Friday, January 18, 2019

Keyboard Veteran Andrew Colyer To Tour With 3.2 featuring Robert Berry!


88 Keys, but Only 1 Player to Cover Emerson, Wakeman, Rudess, & Banks!

Keyboard veteran Andrew Colyer has secured possibly one of the most difficult gigs today – covering keyboard parts made legendary by Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Jordan Rudess and Tony Banks! Andrew will be performing with 3.2 featuring Robert Berry this coming spring! If anyone is qualified for the position, it's Andrew who has performed and collaborated with the likes of Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson), Jon Anderson (YES), The Tubes, Sound of Contact featuring Simon Collins, Ryche Chlanda (Fireballet, Renaissance), Max Flyer (CBS Records), Clark Terry, Louis Bellson among others....not to mention his own band, Prog-award-nominated Circuline!

Keith Emerson left a legacy of music. From his beginnings with The Nice in the 1960's, to worldwide fame with Emerson Lake & Palmer in the 1970's, to his reinvention in the 1980's with the #9 Billboard hit “Talkin' Bout” in the band “3” with Robert Berry and Carl Palmer, Emerson's name is one almost everyone has heard of.

In 2015, Emerson reunited with Berry, to resume work on the second “3” album, titled “3.2”, to be released on the Frontiers label. In 2016, Emerson tragically took his own life, leaving behind a half-finished record, Robert Berry with the loss of his long-time personal and musical friend, an unfulfilled contract, and a world grieving.

By the spring of 2018, Berry had worked out the details with the Emerson estate and Frontiers to complete and release the record. The first single, “Somebody's Watching” (released May 22nd), sent the album debut to #3 on the Amazon hard rock charts, and generated 7,000 YouTube views in the first 36 hours, and over 12,000 views in the first week. A musical phoenix had indeed risen.

The album, “3.2 - The Rules Have Changed”, was released on August 10th, 2018, and hit #1 on Amazon, selling out on the first day, and placed on two Billboard charts. The two YouTube videos from the album currently have over 64,000 cumulative views. The new album has met with unanimous positive international acclaim from over 100 magazine articles, blog and website reviews, and FM and internet radio stations.

Now it's time for a tour. The band - “3.2 featuring Robert Berry” will not only cover Berry's work with Keith Emerson, but also Berry's years on the Magna Carta label, producing tribute albums to ELP, YES, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, and Rush. Who will Robert Berry get to cover not only Keith Emerson, but also all the keyboard players from these legendary bands? The world is watching and wondering. Keyboardist/vocalist Andrew Colyer (Circuline, Cell15, Awaken, Prog Rock Orchestra) got the call.



Berry tells the story of how Colyer got the gig: “When I met Andrew in December 2011, he was trying to reignite a career in music, after being out of the game for over 20 years. After one of our December People 'Classic Rock Christmas Party' shows, I introduced him to Dave Medd, and that's how he got the job as the backup for The Tubes in 2012. By 2013 he was playing ELP's “Tarkus” in progressive rock tribute band Downing Grey. In 2014 he performed on the Moody Blues cruise and the YES Cruise to the Edge with the Prog Rock Orchestra. He also formed his own band, Circuline, which has released two studio albums, a live CD/DVD/Blu-ray, and has toured and performed at international festivals. Plus he's my wife's brother's best friend!”

Berry says, ”All family joking aside, Andrew is a great player and the right guy for the job. He's a super nice guy, a hard worker, and with his immersion in the music business for these past 7 years, he's also been a big help in the business and marketing department.”

Colyer has some big boots to fill, and speaks to the naysayers. “I know there will be critics and fans who will say, 'that's not how Keith would have done it', or, 'he's just not the same as Wakeman, Banks, or Rudess', and I'm here to say, that's exactly right and true. There was only one Keith Emerson, and he was one of the greatest rock keyboard players of all time. Keith was groundbreaking in his approach to playing and performing; he was the first person in the world to ever use a synthesizer on stage; it is physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually impossible for anyone to ever replace him, or any of these other amazing keyboard players that I'm covering for the upcoming tour.”

“I am honored to have been asked to 'fill in' for Keith, Rick, Jordan, and Tony in their absence, and I will do my very best to faithfully serve the music that all of these great keyboard players throughout history have left for us to enjoy. All of my classical training, as well as my jazz and progressive rock experience, will be crucial in bringing this music to a live audience.”

