| CMU Daily - on the inside 5 Sep 2002 |
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What did Santana do in 1999 that Whitney Houston did in 1993, Eric Clapton in 1992 and Natalie Cole in 1991?
Answer tomorrow
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YEP – MORE AWARDS
Though these new music awards were picked by musicians themselves, and the awards ceremony held in aid of charity, so we’ll let them off. Last night the Ocean in Hackney hosted the first ever ‘Musos’. Johnny Vegas and Lauren Laverne hosted the bash which made ten awards based on the votes of fellow musicians. Less swish than the normal glitzy award events, the venue was done out like a festival backstage area, carpeted in grass and even with beer tents and Portaloos - with Bez DJing too. And the winners were:
Best Album: Nitin Sawnhey
Best Single: Ian Brown
Best Vocal: PJ Harvey
Best Guitar: Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead)
Best Drummer: Alan White (Oasis)
Best Bassist: Peter Hook (New Order)
Best Keyboard/other: Tony Rodgers (Charlatans)
Best Songwriter: Damon Gough
Best New Act: Haven
Muso's Muso: Paul Weller
Meanwhile Travis have been awarded the ‘Band of the Year’ gong at this year’s GQ Awards. They collected their award at an event at the Natural Histroy Museum alongside Mr David Bowie – who picked up the Outstanding Achievement award.
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MARQUEE MARK TWO
The all new Marquee club opens tonight on Upper Street in Islington with a set from Primal Scream. The opening marks another new home for the legendary London venue, the latest incarnation (above a the new Islington shopping centre) is backed by one Dave Stewart. For press info about the new venue contact J at neil Reading PR on 020 7287 7711 or email [email protected]
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YOU’RE ALL MADSTER
The day after Napster closed its doors when American courts disallowed a complete takeover of the company by major BMG, another US judge has slammed a preliminary injunction against Madster, the new name for Napster clone Aimster, saying it "contributes to copyright infringement on a massive scale".
The record labels have argued Madster is on par with the original Napster in terms of copyright violation. "At issue is a service whose very raison d'etre appears to be the facilitation of and contribution to copyright infringement on a massive scale," Chief Judge Marvin Aspen said in a Chicago court. He gave the companies suing Madster until next week to propose wording for an injunction that would end their copyright infringement.
Founder of the site, Johnny Deep, told reporters he had not seen the opinion of the judge in yesterday's hearing, but he did not think there was a lot of copyright material shared on Madster. But the ever diligent Recording Industry Of America said all of the service's arguments had been rejected by Aspen. "This unequivocal ruling underscores that companies and individuals will not be permitted to build a business on music they do not own and will be held responsible for their actions," the Association said.
With Napster and Aimster – two of the early bastions of file share – both attacked in the same week you’d be forgiven for thinking the download war was over, with victory to the copyright owners. But there are now a plethora of download websites – most using technology much harder to trace than the Napster system. While legal attacks will continue on these sites, and the ISPs that give music fans access to them, you can be sure the downloaders will be one step ahead of the industry and the race to stop online piracy will continue for the foreseeable future.
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WELLERS (ANTI)WAR SONG
The campaign against military action in Iraq is gaining momentum in the music world. Mr Dad Rock Paul Weller has written a song on his new album denouncing the "hypocrisy" of Tony Blair and George Bush over their stance towards Afghanistan and Iraq. Called ‘A Bullet for Everyone’, it’s aimed at "Tony Blair and his boyfriends, or Bush and his".
Talking about the track he told the BBC: “the song is about the way we can't seem to stop a baby in Africa from starving to death... but we can afford enough technology and weaponry to blow the world up a million times over. It's about the irony of that and these people who lead us into war, and the hypocrisy that goes with it”. He said it was not a comment on the "awfulness" of 11 September, but that killing Afghan women and children "doesn't put things right", he said. "I don't think people want that. I think politicians are so far out of step with what people really want. And now the same thing's going to happen with Iraq."
However Weller, unlike some other musicians (including Blur and Massive Attack), is unlikely to join any official political lobby groups to campaign against military action. He says he is wary of political groups after being "used" by the political group Red Wedge in the mid-1980s. "It was the biggest mistake ever for me because once you get involved with those people you see how it's all run. It's more about their egos and it's not about really making a difference." The track comes just a month after the George Michael song, ‘Shoot the Dog’, which got bad press, especially in the US, mainly due to its controversial cartoon video.
