| CMU Daily - on the inside 15 Aug 2002 |
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The Beatles have spent 174 weeks at number one – three times as many weeks as their nearest rival – who might that be? Answer tomorrow
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1XTRA LAUNCHES
The new Radio 1 black music digital offshoot, 1xtra, officially launches tomorrow. The station counts some of the big DJ names in drum'n'bass, garage, hip-hop and soul amongst its line up – many of whom made their names on pirate stations. Although only available on digital radio, Sky or the internet, those involved see the launch as an important one for music radio in the UK. "It's not something I would have expected to see in my lifetime," Radio 1’s Trevor Nelson has said, "This is something that has been needed for over a decade," 1xtra’s breakfast presenter Letitia Scobie-Dalrymple adds, "it's really important. It's the only way the UK black music community is going to grow."
KC and the legendary sound system Rampage will launch the station at 6 pm tomorrow and broadcast a special five hour opening show featuring guest appearances from other 1Xtra DJs. There will then be a series of launch parties, broadcasting live sets back-to-back between 11 pm - 6 am from cubs in Nottingham, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and London.
Some have questioned the need of a ‘black music station’ given the crossover of r’n’b and hp hop into the mainstream, while some who support the station aren’t convinced it’s a very good ‘tag’ for the station to trade under. Nelson admits using the label a "black music station" is a brave one. "If we relied on advertising, I think that word might go missing. I would have preferred the term "urban music". It's not black music for black people, it's black music for everybody. Don’t forget white people can make ‘black music’. That's the message that mustn't be misinterpreted."
There’s more information about the station at www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra.
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AXL’S ONLINE ESSAY
Axl Rose, in the UK next week for a set at the Leeds Festival and a date at the London Arena, has posted a long message on his website talking about his band, his critics and his forthcoming album.
On the departure of Slash from the band he says: "Slash chose not to be here over control issues. Now people can say 'Well Axl, you're after control of the band, too.' You're damn skippy. That's right. I am the one held responsible since day one. When it comes to Guns N' Roses, I may not always get everything right, but I do have a good idea about getting things from point A to point B and knowing what the job is that we have to do. Within those parameters, I give everyone as much freedom to do what they want - something Slash has verified in several interviews. Had Slash stepped up and written what we captured glimpses of, it would have created an environment that was beyond Slash's ability to control."
On the band’s critics he said: "To the ones who are negative and want to see either myself or the new band fall on their faces, personally, I can't pass up an opportunity to upset so many of them in one quick swoop. I get misty-eyed just thinking about it. I feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside!”
Although the Chinese Democracy has already begun the album by the same name is not yet complete. "I gave into a lot of pressure on Illusions - both internally in Guns and externally in the press - and those albums suffered as a consequence,” Axl reports. “There are a lot of new songs that were just done in the last year that we feel that, 'Okay, well that bumps a lot of stuff off the previous list’. But it's time to stop that now and wrap up the baby. We've sorted it down to what songs are on the record. What the sequence of the songs is. The album cover art is ready.” But he warns fans: “If you're waiting ... don't. Live your life. That's your responsibility, not mine. If it were not to happen, you won't have missed a thing. If in fact it does, you might get something that works for you -- in the end you could win on this either way. But if you're really into waiting, try holding your breath for Jesus cause I hear the payoff may be that much greater."
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GOODIER TO LEAVE CHART SHOW
Veteran Radio 1 DJ, and former Wise Buddah boss, Mark Goodier is to leave the UK Top 40 show he has been hosting for a decade. Goodier has been with the station for nearing 15 years. He survived the Matthew Bannister cull of older talent in the early nineties, mainly due to his real passion for new music (seen in the early days of the Evening Session, a show Goodier founded). But he was soon sidelined to fill in shifts and the weekly chart countdown show. Goodier has said for a number of years he didn’t expect to be with the station much longer, and bosses say it was a mutual decision that he should leave the show at the end of the year. "The plan has been in place for some time for Mark to step down on his 15th anniversary, which seemed a timely opportunity to revamp the chart show," a Radio 1 spokesman said. "We wish Mark all the best for the future and we are looking forward to relaunching the show early in the New Year." Insiders have been expected a revamp, and new presenter, since the flagship chart show was overtaken in the ratings by Neil Fox’s Pepsi Chart Show syndicated on commercial stations around the UK. Just who will get the chart show gig has yet to be announced. Favourite insider is Scott Mills, who has been a chart show fill in presenter in the past, though a new name may be brought in for the job.
