Happy 25th Birthday Some People.

Still in possession of our original copy, Some People is a staff favorite here at Waist High and continues to remain at the top of our list of great albums to come out of 1985. Although the title track from Some People was a club hit, this album tragically never penetrated the mainstream nor was it ever given the new wave respect that it deserved.

Track #1, "Some People," went to #33 on the UK Singles Chart and to #8 on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart (formerly known as the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart) in the US, and track #3, "Imagination," reached #17 on the UK Singles Chart and #4 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. "Imagination" is now considered Belouis Some's "biggest hit."

Our favorite songs from Some People are track #6 "Target Practice," and the final track, "Jerusalem," as fine a morose new wave music song as you will ever find.

Some People was reissued in 2009 on Cherry Pop Records with six bonus tracks and the reviews we have read indicate that the sound quality on that re-release was less than stellar. Cherry Pop say they are "dedicated to interesting pop catalogue releases from records that originally came out in the 1980's," and are a label "driven by fans requests."

Throughout the life of the Waist High blog, Belouis Some and Neville Keighley have remained the one new wave artist that we have been unable to locate much information on, and in 2010 this remains the case. In 2004 we put out the word for Neville to call us and we continue to wait for that call.

Electropunk Band Nude Rework Heaven 17's "Let Me Go."

 

"Drum'n Bass smashers, Electro and Bigbeat, Breakbeat and psycodelic" band Nude have covered Heaven 17's 1982 classic "Let Me Go," and according to the band Glenn Gregory has personally approved the remix. 

Nude said on Monday, "The main intention why we made a remix or adaption of 'Let Me Go' is that (I) loved this song for a very long time. We didn't just want to do a remix, but a new song with our own 'nude touch' if I might say so." 

The single has 4 different tracks, "featuring Nude's new member Tweeky from Sweden. Nude are Isabelle Gernand, Georgie Weeratunga, Marc Werner, David Ahlund, Johannes Buchner and Flo Stossberg. The backing vocals on this cover were by Beatrix Thomas and Lee Weeratunga." 

The official video for Nude's cover of "Let Me Go" can be found here. 

Photo & quotes: Nude

Jane Wiedlin Went And Fell Off A Cliff.

 

After the Go-Go's were forced to cancel their three-week North American summer tour Happily Ever After following guitarist Jane Wiedlin's injury while hiking near her California home, Jane tweeted about how she thought the t-shirt designed by a fan (via a contest) that was to be included in the official tour merchandise should say "Jane Wiedlin went and fell off a cliff and all I got was this lousy cancelled tour tee-shirt!" Alas, a t-shirt has been born. 

In response to Jane's tweet, "Kelly Lawrence (of Thinking Cap Design) posted a hilarious design on Jane's Facebook page and we here at Team Wiedlin loved the design so much we decided to make T-shirts!!" 

Buy your shirt HERE. 100% of the profits from the shirt will be going to Rocket Dog Rescue.

Jane posted June 14 at janewiedlin.com: "...I'm sorry the tour got canceled…damn cliff messin' up our plans! Though I cannot predict the future, my dream is that we will re-schedule the tour eventually, and we can have the contest then! In the meantime, I hope you will send me good vibes for a speedy recovery from my surgery."

Stay tuned!

Photo & quote: Jane Wiedlin

Peter Murphy Appears In Upcoming Twilight Film Eclipse.

 

From Peter Murphy: Peter Murphy makes a central cameo appearance as 'The Cold One' in Eclipse, the most recent installment of the Twilight series. Eclipse debuts June 30 in the U.S. and July 1 in the UK, where Murphy will be walking the red carpet at the London premiere in Leicester Square at the Odeon Theatre (accompanied by his daughter, Hurihan). 

Murphy's last film appearance was in 1983 when Bauhaus performed "Bela Lugosi's Dead" in the opening credit sequence of Tony Scott's vampire thriller The Hunger starring David Bowie, Catherine De Neuve and Susan Sarandon. 

As a bookend to the now-infamous "Bela" performance, Peter felt that a cameo in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse was too good to turn down. "Who else could have and should have done it?" he laughs. "It was really lovely and smart of David Slade to ask me…I was honored, actually." 