Colyer continues, “I am also really excited to be performing with Robert Berry, who, besides being a ridiculously talented musician/composer, touring with Ambrosia, Alliance, Greg Kihn, and the holiday band December People, has also been a 'behind the scenes' producer for years, producing many progressive rock tribute albums for the Magna Carta label, and releasing his own solo albums. Some people have referred to Robert as a 'crafty American version of Trevor Rabin'.”

Berry concludes, “This new 3.2 band is excited to not only have Andrew Colyer from Circuline, but also the amazing drummer/vocalist Jimmy Keegan from Spock's Beard. I'll be fronting the band on bass and lead vocals, and we also have monster guitarist/vocalist Paul Keller, who toured with Keith, myself, and Carl Palmer on the original '3' tour in 1988. For the upcoming tour, we'll be performing not only music from the new 3.2 album, but also music from the first 3 album, and a few hits from my back Magna Carta catalog - some songs from YES, ELP, Genesis, Jethro Tull, etc.

“In addition to all the great music, you'll also experience first storytelling, performances, and insights from my work with Steve Howe, GTR, Ambrosia, Keith and Carl, and more. It's a presentation of my legacy of progressive rock from the past 30 years. We hope to see you in the audience and meet you in person after the show!”

For more information:
Website:  http://www.ColyerMusic.com
Artist Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ColyerMusicOfficial/
Personal Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ColyerMusic
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/colyermusic
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ColyerMusic
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/andrewcolyermusic 

Purchasing:
CDBaby:  https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/AndrewColyer
Bandcamp:  https://andrewcolyer.bandcamp.com/
Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Time-Andrew-Colyer/dp/B07K1NG6X9/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/andrew-colyer/988935849

Videos
http://colyermusic.com/video/cinematic-rock/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Thursday, January 17, 2019

The Pineapple Thief Release New Video For "Threatening War" From Their New Studio Album 'Dissolution'

Dissolution Tour Dates in Europe & the UK Begin February 21, 2019


(Filmed & Directed by George Laycock , Blacktide Phonic/Visual - www.black-tide.co.uk )

London - With The Pineapple Thief’s Dissolution Tour Part 2, due to begin on 21st February in Italy, the band have released a new video for the track “Threatening War”, from their critically acclaimed studio album Dissolution.

WATCH THE “THREATENING WAR” VIDEO HERE


Frontman, composer and guitarist, Bruce Soord on seeing director George Laycock’s interpretation of the song reflects “When I wrote the words for ‘Threatening War’, I had in my mind the journey from despair to hope, and how we need a physical connection with people in our lives to complete that journey, if and when it happens. When I saw how ‘Blacktide’ had tackled this visually it really hit home in a way I wasn’t quite prepared for. It captures the emotion of the song perfectly.”

The Pineapple Thief are due to begin the second leg of their European & UK Dissolution tour in February, have confirmed they will be taking new label mates O.R.k out as main support. The first leg of the tour in September included many sold out shows and their biggest show to date at London’s prestigious O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire and will once again be joined by now full-time member Gavin Harrison on all dates.

21.02 Firenze (Italy) - Viper
22.02 Roma (Italy) - Largo Venue
23-02 Milano (Italy) - Santeria Social Club
24.02 Pratteln (Switzerland) - Z7
26.02 Stuttgart (Germany) - LKA - Longhorn
27.02 Frankfurt (Germany) - Batschkapp
28.02 Strasburg (France) - La Laiterie
1.03 Zoetermeer (Holland) - Boerderij
2.03 Hamburg (Germany) - Grosse Freiheit 36
3.03 Copenhagen (Denmark) – Vega
5.03 Stockholm (Sweden) - Nalen
6.03 Oslo (Norway) - Rockefeller
20.03 Newcastle (UK) – O2 Academy
21.03 Glasgow (UK) – Saint Luke’s
22.03 Manchester (UK) – o2 The Ritz
23.03 Birmingham (UK) – o2 The Institute 2
24.03 Bristol (UK) – SWX

The Pineapple Thief will be supported by new Kscope label mates O.R.k

The Pineapple Thief have an extensive live campaign planned for 2019, including a return to London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire to headline HRH Prog on 26/27th October (http://www.hrhprog.com/ ) so look out for further dates to be announced.

