Soft Cell to Reunite as Part of 40th Anniversary

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Soft Cell, Marc Almond and Dave Ball will be joining forces once again to play one final show, A Wild Celebration! The show will take place at the O2 Arena and tickets go on sale on Friday. All links will be published ahead of time on the front and Live pages so keep an eye out and join Soft Cell for One Last Time, A Wild Celebration. More after the jump...

http://www.marcalmond.co.uk/news/index.html

Retrovision: Marc Almond- Stories of Johnny -Live-

"Stories of Johnny" was one of the lead tracks on the album of the same name which was relesed in 1985. This prefomance on Wogan in 1985 gave a whole new dimension to the song with boy choir and wonderful backing vocals.

 

Rational Youth's Live Recordings and Archive Tracks to be Released as Magic Box

Artoffact Records have announced the release of 'Magic Box', a compilation which includes Rational Youth's live Recordings from 1983 as well as previously unreleased material. This three CD collection includes the double-CD Live 1983 and a third, limited edition CD that collects Rational Youth archive tracks, demos, 7" remixes, as well as solo tracks from Bill Vorn, Kevin Komoda, and Tracy Howe. The CDs also includes two tracks from the infamous "Affection" cassette, and a track from Heaven Seventeen, a pre-Rational Youth project. All tracks have been remastered from original tapes where possible. Limited to 390 copies worldwide. 'Magic Box' will be out on November 5th. 

More info:
http://www.stormingthebase.com/rational-youth-magic-box-live-1983-archives-cd-3cd

Simple Minds - Greatest Hits + UK Tour 2013!

Following a summer of festival appearances and their hugely acclaimed 5X5 tour, Simple Minds will be performing their Greatest Hits Live next year on a huge 28 date tour of the UK. Tickets will go on general sale at 10.00AM 26th OCTOBER 2012, but there will be a special ticket pre-sale beforehand for fans at the new Simplemindsshop.com starting Wed 24th October. 

Expect to hear songs from their extensive back catalogue including "Alive and Kicking", "Don’t You (Forget About Me)", "Waterfront" and more. The show will be in two halves with an interval and no support - a whole evening of Simple Minds, who will be releasing their greatest hits collection ‘Celebrate’ in March to coincide with the tour (and which will include 2 new tracks).

SIMPLE MINDS GREATEST HITS TOUR

March 2013

• Thu 28 BELFAST WATERFRONT 02890 334 400
• Fri 29 CARLISLE SANDS CENTRE 01228 633 766
• Sun 31 NEWCASTLE CITY HALL 0191 277 8030

April 2013

• Mon 01 ABERDEEN MUSIC HALL 0844 499 9990
• Tue 02 DUNDEE CAIRD HALL 0844 499 9990
• Thu 04 LLANDUDNO VENUE CYMRU ARENA 01492 872 000
• Fri 05 LEICESTER DE MONTFORT HALL 0116 233 3111
• Sat 06 WOLVERHAMPTON CIVIC HALL 0870 320 7000
• Mon 08 BRIGHTON DOME 01273 709 709
• Tue 09 PLYMOUTH PAVILIONS 0845 146 1460
• Thu 11 LINCOLN ENGINE SHED 0844 888 8766
• Fri 12 NOTTINGHAM ROYAL CONCERT HALL 0115 989 5555
• Sat 13 LEEDS O2 ACADEMY 0844 477 2000
• Mon 15 BOURNEMOUTH O2 ACADEMY 0844 477 2000
• Tue 16 MARGATE WINTER GARDENS 01843 292 795
• Wed 17 SOUTHEND CLIFFS PAVILION 01702 351 135
• Fri 19 BLACKPOOL OPERA HOUSE 0844 856 1111
• Sat 20 LIVERPOOL EMPIRE 0844 871 3017
• Mon 22 CAMBRIDGE CORN EXCHANGE 01223 357 851
• Tue 23 GUILDFORD G LIVE 0844 770 1797
• Thu 25 READING HEXAGON 0118 960 6090
• Fri 26 SHEFFIELD CITY HALL 0114 278 9789
• Sat 27 HULL CITY HALL 01482 226 655
• Mon 29 BRISTOL COLSTON HALL 0117 922 3686
• Tue 30 PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL 023 92824 355

May 2013

• Thu 02 OXFORD NEW THEATRE 0844 871 3020
• Fri 03 NORWICH UEA 01603 508 050
• Sat 04 IPSWICH REGENT 01473 433 100

Heaven 17- 'The Luxury Gap' Reissues and Tour

Heaven 17 have announced the reissue of their second album 'The Luxury Gap' in October. This will be another expanded reissue which will feature three-disc (2CD and DVD). The original album from 1983 will be on one CD along with a second CD of remixes and a DVD of promo videos and live performances. 

The band will also go on tour and perform the classic album in its entirety including the hits "Temptation" and "Let Me Go". Several tour dates have been confirmed for October, November and December in the UK and Germany. 