Murphy's cinematic role marks the commencement of an eventful rest of the year for the artist, who launches his worldwide "Dirty Dirt Tour" in late July, and is adding the finishing touches to his new studio album Ninth, due in the Fall. 

Photo: Peter Murphy

Spandau Ballet's True And Parade Reissues Out Now.

 

True and Parade - the remastered albums plus bonus tracks and DVD were released Monday through the Spandau Ballet Store and Amazon. 

Originally released in March 1983 True was the band's first number one album. The new re-released version includes second CD that includes a wealth of bonus material, including ten different mixes of the singles and four previously unreleased live tracks recorded at Sadlers Wells on May 1, 1983. The entire show from that evening is also presented here on DVD for the first time, alongside five contemporary Top Of The Pops performances and a mini-documentary entitled True: The Making Of The Album. 

Parade was originally released in July 1984, reaching number two in the UK album charts. Alongside the remastered original album, CD1 contains five alternate mixes of singles and B sides. CD2 features a BBC In Concert show from Wembley Arena recorded in December 1984. 

Spandau Ballet's first two albums - Journeys To Glory and Diamond are also available as remastered and expanded Special Editions on EMI Records. 

Photo & material: Spandau Ballet

Happy 50th Birthday To The Ever Gorgeous John Taylor.

 

A birthday message from John: 

Hello! 

Thank you all so much for so many wonderful and touching birthday wishes. I have never felt so grateful as I have today to be who I am, a proud member of the human race (dues paid) and a member of Duran Duran (ditto.) 

It has been an extraordinary year in so many ways, darkness and light in (almost) equal measure, but it has all been good, in its way, made so because of the amazing friends + family I have. Oh yes, and the other ‘f’s… You, the fans, for so many years- giving me permission to be myself (still no day job!) 

I am VERY excited about our new album, but more about that soon come… In the meantime, have a great June 20, and remember, ‘All You Need is NOW’!!…

-JT x 

Photo: E4

Pauline Black's Memoir To Be Published In 2011.

 

The Book Seller is reporting that British independent book publisher Serpent’s Tail has acquired the rights to the memoir of the great singer and actress Pauline Black.

"Black by Design has been sold to Pete Ayrton, publisher, and John Williams, editor at Serpent’s Tail and is due to be published in late summer 2011.

"Ayrton said Black’s book would be a 'wonderful addition' to the Serpents Tail roster list which includes recent Jah Wobble autobiography Memoirs of a Geezer.

"Ayrton added: 'A 2-tone memoir, a woman's insider account of the music business and a story of growing up as a black child in a white family, Black by Design is brilliant in many varied ways.'"

Black said: "I believe that Black by Design has found the perfect home at Serpent's Tail. I have long admired their maverick commitment to new voices and in particular the diversity and breadth of their catalogue…It is an enormous thrill to be on such a list."

Pauline is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the release of The Selecter's debut album Too Much Pressure later this year with a concert at London's Bloomsbury Ballroom.

From paulineblack.co.uk: Pauline Black has spent the last 30 years maintaining the fierce independence that she first forged in her early days as lead vocalist with legendary platinum selling 2-Tone band The Selecter.

During that time she has always tried to do what she feels is right, honest & true. She considers her female mixed race status gives her a unique insight into the twin evils of racism and sexism that still beset the world and render the original message of the 2-tone movement as relevant today as it was in 1979.

Photo: Pauline Black via The Book Seller

Marc Almond Wins MOJO Hero Award.

 

Of the honor, Phil Alexander (MOJO's Editor-In-Chief) had this to say: "When we found out that Marc Almond was celebrating his thirtieth anniversary as a singer we felt we had to mark the occasion. Antony Hegarty (of Antony And The Johnsons fame) was of the same opinion, and flew in especially from New York to present this award. Essentially, the MOJO Hero Award honours the work of someone truly beloved by the magazine and Marc is one of those guys. He is the greatest torch singer still out there. Marc puts so much of himself into a song. He is a rare performer. A true hero." 

