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MARCH 2017 |
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**Wed 22 Mar 17**
Ipswich Star In between these major commitments the Stowmarket-born songstress has found time to record her second studio album with long-time collaborator and Queen guitarist Brian May. The pair have been good friends since Brian cast her in the original production of We Will Rock You in 2002 and the new album Golden Days continues their fusion of powerful rock anthems with reworkings of favourite show tunes and timeless classics... Speaking of heroes how excited is she about the release of her new album with Brian May? “It’s finally out – or will be in April,” she whoops. “It’s been a long time coming. We’ve spent the best part of a year recording it in bits and pieces but we are both very happy with it and it is an accurate reflection of where we are. It’s got some new stuff, some old favourites and some songs we have been doing live but haven’t recorded until now, so it’s a real mixture of everything that we love and what excites us.” It turns out that the recording itself is only part of the reason for Kerry’s excitement. The new album has five newly written songs and three of them co-authored by Kerry. “It’s the first time I have really sat down and written anything and I do that with Brian May who has written so many hits with Queen – it’s crazy. “Basically it’s taken me 15 years to pluck up the courage to write something. I am so proud with what we have produced and it did happen very organically. Brian was very encouraging and allowed me to develop the songs. The way we work is very collaborative. He comes up with a riff or part of a melody and has an idea for a lyric and from there we develop it together, ironing out the melody and writing the finished lyrics. Brian actually told me there’s bits of me in the songs I didn’t contribute to. He would pick up phrases I use and insert them into the songs. The whole experience has been so much fun and as a result the album has a good feel to it.” The album features a rocked-up version of their formally acoustic classic Born Free, a driving new rock song from Brian, It’s Gonna Be Alright, a cover of Shirley Bassey’s I Who Have Nothing, a slice of psychedelia in Love In A Rainbow as well as a contribution from Abba’s Benny and Björn who supplied The Story of a Heart. Kerry says that although nothing is planned yet she would love to perform the new songs live. “I am in Wonderland until August and Brian will be involved in an American tour with Queen over the summer, but maybe we can set something up for the autumn or towards Christmas. Brian and I keep talking about playing Cargenie Hall so maybe we can arrange a tour that takes in London and New York. I would love to play these songs live as they take on a life of their own in front of an audience and we can all share that experience together.” --- RTT News Love London Love Culture Classic Rock (@ClassicRockMag, 212k followers) Ultimate Classic Rock (@UltClassicRock, 172k followers) Broadway World Best Classic Bands EXTRACT: East Anglian Daily Times West End Wilma Team Rock Ultimate Classic Rock The Irish News Theatre.London Queen Monopoly to launch in May PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||
**Mon 20 Mar 17** ROLLING STONE ß Brian May revealed that Queen will release their own version of Monopoly in May. The new board game will take fans through pivotal moments in the band's history. Instead of the original game's goal of becoming a real estate scion, the Queen-themed Monopoly will allow fans to build the band's career from the ground up while avoiding "taxes, jail and bankruptcy." "Tour the amazing gig history of Queen, from their very first at Imperial College in 1970 to their last with Freddie Mercury at Knebworth Park in 1986. Tour the world with the band and buy gig locations and hit singles," the game's description says. The players' tokens for the game are also tied to iconic Queen songs and images: The giant robot from the News of the World cover, a bicycle for "Bicycle Race," a vacuum cleaner that nods to the "I Want to Break Free" video, a hammer for "Hammer to Fall" and May's guitar. Online vendors give the Queen Monopoly game a May 5th release date. In unrelated Monopoly news, Hasbro recently announced they're updating the original game's tokens to include a T. Rex, penguin and a rubber duck, with the thimble, wheelbarrow and shoe getting the boot. [MORE] PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||
**Sun 19 Mar 17**
SEE BRIAN'S OBIT MESSAGE - HERE Very sadly - news in just after midnight of the death of rock legend, Chuck Berry, aged 90. Often referred to as "the Father of Rock 'n' Roll". Chuck Berry undoubtedly an early influence to Brian's guitar playing.