More details, tickets & VIP upgrades: http://www.pineapplethief.com/tour

The band’s 2016 album, Your Wilderness produced 4m+ album streams, a #7 in the UK Independent Charts and two extensive headline European tours culminating at London’s Islington Assembly Hall where the concert was recorded for the live release Where We Stood. Their recently released album Dissolution has seen the band propelled to even greater heights, having gained a #1 position in the UK Rock Charts and #22 in the German national album charts. The band have garnered high praise across the worldwide media as can be seen in the small selection of review quotes below…

Prog Magazine - Album Of The Month - “a varied album that pulls together the band’s diverse styles into nine cerebral but very accessible songs”
Kerrang Magazine - “Its existence makes the world a slightly better place”
Total Guitar - “this is essential listening for fans of contemporary prog”
Slam (DE) - “Just a beautiful, melancholy record, powerful and full of hymn-like harmonies”
Lust for Life (NL) - “Dissolution ticks all the boxes”
RockTribune (BE) - “an album to cherish”
Rockerilla (IT) -  “a beautiful album from the beginning to the end, where every track is a piece of a mosaic of enchanted sounds”

BUY: Dissolution HERE: https://thepineapplethief.lnk.to/DissolutionPR

LISTEN: DISSOLUTION ON SPOTIFY 

WATCH: “Try As I Might” video:




The Pineapple Thief are:
Bruce Soord – vocalist, guitars
Gavin Harrison – drums
Jon Sykes – bass
Steve Kitch - keyboards

The Pineapple Thief online:
Website: www.thepineapplethief.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepineapplethief
Twitter: www.twitter.com/pineapplethief
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thepineapplethief
Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/artist/4lrBMUSk8PiNnCEZfsmPAk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE6401DB011BD837E
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/the-pineapple-thief/id278648772

Kscope: 1st floor, 52 Lisson Street, London, UK NW1 5DF

North America Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Guitar Legend Adrian Belew Announces Re-invented Live Show With New Quartet!


Adrian Belew Quartet US Spring Tour 2019!

Adrian Belew is a legendary guitarist well-known for his diverse travels around the musical map. He is a multi-instrumentalist whose solo records are critically acclaimed. His moving singing voice and prolific songwriting has endeared a loyal fan base of music lovers. His music is being discovered everyday by more and more listeners thirsty for great music with a creative standard not often pushed by the commercial music industry.

For more than a decade the Adrian Belew Power Trio stunned audiences around the world. Now Adrian is ready to re-invent his live show with a new quartet which includes Jordan Perlson on drums, Saul Zonana on keyboards, guitar, and vocals, and bassist extraordinaire Julie Slick. The tour dates will be in support of Adrian's newest release “POP-SIDED”, coming March 2019. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy master musicians playing great songs and having a ball!

Adrian describes the show as, “a more complete picture of most things I've done. More songs, new songs from the award-winning FLUX app, King Crimson material I haven't played for years, and a dose of classic Power Trio. It's my intention to make this the best Adrian Belew show ever!”

Adrian first appeared on the guitar-world radar when he toured with Frank Zappa who later said, “Adrian reinvented electric guitar”. Adrian's signature tones, unique use of effects and whammy bar remains completely different, and his techniques continue to be a huge influence on today's guitarists. He was guitarist, songwriter and frontman Progressive Rock Powerhouse King Crimson for over 30 years. “Discipline”, Adrian's first record with King Crimson, is listed among the most important rock records ever made.

Adrian has had a career that commands both awe and respect from fellow musicians and loyal fans, from his first solo record “The Lone Rhino” to the Atlantic Records hit album “Mr. Music Head” or any of his other 20 plus solo records that push sonic boundaries while maintaining artistic integrity. Adrian shreds on guitar but also writes  beautiful songs that will make you cry. Yes, Adrian has taken his fans on a wild ride through countless world tours and albums with David Bowie, Talking Heads, Laurie, Anderson, and Paul Simon. He truly is the Twang Bar King!