Marc's first LP of original songs in over a decade, Varieté, was released June 7 in the UK (June 15 in the US), and to celebrate his 30 years in music Marc will set off on tour at the end of the year. 

The new album, according to Almond, is a celebration of nostalgia, and deals with "the themes of the changing times, a yearning for simplicity, regret at loss, growing older, loneliness through the eyes of a performer, madness, letting go, acceptance, as well as our obsession with nostalgia." 

Other honors from The MOJO Honours List 2010 include Devo who took home The MOJO Merit Award and Daniel Miller who received The MOJO Medal: "This is the award that honours the industry stalwart, the old school 'record man.' Daniel Miller is all that, and could also be considered the godfather of electro-pop. He has a view of music that is unique and, like all great labels, Mute is a reflection of its founder's taste. Daniel is loyal and he sticks by his acts and lets them develop. I think he feels totally protective of them. The fact that Kraftwerk - the band that inspired him so much - are now under the Mute umbrella is a great testament to a man who is so deserving of this award." 

The full MOJO Honours List 2010 can be found here. 

Photo: MOJO 

Quotes: MOJO & marcalmond.co.uk

Tesco To Release Ultimate Madness.

 

From Madness Central: Steve Bunyan, Director of Marketing at Union Square Music, sent along a note to Madness Central alerting us to the release of a new Madness compilation CD entitled Ultimate Madness which will be available exclusively at Tesco and tesco.com. 

Here's what Steve had to share: You may be interested to know that we are releasing a 21 track single CD Ultimate Madness best of exclusively with Tesco for Father's Day. 

Nothing new for the fan I'm afraid but with the power of Tesco behind it, it will hopefully sell well and keep reminding the great British public about our favourite band. 

A standard single CD version of One Step Beyond (with the original album track listing and artwork) will also be exclusively available from Tesco ahead of a more general release later in the year. 

The track listing for Ultimate Madness: The Prince ~ One Step Beyond ~ My Girl ~ Night Boat To Cairo ~ Baggy Trousers ~ Embarrassment ~ The Return Of The Los Palmas Seven ~ Grey Day ~ Shut Up ~ It Must Be Love ~ Cardiac Arrest ~ House Of Fun ~ Driving In My Car ~ Our House ~ Tomorrow's (Just Another Day) ~ Wings Of A Dove ~ The Sun And The Rain ~ Michael Caine ~ NW5 ~ Dust Devil ~ Forever Young 

Photo: Madness Central

Go-Go's Cancel North American Tour.

 

The Go-Go's have been forced to cancel their three-week North American summer tour Happily Ever After after guitarist Jane Wiedlin fell and injured herself while hiking near her California home. 

The band have released the following statement: It is with great regret that the Go-Go’s announce today the cancellation of Happily Ever After, their summer farewell tour. The tour was scheduled to kick off July 7 at Lilith Fair San Diego, and conclude in Austin, TX on July 27. The band will also be unable to perform live on Good Morning America, scheduled for July 16 in New York’s Central Park.

The news comes as a result of guitarist Jane Wiedlin injuring herself after a 20-foot fall while hiking near her home in Northern California a couple of weeks ago. Jane is scheduled for ACL replacement surgery for her knee in the coming weeks, with a prognosis of up to a year recovery time.

The band is heartbroken and hopes their fans will send best wishes for Jane’s speedy recovery. In the meantime, tickets can be refunded at point of purchase.

Photo: St. Petersburg Times

Bryan Ferry Unveils His Personal Art Collection.

 

Bryan Ferry's art collection has gone on display at the London International Fine Art Fair, London’s oldest and largest summer international fine art and antiques fair, and will run through June 13. 

The exhibition, called Modern British Masters: Pictures from the Bryan Ferry Collection, is the first showing of the singer's personal collection of early modern British art which includes works by Walter Sickert, Augustus John, Duncan Grant, Vanessa Bell, and Christopher Richard Wynne Nevinson. 

Ferry said he has collected his art over a long period of time but that "his most intense phase of buying was during the 1980s, when he was at the height of his musical fame with the release of the hit 1985 album Boys and Girls." 