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GROHL SUPPORTS THE SESSION
Dave Grohl has told the NME he thinks Radio 1 should rethink its decision to axe the Evening Session. Talking up the Evening Session’s role in finding a fanbase for Nirvana and the Foo Fighters in the UK he said: "Steve's always been a supporter of rock music in general, but also he's a man with integrity and good taste. And when someone has those qualities and is in the position that he is, then absolutely he has influenced a lot of people. People like him need to take a hand steering music in the right direction rather than sell-out and do it for the cash. He always seemed like he was doing it for the right reason, for the music. Steve's one of the few radio DJs I would ever recognise. Most of them are pretty faceless and anonymous - he's pretty funny looking, you'd recognise him anywhere. He'll be sorely missed. He's a great guy. I don't know who they'll be able to replace him with." The BBC is yet to announce what will replace the Evening Session, but many fear it will be a more mainstream evening show.
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ROLLING ON
Rolling Stones reports that, erm, the Rolling Stones kicked off their Licks World Tour at Boston's FleetCenter on Tuesday with a performance “that was delightfully lacking in theatrical pomp”. The huge stage contained only essential instruments and equipment, they report, and even Mick Jagger “kept himself to a minimal amount of sartorial preening, adopting only one, though dubious, ‘outfit’ change”. The stripped down approach seemed to go down well with the packed crowd as the band performed classic after classic. The tour coincides with a new greatest hits album.
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A UK REVOLVERUTION
Public Enemy have included a UK date on their forthcoming tour promoting new album Revolverution. They will play London Astoria on 20 Nov.
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ELECTIC TRACKS FROM US PUBLIC STATION
Californian public radio station KCRW is releasing an album of sessions recorded on the station’s ‘Morning Becomes Eclectic’ show, and given the state of British music in the US just know, it includes a lot of UK bands. The show has quite a reputation for avoiding the predictable album-plugging network, picking artists based on their artistic credentials.
Among those appearing on the album Sounds Eclectic Too are REM, Shelby Lynne, Norah Jones, Dido, Nick Cave and Chris Martin of Coldplay. Host Nic Harcourt explains: "We personally pick them and book them because we like what they're doing and want them to feel comfortable. As a result of that atmosphere we do get unique performances. The Chris Martin track is a good example. Coldplay's first US appearance anywhere was on Morning Becomes Eclectic. The band and management appreciated that we were the first to play them and invited them to perform. Martin rewarded our audience by performing the version of 'Yellow' that's on the disc. He'd never performed it that way before and said at the end he'd never perform it that way again."
The full track listing: Yellow - Chris Martin of Coldplay; Distractions - Zero 7; Radio #1 - Air; I've Been High – REM; Casa Abandonada - Julieta Venegas; You Cut Her Hair - Tom McRae; Fever – Starsailor; Jesus on a Greyhound - Shelby Lynne; Into My Arms - Nick Cave; Here With Me – Dido; You My Lunar Queen – Cousteau; Feeling the Same Way - Norah Jones
No word on whether a UK release is likely - but check www.kcrw.com for more info.
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ITV USE STARS FOR BRANDING
ITV is planning a rebrand with on air idents featuring its key talent like Ant and Dec and Davina McCall. The current segments featuring a heart will go and be replaced by clips of the channel's strongest assets shown in make-up or the dressing room. Channel 4 have based station campaigns around its key talent, and ITV, suffering financially and in the ratings just now, hope they can match the success of the rival network's marketing. Jim Hytner, ITV's commercial and marketing director, told Media Guardian: "This is the most extensive rebrand ever undertaken by ITV and creates a new feel for the channel. As we face greater competition, it's vital that we express the channel's personality more intently than ever, and what better way to do that than through our talent. The new idents show some of the biggest names in television being themselves, off-screen, in a way that viewers will find instantly warm and engaging." Comedian Harry Hill, Millionaire host Chris Tarrant, actor Martin Kemp, and football presenter Gabby Logan are also thought to be among the ident stars.
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KELLY IS THE AMERICAN IDOL
Kelly Clarkson is America’s Pop Idol – the singer got 58% of the viewer votes last night. Clarkson and runner up Guarini sang three songs, two of which were specially written for the show, broadcast on the Fox network. Simon Cowell, judging for the show, told reporters the atmosphere was electric. "Suddenly all of America's watching, only one of them is going to win, but they were amazing. It was a one sided competition as far as I was concerned because Kelly, without question, was the better singer." Cowell, who says the US contestants were more impressive than their British counterparts, predicted Clarkson would become a world-class celebrity. "The audience were witnessing a star," he said. "It was like that movie, A Star is Born." Now the cash in begins – Kelly’s debut single is set for a 17 Sep release, with an album in November. And no doubt Guarini will be hitting the charts some time soon too.
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Answer to Wednesday’s pop quiz:
You know who the Boss, the King and Wacko Jacko are. Which performers have been known as the following nicknames at some points in their careers?
Slowhand, Lizard King, The Man and The Godfather of Grunge?
Eric Clapton, Jim Morrison, Van Morrison and Neil Young respectively.