Tour dates:

February 4-9 - Cruise To The Edge - Tampa | Key West | Cozumel, MX,
http://cruisetotheedge.com/

February 28 - Tralf Music Hall - Buffalo, NY
http://tralfmusichall.com/

March 1 - Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland, OH\
http://tinyurl.com/29qlgoq

March 2 - The Hi-Fi - Indianapolis, IN
https://www.hifiindy.com

March 3 - Shank Hall - Milwaukee, WI
http://www.shankhall.com

March 5 - Slowdown - Omaha, NE
https://www.theslowdown.com/

March 6 - Fine Line Music Cafe - Minneapolis, MN
http://www.finelinemusic.com

March 8 - Old Rock House - St. Louis, MO
http://oldrockhouse.com/

March 9 - Live at Ludlow Garage - Cincinnati, OH
http://tinyurl.com/y6wc2thp

March 10 - City Winery - Nashville, TN
www.citywinery.com/nashville

March 13 - Rams Head On Stage - Annapolis, MD
https://www.ramsheadonstage.com/

March 14 - The Broadberry - Richmond, VA
https://www.thebroadberry.com/

March 15 - Lincoln Theatre - Raleigh, NC
http://lincolntheatre.com/

March 16 - City Winery - Atlanta, GA
http://www.citywinery.com/atlanta

April 4 - Old Town School of Folk Music - Maurer Hall - Chicago, IL 000
https://www.oldtownschool.org/

April 5 - Zanzabar - Louisville, KY
http://tinyurl.com/7xrhwcr

April 6 - The Magic Bag - Ferndale, MI
http://www.themagicbag.com

April 7 - Rex Theater - Pittsburgh
http://www.rextheater.net/

April 10 - City Winery - Washington D.C.
http://tinyurl.com/ybxxdycm

April 11 - Wall Street Theater - Norwalk, CT
https://wallstreettheater.com/

April 12 - SOPAC - South Orange Performing Arts Center - South Orange, NJ
https://www.sopacnow.org/

April 13 - The Suffolk Theater - Riverhead, NY
http://www.suffolktheater.com/

April 14 - Daryl's House Club - Pawling, NY
http://www.darylshouseclub.com

April 17 - The Ardmore Music Hall - Ardmore, PA
http://www.ardmoremusic.com/

April 18 - The Center for Arts in Natick - TCAN - Natick, MA
http://www.natickarts.org/

April 19 - Narrows Center for the Arts - Fall River, MA
https://www.narrowscenter.org/

April 20 - The Egg - Kitty Carlisle Hart Theatre - Albany, NY
http://www.theegg.org/

For more information: 
http://www.adrianbelew.net/
http://adrianbelew.net/shop
http://adrianbelew.net/shop/cds/fluxvol1/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdrianBelew/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Psychedelic Rock Legends The Chocolate Watchband Release New Album "This Is My Voice"


Iconic California psychedelic rock legends The Chocolate Watchband celebrate the release of their new album “This Is My Voice” (released by Dirty Water Records), led by founding and current members, vocalist David Aguilar and guitarist Tim Abbott, plus Gary Andrijasevich on drums. Second generation fans, guitarist Derek See and bassist Alec Palao (Grammy-nominated producer/ historian ), bring their enthusiasm and love for the music to the table to help weave THE sound which both faithfully recreates the sonic energy and tone of the original recordings, as well as giving a rare edge to new material that is a logical progression to the bands legacy.

Documented as influencing legendary bands far and wide within the psych, garage, and punk scene for the past 50 years, their live performances sizzle with the same outrageous audacity of the late 60s scene they helped usher into the San Francisco Bay area ballroom scene. The group was also seen as featured bands in the 1967 cult films “Riot on the Sunset Strip” and “The Love-Ins”, and their powerful stage presence continues to the present day in a timeless stage show which is oozing electric cool-aid energy. Critics have noted the Chocolate Watchband was America's answer to the Rolling Stones!

While the bands' music was a cherished secret of record collectors for many years, the music is now available to be heard by everyone, which has ushered in a new fourth generation of fans around the world, who hear the Watchband sound as it has reverberated into the psyche of the class of 2018 psychedelic bands.

Their newest songs resonate with genuine political rebellion in our current times, which can be heard in the lyrics of the new song “Judgment Day”.“I wrote 'Judgment Day' as the country was still in recovery,” says lead vocalist and founding member David Aguilar of the days following the 2008 market crash. “Families were living in their cars. It was a terrible time for the American dream. It resulted in the anger that put the current president into the White House. The Who were wrong, Americans can get fooled again!”

The band will be hitting the road in 2019 in support of their new album “This Is My Voice” with plans for a string of European tours and select US dates. Are YOU gonna be there?



