British Acts Step Up The Battle To Make It Big In Japan

It has been a typically volatile week in the Japanese music charts. Straight in at number one is the empress of J-pop herself, Ayumi Hamasaki, with her new single, Glitter, followed by four new, home-grown, entries to make up the top five.

If the bands making it big in Japan - such as Porno Graffiti and Orange Range - are unfamiliar to you, it is because there is little evidence of British acts making any impression in Japan's Oricon charts, which are dominated by pubescent female singers and clean-cut boy bands.

But a delegation representing some of the biggest names in the independent British music scene is hoping to change all that. Led by the BPI, an umbrella organisation representing the British music industry, the heads of British record labels and companies offering expertise in everything from recording to marketing are going on a high-powered trade mission to Tokyo, backed by the British Council and the Government, where they will be banging the drum for British talent.

"Being big in Japan might have been a bit of a rock 'n' roll joke in the 1970s, but it was always a big and lucrative market," said Matt Phillips of the BPI. "Today, there is a real anglophile tendency there and bands that have traction in the market tend to be quirky and different. That said, the Japanese market is one of the most complex in the world and one of the hardest to break into," he added.

They will be hoping to build on the recent success of bands such as Oasis and Coldplay, who command loyal, if niche, followings.

Japan is a vital target for global music industry chiefs in the light of declining CD sales and the challenge posed by the digital music revolution. Behind the United States it is the second biggest market in the world and a key staging post for the mega-markets opening up across Asia, including China and its hundreds of millions of increasingly fashion-conscious young people.

Meanwhile, the British music scene is riding a wave of optimism, buoyed by marketable new talent from the Arctic Monkeys to Lily Allen and enjoying a much needed lift in sales volumes.

A quick glance at last weekend's Fuji Rock festival reveals that even if it is not reflected in the charts, there is a huge appetite for British music in Japan. Among the acts playing to a sell-out audience of 100,000 fans were The Cure, Muse, the Chemical Brothers and Ash.

Among those taking part in the five-day BPI mission are Liam Walsh of Manchester's Red Alert, who worked with Oasis and the Smiths, and Pete Gardiner of ZTT records.

Despite experiencing declining physical sales - down 9 per cent in the first half of this year to 129.6 million - the sheer scale of the Japanese market remains a massive lure.

Top-selling acts such as Mr Children have sold 50 million records, clocking up 26 consecutive number-one singles. EMI recently claimed that Utada Hikaru's "Flavor of Life" had become the biggest-selling digital single of all time, with sales in excess of seven million.

The Japanese music industry is a past master in multi-platform marketing. "Flavor of Life" was first launched as a ringtone tied in with a television series. It then sold as a ring video and a blog tag - allowing fans to paste it to their personal blogs - before being released as a physical single, by which time it had already sold two million copies.

Top 10 selling UK acts in Japan

* Oasis
* Coldplay
* Eric Clapton
* Craig David
* Chemical Brothers
* Gorillaz
* The Rolling Stones
* Queen
* Franz Ferdinand
* Rooster

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tevez On His Way To Madchester?

Carlos Tevez’s move to Manchester United appears to be going towards completion. Tevez will feel at home in the city that gave us The Smiths, The Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses and Oasis.

Tevez is part of the group Piola Vago with his brother Diego and friends from the Villa de Los Andes (Fuerte Apache) area of Buenos Aires.

Tevez who is a big fan of Oasis and The Stone Roses, can't wait to move to the city and sample the nightlife for himself.

The group play a form for Colombian folk dance and dance music called Cumbia villera and gave out their first albumn “Los Pibes del Barrio“, in December 2005.

Source: www.wordpress.com

Liam's Away On Olé Day

Dear Noel,

All right, Our Kid,

I’m just on me holidees with the bird and that.

I’m fed up of them posh places – they only feed you foreign muck, you know what I mean?

All me and the missus Nicole want, you know like, is some Cigarettes and duty-free Alcohol and we’re sweet.

So we’re in Spain with her good mate Mel Blatt, whose been soaking up the sunshiiiiiine in her black cossie.

Being a Rock’n’Roll Star and all that the Masterplan was just to blend in with the rest of the geezers.












So I bought a hat and some dad kecks for the pool – they look top mate.

Anyway, fella, I’m off to ger on me Simpsons inflatable and enjoy the Importance Of Being Idle for a while.

Stop Crying Your Heart Out, we’ll be home soon.

