John Joseph Wardle aka bass legend Jah Wobble started his career with post-Punks Public Image Limited (teaming up with a certain John Lydon), playing on the albums Public Image: First Edition, Metal Box, and the Paris Au Printemps live record. After his departure from that band, Jah would embark on a highly eclectic solo career exploring all manner of musical styles and collaborations far too extensive to list here.
Michael Alago recently released his memoir I Am Michael Alago: Breathing Music. Signing Metallica. Beating Death. (BackBeat Books), written by Alago with Laura Davis-Chanin (with a foreword by Mina Caputo of Life of Agony and John Joseph of Cro-Mags) and you can read our review here. Michael is the music industry legend that signed Metallica to Electra Records and helped guide them on the path to being the biggest band of all time. He also played a role in the careers of White Zombie, Cro-mags, Metal Church, Flotsam and Jetsam, and more. The Drew Stone documentary Who The F*ck Is That Guy: The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago (just wrapped on Netflix after an unprecedented 3 years, now on Amazon Prime and YouTube) grew awareness of him beyond music documentaries and VH1’s Metallica Behind The Music. Now you can see never before seen outtakes of Michael with Metallica after they filmed their segments for the film, posted to Drew Stone’s YouTube. Continue reading
Everybody has a story.
There are many words of wisdom born from the soul of Michael Alago that he has shared in his memoir. Most know him as the music industry legend that signed Metallica to Electra Records and helped guide them on the path to being the biggest band of all time. The Drew Stone documentary Who The F*ck Is That Guy: The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago (now on Netflix and Amazon) shined a light on him that he deserved for decades. But there is so much more to his story, to the person than bands he signed, and who whom he rubbed shoulders with. The film was a terrific introduction to his life and times and why he deserves the credit he does. The book slowly peels back the years, all the wonderful and terrible things that life can bring and all the in-betweens. A lot of formative times with his family growing up in Brooklyn, dear friends, loves and losses. A terrific tapestry of experiences, stories, and reminiscences. There are many standout movements, including instances of Michael being surrounded the greats of the music and art world; Jerry Brandt, Bill Graham, Danny Fields, Bob Krasnow, Robert Mapplethorpe and many more. It’s cool enough to have met those people, but what really matters is listening and learning from greatness when it comes across your path. He did just that. Continue reading
Punk, a new documentary series made its debut on the EPIX channel tonight. Produced by Iggy Pop and designer and music mogul John Varvatos, Punk is a four-part series that explores the birth of Punk Rock. A huge assemblage of stars has come together including Pop, Varvatos, John Lydon (Sex Pistols, Public Image Ltd), Henry Rollins (Black Flag), Marky Ramone (Ramones), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters/Nirvana), Duff McKagan (Guns n’ Roses), Donita Sparks (L7),director Penelope Spheeris (The Decline of Western Civilization), Joan Jett, Danny Fields, Legs McNeil, Wayne County, Keith Morris (Black Flag/Circle Jerks/OFF), Debbie Harry and Chris Stein (Blondie), Wayne County, Flea and many more. It may become a recurring series since the listing on EPIX refers to it as “Season 1”. You can watch the trailer below and click the link to sign up for a free trial to watch episode 1 on your phone on the EPIX NOW app or mobile device if your cable provider doesn’t feature the channel. Continue reading
Rome trio Fvzz Popvli indulge in the somewhat metallic trend of using the letter v as a u, but given their Latin heritage, it’s relatively acceptable. Their music is an enjoyable romp through heavy, hostile Psychedelic haze, and second album Magna Fvzz (Heavy Psych Sounds) offers up black comedy, snarling attitudes and sinister twists in equal measure.Continue reading
PUBLIC IMAGE LTD perform on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” Photo Credit: Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS.
Public Image Ltd is streaming their performance of “Double Trouble” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on November 17, 2015 below.
Watch an interview with frontman John Lydon on CNBC here. The band is currently finishing up a North American tour supporting their new album What The World Needs Now, out now via PiL Official/Redeye (US) and Cargo (UK).
Public Image Ltd (PiL) will be releasing their tenth studio album titled What The World Needs Now on September 4, 2015 via PiL Official (Distributed in the UK via Cargo UK Distribution and in North America via Redeye). Album opener and lead single “Double Trouble” will be released on August 21, 2015. The 10″ vinyl version will be backed by “Bettie Page” and also come with an additional bonus track which is not on the album, “Turkey Tits.”
Last year, the band returned to Steve Winwood‘s Wincraft studio in the Cotswolds’ to record the new album. The band will be doing a 23-date UK and European tour in the fall. The current lineup consists of frontman John Lydon, guitarist/multi instrumentalist Lu Edmonds (ex-Damned), drummer Bruce Smith (The Pop Group, ex-Slits), and bassist Scott Firth (Steve Winwood, John Martyn, Elvis Costello)
Double Trouble 10″ Vinyl Single:
A-side: “Double Trouble”
B-side: “Bettie Page”
“Turkey Tits”
What The World Needs Now album Track Listing:
01: Double Trouble
02: Know Now
03: Bettie Page
04: C’est La Vie
05: Spice of Choice
06: The One
07: Big Blue Sky
08: Whole Life Time
09: I’m Not Satisfied
10: Corporate
11: Shoom
Sep 18: 02 ABC – Glasgow (UK)
Sep 19: Academy – Manchester (UK)
Sep 20: Riverside – Newcastle (UK)
Sep 22: Fibbers – York (UK)
Sep 23: The Copper Rooms @ Warwick University – Coventry (UK)
Sep 25: 02 Academy – Bristol (UK)
Sep 26: Tivoli – Buckley (UK)
Sep 27: Sub 89 – Reading (UK)
Sep 29: De La Warr Pavilion – Bexhill (UK)
Sep 30: UEA – Norwich (UK)
Oct 02: 02 Shepherds Bush Empire – London (UK)
Oct 03: Cheese and Grain – Frome, UK
Oct 04: Engine Rooms – Southampton (UK)
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