Early News reports VARIETY Singer-songwriter-guitarist Chuck Berry, the rock ‘n’ roll pioneer who established the form and the themes of the music with his slyly funny, rhythmically propulsive ’50s hits, such as “Maybellene,” “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Johnny B. Goode,” has died. He was 90. St. Charles County police responded to call placed at around 12:40 p.m. local time on Saturday (18 March 2017). They arrived on the scene where Berry was found unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at 1:26 p.m., according to the police department. Berry hammered out the then-nascent sound’s groundwork in a series of self-penned singles for the Chicago R&B label Chess Records that successfully crossed over into the pop mainstream. The tunes showcased Berry’s droll singing, inventive guitar licks and acute eye and ear for the nuances of teenage life. In a matter of years, his repertoire would be adopted by such British acolytes as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones; California band the Beach Boys surrendered some of the copyright for its 1963 hit “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” which shamelessly copped the melody of Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen” without credit. Like early contemporaries Elvis Presley, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, Berry put his music over with a showman’s flair. The pompadoured, mustachioed musician’s “duck walk” — a crouched, head-bobbing march across the stage — was an onstage trademark that became familiar to viewers of the ’50s exploitation films like “Rock, Rock, Rock!” and “Go, Johnny, Go!” in which he starred. (Continues) BBC NEWS Rock and roll legend Chuck Berry has died aged 90, police in the US state of Missouri report. The singer was found unresponsive at lunchtime on Saturday, St Charles County police said. Berry's seven-decade career boasted a string of hits, including classics Roll Over Beethoven and Johnny B. Goode. He received a lifetime achievement Grammy in 1984 and was among the first inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 (Continues) | Obituary 'Johnny B Goode' has also just passed Saturn... in playlist on s NASA Space Probe - the Voyager Interstellar Mission [READ MORE: "Music From Earth"] ------ An influence on Brian - he can be seen performing 'Johnny B. Goode' below. The same track appeared on Brian's recent compilation "Air Guitar Anthems" released 18 Nov 2016. The duo, Brian May and Dave Dilloway collectively known as "1984" played Chuck Berry songs in their early gigs -1966: 'Too Much Monkey Business' and 'Our Little Rendezvous'. Later, Brian joined REO Speedwagon with 'Johnny B. Goode' 29/05/1985 at Hammersmith Odeon, London, and also performed same as guest with Jerry Lee Lewis, Hammersmith Odeon, 21/11/1989 (see below). Brian on guitar and vocals at his daughter, Emily's wedding, 31/08/2013, Natural History Museum, London:
Jerry Lee Lewis - Johnny B Goode - 21/11/1989 - https://youtu.be/gu247GKesyg PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||
**Sat 18 Mar 17**
In a programme to celebrate the 100th birthday of Dame Vera Lynn, Anita Dobson, will be one of the artists honouring her birthday in the Concert Dame Vera Lynn: Happy 100th Birthday Repeat Wednesday 22 March The programme will be available shortly after broadcast at: Earlier this evening there is a concert at London Palladium tonight. Venue: London Palladium http://rutlive.co.uk/event/100-a-tribute-to-dame-vera-lynn/
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**Fri 17 Mar 17**
Johnny Vavruska wrote: A few days back I've heard Pink Floyd's "Coming Back To Life" and I wanted to look at lyrics. I saw in curiosities, that this song was as "Wakeup Call" for astronauts in space. I found that web page and there is one Queen song too - "Love Of My Life". It is mixed together with reporting. I don't know, if you know this, but it is really nice to hear it.
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**Thu 16 Mar 17** "QUEEN IN 3-D" GERMAN AND ITALIAN EDITIONS (BRIAN MAY AT LONDON BOOK FAIR) Direct link As reported 14 March, Brian attended The London Book Fair for the Day and met with foreign book distributors. We are happy to confirm that his forthcoming title: "Queen in 3-D" will be pubLished in Italian and German.