The former art student said: "They seem to suit the house I have in Sussex. If I lived in a Manhattan apartment I suppose I might have collected more contemporary things, but as it is my house is Victorian/Edwardian so much of it is modern British. I thought I would specialise." 

Ferry is currently putting the finishing touches on his first solo album in eight years which is set to be released in September, and this summer will go on tour with the Roxy Music line-up of Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay, and Paul Thompson. All the details can be found at bryanferry.com. 

Photo: REX via telegraph.co.uk 

Quotes: guardian.co.uk

Spandau Ballet To Reissue True And Parade.

 

Since reforming last year, and following their hugely successful Reformation Tour around Europe and the Southern Hemisphere, Spandau Ballet are once again at the pinnacle of the British music scene. 

After playing to UK fans of over 120,000 people (including three nights at London's O2 Arena), releasing a new album and live DVD, Spandau Ballet will release the remastered versions of their chart topping albums True and Parade on EMI Records on June 21, 2010. 

Originally released in March 1983 and featuring top hits such as "Gold," "True," "Communication," and "Lifeline," True was the band's first number one album. Recorded at the legendary Compass Point Studios on Nassau in the Bahamas, it was the band's groundbreaking album of blue-eyed soul, which propelled them to international stardom and topped the charts all around the globe. 

The original version features as CD1 in this collection. CD2 is made up of fantastic bonus material, including ten different mixes of the singles (five of which are appearing on CD for the first time) and four previously unreleased live tracks recorded at Sadlers Wells on May 1, 1983. The entire show from that evening is also presented here on DVD for the first time, alongside five contemporary Top Of The Pops performances and a mini-documentary entitled, 'True: The Making Of The Album.' 

Parade was originally released in July 1984, reaching number two in the UK album charts. Featuring hits and fan favourites "Highly Strung," "Round and Round," "Only When You Leave," "I'll Fly For You," and "With the Pride," the album was one of the biggest hits of the year. Alongside the remastered original album, CD1 contains five alternate mixes of singles and B sides. CD2 features a BBC In Concert show from Wembley Arena recorded in December 1984. 

If you missed Spandau Ballet on their spectacular sell out UK tour late in 2009 you can catch them live at their first ever festival performance this summer at the Isle of Wight Festival on Sunday, June 13, and again at the Isle of Man Bay Festival on Saturday, June 20. 

Spandau Ballet's first two albums - Journeys To Glory and Diamond are also available as remastered and expanded Special Editions on EMI Records. 

Photo: Niall Carson/PA via Times Online 

Material: Spandau Ballet

An Appeal From Mick Karn.

 

Best known as the bassist for Japan and for his work with the post-Bauhaus project, Dali's Car, the following message has been released on Mick's official website: 

With great sadness we regret to inform you that Mick has recently been diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer. Mick is currently in a positive mood and undergoing further tests and treatment. His family and friends are close with him, supporting him in practical ways, and surrounding him with their love, friendship and care. 

Mick has been struggling financially for some considerable time now and we are hoping that this appeal may help to raise funds for any necessary treatment and perhaps go some way towards providing a small degree of financial support whilst Mick's immediate family provide the care and comfort we would all wish for him. We are hoping that his friends, fans and musical colleagues will, over the coming months, offer any support they feel capable of giving. Quite aside from the sheer brunt of daunting medically-related costs, Mick's clear and major concern is for the security and well being of his wife and young son. 

If you would like to make a donation whether as an individual or as a group, you can do so via the paypal link (on Mick's website) which has been set up for this sole and express purpose. Any support you are able to give, no matter how small, could make a difference in helping Mick cope during this difficult period. His friends will be looking at a variety of ways to raise funds. If you would simply like to leave your kind messages of support for Mick, please do so here. 

Additionally, Steve Jansen has kindly agreed to donate all proceeds from the sale of any Mick Karn portraits from his website to the Mick Karn Appeal. The images can be purchased here.

We understand that some people are not able to use Paypal but would still like to donate to the appeal. If this is the case for you please send an email to donations@mickkarn.net and we will be very pleased to find an alternative payment method. 

Photo: Mick Karn

Strummerville - A Don Letts Film Now Available On DVD.

