Best known for his work on The Beach Boys’ Smile, Parks is a student of serious music, whose flirtation with the counterculture saw him fall in with unlikely company. His first job was arranging “The Bear Necessities” for Disney’s Jungle Book, but his association with Brian Wilson led to him producing debuts by Ry Cooder and Randy Newman, as well as making idiosyncratic solo albums. As he prepares to release his new album, Songs Cycled (reviewed in this month’s Uncut, dated June 2013), we look back to July 2010’s issue, where Parks reflects on a career that’s straddled the worlds of serious music and pop, without fitting in to either. Words: Alastair McKay
The last time I had occasion to write about my old friend BP Fallon in Uncut was in March, 2010, when he’d just released his debut single, produced by Jack White and released by Jack’s Third Man Records as the first in the label’s new Spoken Word-Instructional record Series. “Fame #9” was backed with “BP Fallon Interview By Jack White” and “I Believe In Elvis Presley”, on which White played some viperish slide guitar, with The Raconteurs’ Patrick Keeler on drums. There was also a video, featuring some of BP’s many friends, including Kevin Shields, Bobby Gillespie and Gemma Hayes.
Robert Plant has announced a run of North American tour dates with his band, the Sensational Shape Shifters.
The 21 date tour starts on June 20 in Dallas, Texas and takes in Portland, Chicago and Memphis before winding up on July 27 in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.
Richie Havens has died aged 72 from a heart attack.
The singer's talent agency, Roots Agency, confirmed that Havens died at home in Jersey City, New Jersey. Having spent four decades performing live and releasing music, Havens announced last month that he would no longer be touring due to health issues.
For the next issue of Uncut, I've reviewed Season 1 of Veep. In case you're not familiar with the show, it's basically Armando Iannucci's attempt to relocate The Thick Of It to the White House.
Graham Nash discusses the unique exhibition of his photography in the new issue of Uncut, dated May 2013, and out now – in this archive feature from Uncut’s April 2009 issue (Take 143), the silver-throated former Holly tackles some prickly subjects – dissing Dylan, breaking up with Joni and playing peacekeeper in CSNY… Interview: John Lewis______________________
Bauhaus' Peter Murphy was reportedly arrested on Saturday (March 16) on suspicion of causing injuries while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and for hit-and-run offences.
Atoms For Peace have been announced as the headliner for two festivals this July.
Thom Yorke’s side project with Flea, Nigel Godrich, Mauro Refosco and Joey Waronker will play The Melt! Festival in Ferropolis, Germany and the Exit Festival in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Melt!, now in its 16th year, will also include Alt-J, Django Django, Dan Deacon and The Knife. It takes place between July 19 and 21. Tickets are €119 (£102.85) plus fees including a €5 garbage disposal surcharge.