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**Thur 16 Mar 17**
A unique BTB Symposium on the 'New insights into the control of bovine tuberculosis' at Imperial College, London on 28 March 2017. Brian May will be opening the following event, as well as on discussion panel. Tuesday 28 March 2017- Bovine TB Symposium 2017 --- Bovine TB Symposium 2017 Chair: Speakers: PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||
**Tue 14 Mar 2017**
Brian May attended the London Book Fair, Olympia, London, today as a visitor, meeting with LSC's foreign book distributors. LSC not exhibiting on this occasion. PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||
**Tue 14 Mar 2017**
CD Pre-order available: - includes FREE MP3 version of this album.
http://amzn.to/2nb1wiK Here is a rundown of Press/Media coverage regarding Brian May + Kerry Ellis forthcoming release of their "Golden Days" album.
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**Mon 13 Mar 2017** Anita Dobson had a lovely event last night (12 March) accompanied by Brian May - the Concert Artistes' Association Ball celebrating 120 years of supporting performers, which took place at The Royal Garden Hotel, London. Among the guests, Rick Wakeman and Vicki Michelle ('Allo 'Allo!), comedian Roy and Debbie Hudd - and cabaret provided by Hilary O'Neil.
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**Thu 09 Mar 17**
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Continuing Patrick Lemieux's fascinating interview with the lovely Catherine Porter... [READ PART 1 HERE]
Finding something good
The singer-songwriter now had to take a hard look at her creative direction. “My manager was instrumental at the time in making me go back and think about what really brought me to love music in the first place. What were my roots? What did I grow up listening to? What did I love? What did I want to say?” It was the work of artists like Carole King and The Carpenters that Catherine grew up listening to and it was the influence of their music that motivated her as she began to write new a material. “With Kevin Malpass, we started on piano this time. We wrote a few songs and my manager happened to play them to Steve Jenkins from Jive Records, who was a friend of his. He was asking his advice, ‘what would you do with this?’ Steve’s reply? ‘I’d make a record.’ So, with Steve’s guidance, we wrote the rest of the album and started recording it. I was in heaven recording with some of my favorite musicians-- James Pearson, Norman Wattroy, Dylan Howe, to name a few. What I didn’t know at the time was that Jive Records had just begun its journey in being taken over by BMG during our recording, a move I later discovered did not help my album. It was unfortunate that the timing was so bad, forcing a lack of support in promoting the album. I remain so proud of that album and all the heart and soul that went into making it. Kevin and I continued to write together for me as well as for other people. The collaboration continues today.” The album, released on 2002, was called Something Good, with the single 'She’s So Cool' getting airplay and support from BBC’s Radio 2. The title track appeared in the film Undertaking Betty.
A New Treasure “'Gems' was a great project to work on. Danny Saxon and Mark Jaimes were amazing to work with and had a ton of fantastic ideas already, so I put mine in the pile with theirs and we set out to see which ones worked and which didn’t. It was great to have a concept and let loose with it. I got to have some of my favorite songs in there. I have to say, there were so many favourites, but the surprise for me on that album was ‘More Today Than Yesterday.’ When I went to record the vocal, the guys had done a completely different arrangement than the one that is on the album. I had heard it a million times before recording, but somehow when I got into the studio, it just didn’t gel. So, Danny jumped on the grand piano in the studio we were recording in and tried some things out. What resulted turned out to be my favorite track on the album. I also love ‘Summer Of ‘69’ and was thrilled to one day get an email from Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams telling me my version of their song was by far their favorite. I think Brian May had sent it to Bryan Adams, which led to this communication. I don’t think I’ve been given a bigger compliment than that. It was really thrilling.”
That would not be Brian May’s only involvement with the new album. Another favourite song of Catherine’s was Queen’s 'Somebody To Love'. As with all the songs on Gems, Catherine’s version features a new arrangement of Freddie Mercury’s classic.
