FRETLESS SECRETS
While there’s still a talk of a BLUE MURDER reunion, the band members seem to have no time for it. Tony Franklin, in particular, not only started working on his second solo album, a successor to last year’s "Brave New Tomorrow", but also got immensed in a “top secret”, as he puts it, project. He fulfils the musical director duties booking the studios and the musicians, doing the arrangements and producing and, sure, playing. The maze should unwind by the end of the year.
STILL ‘UMBLE
URIAH HEEP keep on the right track and return to putting out singles. Now, after “Come Away Melinda”, which even received the MTV rotation, they present their biggest favourite ever, namely“Lady In Black”, taken off the "Acoustically Driven" album. The single contains the title track freshly remixed by Pip Williams as well as “Cross That Line” and “Circus” featuring JETHRO TULL’s Ian Anderson on flute, plus a special new video track of “Lady In Black”.
Pip Williams is producer of “Sonic Origami”, "Future Echoes Of The Past" and "Acoustically Driven" and currently he’s finishing the “Remasters” project, featuring performances of material from the HEEP back catalogue performed by this line-up. It will result in a double album, that’s to be released in October.
HEAR ME, SEE ME? GET AN AWARD!
Pete Townshend is one of those musicians, who firmly stand behind the websites of their own and put a lot of effort in their web presence. Pete’s work now is to be honoured by the Internet Pioneer Award presented by Yahoo! at the fourth annual Yahoo! Internet Life Music Awards, to be held in New York on September 20th.
In 2000 Townshend’s site had more than five million hits. The award goes to the music industry personae who change the way the world experiences music.
SCRAPPING THE BARREL FOR NUMBER TWO’S
THE BEATLES seem to have a desire to cash on the success of their “1” compilation, which got to the top of the charts in 34 countries, and think of another greatest hits album, according to Ringo. When interviewd by US television, Mr. Starr revealed that there’s a couple of projects in the works to begin taking shape in October.
PROTESTS AND ARRESTS
Bonnie Raitt, who recently performed for the prison inmates, and John Densmore, who used to be THE DOORS drummer were among those arrested on July 25th after a public protest in Itasca, Illioins. Musicians took part in the Rainforest Action Network action to demonstrate against the forest products company Boise Cascade Corporation, which destroys ancient rainforests and tries to limit the free speech rights of its opponents.