Here's what the press has said about The Chocolate Watchband's new album:

“This is the revival band you’ve been looking to add to your rotation” - Pittsburgh Magazine

“Together they've created a record that deviates from the Watchband's first phase of raunchy groovers and tender space-outs, opting for a more modern rock sound, yet without sacrificing their keen ear for anthemic songwriting and memorable melodies”-  The Stranger

“This is My Voice isn’t so much a comeback as it is a continuation; the sound of one of the psych-rock era’s most dynamic outfits rolling its sleeves up, stirring its creative juices, and getting down to business” - Artist Home

Pre-Order The Chocolate Watchband's “This Is My Voice”: https://chocolatewatchband.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-my-voice

For more information:
The Chocolate Watchband official band website: http://www.thechocolatewatchband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chocolatewatchband/

Dirty Water Records ( London): www.dirtywaterrecords.co.uk

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Friday, January 11, 2019

O.R.k. Premier "Kneel To Nothing" The Debut Single & Video From New Album "Ramagehead"


O.R.k., featuring Italy's celebrated vocalist, producer and award-winning film score composer Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari a.k.a LEF (lead vocals), King Crimson's Pat Mastelotto (drums), Porcupine Tree's Colin Edwin (bass), Marta Sui Tubi's Carmelo Pipitone (guitars) are ready to reveal the first single “Kneel To Nothing” from their forthcoming new album on Kscope - Ramagehead.

WATCH “KNEEL TO NOTHING” HERE


The track “Kneel To Nothing” emphasises the band's bewilderment brought about by our modern world; a world of technological information overload, of uncertainty and post-truth messages. Songwriter Lef explains more “We're not preaching, we'd rather leave the lyrics open to different interpretations, but I guess this is one possible interpretation of the 'Kneel To Nothing' lyrics. 

“As musicians, we collaborate across the miles thanks to the internet, so it goes without saying we aren't against technology in general, but at the same time, it's unarguably clear that the same technology has successfully made its way inside our bodies (and lives) in a potentially dangerous way in the last 20 years.

“How we react to impulses, live our relationships, and feel in general has become deeply influenced by new tech. We all seem to be trying to outdo each other, we can't get enough of this constant competition through social media, and it's making us more insular in real life. We also place an innate trust in the strength of our senses, but in a evolutionary perspective, we could end up diminishing of all our senses due to our evolving lifestyle. We’re becoming too lazy to read an article - let alone a book, too bored to listen to a song that is longer than 3 minutes, and we relentlessly skip from one impulse to another without really feeling anything. In a way we're therefore 'slaves'. It's not as spooky as the visionary movie directors from the past have pictured it, but it's happening in a subtler, yet still potentially hazardous way. We have somehow we've become both devoted and addicted to our smart phones”

The forthcoming album Ramagehead was created from the band's collective vision, unique influences and a multi-layered reflection of their powerful and engaging live experience. The resulting epic contains all the ingredients of a fiery O.R.k. performance with dark and heavy riffing, mesmeric atmospheres. Recorded during 2018 at LefMusicStudio (Italy), The Wormhole (USA) and Nightspace (UK). The mixing for Ramagehead was handled by Adrian Benavides and three-time Grammy-winning engineer Marc Urselli (U2, Foo Fighters, Nick Cave), the mastering by Michael Fossenkemper, engineering by Benavides and Bill Munyon (King Crimson), cover art by Adam Jones (TOOL) and design by Denis Rodier (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman). The recordings, and involvement of SOAD's Serj Tankian on a forthcoming single, solidifies the band's serious intent to use their musical chemistry in exploring the hard-edged possibilities within rock.



Ramagehead tracklisting:
Kneel to Nothing (instant download on digital pre-orders)
Signals Erased
Beyond Sight
Black Blooms (feat. Serj Tankian)
Time Corroded
Down the Road
Some Other Rainbow Part 1
Strangled Words
Some Other Rainbow

Ramagehead will be released on 22nd February on CD / 180g Black vinyl LP / Digital and is available to PRE-ORDER HERE https://ork.lnk.to/RamageheadPR

O.R.k. have an extensive live campaign planned in support of Ramagehead which will begin in February 2019 with a European and UK head line run as well as being special guests on the continuing “Dissolution Tour” from new label mates The Pineapple Thief.