“We are a City/Country band, meaning we are not pretending to be from Nashville or the South,” she clarifies, “There are no cowboy boots or hats. We are all pretty much from NYC and we love Country music. We do covers and originals.” ============
Patrick Lemieux is a Canadian artist and writer. He is the co-author of the book The Queen Chronology: The Recording & Release History Of The Band, available on Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com. Amazon.com: HERE
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**Tue 07 Mar 17**
- includes FREE MP3 version of this album. PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||
**Fri 03 Mar 17**
BRIAN MAY + KERRY ELLIS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM PRE-ORDER: iTunes | AMAZON: MP3 and AUDIO CD
Brian May and Kerry Ellis have announced the forthcoming release of a new much anticipated second studio album, titled “GOLDEN DAYS”. The 13-track album, which includes five original compositions, two by May, including the title track, and three by May and Ellis, is to be released in the UK and Eire this April. PRE-ORDER: iTunes | AMAZON: MP3 and AUDIO CD The album also includes new rock arrangements of some of May and Ellis’ favourite songs of all time: a tribute to guitar virtuoso Gary Moore, two songs dedicated to their work on behalf of wild animals, and a couple of reinterpretations of songs which have already become essentials in their live act. In 2010, the May-produced Kerry Ellis debut album, “Anthems” gave the partnership their first taste of chart success and triggered a highly successful touring career. "This album is a true collaboration between Kerry and myself,” says May. “Five years ago, ‘Anthems’ was the result of me producing an exciting new artist - Kerry Ellis. This new record has both our names on it, and breaks new ground. We produced ourselves together as a team. I feel confident it's the best thing we've ever done and a worthy testament to 13 years of belief. It also happens to feature Britain's most beautiful voice!" Since undertaking their first “Anthems” tour of the UK in 2011, May and Ellis have gone on to play five further series of UK dates as well as widely touring Italy and Eastern Europe. In addition, they have regularly performed high profile one-off concert appearances, such as the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival, Italy’s San Remo Festival screened live across Europe, and most recently a triumph at a packed Opera cross-over extravaganza in the beautiful Arena di Verona. In what is now established as a unique May-Ellis fusion style, this collection includes May’s radical rock re-arrangement of the classic Born Free, the May-Ellis The Kissing Me Song, a re-cast of Ruth Moody’s powerful One Voice, and a new version of Amazing Grace. These sit alongside songs from such timeless writers as, Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson and legendary classic American songbook writers Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller. Add to this the brand new self-penned high energy offerings It’s Gonna Be All Right” (The Panic Attack Song) and Roll With You, as well as the haunting retro-psychedelic Love In A Rainbow, and we become conscious of the broad musical landscape May and Ellis’ unique chemistry harnesses. Though both strong in their separate careers, May and Ellis have been developing their own special musical interaction as a creative partnership for over 13 years, both in the studio and in live performances. What at first sight might have seemed an unlikely union of different styles has evolved into their unique strength – a fresh and original force in music. “This new album has been a real journey of discovery and I feel so proud of how Brian and I have developed over the years; we have learnt how to work together and inspire each other to create special performances and music,” says Ellis. “The album is really a mixture of our experiences and has a story behind each song. Brian and I have had such fun developing it and can't wait for people to hear it.” The album is set for release April 7th on the Sony Music label. Brian May + Kerry Ellis – GOLDEN DAYS
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**Wed 01 Mar 17** PLEASE NOTE: BRIAN MAY, this year is unavailable to attend Starmus IV, in Norway, as this March already.... Starmus 2017 will soon be here. Trondheim 18-23 June 2017. Another great event promised. Check out full Press Release HERE
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CD Pre-order available 
All the while working the London stage and session recordings, Catherine was writing and collaborating on her own material, as she explains, “Tony Moore, the Founder of the Kashmir Klub, became my first serious collaborator. He was able to take some crazy ideas I had and develop them into songs. For a period of time we were incredibly prolific, writing by day and performing what we had just written that night in the club. It was an incredibly creative and satisfying time musically.”
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