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

(Oh!)asis

In a recent interview with George Stroumboulopoulos, from CBC’s ‘The Hour,’ Oasis’ chief songwriter, Noel Gallagher, discovered something rather interesting about the American/ Canadian version of his band’s first album, ‘Definitely Maybe.’

While going track by track through the album Stroumboulopoulos asked Gallagher about ‘Digsy’s Diner.’ Gallagher excitedly corrected Stroumboulopoulos informing him that it was actually, ‘Digsy’s DINNER.’ To which Stroumboulopoulos responded by showing him a copy of the disc which clearly reads Diner. A rather sheepish Gallagher apologized and said that he had never looked at the disc. He also offered an apology to the throngs of North American journalists he had wrongly chastised over the last decade and a half for what he had perceived as their mistake.

Click here to watch a video, of Noel explaining the songs track by track from Definitely Maybe.

Source: www.blogsmonroe.com

Sermon On The Disc

Those who recall the period when Oasis burst on to the British music scene in 1994 will remember just why the Gallagher brothers were so compelling to a young generation of music fans.

Their appeal wasn't only thanks to the rough-carved anthems destined for their debut album, Definitely Maybe, as much as it was down to their frank and often hilarious straight talking.

While Liam offered endless self-assurance and Noel chipped in with an acutely dry wit, the pair could speak about life and music in a way their fans related to and agreed with. The pair had similarly candid spiritual forebears such as John Lennon, John Lydon, Morrissey and Ian Brown to look up to, but those dawning days of Britpop were the last in which music fans had such divisively opinionated and unafraid heroes of their own to idolise. Nowadays most bands are merely affable, or worse, sound like living extensions of their label's marketing department.

Until now. The "Reverend" Jon McClure hails from Sheffield, and his band, The Makers, combine the rabble-rousing electro-rock squall of Kasabian and Primal Scream with the same intelligent lyrical narrative which informs Arctic Monkeys' and The Streets' best work.

Click here for the full interview.

Source: www.living.scotsman.com

Watch The Rushes Soho Shorts Festival Anywhere With Babelgum

Babelgum is launching its dedicated channel on the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival allowing film and TV fans or budding new industry talent anywhere the opportunity to sample the best of the festival.

Highlights from the festivals in 2005 and 2006 will feature from today and users can view shortlisted entries from this year's awards from tomorrow, Saturday, 28th July.

Shortlisted music videos include Will Young, 'Who Am I?', Oasis, 'The Masterplan', Kasabian 'Shoot The Runner' and Lily Allen 'LDN'.

"Rushes Soho Shorts Festival director, Joe Bateman said, "It has always been difficult to give those located outside of the area the opportunity to view the best in upcoming and established talent within the film and television industry. Using Babelgum allows us to retain the intimacy of the festival, while allowing a potentially huge audience to peek through the curtains at the highlights."

For more information click here

Source: www.broadcastbuyer.tv

In Stores Monday

Paul Weller & Graham Coxon - This Old Town
UK release date: 30 July 2007

Track listing
1. This Old Town
2. Each New Morning
3. Black River

Catalogue Number: REGALSC016
Label: Parlophone

Thirty years since The Jam first crashed into the charts and Paul Weller is still around. Now following his release of his greatest hits album Hit Parade last year and a triumphant set at Glastonbury this year, he's formed an unlikely partnership with ex-Blur gone solo indie-geek Graham Coxon on this latest limited edition release for the Regal Singles Club.

Add in Oasis drummer Zak Starkey and Primal Scream's Mani on bass and you have to wonder whose idea it was to get them all together. It really works quite well though. At first This Old Town sounds like a Weller song with Coxon on lead vocals (Weller provides the harmonies), but then you're not quite sure as you hear some quirky chord changes that can only be down to Coxon. Ultimately this is a collaboration that draws on the distinct talents of both of them.

The song itself isn't going to change the world. But it's a solid track dominated by Weller's crunching guitar and injected with enough pace to take it above the dreary. It'll find its place in the collections of fans of both artists and will surely be a good addition to live gigs.

- Ben Urdang

Source: www.musicomh.com

Noel Gallagher Is Again On The Russell Brand Podcast

Noel Gallagher features again on a large part of the Russell Brand Podcast for BBC Radio 2.

Noel Gallagher joins Russell by phone from his home, for there usual weekend banter.

Noel talks with Russell at length about, Liam getting collared by Phil Collins children at Live Earth ,religion, art, the weather and much much more...

