both will be standard weight black vinyl. Pre-orders should be saved in the distributors’ systems, but please check back with whoever you ordered them through.
Thanks for your patience and loyalty. We are not about to jeopardize our reputation by putting out inferior product. We care too much. And, as you’re on this mailing list, you do too.
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Jonny Cola and the A-Grades
Jonny Cola and the A-Grades
Cambridge Corner House, September 21st 2011
Despite various politicians, journalists and local residents stating that they’d seen the August riots coming, no-one has yet had the nerve to point the finger at Jonny Cola and the A-Grades, specifically their EP released in June and its tracks ‘Postcode Wars’ (with accompanying video inspired by gang warfare classic ‘The Warriors’) and ‘Summer Of Hate’. Perhaps this is for the best and has allowed the London-based five-piece to continue their quest for glam-pop perfection without having to deal with a Richard Littlejohn-inspired uprising of the ill-informed.
A series of ad hoc out-of-town shows (a ‘tourette’ if you will) brings them first to Cambridge. Unfortunately the short-notice booking and an absence of local promotion means that Cambridge hasn’t been brought to them, something which could easily lead to a lesser band haughtily decrying their provincial surroundings before putting in a lazy performance. Thankfully this is not the way of Jonny Cola and the A-Grades, who approach the gig as though they’re playing a sold-out o2 arena and make their intentions clear as they kick off proceedings with the afore-mentioned 'Summer Of Hate' and then immediately into forthcoming single ‘Halo’.
An attempt to derail the band's enthusiasm duly arrives, seemingly without irony, during 'The Party's Over', as the soundman forgets to open up the channel for the keyboard. Apparently a common occurrence, which maybe contributes to the ease with which Jonny, finding himself cut adrift without any musical back-up, adapts the lyrics to make his feelings very apparent. The song’s extremely dirty riff returns to fill the void as the band admirably take this incompetence in their stride.
If you were to use the Ronson ratio (the glam-pop industry standard) to judge Jonny Cola and the A-Grades it would be 70:30 Mick: Mark. The latter at times reunites with a hint of Bowie, and the pop side is also represented by occasional flashes of Blur’s more art-school moments. At times this mix reminds of David Devant & His Spirit Wife (but without the carrot grating).
The different sides of the band’s repertoire are no better showcased than the initially sparse and introspective ‘Alpha Male’, which gives way to the stadium-rock-classic-in-waiting ‘Marlborough Road’. A good sense of when to add dynamics and other little touches (whether it be just a simple handclap or two, as ably demonstrated in the set’s penultimate number ‘Postcode Wars’) further highlights the thought that has gone into developing the material.
One more number (‘Wronghead’) and they’re gone, hot-footing it in a cab to London. I’m not expecting them back anytime soon; Cambridge had its chance and blew it. Three other cities now have the opportunity to do the right thing.
The ‘Lock em Up’ Tourette continues at The 13th Note, Glasgow (28/09/11), The Full Moon, Newcastle-under-Lyme (29/09/11) and The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham (30/09/11).
http://www.jonnycolaandtheagrades.net/
Cambridge Corner House, September 21st 2011
A series of ad hoc out-of-town shows (a ‘tourette’ if you will) brings them first to Cambridge. Unfortunately the short-notice booking and an absence of local promotion means that Cambridge hasn’t been brought to them, something which could easily lead to a lesser band haughtily decrying their provincial surroundings before putting in a lazy performance. Thankfully this is not the way of Jonny Cola and the A-Grades, who approach the gig as though they’re playing a sold-out o2 arena and make their intentions clear as they kick off proceedings with the afore-mentioned 'Summer Of Hate' and then immediately into forthcoming single ‘Halo’.
An attempt to derail the band's enthusiasm duly arrives, seemingly without irony, during 'The Party's Over', as the soundman forgets to open up the channel for the keyboard. Apparently a common occurrence, which maybe contributes to the ease with which Jonny, finding himself cut adrift without any musical back-up, adapts the lyrics to make his feelings very apparent. The song’s extremely dirty riff returns to fill the void as the band admirably take this incompetence in their stride.
If you were to use the Ronson ratio (the glam-pop industry standard) to judge Jonny Cola and the A-Grades it would be 70:30 Mick: Mark. The latter at times reunites with a hint of Bowie, and the pop side is also represented by occasional flashes of Blur’s more art-school moments. At times this mix reminds of David Devant & His Spirit Wife (but without the carrot grating).
One more number (‘Wronghead’) and they’re gone, hot-footing it in a cab to London. I’m not expecting them back anytime soon; Cambridge had its chance and blew it. Three other cities now have the opportunity to do the right thing.
The ‘Lock em Up’ Tourette continues at The 13th Note, Glasgow (28/09/11), The Full Moon, Newcastle-under-Lyme (29/09/11) and The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham (30/09/11).
http://www.jonnycolaandtheagrades.net/
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