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CLAPTON USES OLD TITLE
Eric Clapton is titling his new live album the ‘One More Car, One More Rider’ the original title for his 1986 album ‘August’. That album was renamed at the last minute to honour the birth of his son Conor. His son, of course, tragically died four years later after falling from a building in New York City. In memory of his son Clapton wrote the potent "Tears In Heaven”, a live version of which is included on the double live album, which features material recorded at the Bukokan in Tokyo and The Staples Center in Los Angeles.
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FAITHLESS CREAMFIELD DATES LAST FOR TWO YEARS
Faithless have announced that their live shows at this year’s Creamfield events will be their last gigs for two years. The penultimate gig will be at Creamfields in Liverpool on 24 Aug, and their last gig at Creamfields Dublin on 31 Aug. Sister Bliss told reporters: "We've been on the road for 18 months and now it's time to go off and make another record! So, as these two Creamfields shows are our last for maybe two years, we intend to have one very big party! We promise to help make this the best Creamfields yet!” The two Creamfield dates will be preceded by a date at the Edinburgh Festival’s T on the Fringe on 22 Aug (more details from www.tonthefringe.com).
The Liverpool Creamfield event will also include the 4th Annual Creamfields Five-a-side Championships. Kicking off at 4pm seventeen teams will play – confirmed contenders so far include: Seb Fontaine, Fergie, Brooksides Tinhead, Mike Dixon, Emily & Nikki Shadwick, Hollyoaks Anna, Jodie and Abby, JFK, Dave Lee (Jakatta), Emmerdale's Sam Dingle and Andy Sugden, Rob Tissera, and Byker Groves Patrick Miller and Siobhan Hanratty.
More information from Gill Nightingale in the Cream press office on 0151 709 1693 or email [email protected]
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SHADOW ANNOUNCES DATES
DJ Shadow has announced six live dates to coincide with the release of 'Six Days', on 14 Oct. The dates – four in university venues – are:
Birmingham Academy (17 Oct)
London Brixton Academy (18 Oct)
Oxford Brookes University (21 Oct)
Norwich UEA (22 Oct)
Leeds University (23 Oct)
Manchester Academy (26 Oct)
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BUCKS FIZZ NAME DISPUTE OVER
A dispute over who can use the name Bucks Fizz (yes, two people want to use the name) has been resolved. There have been a number of line up changes in the group since their 1981 Eurovision victory. For a period the original Bucks Fizz men – Bobby G and Mike Nolan – each ran separate groups using the name. At that time Nolan recruited former Dollar member David Van Day to make up his foursome. Nolan fell out with Van Day last year and quit the band, which continued to perform under the name Bucks Fizz. Bobby G's manager Derek Royal told the BBC, "While Mike Nolan was working as Bucks Fizz we weren't too upset as he was an original member, but when David Van Day wanted to use the name on his own we had to act." So the New Beginning company which owns the copyright to the group's title served an injunction against Van Day last summer. The courts refused to intervene, but an out of court settlement has subsequently been reached. Bobby G will use the original name, with the other group performing under the catchy name ‘David Van Day’s Bucks Fizz Show’. Apparently both bands are still busy with gigs in the UK and abroad!
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DROWNING POOL SINGER DEAD
The lead singer of US heavy rock band Drowning Pool, one of the main names on Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzfest US tour, has been found dead in the band's tour bus. The cause of death is not yet known and is being investigated by local police. The band, from Dallas, Texas, had a growing loyal following both in the US and around the world, and their debut album, Sinner, has sold 1.2 million copies in the US since its release in June last year. Steve Karas, a spokesman for the band's record label Wind-Up, told reporters: "He was somebody who knew how to entertain. He cared more about his fans than most artists and, genuinely, in his heart, gave everything he had every time he was on stage."
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GARBAGE SINGLE AND TOUR
Garbage have recorded a cover of classic Rolling Stones track ‘Wild Horses’ as a b-side for upcoming single ‘Shut Yer Mouth’. Garbage are about to set off on a UK tour, including two shows at Londons’s Electric Ballroom on 28 and 29 Aug, before heading off to play Australia and then tour with US with No Doubt.
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Answer to Wednesday’s pop quiz:
First names – which four bands began life as Smile, Rain, Seymour and Naked? Answer tomorrow
‘Smile’ was the first name of Queen, ‘Rain’ of Oasis, ‘Seymour’ of Blur and ‘Naked’ of Reef.