Colin Edwin comments “'Ramagehead' is our most intense, ambitious and accessible work to date and I am really looking forward to exploring the new material in a live environment and sharing our unique collective energy together. For me, O.R.k. is always a completely immersive and unforgettable experience in the live arena, so with new tracks to play and an opportunity to reach places and people we've yet to get to, this tour will be our best yet.”

Tour Dates:
** show with The Pineapple Thief
15.2 Ravenna (IT) - Bronson
16.2 Lugagnano di Sona/Verona (IT) - Il Giardino
17.2 Pisa (IT) - Lumiere
21.2 Bari (IT) - Garage Sound
22.2 Roma (IT) - Largo Venue**
23.2 Milano (IT) - Santeria Social Club **
24.2 Pratteln (CH) - Z7 **
26.2 Stuttgart (DE) - LKA Longhorn **
27.2 Frankfurt (DE) - Batschkapp **
28.2 Strasburg (FR) - La Laiterie **
1.3 Zoetermeer (NL) - Borderij **
2.3 Hamburg (DE) - Grosse Freiheit 36 **
3.3 Copenhagen (DK) - Store Vega **
5.3 Stockholm (SE) - Nalen **
6.3 Oslo (NO) - Rockefeller **
8.3 Iserhagen/Hannover (DE) - Blues Garage
10.3 Cologne (DE) - Yard Club
12.3 Munich (DE) - Backstage
13.3 Budapest (HU) - Durer
14.3 Nove Mesto nad Vahom (SK) - Blue Note
15.3 Berlin (DE) - Music & Frieden
17.3 Paris (FR) - Petit Bain
19.3 London (UK) - Borderline
20.3 Newcastle (UK) - o2 Academy **
21.3 Glasgow (UK) - St. Luke’s **
22.3 Manchester (UK) - o2 The Ritz **
23.3 Birmingham (UK) - o2 The Institute 2 **
24.3 Bristol (UK) - SWX **



O.R.k. are:
Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari a.k.a LEF - lead vocals
Pat Mastelotto - drums
Colin Edwin - bass
Carmelo Pipitone - guitars

Follow O.R.k.
http://www.orkband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/O.R.k.band/
https://www.instagram.com/orkband/
https://twitter.com/ORKBAND


Kscope: 1st floor, 52 Lisson Street, London, UK NW1 5DF

North America Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

New PledgeMusic Campaign For "200 Motels" by Frank Zappa & Tony Palmer Box Set - CD & DVD with Extras & Exclusives!


London - “200 Motels” is a 1971 American-British musical surrealist film co-written and directed by Frank Zappa and Tony Palmer and starring The Mothers of Invention, Theodore Bikel and Ringo Starr.

Gonzo Mulitimedia is releasing a limited edition box set of “200 Motels” - CD & DVD with Extras & Exclusives! The film DVD is mastered from Tony Palmer's original 2-inch masters. This is for the first time these masters have ever being used. The second disc contains extra concert material specially edited by “200 Motels” original director Tony Palmer.

In “200 Motels”, the film attempts to portray the craziness of life on the road as a rock musician. While on tour, The Mothers of Invention go crazy in the small fictional town of Centerville (“a real nice place to raise your kids up”), wander around, and get beaten up in “Redneck Eats”, a cowboy bar. In a cartoon interlude passed off as a “dental hygiene movie”, bassist “Jeff”, tired of playing what he refers to as “Zappa’s comedy music”, is persuaded by his bad conscience to quit the group, as did his real-life counterpart Jeff Simmons, who was fired for insubordination before the film began shooting. Simmons was replaced by Martin Lickert (who was Ringo's chauffeur) for the film.

The Orchestra was the Royal Philharmonic, including the great classical guitarist John Williams, and was conducted by Elgar Howarth who went on to become one of Britain's most distinguished conductors. And the choreography was devised by Gillian Lynne, who went on to 'invent' the Lloyd-Webber musical “Cats”. She always said that “200 Motels” was the inspiration for much that she later incorporated into “Cats”.

It was also the first film ever to be shot on 2-inch analogue videotape and successfully transferred to celluloid. “Star Wars” was only just around the corner.