More info via Heaven 17 official

 

Duran Duran- A Diamond In The Mind (Live Video)

Duran Duran will release 'A Diamond in the Mind', a stunning live performance filmed at the Men Arena in Manchester on December 16, 2011. This performance combines great music with amazing visuals and iconic style which has been the band’s trademark throughout their career The live set includes new songs from their latest album 'All You Need is Now' as well as classic Duran Duran hits. The release date is set for July. 

www.duranduranmusic.com
 

Kraftwerk Eight Day Stand in New York

Kraftwerk will give a series of eight performances, each devoted to one of its albums, as part of a Museum of Modern Art retrospective of the electronic music pioneers in April, museum officials said. The performances during “Kraftwerk-Retrospective 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8,” on consecutive evenings starting April 10, will not only feature tracks from one of Kraftwerk’s albums, but also other original compositions intended to showcase the group’s influence on contemporary culture. Projected images, including 3-D ones, will accompany the music. The albums will be performed in chronological order, one each night, starting with “Autobahn” from 1974 and working up through “Tour de France” from 2003. 

Source:
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com
http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1257

The Jesus and Mary Chain New Tour Dates

Jesus and the Mary Chain have reunited for a four dates tour in the USA. The tour will kick off in March and it will include an appearance at SXSW in Austin, Texas. This will be the first time since 2008 that the band has performed in North America. 

 The revitalized Jesus And Mary Chain are then something of a miracle – a perfect combination of their earliest incendiary nihilism, and their later musical perfection. Underpinning the Reid brothers’ three-chord assault on these 2012 dates will be (sometimes drummer and guitarist from the Psychocandy and Darklands tours) John Moore on guitar, Phil King on bass and a drummer to be announced. Go to the tour dates page for venue and date info.

http://thejesusandmarychain.co.uk  

Simple Minds 5x5 Tour

Simple Minds are pleased to announce a very rare and exciting opportunity to see them perform material from their first five albums in February and March 2012. These landmark shows, lasting over two and half hours, will be part of a 16-date European tour beginning in Portugal on 14th February. The band will exclusively play five songs from each of their first five albums including 'New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84)' which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year – which were released in a prolific period from 1979 to 1982. These five albums have had a massive cultural impact from the time of their release during the birth of the new wave electro scene in the late 1970;s, through the dance revolution of the 80's and 90's, to the music of the Manic Street Preachers and the recent sound of The Horrors’ Skying album, making them five of the most vital albums of the post-punk period and the last 35 years.

February 
14th Coliseum, Lisbon, Portugal
15th Riviera, Madrid, Spain
16th Razzamatazz, Barcelona, Spain
18th Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands
19th Admiralpalast, Berlin, Germany
20th Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
21st Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway
23rd Cirque Royal, Brussels, Belgium
24th Birmingham Academy
25th Glasgow Barrowland
27th Casino De Paris, France
28th Alcatraz, Milan, Italy
29th Komplex 457, Zurich, Switzerland
March 
2nd London Roundhouse
3rd Manchester Ritz
4th Olympia Theatre, Dublin

 http://www.simpleminds.com/

Heaven 17/BEF- "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" Live

Here is brilliant performance of the song "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by Heaven 17/ BEF during the two day music festival "Music of Quality and Distinction" live at London's Roundhouse. The song appeared on The Human League's album 'Reproduction' and was performed by Philip Oakey. Righteous Brothers' original was released in 1965.

 

OMD Revisit Eric's Club

The legendary music club in England has opened its doors again. Eric's Club which was opened in Liverpool on October 1, 1976 in a building basement on Mathew Street, has became notable for hosting early performances by many punk, new wave and post-punk bands as well as by The Beatles. Joy Division, Ultravox, Sex Pistols, Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Clash are among of the groups who performed some of their first gigs there. For OMD it all started at the Eric's club where they had their debut in 1978 and they came back to re-open the club after 33 years.

 
OMD performing "Electricity"

Blue Zoo 2011

Almost thirty years ago after the release of their biggest hit "Cry Boy Cry", Blue Zoo have reunited in the recent years to have fun, to perform together and they are also working on new material. During their recent gig at the Castle they were supported by Savage Furs who were recently featured here in an interview. Head over to Blue Zoo official to find more about the group or to recall old memories. Don't miss the live section with the recent live performance.

www.bluezoo.org.uk

B.E.F. & Heaven 17's 'The Luxury Gap' Live

Following the success of Heaven 17’s 'Penthouse and Pavement 30th Anniversary Tour' in 2010, Martyn Ware’s production project, ‘British Electric Foundation’ (B.E.F.) is proud to present ‘Music of Quality and Distinction Live’, a 2-day festival at London’s prestigious Roundhouse from October 14-15th, celebrating 30 years of seminal electronic music and unique collaborations.