 

Debuting at SXSW in March, Strummerville is now available exclusively at strummerville.com.

From The Clash Blog: Joe Strummer's untimely death in December 2002 sent shockwaves around the world of music and beyond. Yet friends and family were determined that his spirit would live on. In this documentary, Don Letts shows how Joe's unique contribution to the music world is manifesting itself through a charity set up in his memory - Strummerville. The film features contributions from supporters and founders of the charity, including Billy Bragg, Damien Hirst, plus wonderful footage of Strummer himself. 

Don Letts and Joe Strummer go back to 1977 when punk broke in the UK and Don was working as a DJ at the Roxy. Don would spin reggae records during breaks in the punk sets and is credited with being one of the first DJ's to bring reggae and punk together. Don is one of the co-founders of Big Audio Dynamite and won a Grammy Award for Westway to the World - his documentary on The Clash. 

Photo: Strummerville - A Don Letts Film

Happy 50th Birthday To The Great Tony Hadley.

 

Photo: IML Concerts

Gary Myrick And The Figures Will Reunite.

 

The original line-up of Gary Myrick & The Figures are reuniting for a show at Hollywood's Roxy Theatre on June 22 to celebrate the reissue of Gary's first three albums; Gary Myrick & the Figures, Language, and Living in a Movie. Special guest for the show will be Bebe Buell and tickets can be found at The Roxy box office.

A second show has been confirmed at Trees in Dallas, Texas on July 16. 

Gary formed Gary Myrick & The Figures after moving to Los Angeles, "releasing a self-titled album in 1980 which included the hit 'She Talks in Stereo.' Living in a Movie and the EP Language, featuring the percussive single 'Guitar, Talk, Love & Drums' followed in 1981 and 1983, respectively. His combination of blues, rock and new wave won him airplay on modern rock radio stations in the United States and exposure on MTV throughout the 1980s. Two of his songs, 'She Talks in Stereo' and 'Time to Win,' were used in the 1983 film Valley Girl. 'She Talks in Stereo' made the top 100 songs of the decade on KROQ Radio." 

While taking a break from his solo career Gary worked with John Waite on 1984's No Brakes, the album that included the great "Missing You." Myrick then recorded Stand for Love and for the next few years, "concentrated on work as a session and touring guitarist before joining his next group" Havana 3AM. 

"Moving towards roots rock, Myrick switched to a stripped down, acoustic approach for his 2001 solo release, Waltz of the Scarecrow King. Reinvent the Gods, featuring a cover of Marianne Faithfull's 'As Tears Go By,' was self-released in 2004." 

Myrick continues to "play solo but also performs as a session and touring guitarist. He has worked with Big Audio Dynamite, Jackson Browne, The Eagles, Steve Jones (former guitarist of the Sex Pistols), Wilson Pickett, Queen Ida, Bonnie Raitt, Todd Rundgren, Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder and others." Gary has also done work scoring films and produces and writes for up-and-coming young bands. 

Photo: garymyrick.com 

Quoted material: garymyrick.com

Peter Hook Awarded Freedom Of A French City.

 

Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook has received the accolade from the city of Clermont-Ferrand, a sister city of his hometown of Salford, England. 

In presenting him with the honour medal of the city, Mayor Serge Godard described Hook as "the hero of Salford." The award was part of the 44th anniversary celebrations of the cities being twinned. 

From Manchester Evening News: Clermont considers itself to be the 'rock city' of France and likes to compare its musical pedigree with Salford and Manchester - home to Oasis, Happy Mondays, The Smiths, and Stone Roses, and more recently The Ting Tings. 

The two cities were twinned on May 15th 1966. Frequent exchange trips between schools have followed. There have also been cultural exchanges with artists exhibiting original work. Organisers of the Salford Film Festival have taken part in events in Clermont. 

Councillor Derek Antrobus said: "With MediaCityUK, Salford is growing as a creative hub and the more links we can make with other international festivals the more opportunities we can create for our citizens. 

"It's fantastic to see Salford's rich cultural and musical heritage played out to the people of France and I congratulate Peter on his achievement." 

Photo: Manchester Evening News