News
SLASH TELLS AUSTRALIAN MUSICIAN HE’S SHY ABOUT SHARING HIS SONG IDEAS. 0
In celebration of the new Slash feat Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators album ‘4’, legendary Guns ’n Roses guitarist Slash spoke to selected media this afternoon in a zoom press conference from Kansas. The session kicked off with a couple of videos … ‘C’est la Vie and ‘Spirit Love’, tracks from the new album ‘4’, while we waited for the man to dial in. Slash told us it was apt that we’d just heard ‘Spirit Love’, as last night in Denver was the first time that the band had played the song live.
The online press conference was presented primarily to chat about the new album ‘4’, the first new music from SMKC in four years. It’s also the first record on Gibson Guitars own record label. SLASH and his bandmates MYLES KENNEDY (Vocals), BRENT FITZ (Drums), TODD KERNS (Bass & Vocals) and FRANK SIDORIS (Guitar & Vocals) aka SMKC, partnered with producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, John Prine, Jason Isbell, Rival Sons), for the new album 4 resulting in the band’s strongest collective statement to date. Recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville, TN, Cobb shared the band’s desire to lay down the tracks live in the studio–including guitar solos and vocals–a first for the group, revealing a stunning, vital sound and style all captured live.
Earlier in the session, Slash addressed how excited he was to record live in the studio with producer Dave Cobb, usually known for his work with country artists. Slash told us how he hates to use headphones in the studio and have that headphone sound as the source for his guitar sound.
“When I was looking for new producers to do this record, I was introduced to Dave Cobb and our initial conversation was how much we love Glynn Johns and let’s do a rock n roll record totally off the floor and I was like ‘Eureka’!”
Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips asked Slash about the guitar which sits nearby at home for the moments whenever inspiration strikes … whether it was his Gibson J-45 (released as part of the Slash collection of guitars at the 2020 NAMM show) or an electric. We were surprised to hear how shy he is about others hearing his initial song ideas.
“I have both,” Slash told Australian Musician, “I have a J-45 which sits around the house and I also have a Les Paul Standard at the house and that’s really all there is guitar-wise around … you know, I don’t have many guitars at home. So I often pick up the electric and play it acoustic because I don’t like anyone to hear what I am doing. I’m really sort of shy about that but if nobody is around, I’ll play the acoustic and work on that … as long as nobody is home!”
It was also interesting to hear how Slash would come up with the music for a song based on his ideas and feelings at the time, then Myles Kennedy would write his lyrics, which would give a totally new meaning to the song. For example, from Slash’s perspective, the song ‘Sprit Love’ came out of the frustrations of lockdowns during the pandemic. “Now for Myles, the subject has nothing to do with the song,” Slash explains. “It’s totally about Necrophilia!”
Similarly the music for ‘Fill My World’ was written to offset the misery of the pandemic, with friends losing their jobs and relatives dying due to Covid. Slash was stoked with the lyrics Myles came up with.
“The lyric just seemed to really fit the tone of what I wrote the music about and everything that was happening at the time. It was amazing and it wasn’t until after the album was released … just recently, they told me the song was about his dog! It had nothing to do with people at all.”
Wrapping up Slash left us with some great news for Australian fans. “The Conspirators will be heading your way sometime in early 2023”.
Slash feat Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators album ‘4’ album is out now
Gibson has also released a limited, 250 count offering of SLASH Les Paul Standard Limited 4 Album Edition guitars–available on Gibson.com and at authorized dealers. The first-ever album and guitar package collaboration features the new SMKC album 4 on vinyl—which is housed in a uniquely designed compartment inside the guitar case–a 4 guitar pick tin and decal, and a signed SMKC band portrait. Step inside Gibson USA in Nashville and watch the making of the new SLASH Les Paul Standard Limited 4 Album Edition guitar, HERE. Check out the full line of exclusive SLASH guitars across Gibson HERE, and Epiphone HERE, as well as, SLASH apparel HERE.
- Dom DiSisto
BLUESFEST FINAL PLAYING SCHEDULE RELEASED 0
NEWS
Bluesfest has proudly unveiled the complete playing schedule for 2022, and the music kicks off in just under 2 months! With covid restrictions eased, it’s going to be a huge celebration and Australian Musician will be there to bring you daily coverage SEE THE SCHEDULE HERE
- Dom DiSisto
APRA AMCOS TO PAY MEMBERS LIVE PERFORMANCE ROYALTIES FOR CANCELLED GIGS 0
News
APRA AMCOS has announced that it will pay $1.5m in live performance royalties to members for gigs, concerts and festival appearances that were cancelled due to impact of the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.The initiative will provide direct financial support to music creators who lost royalties from performances that were scheduled to take place in Australia and New Zealand from 1 October 2021 to 28 February 2022. APRA AMCOS members can go the website to submit claims for cancelled performances. The cutoff to submit is 28 February 2022 with payments to be distributed in March.
