Brian performs in Paris, and exclusive studio photos!
Current mood: accomplished
That's right folks, Brian will be performing the song Ballade of Meldoy Nelson in Paris, read on for more details:
Brian to perform Ballade of Melody Nelson in Paris
The extensive history of Serge Gainsbourg and Jean-Claude Vannier gave birth to compositions and arrangements that have since reached cult status, transcending over time and generations.
Born from this collaboration, Melody Nelson (1971) is one of the first "concept albums" in France: this disc does not merely juxtapose tracks, but tells an actual story, that of an adolescent – Melody – whom the narrator hits with his car. From this accident is born a romance, which ends with the death of the protagonist.
The album, which hardly garnered success at the time of its release, is today considered one of Gainsbourg's best. The album likewise owes much to the arranging and composing talent of Jean-Claude Vannier - an interesting fate for an artist who learned the basics of orchestration by reading a Que sais-je? He has since moved onto a series of prestigious collaborations, including with Dalida, Michel Polnareff, Julien Clerc, Martial Solal, Astor Piazolla and Barbara.
Following Melody Nelson, in 1972, Jean-Claude Vannier composed another project, for which Gainsbourg produced a narrative framework: L'Enfant assassin des mouches. This short, cruel tale, where the child fly-killer ends up stuck to a strip of "child-paper", is a small masterpiece of its genre, but was unsuccessful at its release and rediscovered only recently.
The production of these two works on the stage of the Barbican Centre in London in 2006 became a considerable success. Today, Jean-Claude Vannier repeats this experience, surrounded by prestigious guest artists, which will include Brian performing The Ballade of Melody Nelson with a guest vocal appearance from Martina Topley Bird.
Histoire de Melody Nelson (The Story of Melody Nelson) Wednesday, October 22, 8pm Thursday, October 23, 8pm
Venue: Cite de la Musique, 221 avenue Jean-Jaures 75019, Paris Part One
L'Enfant assassin des mouches (The Child Fly-Killer) Music and arrangements by Jean-Claude Vannier Story by Serge Gainsbourg
Part Two
Histoire de Melody Nelson (The Story of Melody Nelson) Music by Serge Gainsbourg and Jean-Claude Vannier Words by Serge Gainsbourg Arrangements by Jean-Claude Vannier
Jean-Claude Vannier, conductor Orchestre des concerts Lamoureux Le Jeune Chœur de Paris Quatuor à cordes d'enfants Claude Engel, guitar Thomas Coeuriot, guitar Graham Clark, electric violin Gérard Bikialo, piano Herbie Flowers, bass Pierre-Alain Dahan, drums Michel Musseau, sound-effects
Guest artists: Mathieu Amalric Alain Chamfort Daniel Darc Brigitte Fontaine Clotilde Hesme Brian Molko Seaming To Martina Topley Bird
And if that wasn't enough exciting news, you can also check out exclusive new photos taken by the band whilst recording their 6th studio album in Toronto, Canada.
Good news friends - Placebo are back in the studio working on a new album! The band finished the last touring campaign in September of last year in the USA (on the Projekt Revolution tour with Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance) and since then took some much needed time out, and over the past couple of months have been hard at work writing and demoing the new material in London. The boys are now recording with producer David Bottrill (the man behind Tool's 'Aenima', 'Salival' and 'Lateralus' albums, Silverchair's 'Diorama' and dEUS 'The Ideal Crash'). Engineering the album is James Brown who worked with the band on 'Meds'.
……….And on the drums with Placebo……..?????!!!!! Introducing.…..Mr Steve Forrest! From Modesto, California. Previously the drummer with the American rock band, 'Evaline'. Some of you may have spotted Steve playing with Evaline supporting Placebo on their US tour in October 06.
Hotel Persona - A message from Stefan.
Current mood: accomplished
A message for you guys from Stefan:
Hey,
Stefan here saying hi to everyone. Just want to say I've got an album coming out in June with my side project Hotel Persona. This is something I've been doing in my free time from Placebo over the past couple of years with some friends in London. It's basically a collection of tracks we wrote for fun to play at parties, nothing to take too seriously! It's pop music with a dancefloor beat, and lyrics sometimes bordering on comedy. Kind of exploring the entertainment value of music and making something a little more light hearted than what I am used to, something people with a couple of drinks in them could understand and sing along to! Some of the tracks are a little more serious and some quite intimate and fragile, and we've also got a couple of guests to bring some flavour.
Placebo is currently writing the next record and will record it this year, so Placebo fans shouldn't be worried that this project is taking away from that.
Hope you can have some fun with it like we did!!
Stefan
Dont forget the Spanish version of the album En Las Nubes is already available for download in the Spanish Itunes store, and the English version In the Clouds will be released in June. Check the Hotel Persona Myspacefor more details.
HOTEL PERSONA RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM
Current mood: creative
HOTEL PERSONA RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM- 'IN THE CLOUDS / EN LAS NUBES'
Stefans side project Hotel Persona is releasing their debut album this spring. After spending the last couple of years DJ'ing and remixing, Stefan spent the break after Placebo's Meds tour completing the album with David Amen and Javier Solo. The Spanish version 'En Las Nubes' is released through PIAS/Spain on 5th May, and the English version 'In The Clouds' through Edel in June. The album includes collaborations with Brian Molko, Samantha Fox,Alaska, and Miguel Bosé. Checkwww.myspace.com/hotelpersonafor tour dates and more information.
Placebo Part Company With Drummer Steve Hewitt
Category: Music
PLACEBO PART COMPANY WITH DRUMMER STEVE HEWITT
Placebo have parted company with drummer of 11 years, Steve Hewitt, due to personal and musical differences.
Brian Molko commented "Being in a band is very much like being in a marriage, and in couples - in this case a triple - people can grow apart over the years. To say that you don't love your partner anymore is inaccurate, considering all that you've been through and achieved together. There simply comes a point when you realize that you want different things from your relationship and that you can no longer live under the same roof, so to speak." The split is amicable and a sad time for both parties. Steve Hewitt replaced Robert Schultzberg behind the drum kit in 1996 whilst the band were promoting Placebo's eponymous debut album and went on to record the following 4 studio albums 'Without You I'm Nothing', 'Black Market Music', 'Sleeping With Ghosts' and most recently 'Meds'.
Placebo have just returned from the USA where they were part of the high profile 'Projekt Revolution Tour' alongside Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance. The band are now taking a well earned break.
Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal will begin work on Placebo's 6th studio album next Spring and are in no rush to find an immediate replacement for Steve.
The boy's set time is around 5pm EST - if you need help figuring out what time that means for YOU - go to this site: world clock - check your city's time and then compare with that of Detroit (which is in the same time zone as where they are).
Text Your Placebo Love at Projekt Rev!
Category: Music
Hey All!
If you're hitting up Projekt Revolution, be sure to text any of your Placebo praise to "96035" and you'll see your messages displayed on the jumbo trons at the fest jusssssst like this one below:
accomplished
excited
creative
chipper
happy