That’s just music

David Bowie had denied all the rumours regarding his participation at the biggest European and British music festival, Glastonbury 2010. It is possible though that Bowie was previously invited, but later either he changed his mind or the organisers have decided to leave him alone. At least something had to give the kickstart to such rumours. This information was literally spread around by The Daily Mail tabloid; short reply made by the Bowie’s website is now available – “Rumours and lies and stories they made up… Part 386”. For more than forty years of music career Bowie had participated at Glastonbury only twice, in 1971 and 2000.  Nowadays, Bowie had slightly moved away from the music business and artistic activities, so due to that he constantly has to deny or correct all sorts of rumours about himself. For example, at the beginning of 2009 he was supposedly to headline Coachella festival or that he is almost ready to release the first album in six years. Both of these facts were later not suppored by any facts. Rumours is practically another side of it all, and there is no celebrity, which can escape it. Basically, such things support them and make things going.

Ex-Roxy Music vocalist and keyboardist Bryan Ferry has joined artistic forces together with Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea while working on his solo album. This news became known with the help of the New Musical Express, which related it all to Roxy Music fans. The release of Ferry’s solo album is organised by the well known producer Nile Rodgers, and the album itself should see the light sometime during the summer of 2010. On what stage the development process stands and what is going to be the album’s name is not known; after all these are just good rumours so far. Also, NME is not providing any comments made by ex-Roxy Music leader on this release, and there is nothing about his particular co-operation with Greenwood and Flea. However, musician made his fans happy by placing a video on his website where all three are rehearsing new material. Meanwhile, just by the end of October it became known that Ferry is about to release a single “U Can Dance”, which is a trully dance track. It was made up together with DJ Hell and will be released on January 2010. Currently, Bryan’s discography contains 12 albums; the last work “Dylanesque” was released in 2007.  

Some scientists have decided to call a flower in dedication to the British singer Lily Allen, said ContactMusic on November 23. The Royal Horticultural Society and the Key 103 radio station are the authors of this original idea, which looks pretty cool after all. One of the flowers that belongs to lilies was actually chosen by a singer; those guys gave her a chance, so it was not set up without her participation. Eventually she chose an orange lily and according to her own words this colour is associated with her recently passed away grandmother. Allen added that not too long before grandmother died she received a present from her, an orange cup. However, almost right after taking it Allen broke a cup and felt quite miserable. Lily is extremely thankful that she has received this spontaneous honour. It’s interesting to know that Lily Allen is not the first artist, which is getting closer to the world of “botanical gardens”. Thus, Neil Young had already given his name to the new type of spiders in 2008, and exactly the same thing was repeated by David Bowie just a few months ago. In other words, flowers and spiders (maybe snakes in the future?) should be as famous as their name-givers.

Editorial staff of the Italian Rolling Stone magazine had proclaimed Silvio Berlusconi a rock star, said their official website. A seventy-three year old leader of the Italian government is going to appear on the country’s version of the magazine in front of the Italian flag on the cover (December issue). An author of this cover page, Shepard Fairey is already well known for his three coloured posters of then presidential candidate Barack Obama. As the editor-in-chief of the Italian Rolling Stone Carlo Antonelli said in his interview to ANSA news agency, the term “rock n’ roll” is not fully reflecting the prime minister’s popularity and his love of life. Antonelli had added that in comparisence to him such rock musicians as Rod Steward, Keith Richards and Brian Jones look as if they were ‘rookies’. During the last few years Berlusconi’s partying with women at his villa became the centre of media’s attention. Due to his sexual scandals a lot of critics kept on asking for his resignation, but Berlusconi answered that he is the best prime minister in the Italian history. The rock star status of this guy was chosen by the total vote made by the Rolling Stone’ staff; it seems that readers did not really participate.

Leader of the British legendary The Who, Roger Daltrey is planning to write his memoires, noted New Musical Express relating this news to Rockradio. Musician said that he is in need to tell something about his life, a story behind his career, which is obviously very interesting. “I’m thinking about a biography now. It’s probably time. Just the story of my life and the things I’ve done, you know, it’s kind of interesting,” underlined Daltrey. This guy is an interesting person, he can surely say a lot, and not just about his career, but generally about the world we are living in. “And when I look at the juxtapositions of things – you know, like being the singer in The Who to being a fish farmer, and being a film star to being a beef farmer, there’s all these swings and roudabouts in my life that are so juxtaposed”, he said. While talking about his upcoming book, he also noted that possibly a lot of people may not get satisfied because he is not really ready to tell about scandalous details. “They were interesting times. And it wasn’t all fun, but there was an awful lot of fun. The only trouble is, the people usually want the salacious crap and I don’t know if I’m prepared to dig that, you know?”, confirmed Daltrey.

