We can now add “Where were you when you heard that David Bowie died?” to the list of other era defining questions. The world was stunned to hear on Monday morning that we’d have to struggle on without the Thin White Duke’s artistry and influence. And many wondered how this could have happened so soon after the release of his new EP “BlackStar” and it’s two videos.
“Last night they loved you,
opening doors
and pulling some strings, angel”
Major Tom has left orbit for good. David Bowie’s indelible Aladdin Sane lightning bolt transfixed to our collective psyche and his audio imprint etched into turntables everywhere.
Last Friday a small group of us were working on our laptops in the board room of the Indie Week offices when someone suggested a little music might be nice. I leapt into action and put on my Bowie playlist as it was his 69th birthday. I was thrilled when one of the “kids” recognized the opening notes of “Blackstar” and stated how much she liked Bowie. The playlist is 40 songs long and as various songs from different eras came on someone would ask if the song was an old one or a new one. I thought that was interesting and said something about the timelessness of some of his songs.
I have a great many friends who are going to be devastated by the loss of David Bowie, and although not as much of a fan as some of the people I care about, I have already started to feel their pain and his loss.
Happy 2016, ev-ree-baw-daaaaay.
Woo! Howz everybody feel?
We’re all here to partaaaaaay!!
Cam and Wendi at Cherry Cola’s
I am in the middle of a seven-day ten-event Christmas event marathon. Don’t know exactly what it is this year but it seems like every day this week there are a couple of shindigs. Thanks to the fine folks at The Talent House for their great event Monday at The Madison. It was fantastic to see and spend time with my old pal Robin Black who is now one of the world’s foremost MMA analysts and a hero amongst Irish fight fans. Robin’s wife Erica is a client of the Talent House and currently performing in “Kinky Boots”.
Rolling Stone Magazine recently released their latest ‘list’, “The 100 Greatest Songwriters” rollingstone.com). Let me repeat that title, “The 100 Greatest Songwriters”. Their descriptive line states “From Brill Building tunesmiths to Punk poets, from Woody Guthrie to Max Martin, the visionaries who defined music history.”
Before we rewind to a couple of record reviews in the New Music Magazine circa 1978/9, something a little more modern. By this time next week many of us will be knee-deep in the 33rd annual Canadian Music Week. From its start as the David Farrell run “Record Conference” the Neill Dixon show is a massive multi-format event which touches all aspects of the industry, but, more importantly, is a huge social gathering of old friends from around the world.
March 2 was the 10th anniversary of Hunter S. Thompson’s death and a picture of one of his quotes was making the rounds in Facebook. I found the subject matter rather timely! Many of us will find both the truth and the irony in what he had to say.
It’s 4am on Sunday morning, March 8, and I’ve just arrived home from a long day and night of music hopping….and the damn Queen streetcar short-turned again….and the clocks went forward one hour (OMG it’s really 5am!!)….and I’ve decided to change my tune (so to speak)….and tell you about my “day in the life of….” rather than have our esteemed editor post the article I’ve already filed.
Bullseye Records of Canada
