Twelve years after he was pulling pints in a pub in London Bridge, Brian Burton is perhaps busier than ever – he has a new Broken Bells album out on Monday (January 13), he’s been working with U2 and is rumoured to be producing the next Black Keys record. It’s been a whirlwind decade for the writer and producer better known as Danger Mouse: after making his name by daring to cross-breed The Beatles with Jay-Z, he’s gone on to work with everyone from Damon Albarn to David Lynch.
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.
The Wicker Man, the granddaddy of British cult horror movies celebrates its 40th anniversary with what we’re told is ‘The Final Cut’ making an appearance in cinemas this month before a Blu-ray and DVD release.
With Arcade Fire’s new album, Reflektor, due for release on October 28, this week’s archive feature looks back to December 2005, when Uncut awards Album Of The Year to Arcade Fire’s debut, Funeral. Adored by everyone from David Bowie and David Byrne to Chris Martin and Bono, Funeral is a spectacular word-of-mouth success, and suggests whole new futures for rock music. Stephen Troussé meets the band on the eve of their Riviera Theatre set in Chicago…
Blue Öyster Cult founding member Allen Lanier has died aged 67.
The band confirmed the news via their official website and revealed that the multi-instrumentalist had passed away following a lengthy battle with lung cancer and had "succumbed to complications from COPD [Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease]". "We've lost our friend and bandmate," they said, referencing their single "Don't Fear The Reaper" by adding: "DFTR sweet man. We love and miss you."
First of all this week, let me quickly plug our most recent Ultimate Music Guide, which is dedicated to Depeche Mode. As with previous specials in the Ultimate Music Guide series on David Bowie, the Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul Weller, The Clash, Nick Cave, The Kinks, U2, REM and The Smiths – all of which you can order online at www.uncut.co.uk/store or order digitally at www.uncut.co.uk/download – Depeche Mode – The Ultimate Music Guide features brand new reviews of all Depeche’s albums, written by a stellar team of Uncut scribes, plus a ton of vintage interviews from the archives of Melody Maker and NME, reprinted for the first time in years and covering the whole of the band’s career from their first stirrings in deepest Basildon in the early 80s.
Depeche Mode – The Ultimate Music Guide is on sale now.