The Cast

Frank Zappa as himself
The Mothers of Invention as themselves
Theodore Bikel as Rance Muhammitz, the narrator/Master of Ceremonies
Ringo Starr as Larry the Dwarf, dressed as Frank Zappa
Keith Moon as the hot nun
Howard Kaylan as himself
Mark Volman as himself
Ian Underwood as himself
Ruth Underwood as herself
Don Preston as himself
Jimmy Carl Black as Lonesome Cowboy Burt
Euclid James 'Motorhead' Sherwood as himself,
Aynsley Dunbar as himself
George Duke as himself
Jim Pons as himself (uncredited)
Pamela Des Barres as the interviewer
Martin Lickert as “Jeff”
Janet Neville-Ferguson as Groupie #1
Lucy Offerall as Groupie #2
Dick Barber as Chunga – The Vacuum Cleaner
Judy Gridley as the chorus leader

For more information: www.pledgemusic.com/frankzappaandtonypalmer

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Friday, January 4, 2019

Mike Oldfield's "The Killing Fields" Soundtrack & DVD Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set Now Available For Pre-order!


London - Mike Oldfield's “The Killing Fields” Soundtrack & DVD Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set is now available for pre-order. “The Killing Fields” is a 1984 British biographical drama film about the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, which is based on the experiences of two journalists: Cambodian Dith Pran and American Sydney Schanberg. It was directed by Roland Joffé and produced by David Puttnam for his company Goldcrest Films. Sam Waterston stars as Schanberg, Haing S. Ngor as Pran, Julian Sands as Jon Swain, and John Malkovich as Al Rockoff. The adaptation for the screen was written by Bruce Robinson; the musical score was written by Mike Oldfield and orchestrated by David Bedford.

The film was a success at the box office as well as being an instant hit with critics. At the 57th Academy Awards it received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture; it won three, most notably Best Supporting Actor for Haing S. Ngor, who had had no previous acting experience. At the 38th British Academy Film Awards, it won eight BAFTAs, including Best Film and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Ngor.

In 1999 the British Film Institute voted “The Killing Fields” the 100th greatest British film of the 20th century. In 2016 British film magazine Empire ranked it number 86 in their list of the 100 best British films.

“The Killing Fields” is the 10th record album by Mike Oldfield, originally released in 1984 on Virgin Records. It is the only full-length film score written by Mike Oldfield with the music was orchestrated by David Bedford.

Though Oldfield’s music had been used in films before (see “The Exorcist” and “The Space Movie”), this was the first time he had written specifically for film, and so far the only time. Oldfield composed the album on a Fairlight CMI.

Like many movies, the album is not a comprehensive record of all the Oldfield soundtrack music used in the film. Most notably, the music accompanying the darkroom sequence does not feature on the album.

Oldfield's work on the score was partially instigated by Virgin boss Richard Branson when he took Oldfield to see David Puttnam, a producer on the film, which then secured him the role. Oldfield spent six months working on the score for “The Killing Fields” before going on tour, but when Oldfield returned, the producers of the film asked for more music to be written, prompting Oldfield to ask for the use of an orchestra and a choir; three months later the score was finished.

Tracklisting

“Pran's Theme”
“Requiem for a City”
“Evacuation”
“Pran's Theme 2”
“Capture”
“Execution”
“Bad News”
“Pran's Departure”
“Worksite”
“The Year Zero”
“Blood Sucking”
“The Year Zero 2”
“Pra'’s Escape” / “The Killing Fields”
“The Trek”
“The Boy's Burial” / “Pran Sees the Red Cross”
“Good News”
“Étude”
“Evacuation (Single edit)” (Bonus track)
“Étude (Single edit)” (Bonus track)

Personnel

Mike Oldfield – guitars (Gibson Les Paul Junior and SG Junior), synthesizers (including Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, Oberheim OB-Xa, DMX and Roland VP 330), Fairlight computer, producer, engineer.
Preston Heyman – oriental percussion
Morris Pert – percussion
Eberhard Schoener – conductor
Bavarian State Orchestra
Tölzer Boys Choir

This deluxe box set brings together both the soundtrack CD and the film DVD for the first time, along with reproduction memorabilia from the film and a numbered certificate. This edition is bound to be a collector’s item for both fans of Mike Oldfield and of the movie alike!

Box Set comprises of:

DVD
CD
Numbered certificate
With reproductions of:
Lobby cards,
A3 poster,
Press Pack (In English),
German Press Book
10″ × 8″ black and white promotional photos

For more information: www.pledgemusic.com/mikeoldfield

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com