For information on how to download the podcast click here.

The Coral's Split Fears

The Coral's lead singer James Skelly has admitted he feared the band would split when the lead guitarist took a break from playing with them.

The Liverpool-based group are set to release their fifth album Roots And Echoes next month, but James said he thought their previous album The Invisible Invasion could have been their last when Bill Ryder-Jones had a breather to "get his head together".

"When he went, I thought that might've been it, but obviously I never wanted it to end," James admitted.

He added: "With hindsight, it was worrying, but at the time we just had the blinkers on and were trying to fulfil everything we had to do."

Thankfully Bill didn't leave for good and the band recorded their new album at Wheeler End studio - owned by Noel Gallagher.

"It's a great studio. There's loads of vintage gear in there, and there are lots of options when it comes to the way you record something," James said.

"I'd definitely work there again."

Source: www.metro.co.uk

Noel To Swing By For Monkeys?

I Hear that among the thousands at the Arctic Monkeys' eagerly anticipated gigs at Old Trafford this weekend could be Oasis star Noel Gallagher.

The Monkeys' drummer Matt Helders explains: "Our security guards are Noel's security, and we've obviously met him a few times and stuff, so he was saying he might come down, might visit home for a couple of days or whatever, so that'd be amazing if he came."

There is set to be all sorts of celeb activity round the Saturday and Sunday night gigs at Lancashire's cricket ground. There is even rumour of a reunion of sorts when former bassist Andy Nicholson DJs at the band's after-show party at Revolution bar, Deansgate Locks, on Sunday night.

Matt says: "He'll be at the gig I reckon, but I dunno about the after-show. I've DJed with him a few times."

Source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Sum 41 Cover Oasis's Morning Glory

Sum 41 have covered Morning Glory, frontman Deryck Whibley does a great acousic cover for Yahoo Music's Pepsi Smash.

Click here for the video (US), or here for the rest of the world.

The band's new album Underclass Hero, is in stores now.

Source: www.music.yahoo.com

Win A Marshall DAB Radio Signed By Oasis

Those who live to rock can bid for their own personalised bit of rock greatness with an auction in aid of the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy charity.

Music fans can win radios signed by musicians spanning the generations, from 60s and 70s legends Bill Wyman, Ronnie Wood and Bruce Dickinson to names more synonymous with the 80s such as Annie Lennox, Marillion and Paul Weller. More modern music fans can opt for radios signed by Keane, Sandi Thom, The Feeling or Queens of the Stone Age.

Legendary music amplifier company Marshall teamed up with DAB digital radio maker Pure some months back in a collaboration that saw Pure selling special Marshall-branded versions of its Evoke-1XT digital radios.

Now, Marshall and Pure have roped in tens of the music legends that use Marshall amps to belt our their overblown hits, getting stars such as Paul Weller, Hawkwind, Alice Cooper and Oasis’ Gallagher brothers to sign the DAB radios. Music fans will be able to bid for the radio signed by their favourite rock star in an auction running online from 1 October.

Proceeds from the charity auction will go to Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy (see www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk). The charity auction is supported by and will be promoted by specialist digital music station Planet Rock.

For a full list of rock stars currently signed up for the Marshall Pure Evoke-XT1 DAB radio auction, go to www.rockstarradios.com.

Source: www.pcadvisor.co.uk

Andy Bell Joins The Brian Jonestown Massacre For Charity Show

A festival that takes place in Oxford every year called 'Truck', was due to take place but was cancelled due to the downpour in the shire, one of the bands supposed to be playing was the Brian Jonestown Massacre, because it was cancelled so late (Friday) the day before the start of it most bands were in Oxford for it.

So at last minute they put on a gig at Brookes University with all the bands here already as a fundraiser because the rain ruined the site.

Rumours in the venue were that Andy Bell and Mark Mardner were going to do an acoustic set.

With one band to go before the Brian Jonestown Massacre took to the stage, the act before failed to arrive. So during the sound check Anton Newcombe came on to the stage and demanded two leather chairs be put side of stage.

Then when the band come on Andy Bell and Mark Gardner follow them on, so they just sit on the chairs at side of stage with Anton occasionally summoning Andy Bell to jam on some tunes, they played for about hour and half and did about six tunes.

They strung them out with Andy playing little riffs and solos on top, Anton left the stage at one point during a jam and with no idea what to play next they cracked into 'Drive Blind' with the Massacre Band , Andy played rhythm and Mark sang.