- Dom DiSisto
VALE GLENN WHEATLEY 0
The Australian music industry is shocked and saddened this morning to hear that legendary musician, manager and entrepreneur Glenn Wheatley has died due to complications from Covid-19.
Glenn started his career in music as bass player for 60s rock band The Masters Apprentices, a band which had a string of chart hits including; Turn Up Your Radio, Because I Love You and Think About Tomorrow Today.
In the 70’s Glenn took Australian music to the world as manager of Little River Band, signing a huge deal with Capitol Records, paving the way for the band to enjoy international success with multiple charting singles in America and around the globe.
In the 80s, Wheatley took on the management of John Farnham, who at the time had been a forgotten pop star from the 60s. Glenn relaunched Farnham’s career and was instrumental in finding the perfect tracks to complete John’s groundbreaking album Whispering Jack.
Wheatley also managed and helped to launch Delta Goodrem’s music career.
The ever-innovative Wheatley was also an Australian FM radio pioneer, co-founding Melbourne radio station EON-FM, which in 1986 was sold to Triple M Sydney, owned by Hoyts.
Glenn’s son Tim has gone on to enjoy a recording and performing career too. Glenn was often seen taking on roadie duties for his son, always there to give him encouragement.
Tributes have begun to pour in for Glenn, including one from his former band mates from The Masters Apprentices:
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Glenn Wheatley. Glenn joined Masters Apprentices in 1968. Glenn recorded hits such as ‘Bridgette’, ‘5:10 Man’, ‘Think About Tomorrow Today’, ‘Turn Up Your Radio’ and ‘Because I Love You’. He recognised that the band should be getting much higher fees for drawing huge crowds and fought for a fairer share of concert revenue. After Glenn left The Masters Apprentices in 1972 he went into band management and conquered the world with the likes of Little River Band, Australian Crawl, Moving Pictures, John Farnham and many others. He pioneered FM radio in Australia and organised the Hay Mate fundraiser concert appeals. He has left his mark forever on Australian Music.
Glenn would often reunite with The Masters Apprentices, dusting off his bass on special occasions, most recently the Thebarton Theatre 90th Birthday Spectacular in 2018. We will miss him greatly. Our deepest sympathies to his wife Gaynor, son Tim and daughters Samantha and Kara.
Always a Masters Apprentice!
With thoughts, memories and love – Brian, Mick, Gavin, Rick, Craig and Bill.”
Singer songwriter Peter Cupples added his thoughts on Facebook:
“I’m shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news that my old manager and an icon of the music industry Glenn Wheatley has passed away, to Gaynor and all of Glenn’s family and friends my deepest condolences, I won’t woffle on as there’s much I could say about the incredible passion, vision and drive he had and gave to our industry, totally responsible for Stylus being the first white band signed to Motown, my heart goes out to my old friend John and Jill who will be devastated along with Lisa Lindsay and the rest of the band, a massive hole has been left in our hearts and the heart of our industry…vale Glenn… gone but never forgotten RIP.”
Australian Musician extends our heartfelt thoughts and condolences to Glenn’s wife Gaynor and family.
- Dom DiSisto
HOODOO GURUS TO STREAM NEW ALBUM CONCERT 0
NEWS
HOODOO GURUS TO STREAM NEW ALBUM CONCERT
In an exclusive preview, Hoodoo Gurus fans across the globe can hear the band’s forthcoming 10th studio album Chariot of the Gods played in its entirety for the very first time. The streamed set will be shared at 8:00pm AEDT / WST / PST / EST/ GMT on Thursday, March 10 ahead of the album’s official release on Friday, March 11 (Big Time Records /EMI Music) and will include members of the band online to chat with fans.
Tickets are $10 AUD /$8 USD – available here.
