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The Ronnie Wood Show comes to the US

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:59:06 +0000

The Ronnie Wood Show launches in North America on January 29 on Rock WAXQ (Q104.3)/New York.

The weekly one-hour show has been a critical success since its UK launch on Absolute Radio.

Ronnie Wood plays music from his favourite new and classic artists, and shares personal stories from his legendary music career, during which he has been a member of The Jeff Beck Group, The Faces and The Rolling Stones.

Ronnie has welcomed the news:

“I’m so excited to have my own radio show in America. I love going down the archives every week playing some of my favorite music of all time, while reminiscing and taking a trip down memory lane. It’s more than a music show, it’s an education, so sit back and enjoy the ride!”

The Ronnie Wood Show – Best Moments of 2011

Happy 65th Birthday David Bowie

admin — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 09:51:45 +0000

To mark David Bowie’s 65th birthday today, we’ve selected our top five Bowie songs. The choices span the years 1969 to 1977, when Bowie was at his creative and commercial peak.

Enjoy…

1. David Bowie – “Life On Mars?”

Recorded – April, 1971 at Trident Studios, London
First released – December, 1971 on the album “Hunky Dory”

For more on “Life On Mars?” check our Song of the Week #72 entry.

2. David Bowie – Heroes

Recorded – July-August, 1977 at Hansa Studio by the Wall, Berlin
First released – September, 1977 on single

3. David Bowie – Space Oddity

Recorded – June, 1969 at Trident Studios, London
First released – July, 1969 on single

4. David Bowie – “Changes”

Recorded – April, 1971 at Trident Studios, London
First released – December, 1971 on the album “Hunky Dory”

5. David Bowie – “The Jean Genie”
Recorded – October, 1972 at RCA Studios, New York
First released – November, 1972 on single

Happy 65th Birthday David Bowie.

700 ‘lost’ Thin Lizzy recordings uncovered

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:38:20 +0000

As Phil Lynott’s fans commemorate the 26th anniversary of his untimely death today, they will welcome the news that a collection of almost 700 unreleased Thin Lizzy tracks has been unearthed.

The recordings, which span the years 1971 to 1981, appear on 150 tapes that Lynott reportedly gave to a friend. They include both unreleased songs and alternative takes of classic Thin Lizzy tracks.

The tapes have been passed to Universal Music who, together with Scott Gorham and Brian Downey of Thin Lizzy, will decide what material should appear on a forthcoming Thin Lizzy box set.

Thin Lizzy are on tour this month, with former frontman of The Almighty, Ricky Warwick, taking on lead vocal duties.

Last November saw the release of the excellent 7-disc “Thin Lizzy – Live At The BBC” box set, along with a 2-disc version.

Title

Thin Lizzy – Live At The BBC (6 CDs/DVD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now

Thin Lizzy – Live At The BBC (2 CDs)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now

Happy New Year to all our readers

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:01:38 +0000

We would like to wish all our readers a very Happy New Year. Thank you for your support during 2011 and we hope you will continue to visit Classic Pop Icons in 2012.

We usher in the New Year with Frank and Dino’s live rendition of “Auld Lang Syne”:

Lost David Bowie footage recovered

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:10:16 +0000

A retired cameraman has come forward with footage of David Bowie that was thought to be lost forever.

The footage features Bowie singing “Jean Genie” on Top of the Pops in 1973.

John Henshall, 69, from Stanford-in-the-Vale, Oxfordshire, had filmed the performance using his Telefex Fisheye lenses and had been allowed to keep a copy on 2in (5cm) broadcast videotape so that he could feature it on his showreel.

Henshall told the BBC:

“I just couldn’t believe that I was the only one with it. I just thought you wouldn’t be mad enough to wipe a tape like that.”

“They’d been looking for it for years, hoping that somebody had maybe pointed an 8mm home movie camera at the screen, because there was no VHS in those days. I didn’t realise that anybody wanted it. I’d just had it because it was my Fisheye.”

The recording was revealed at the British Film Institute’s annual Missing Believed Wiped event on Sunday, alongside rarities such as missing Doctor Who episodes and a Peter Cook and Dudley Moore sketch.

The performance of “Jean Genie” will be seen in early 2012 in a BBC4 documentary titled “Tales of Television Centre.”

Today is the closing date for a superb David Bowie box set featuring his entire discography, rarities, DVDs and some of his best films. The prize draw is open to UK readers aged 18 and over. Click here for details.

Sir Tom Jones confirmed as a coach on The Voice

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:53:14 +0000

The BBC has confirmed that Sir Tom Jones will be among the coaches on The Voice talent show which will air on BBC One next spring.

Tom’s fellow coaches will be The Script frontman Danny O’Donoghue, Jessie J and will.i.am. The show will be hosted by Holly Willoughby and Reggie Yates.

The objective of The Voice will be to seek out the nation’s best vocal talent, with a real emphasis on voice rather than image. Contestants will compete through three stages – blind auditions, battle rounds and the live performance.

Jones says:

“I’m excited about The Voice, and thrilled to be participating as a Coach. This is a strong show; it’s all about talent — but it’s also exciting, competitive and compelling television. I’ve been blessed over the years to share the stage with some of the worlds finest artists, and I look forward to being part of the team that discovers a great, new, genuine talent.”

Will Young was scheduled to appear as a coach on the show, but his place was taken by Danny O’Donoghue. Young told his Twitter followers “The voice came, the voice went. They wanted to go more rock…. Should have dusted off my Leather jacket! Hey ho.”

