music

david bowie “pin ups” – the story behind the cover

“I remember distinctly that I’d got it with the first shot. It was too good to be true. When I showed Bowie the test Polaroids, he asked if he could use it for the Pin Ups record sleeve.

I said: “I don’t think so, since this is for Vogue. How many albums do you think you will sell?”

“A million,” he replied.

“This is your next album cover!” I said.

When I got back to London and told Vogue, they never spoke to me again. Several weeks later, Twigs and I were driving along Sunset Boulevard and we passed a 60ft billboard of the picture. I knew I had made the right decision.”

Justin de villeneuve on the picture he made that ended up being the cover of bowie’s “pin ups”.  the entire story here by pp+tg.

CATEGORIES: album covers, music, photography

rumor has it… sunday matinees are back??

early this year village voice rumored about the new owners of the CBGB brand/estate (purchased from lisa kristal burgman, the daughter of late founder hilly kristal) are planning a 4/5 day music/conference/film festival for july in NYC and are currently looking for a location to open a reincarnation of CBs. today the rumors were furthered with articles on the matter by nytimes.com and rollingstone.com. at first glance this might seem like a ploy to profit on the name and merch that i’m sure will go along with the festival but going by the new investors words

 

“We’re never going to recreate that moment in time… We’re trying to continue the idea of supporting live music, making a lot of noise and being a part of New York City. The festival is one way we can do it. Eventually the club will be another way we can do it.”

 

of tim hayes, this might be a new venue that many of us have been waiting for. the festival promises to bring an array of live music from central park  summerstage to gramercy ballroom and across to the new knitting factory over in brooklyn with acts such as cro-mags,  guided by voices, the hold steady’s craig finn, new york dolls’ david johansen and a personal favorite sick of it all.

although i was not there during the hay days of the early shows by blondie, ramones, sonic youth or even during the hardcore sunday matinees in the 80’s and early 90’s, i was blessed to have CBs apart of my life spending the better half of my teenage years and beyond (until its closing in 2006) going to shows, hanging out and even play on the stage there.  a few stand out shows for me were the gorilla biscuits reunion or the last sunday matinee seeing sick of it all, agnostic front and madball on that ghetto stage together!

if you are actually still reading the longest post i think i’ve done to date, i’d love for anyone to share a memory they might have had at the good ol CBGB’s in the comments! by jr

CATEGORIES: music, other places

GRIMES

slightly chinese pop-esque, slightly goth, slightly canadian (smiles). who would have thunk it but i’m stuck. the best way is to listen to the station is on  last.fm.

by kl

CATEGORIES: music

m.i.a. and julian assange

m.i.a is apparently writing music for julian assange’s new television show named the world tomorrow. the show will feature interviews julian did during his house arrest. by wn

CATEGORIES: music

Moro, lasso, al mio duolo

translated to mean “wearily, i die of agony”, this is the title of one of gesualdo’s madrigals, featured above in werner herzog’s “death for five voices” …herzog has said out of all of his films, this one is incredibly close to his heart.  one can see why, carlo gesualdo was a fascinating figure.  a man whose credits include nobleman, composer, chromatic engineer, lutenist—and of course, murderer.  carlo killed his wife (and also first cousin) donna maria d’avalos and her lover when he caught them “in flagrante delicto.” notwithstanding any of his passions or shortcomings, gesualdo was if nothing else, a magnificent composer of delightfully haunting tunes. by sv

CATEGORIES: music, must be considered films