Sir Paul McCartney has helped his old colleague, ex-The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr to record a new solo album, said Rolling Stone. Former ‘Liverpool four’ member had participated in recording of a few bass and vocal parts that will be included into Starr’s “Y Not”. Thus, McCartney should be heard on Starr’s “Walk With Me”, which is designed to become the first single out of “Y Not” fourteen tracks. Besides that, Sir Paul had participated on the recording of a “Peace Dream” song; possible single as well. “It makes the song like a conversation between us, and that was Paul’s idea to do his part one beat behind me. That’s why he’s a gen-i-us and an incredible bass player”, underlined Starr. The last time when two have co-operated took place way back in 1998 while working on “Vertical Man”. During that time McCartney was responsible for bass and back vocals in the song “What in the… World”, and in “Mindfield”. It’s always great to see them working together, it reminds of The Beatles era. If relating it all to “Y Not”, Paul McCartney is not the only one to be on the album. Many songs were written with the help of The Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, British singer and actress Joss Stone, American composer, producer and actor Van Dyke Parks, guitarist and singer Ben Harper, plus singer and composer Richard Marx.

Wines That Rock company is going to add something very interesting into it’s stash, something what really rocks. As their official website says, they will dedicate the new type of wine to The Rolling Stones; label on the bottle should portray lips and a tongue, band’s classic  logo. The wine itself was made of merlot grapes (red). Wines That Rock had called this new sort “Forty Licks”, the same as The Rolling Stones’ compilation, released in 2002. “I can’t believe that this is my job. I get to taste wine, listen to music, and think about how to put it all together in a bottle of wine that truly captures the essence of an album”, said Mark Beaman, the one who had created “Forty Licks”. It was poured into bottles in 2007 and the first degustation took place just a few days ago; right during the 25^th anniversary of the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. However, it’s not known if the band members liked this wine. “Forty Licks” can be ordered right at the Wine That Rock website, so fans should not sit still. Also, it’s possible to get other wines, which were previously dedicated to rock music. “The Dark Side of the Moon” is a good sauvignon cabernet dedicated to Pink Floyd, and “Woodstock” may go as a good type of shardonet.

Infamous British trio The Prodigy had prepared the photo album, which should include five hundred pictures made up during their world tour in support of the “Invaders Must Die” album. However, this book will be produced including only 999 copies, said their official website. A book will incorporate coloured and black/white photos that were not issued before and could not be seen by their fans. Each copy of “Invaders Must Die – The Book” will possess it’s own number thus showing special quality. Besides that, all copies will be signed by the band members – Keith Flint, Liam Howlett and Maxim Reality. This book should be out on January 4, 2010; it’s already confirmed that it will go for 111 euros. Surely, nowadays this way is more original than producing videos because it’s not so common anymore. Usually people, except real fans, are more concert/video/Internet oriented, books with pictures are less popular, but his time The Prodigy is showing very cool side of being innovative. In other words, this will be trully remembered, just because it looks quite original. “Invaders Must Die” album was relesed in the beginning of 2009 and took the first spot on the British national chart. On the Billboard Electronic Album Chart they went up to number three.

Legendary Iceland musician Bjork had participated at the recording of a soundtrack to the newly created and almost released cartoon about Moomins, mythical descendants of the Scandinavian trolls. As her official website says, “Moomins and the Comet Chase” should come out by the end of the next summer (2010). Bjork and her colleague, a poet from Iceland Sjon have written and recorded a song called “The Comet Song”; at the same time there is no information if it will be released separately from the above mentioned cartoon. Moomins are mythical figures created by the imagination of the Finnish author Tove Jansson. Bjork and Sjon are big fans of this writer and her tales, which describe the life of these funny creatures. For example, Bjork herself often appears in clothing, which reflects Moomins and everything what may be related to it. This artistic woman is the unique one among many others right now who are involved in the music business. She sort of stands on her own pathway without trying to mix with other styles, fashions or the mainstream. Bjork’s most recent album “Volta” was released in 2007 and was nominated for Grammy. During the summer of 2009 she has released the box-set called “Voltaic”, which includes rare records, remixes, videos and concert versions of her songs.

Infamous Italian Capuchin-monk Cezare Bonizzi who became known for his love of metal music and foundation of his own metal band Fratello Metallo  is going to quit his current music career. Recently, he decided to leave the stage due to certain moral principles, said Reuters. “The devil has separated me from my managers, risked making me break up with my band colleagues and also risked making me break up with my fellow monks. He lifted me up to the point where I became a celebrity and now I want to kill him,” noted Bonizzi. During Cezare’s farewell his friends have shaved his head in dedication to the new life, which he is about to begin. In his interview to Il Giornale Capuchin monk said that Fratello Metallo music was always great and full of ‘crystal clean” messages to people. “If one is performing heavy music it should not mean that he or she is worshipping satan. Our songs were not about satanism”, he said. When answering a question about what topics were the most important to him while being a singer he said that it was always life oriented; family, women, sex, Jesus, drugs and faith. However, they did not promote bad things, but actucally tried to turn people away from sin.