Heaven 17 will perform the world premiere of their 1983 album ‘The Luxury Gap’ on Friday October 14t husing 3D soundscape composition techniques pioneered by Martyn Ware and Vince Clarke followed by B.E.F.’s first ever live performance featuring tracks from the albums ‘Music of Quality & Distinction Vol. 1 & 2’ on Saturday October 15th. Guest vocalists confirmed for the Music of Quality and Distinction concert include Elly Jackson (LaRoux), Boy George (Culture Club), Green Gartside (Scritti Politti), Sandie Shaw, Kim Wilde, Andy Bell (Erasure), Shingai Shoniwa (Noisettes), Midge Ure (Ultravox), Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17) and Polly Scattergood (more names to be confirmed shortly).

Tickets go on sale Thursday April 12th at 10am. Ticket hotline: 0844 844 0444. Book online: www.ticketmaster.co.uk. Day tickets: £23.50. Weekend tickets: £42.50.

http://www.heaven17.com/index.html

Duran Duran Sound, David Lynch Vision

First Installment of Unstaged 2011 will feature Duran Duran's performance coinciding with the release of the band’s 13th studio album and their first official tour since 2008. Duran Duran are also excited to confirm special guests Mark Ronson and Kelis at the American Express UNSTAGED Event on March 23rd (today) live from LA. Award-winning filmmaker David Lynch has been enlisted to capture the performance, providing fans with a visually stunning home viewing experience.

http://duranduranmusic.com/

Erasure- Total Pop! Tour

Erasure will make their much anticpated return to the live arena in 2011 with a run of 'Total Pop!' summer shows - including a series of very special outdoor shows in woodlands and forests around the UK in June as part of The Forestry Commission's annual concert series - that will see them play in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Russia and Ukraine, plus appearances at Miami's prestigious Ultra Music Festival in March and the Short Circuit Festival in London in May.

The guys are also working on a new album which will be co-produced by Frankmusik. Check out Erasure official for more information.

www.erasureinfo.com

Retrovision: Blancmange- God's Kitchen

"God's Kitchen" performed by Blancmange on the Tube show in December 1982. The song was released in the same year as a double a-side single with the songs "I've Seen the Word"

Haircut One Hundred- Pelican West Live

Haircut One Hundred, one of Britain’s leading iconic 1980s funk/pop bands will reform for a special one-off concert when they will perform their debut album 'Pelican West' in its entirety for the very first time at the prestigious London IndigO2. BBC 6 Music DJ Mark Jones of 'Back to the Phuture' will spin all the 80s’ pop classics. Support comes from “The Quotes” who take to the stage at 19:45, followed by Haircut One Hundred at 21:00.

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster on 0844 844 0002 or can be booked online from www.ticketmaster.co.uk or www.ticketline.co.uk.

The Rewind Festival- 80's Supernova

Rewind – The 80s Music Festival is to launch a new weekend event at Scone Palace in Perthshire, Scotland from 29th-31st July 2011. The festival will boast the biggest live outdoor line-up of 80s recording artists and performers ever! Tickets go on sale to the general public at 9am on Friday January 21st. For further ticket outlet info and prices visit: www.rewindfestival.com.The all-star 80s line-up will perform at the historic setting of Scone Palace in Perthshire; the home of The Earls of Mansfield and the crowning palace of the Kings of Scotland. 

More info:
http://www.noblepr.co.uk
Ticket Info

Heaven 17 Live on Later with Jools Holland

Heaven 17 have been confirmed as special guests on Later With Jools Holland. The programme will be transmitted LIVE on Tuesday 19th at 10.00 p.m. on BBC2 and the pre-recorded programme will transmit on Friday 22nd October at 11.45pm on BBC2.

Heaven 17’s appearance on Jools Holland will precede the highly anticipated 30th Anniversary tour of their seminal album "Penthouse And Pavement". It will be the first time the band will perform the album in its entirety. The tour includes the following dates: Edinburgh Picture House (Nov 22), Glasgow 02 ABC (Nov 23), Manchester Ritz (Nov 25), Birmingham HMV Institute (Nov 26), London HMV Forum (Nov 28), Oxford 02 Academy (Nov 29), Brighton Corn Exchange (Nov 30) and Bristol 02 Academy (Dec 1).

www.heaven17.com

Live Souvenirs from Mute

Depeche Mode and Yazoo have released their live videos from the last tours. Depeche Mode's 'Tour Of The Universe - Live In Barcelona', contains 21 tracks and it was recorded over two sold out nights at the 'Palau St Jordi' in Barcelona on November 20th and 21st 2009, both shows being highlights of the celebrated tour.

Yazoo's "Reconnected Live" comes as a result of the short reunion tour which was started 25 years after the split in 2008. The record was released on September 27, 2010 as a standard 2-CD set, a limited edition 2-CD deluxe edition and as a digital download. Both records were released by re-established Mute records.

http://www.depechemode.com/news.html
http://www.yazooinfo.com/news.html