BBC One Controller, Danny Cohen, says:

“I’m delighted to be announcing Tom Jones and Danny O’Donoghue as Coaches for The Voice. Tom is a music legend and will bring huge experience and creativity to the line-up. Danny is a rising star who will bring freshness and surprise to the team. Overall, our line-up of Tom Jones, Jessie J, will.i.am and Danny O’Donoghue gives us mega-star quality, great musical range and musicians we know our audience love.”

Last month saw Sir Tom Jones named Wales’ Greatest Living National Treasure in a nationwide poll conducted by The EuroMillions’ Millionaire Raffle.

Paul McCartney gets behind campaign to save the tiger

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:40:22 +0000

Paul McCartney has joined a host of celebrities in urging the public to get behind TigerTime’s campaign to save the wild tiger from extinction.

TigerTime is a registered charity which aims to “save the tiger from extinction and help to return them to levels that are sustainable and safe.”

Paul McCartney said:

“Losing the wild tiger would be unforgivable. We need people power to save it! Please get behind this fabulous initiative. Whatever you do, wherever you live, your voice matters! Every signature makes the campaign stronger.”

TigerTime was formed in May of this year by the British wildlife artist and conservationist David Shepherd CBE, who has welcomed McCartney’s support:

“The vast majority of people are shocked to the core when they hear that there are only 3,200 wild tigers left on earth. It is a shockingly low figure. Think of it this way – every wild tiger on earth could stand on just one soccer pitch! Getting that message out to people is vital if we are going to save the wild tiger. Paul McCartney has a huge following around the world. His support will help us reach out to people in ever greater numbers.”

Other celebrity supporters of TigerTime include Stephen Fry, Roger Moore, Ricky Gervais, Anjelica Huston, Jeremy Irons, Joan Jett and Joanna Lumley.

You can lend your support to TigerTime via a signature or donation at www.tigertime.info

“Live from the BBC Vault” on SiriusXM

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:21:58 +0000

Sirius XM Radio has announced that it will broadcast a series of classic concert performances as part of the “Live from the BBC Vault” series.

“Live from the BBC Vault” will feature two different performances each week on various SiriusXM channels. The series will kick off with a 1973 BBC performance from Pink Floyd on SiriusXM’s Deep Tracks, channel 27, on Monday, October 3 at 10:00 pm ET. This will be followed by a 1997 performance by Radiohead.

Commenting on the series, Salim Mukaddam, Head of Radio, BBC Worldwide, said:

“The BBC In Concert catalogue is a deep archive of incredible performances recorded by BBC Radio over many years. We’re really pleased that by working with long-standing partner SiriusXM we’re able to make a wonderful selection of highly acclaimed concerts available to North American music fans.”

Other acts that will feature in the series include Led Zeppelin, U2, Lady Gaga, AC/DC, Duran Duran, Queen, and The Cure.

Bob Marley’s “High Tide Low Tide” to benefit famine victims

admin — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:51:27 +0000

Today saw the re-release of Bob Marley’s 1973 song “High Tide Low Tide,” with proceeds going to Save The Children’s East Africa Appeal. The Appeal is supporting the victims of the East African famine which has left a reported 29,000 children dead and 10 million short of food.

The “I’m Gonna Be Your Friend” campaign has received the support of many high profile celebrities, who have posted the new video for the song on their Facebook profile. The video was directed by Kevin McDonald, whose directorial credits include the movie “Last King of Scotland.”

A letter from Marley’s family has encouraged people to support the Appeal:

“Not one child should be denied food nor water. Not one child should suffer from the conflict caused by grown men. Over three million women and children are suffering. They are innocent. They are not political. They are starving. Bob Marley, then and now stands for an Africa United, for one love, for the protection of children worldwide.

“Please join us as we, along with Save the Children, stand up together as friends to put a stop to this needless waste of life, to feed our children and to save their lives. This generous act will help us reach through your friends and ours over two hundred million people worldwide.”

The song and film can be downloaded through ITunes, from www.imgonnabeyourfriend.org or via Bob Marley’s Facebook page for 99p / $1.29.

Please spread the word about this Appeal by posting this article to your Facebook or Twitter profiles using the buttons below.

Ruth Negga cast as Shirley Bassey

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:02:33 +0000

Irish actress, Ruth Negga, has been cast in the lead role of the BBC Two drama “Shirley Bassey: A Very British Diva,” which will chart the Cardiff-born singer’s rise from poverty to international stardom.

Born to a British mother and Nigerian father, Bassey left school at 15 to work in a factory and was discovered singing in working men’s clubs. At 17 she became an unmarried mother, but survived what was then a potentially career-ending scandal to become one of Britain’s best loved stars.

Negga has welcomed the role:

“I’m thrilled to be cast in the role of Shirley Bassey and it’s an absolute honour to be playing her in such an intimate story of her life.”

“Shirley Bassey: A Very British Diva” will also feature Lesley Sharp as Bassey’s mother Eliza, Charlie Creed-Miles as her manager Mike Sullivan, and Henry Lloyd-Hughes as her future husband Kenneth Hume.

Executive producer of the film, Maxine Watson, said:

“Dame Shirley Bassey is iconic. She transcends age, race and class. The big voice and vocal style are unmistakable, but it took so much more than that to take her from Tiger Bay to world class headliner. Hers is a classic story of overcoming poverty through personal sacrifice and I’m thrilled that we have such a fantastic cast to bring this story to life.”

Negga’s previous television credits “Misfits” and “Criminal Justice.” She has also appeared in Irish films such as “Breakfast On Pluto” and “Isolation.”

“Shirley Bassey: A Very British Diva” will air as part of BBC Two’s Mixed Race Season.