Not uncharacteristically, I’ve spent the past few days repressing a bunch of unnecessary rage about the publicity afforded the BBC’s Sound Of 2013 poll. Not so much because of the artists selected, but because of the way it effectively presents an ultimatum to new talent: have something resembling success in the next 12 months, or else people will weary of your miserable underachievement and move on to the next batch of hopefuls.
Junior Murvin has died aged 67.
The Jamaica Observer writes that the singer died at the Port Antonio Hospital in Portland earlier this morning (December 2). Best known for the Lee 'Scratch' Perry produced 1976 single "Police And Thieves", Murvin - real name Murvin Junior Smith - was apparently suffering from advanced stage diabetes at the time of his death.
The 1977 album Police and Thieves was Murvin's LP debut and saw him backed by The Upsetters. He released his last studio album, World Cry, in 1995.
Amnesty International has announced the release of a major box set featuring live performances from artists including Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.
Titled ¡Released!, the six-disc DVD and two-disc CD box set will feature 12 hours of concert footage shot at Human Rights shows between 1986 and 1998 plus five hours of bonus material including interviews with Springsteen and Sting and a never-before-seen Peter Gabriel tour video.
Roy Harper has recently returned with a raved-about new album, Man & Myth, and a UK tour, including a date at London’s prestigious Royal Festival Hall on October 22 – he’s arguably bigger than he has been since the mid-‘70s. Celebrating Harper’s 70th birthday back in July 2011 (Take 170), Uncut speaks to Roy about tales of escapes from psychiatric hospitals, tempestuous dealings with the music business, and the sinister connection between Tony Blair and Cliff… Words: Allan Jones
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.
Reissues of Ian Dury’s Lord Upminster and 4,000 Weeks Holiday albums are reviewed in the latest Uncut (dated July 2013, and out now) – and a new exhibition, Ian Dury – More Than Fair: Paintings, Drawings and Artworks 1961-1972, takes place at the Royal College Of Art, Kensington, from July 23-September 1, 2013.
The week thus far fairly inevitably dominated by Neil Young & Crazy Horse (here’s my review of the O2 gig), but there are plenty of good new things here.