The two of them stayed on stage the whole gig, Andy played on more tunes than Mark, Anton was constantly bowing at them.

Small video clip of Drive Blind here

Thanks to Tim Ford for the pictures.

Tabloid Hell: Oasis 'Doner' Look Back In Anger

Noel Gallagher mistaken for Liam

It's the Oasis faux pas to end Oasis faux pas - mistaking Noel Gallagher for younger brother Liam.

However according to today's (July 23) Mirror one unlucky 'fan' ruined an encounter with his hero after running into the guitarist in London last week.

Noel was apparently confused for his singing sibling in Camden kebab shop - and NME favourite - Marathon while queuing up for a takeaway.

"You're Liam," the hapless star-spotted is reported to have told the Oasis leader. "You're in that band."

At the height of Britpop who knows what flurry of abuse would have followed next? Swearing? V-signs? Fisticuffs? (although to be fair at the height of Britpop its unlikely you'd have seen Noel in what was clearly Blur territory).

But Noel it seems, is a mellowed man and according to the paper simply "shot the fan a thunderous glare", before declaring "I don't think so, mate."

After which he simply grabbed his kebab and left. Doner look back in anger, indeed.

Source: www.nme.com

Oasisn't

They may not have topped the charts for a while but we're still surprised to hear the undisputed King of Britpop wasn't recognised in a takeaway.

In line at Marathon Kebab in Camden, Noel Gallagher, 40, was mistaken for his little brother by a tipsy fan. An onlooker tells us: "A fan said, 'You're in that band. You're Liam."

With that the Oasis star shot him a thunderous glare and muttered "I don't think so, mate" before grabbing his kebab and leaving.


C'mon Noel, Don't Look Back In Anger...

Source: www.mirror.co.uk

Even Noel Gallagher Can't Get Backstage

Those down-to-earth Kasabaian boys have come over all diva.

We're told the Leicester lads had a security team almost as big as the crowd when playing Ibiza Rocks on Tuesday.

A spy said: "Support act Pull Tiger Tail were told that no girlfriends or friends were allowed backstage.

"After they performed they were banned from there themselves."

Even pal Noel Gallagher, 40, seemed to have trouble getting near Kasabian. The Oasis rocker mixed with the crowd before leaving.

Source: Sunday People

Blast From The Past...

Scans from the October 1994 issue of Vox
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Scans from the January 1995 issue of Mojo Magazine.
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Scans from the March 1996 issue of Sky Magazine.
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If anyone has any scans from old magazines to share please send them in to scyhodotcom@gmail.com and I will post them here.

The Coral - Who's Gonna Find Me

The Coral release their new single Who's Gonna Find Me on July 30th 2007. Who's Gonna Find Me is taken from their new album Roots and Echoes, due for release on August 6th.

The album and single were recorded at Oasis' Wheeler End Studios and produced by Craig Silvey (The Magic Numbers) during the opening months of 2007 and mixed in London throughout April. 'Roots & Echoes' finds the band invigorated after a period of soul searching following the release of their third studio album, 'The Invisible Invasion'.

It was also around this period that one of the founding members Bill Ryder-Jones decided to quit touring with the group leaving the remaining members questioning whether they should continue. Four long years of touring had taken its toll on the band and Bill's temporary departure was the final straw.

According to James Skelly, "If you take one person out of The Coral, it's just not The Coral anymore. By the end of the last tour we were falling apart." The band took a well deserved break and returned home to Hoylake, Merseyside.

Eventually a period of demo-ing new tracks with long term friend and producer Ian Broudie along with continuous encouragement from the likes of Noel Gallagher enabled the band to rediscover their sense of purpose.

'Roots and Echoes' hums with the confidence of a band newly energised and at ease with themselves, featuring the trademark melodies and confidence which have led to over a oh benny sales across an already stunning career.

Source: www.contactmusic.com

Alan McGee's New Project

When Alan McGee gets involved in something, there's a fair chance it's going to be big. The man who signed Oasis has just signed up to present a television show on the web at www.rockworld.tv.

Death Disco will bring a flavour of McGee's Notting Hill club night of the same name to the computer screen, featuring live sets from bands including Reverend and the Makers at 7pm and midnight tonight.

Those who find the Feeling's take on soft rock a bit too hard would be advised to check out Palladium, whose debut single Happy Hour is available in download stores on Monday.

