This week we say farewell to a legend, breathe life into the forgotten stomping grounds of St Kilda, and celebrate the birthday of an industry icon. Here is this week’s news.
FAREWELL TO ‘THE DOORS’ FOUNDER RAY MANZAREK
One of the most prolific bands of last century – controversial, poetic, and enduring – The Doors has lost their founding member, keyboardist Ray Manzarek. Sadly he passed through this world late last night after a battle with bile duct cancer. His legacy will persevere through the music he created with Jim Morrision which to date has seen them achieve 19 Gold, 14 Platinum, and 5 multi-platinum albums just in the US.
Industry heavyweight Kevin Gore, President and CEO of Rhino Entertainment and Warner Music Global said this of the departure –
The Rhino family is devastated to hear about the loss of our dear friend Ray Manzarek. Ray’s astounding talent and deep passion have been a perpetual positive presence around Elektra Records, and then Warner Music, since The Doors’ debut in 1967. Ray was a true music pioneer and composed songs that were so undeniable and profound that they continue to resonate today with fans around the world. His music and legacy will surely be celebrated for generations to come. We offer our deepest condolences to his wife Dorothy and family in this time and encourage anyone wishing to pay memorial to Ray to make a donation in his name at www.standup2cancer.org .”
THE SOUTH IS RISING! THE ST KILDA RENAIISANCE BEGINS
Alas, I hardly ever go South. It’s like a foreign land – lots of gelato, palm trees, and singleted folk. Amidst all of this tropical splendour though are the forgotten art deco ruins where once music was played in reverie and people from suburbs near and far would come and revel.
This week has seen the music world band together to stop a loved establishment from ruin. Pure Pop Records both a record store and venue faced the wrecking ball on account of council noise regulations (boo, hiss) and complaining neighbours (hiss, boo). The place is run by the son of AC/DC’s Bon Scott (RIP) and was saved by the aid and protestations of the likes of Tim Rogers, Paul Kelly, Gotye, and Ella Hooper who advocated the campaign to ‘Buy a Brick’ to help re-establish the venue. Raising $55,000 the proceeds will go towards soundproofing the building.
What’s more the beautiful St Kilda Memo will soon be hosting regular gigs and other venues worth checking out and supporting include The Prince Public Bar, St Kilda Bowling club and underground Saloon Bar at The George.
Go. Be a patron. Affect change.
THE CAT EMPIRE EATS THE ITUNES WORLD CHARTS
Nom, nom, nom. The brilliant talent of Cat Empire has taken a firm grasp of the world with the release of their new album “Steal the Light”. On the iTunes world charts the album has achieved #2 on the Australian chart, #5 in Canada, #19 in Switzerland, #20 in Germany, #20 in Holland, #25 in South Africa, #26 in the UK, #40 in Austria, #53 in France and #80 in Belgium!
The film clip from title track also Steal the Light premiered recently on Channel [V] and showcases Melbourne’s skyline. The video, filmed on the same night as the city’s White Night extravaganza, is a mere Polaroid of the energy and vigour they bring to the stage for their live performances.
Touring off the back of the album launch, eagerly awaiting fans can see the six-piece live for themselves as they traverse the nation.
AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES 2013
Adelaide: 6th Sep @ Thebarton Theatre
Perth: 7th Sep @ Red Hill
Darwin: 8th Sep @ Discovery
Melbourne: 12th Sep @ The Forum
Melbourne: 13th Sep @ The Forum
Canberra: 19th Sep @ UC Refectory
Sydney: 20th Sep @ The Enmore
Sydney: 21st Sep @ The Enmore
Brisbane: 27th Sep @ Tivoli
Brisbane: 28th Sep @ Tivoli
AUSTRALIA COUNCIL CHAMPION S CREATIVE FREEDOM FOR ARTISTS
It’s a tough and dedicated life as an artist. All the noodles and cheap wine are of no consequence when you have staunchly made a conviction to creativity. It’s admirable at the least as most of us, though we hate to admit it, are desk jockeys. I think it is also easy to criticise the government on the part that they play in society but in comparison to most countries, one thing we can say about our politics is that it stands by and supports artists to a far greater extent.
The Australia Council have announced their choices for this year’s recipients for the second annual Australia Council Creative Australia Fellowships. Originally only designating five fellowships, the judges were so impressed by the calibre and quality of the applicants that they decided to dish out a further six awards.
The recipients span across all genres from dance, installation, photography, composition and animation.
The government. They care: "The Fellowships are an investment in the long term sustainability of each artists’ career. So from the perspective of the Australia Council, this is an investment in the future of art."– Mr Rupert Myer, Australia Council Chair.
SPOTIFY RELEASES FIRST YEAR FIGURES
So music streaming. How about 42.5 million hours of music streaming? Well that’s the figure that Spotify has recently announced on how many hours Australian listeners have clocked to date since the online giants swooped into the Oz market. That marks the first 12mths in their pacific romance and it seems that we have taken to the service like antennae to reception. Local artists that took centre stage included Flume, Tame Impala, and The Rubens while overall Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Florence + The Machine and Rihanna took out the top spots.
THIS WEEKS ARIA CHART MOVERS AND STAYERS
Well for the first time this year the top five in the singles charts has remained the same two consecutive weeks in a row with Robin Thicke feat. T.I & Pharrell with Blurred Lines hold on to number one. All the while Michael Buble is holding tight at number one on the albums chart with “To Be Loved”.
ARIA Top 5 Singles
1. Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell ‘Blurred Lines’
2. Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams ‘Get Lucky’
3. Passenger ‘Let Her Go’
4. Jason Derulo ‘The Other Side’
5. Bastille ‘Pompeii’
ARIA Top 5 Albums
1. Michael Buble ‘To Be Loved’
2. Ricky Martin ‘Greatest Hits’
3. Agnetha Faltskog ‘A’ (debut)
4. Original Soundtrack ‘The Great Gatsby’ (debut)
5. Bruno Mars ‘Unorthodox Jukebox’
