February 19, 2001

BACK ON THE STOMPING GROUND

While there’s a delay with the release of Rory Gallagher‘s acoustic album “Wheels On Fire”, another project, “Irish Tour ’74” DVD, is on the way. The film that Rory fans have long been asking captures Rory the man, his music and the magical connection with his live audience to perfection. Directed by Tony Palmer, this film has only ever previously been seen during it’s original theatrical release back in 1974 and is to be out now in its entirity, including the following live tracks: “Walk On Hot Coals”, “Tatoo’d Lady”, “Who’s That Coming”, “A Million Miles Away”, “Going To My Home Town”, “Cradle Rock”, “As The Crow Flies”, “Hands Off”, “Bullfrog Blues” and featuring a full 80 minute commentary by Rory’s brother Donal and bassist Gerry McAvoy, a comprehensive discography – 16 albums with a track from each, never before seen footage of Rory in Japan. The DVD is in Dolby digital stereo and surround sound options.

SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY AWAY, SIR

Here’s the news from the Paul McCartney press office:

The TV story of the band and a double CD of WINGS hits will be released worldwide in May. “The Beatles Anthology”-style project, which has been three years in the making, will be launched under the banner “Wingspan”. The two-hour film will reveal the inside story of WINGS for the first time on television.

Led by extensive and candid interviews with Paul McCartney, “Wingspan” reveals how, whilst trying to raise a young family and follow THE BEATLES, Paul and Linda formed a back-to-basics band that rose to become one of the biggest rock groups of the Seventies. Featuring never-before-seen home movie footage of Paul and Linda and their family, together with previously-private band archive and rare concert film, “Wingspan” will tell how Paul McCartney, devastated by the break-up of THE BEATLES, restarted his career from scratch – with him, Linda, their children, pet dogs and the band all driving around Britain in a van asking for work. Instead of arriving at stadium concerts in police-escorted limousines, WINGS drove themselves to small halls unannounced and uninvited, and were paid for their impromptu shows in 50p pieces. Besides following Paul and Linda’s private family life from 1970-1980, “Wingspan” reveals how – despite the headaches and handicaps of Beatles law suits, police pot busts and BBC airplay band – WINGS soared to success with hit singles, No.1 albums and eventually even a bigger stadium show than that of THE BEATLES.

“Wingspan” will be premiered primetime on American TV in early May and then broadcast around the world. Alongside the TV film, EMI/Capitol Records will release a double CD featuring 40 WINGS songs, which will be supported by the re-issue of videos and promo films and a worldwide media, Internet and advertising campaign. Said Paul McCartney: “I always thought that you couldn’t follow THE BEATLES; “Wingspan” is the story and the soundtrack of how we set out to do it”.

WETTON-DOWNES: AT LAST

Voiceprint Records eventually decided on release of the album by John Wetton and Geoff Downes that was promised to be out about two years ago. It’s a collection of demos and un-released tracks from the days when Downes and Wetton were the writing team of ASIA. One of the track, namely “Kari-Anne”, was released previously as a bonus track with ASIA’s “Live In Moscow” CD and another one, “Chistina”, made its debut in live version on Wetton’s “Akustika” album.

So, the tracklist for the new release is as such:

February 19, 2001