Rare recordings made by David Bowie as a member of The Riot Squad has been released as a four-track EP by record label Acid Jazz as part of their Rare Mod series.
"The Toy Soldier EP" features recordings made when Bowie was a member of the band in 1967. The group - who were initially managed and produced by Larry Page and later Joe Meek - rehearsed at The Swan in Tottenham, with Bowie on vocals, and played live together for approximately nine weeks. There were also six recording sessions, at which Bowie recorded the four titles featured here.
Bob Dylan has reportedly changed the line-up of his band mid-tour.
Guitarist Duke Robillard, who has been playing with Dylan since April 2013, has been replaced by Charlie Sexton.
Robillard, who has also toured with Tom Waits, first played with Dylan on tracks from 1997's Time Out Of Mind album. His arrival on the Dylan tour earlier this year marked the first change to Dylan's touring band since Sexton replaced guitarist Denny Freeman in October 2009.
Before we get onto the list, a big thank you to everyone who engaged with the Mumfords/class/hate/Glastonbury 2013/Stones/etc blog yesterday, and a quick plug for the new issue of Uncut, out tomorrow in the UK (Alongside all the marquee stuff, I’ve written a piece about the new Tropicalia doc). As for this week’s new music, I suspect a few of you might be interested in Number Two…
Rod Stewart says he is keen to reform The Faces with Ronnie Wood, and suggests a reunion could happen if and when The Rolling Stones decide to retire.
The band previously reformed in 2009 for a one-off charity show with guest vocalists replacing the absent Rod Stewart, and also subsequent tours with Mick Hucknall on vocals. Stewart also missed the Faces and Small Faces induction into the Rock'n'Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012.
A new library has opened in London this week stocked only with vinyl.
The Vinyl Library, set up by two London based DJs Sophie Austin and Elly Rendall, is run by volunteers and will operate on a not-for-profit basis. Its stock is comprised of vinyl records donated by the public, with donations already having been made from as far away as New Orleans.
Beck has unveiled a brand new, stand-alone single called 'I Won't Be Long'.
The single, which you can stream in full above, follows another new Beck song, "Defriended", which he unveiled last month. "I Won't Be Long" will be released on July 8 as a 12" single, with a 14-minute-long remix also set to be made available to fans.
When it's announced that The Rolling Stones are planning a free concert in Hyde Park on July 5, 1969, we decide we have to be there. There are four of us, 16-year-old school friends, music a common bond between us.