- Dom DiSisto
WATCH: ELVIS COSTELLO – ‘THE BOY NAMED IF’ INTERVIEW 0
What did you do during the pandemic? How did you cope? It’s a question people often ask you. If you’re asking Elvis Costello, he’ll tell you he has managed to release an album titled ‘Hey Clockface’, a french language EP ‘La Face de Pendule à Coucou’ – featuring the voices of Iggy Pop and Isabelle Adjani, an audio book ‘How To Play Guitar & Y’, ‘Spanish Model’, a remake of his 1978 album This Years Model, this time featuring Spanish artists singing in Spanish, and released the lavish vinyl box-set edition of the 1979 album, “Armed Forces” containing facsimiles of his original lyrical notebooks bound as pulp novels and comic books. He’s also recorded a brand new record with The Imposters, ‘The Boy Named If’ … plus wrote and illustrated a book that comes with it (A limited run of 6,000 copies of the book have been produced). It’s fair to say Elvis Costello is allergic to boredom.
Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips had the pleasure of sitting down with Elvis over a zoom call to discuss the newest album and accompanying book, both titled The Boy Named If (And Other Children’s Stories).
Costello says, ”The full title of this record is ‘The Boy Named If (And Other Children’s Stories).’ ‘IF,’ is a nickname for your imaginary friend; your secret self, the one who knows everything you deny, the one you blame for the shattered crockery and the hearts you break, even your own. You can hear more about this ‘Boy’ in a song of the same name,”On January 14th, 2022, Elvis Costello and The Imposters release, ‘The Boy Named If,’ a new album of urgent, immediate songs with bright melodies, guitar solos that sting and a quick step to the rhythm.
Speaking of the lyrical content of the record, Costello added, “Once upon a time, when I didn’t know what a kiss could do and didn’t even dare to caress, the way ahead was a mystery; a departing from that magic state called innocence for the pain that leads to pleasure and all that jazz.”
“Don’t get me started about the guilt and shame and all those other useless possessions that you must throw overboard before you set sail with your dreamboat (and a runcible spoon),” remarked Elvis.
‘The Boy Named If,’ – Produced by Sebastian Krys & Elvis Costello – is a collection of thirteen snapshots, “That take us from the last days of a bewildered boyhood to that mortifying moment when you are told to stop acting like a child – which for most men (and perhaps a few gals too) can be any time in the next fifty years,” as Costello put it.
The record comes from EMI, with Capitol Records as the release partner in the US. It will be available on vinyl, compact disc and cassette formats or as a download and in the stream with all the other pilchards. The 8-Track and Flexi-disc releases will come later.
For those who like to hold something more substantial in their hands, the record can also be found tucked into an 88-page hardback storybook edition – each one numbered and signed by the artist.
This edition features thirteen illustrated short stories, which have the same titles as the songs on the record. Some of these fables set the scene for the songs, others are sequels, or a clue or hint to what might have been going on before the music began.
The lyrics can also be found in bold print alongside the colourful, dashing, sometimes macabre, daubs from the electric pencil of Eamon Singer.
Costello added, “Whatever you take out of these tales, I wrote them for you and to make the life of these songs a little less lonely, if you should care to dive in a little deeper.”
“I started ‘The Boy Named If’ with just an electric guitar, some sharps and flats, high heels and lowdowns, with five songs in bright major keys and carried on to write a whole new record for The Imposters to play,” Costello said.
Speaking of recording sessions, Costello said, “The initial rhythm section for this record was my guitar and Pete Thomas’ Gretsch drums, recorded down in Bonaparte Rooms West. Our Imposter pal of 20 years standing, Davey Faragher soon dialed in his Fender bass and vocals while we awaited dispatches from France.”
“If the record sounded swell as a trio, Steve Nieve’s organ was the icing on the cake, the cherry and the little silver balls,” Elvis added.
“Sometimes I sit and write things down, the rest of the time I play guitar in a rock and roll band. I love my family. I really love everybody, especially the people I can’t stand, even those who trespass against us and there are a lot of them.” “Yer pal. Elvis Costello”
‘The Boy Named If’ Track Listing:
1. Farewell, OK
2. The Boy Named If
3. Penelope Halfpenny
4. The Difference
5. What If I Can’t Give You Anything But Love?
6. Paint The Red Rose Blue
7. Mistook Me For A Friend
8. My Most Beautiful Mistake (guest vocal by Nicole Atkins)
9. Magnificent Hurt
10. The Man You Love To Hate
11. The Death Of Magic Thinking
12. Trick Out The Truth
13. Mr. Crescent
‘The Boy Named If’ New Album from Elvis Costello & The Imposters. Released January 14th, 2022 on Universal
CD, Vinyl, Cassette, Download, Streaming and Numbered and Signed 88-page Hardback Storybook Edition on EMI
Preorder ‘The Boy Named If’ HERE
- Dom DiSisto