The nattily dressed quartet gladly compare themselves to Toto and Hall & Oates on MySpace (www.myspace.com/palladiumofficial) and even employ a horrific synthesised pan pipe sound to ensure that no one rocks softer.

As with animal husbandry, bringing two hot bands together in a controlled environment can result in a superior breed of music. Leeds band the Cribs, slowly becoming known more for their ragged indie rock than for being mates with Kaiser Chiefs, have hooked up with scorching Brazilian electro popsters CSS to make a fantastically disco-friendly remix of the former's track Men's Needs.

Source: www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk

The 100 Best Cover Songs Of All Time

If you're experiencing déjà vu, don't worry - you really have heard it all before.

It's the summer of the cover songs, with albums by Mark Ronson, Bryan Ferry and even Poison recording other artists' songs. Then there's "Instant Karma," a benefit album for Darfur, featuring John Lennon classics recorded by wide-ranging artists such as Black Eyed Peas, Big & Rich . . . and Avril Lavigne doing "Imagine" (the horror).

Which got us thinking: What are the best covers of all time?

They're the versions that make you forget there was ever an original, Janis Joplin doing "Me and Bobby McGee" or Soft Cell's take on "Tainted Love." Or, perhaps, it's a track that's so brilliantly redone in a different style, it finds a whole new generation of fans - such as Cake's understated redo of Gloria Gaynor's disco-hit "I Will Survive," or Johnny Cash's heartwrenching take on synth gods Depeche Mode.

In no particular order, here are popular music's 100 greatest covers - plus a few bonus tracks you can download for free today at nypost.com.

01. "Stairway to Heaven," Dolly Parton (Led Zeppelin)
Queen of country rescues song from amateur guitar players everywhere with a soulful rendition that'll have you in tears.

02. "Wonderwall," Ryan Adams (Oasis)
New York troubadour's less-Beatles-y version of the Brit pop smash.

Click here to watch a live performance of the track from Atlanta in 2006

03. "Hazy Shade of Winter," the Bangles (Simon and Garfunkel)
The way Paul Simon originally intended it - with a killer guitar riff and a drugged-out Robert Downey Jr.

04. "Nothing Compares 2 U," Sinead O'Connor (Prince)
Close-cropped video and passionate rendition brought little-known Prince track to light.

05. "Showroom Dummies," Señor Coconut & His Orchestra (Kraftwerk)
Not the first time Germans have hid out in South America, but with better results.

06. "Smooth Criminal," Alien Ant Farm (Michael Jackson)
Turns "Annie are you OK" into a head-banging mantra.

07. "Personal Jesus," Johnny Cash (Depeche Mode)
Electronica transformed into a painful, soul-crushing ballad. In a good way!

08. "Against All Odds," the Postal Service (Phil Collins)
We can't wait for what they're going to do to "Sussudio."

09. "Easy (Like Sunday Morning)," Faith No More (the Commodores)
If this song can't get you some lovin', take a hard, hard look at yourself.

10. "Tainted Love," Soft Cell (Gloria Jones)
Funky grooves.

11. "Tainted Love," Marilyn Manson (Gloria Jones)
Angry growls.

12. "Under Pressure," My Chemical Romance and the Used (Queen and David Bowie)
Emo panters prove that David Bowie and Freddie Mercury were the original definition of "guyliner."

13. "Mah Na Mah Na," Cake (Piero Umiliani)
Going back to the classics, Cake gives "Sesame Street" the business.

14. "Wicked Game," H.I.M. (Chris Isaak)
The love-metal band makes the sexy song even hotter by adding wailing and driving guitar licks. Video isn't as good, though.

15. "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want," Muse (the Smiths)
Short and sweet, Muse delivers all the punch of the original without getting wimpy about it.

16. "Blue Monday," Orgy (New Order)
The only reason you even need to know who this industrial band is.

17. "Satisfaction," Devo (the Rolling Stones)
Start-stopping their way to brilliance.

18. "I Want Candy," Good Charlotte (the Strangeloves)
Hard to get hold of since it was recorded for the prom scene in "Not Another Teen Movie," the pop-punks give the sugary sweet song a dose of bratty punk flavor.

19. "How Soon Is Now," Love Spit Love (the Smiths)
Richard Butler's Psychedelic Furs-swagger makes the hit a little less mopey, more killing.

20. "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Paul Anka (Nirvana)
The ex-teen idol takes the grunge off and polishes it with a swingin' sound to within an inch of its life.

The full 100 songs can be found here

Source: www.nypost.com