Amy Winehouse was just 27-years-old when she was found dead at her home in Camden, north London, last Saturday.  The cause of death will not be known for up to four weeks as police await  toxicology tests, following a post-mortem examination carried out yesterday proved inconclusive.

Anyone who has seen videos of her last concert in Serbia last month has witnessed what a state Amy was in.  A stumbling performance that looks to be caused by a cocktail of alcohol and drugs.

Here is Amy Winehouse at her finest performing a live rendition of ‘Rehab’ on Jools Holland’s Later BBCtv show and singing ‘Valerie’ with Mark Ronson for the BBC Live Sessions concert.

Amy Winehouse R.I.P.

Their self-titled debut album and subsequent debut single, Virginia Plain, catapulted the band into the limelight and with it global commercial success.  But success was not without its problems.  Whereas Bryan Ferry was completely comfortable with becoming a pop star, it didn’t suit everyone in the band, and by 1973 Brian Eno had left to forge a solo career, first as an artist in his own right and later as a revered producer and music collaborator with the likes of David Bowie, U2, Talking Heads and Genesis among others.

Roxy Music’s debut album was originally released in July 1972 without any lead singles. The band then went back into the studio and recorded two new songs,  Virginia Plain and The Numberer which were subsequently released as a debut single.  The single reached number 4 in the UK singles chart which helped the album enter the Top 10 UK albums chart.  The US version and subsequent pressings of the UK album included the single, Virginia Plain.

Here are two vintage clips of Roxy Music playing Re-Make / Re-Model and the often overlooked Pyjamarama live on German television music show, Musikladen from 1973 and 1974, respectively.

Whereas Top Of The Pops was full of mimed performances, bright lights and young girls strutting their flares in front of some old men parading as cool DJ’s, Musikladen was more akin to the Old Grey Whistle Test.  The show is all about the music and the studio is made to look like a dirty, gritty basement bar.  Check out the four-letter poster behind the drummer in the Pyjamarama clip. Nice!

This is a great version of Pyjamarama which unfortunately doesn’t include the genius of Brian Eno who had already left the band before they played the show for a second time.  But Eno does appear in the 1973 performance.

Roxy Music – Musikladen contains fifteen tracks including two bonus tracks recorded in 1980.  The DVD was originally released in 2001 and has a running time of 70 minutes.  The live performances are from three separate appearances on the famous Musikladen Beat Club show from Bremen in West Germany from 1973, 1974 & 1980.

Roxy Music – Musikladen Tracklisting:

1.   Virginia plain
2.   Do the strand
3.   Edition of you
4.   In every dream home
5.   Remake re-model
6.   Streetlife
7.   Pyjamarama
8.   Mother of pearl
9.   Amazona
10. Psalm
11. All I want is you
12. Out of the blue
13. If it takes all night

Bonus tracks:
14. Over you
15. Oh yeah

Roxy Music  -Musikladen is one of many music DVD’s you can rent, buy or stream with the new film on demand online services now available on the Internet.

This is a live version of the song from Glasgow 1986.

Fred Titmus R.I.P

Half Man Half Biscuit – Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus

Here they are performing the top track What A Waster at Reading/Leeds festival in 2010.

You have to just love these guys!

The Libertines – What A Waster

Jeff Beck - Rock 'n' Roll Party

By now everyone must have heard about the upcoming release from one guitar legend in the shape of Jeff Beck, paying homage to another, Les Paul.

The Celebration of Les Paul show was recorded in New York in June 2010 celebrating what would have been the pioneering guitarist’s 95th birthday by playing his friend and mentor’s music, along with classic tunes from the era, in the same Times Square nightclub that Paul played every Monday for 14 years before his death in August 2009.

Sponsored by Gibson Guitar, Beck was joined on stage by The Imelda May Band at the Iridium Jazz Club with other guest performers joining Beck onstage included Brian Setzer, Gary “U.S.” Bonds, and Trombone Shorty.

“Les was my inspiration,” says Beck. “For years I had always wanted to do something for Les to show him how much I respected and admired what he had done. Les used to play every week at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City, so for me it was the obvious and fitting place for a ‘Salute’ to him.”

ATCO via Rhino Records UK will be offering a CD of this exclusive show, featuring 20 live tracks from the evening, on February 21^st entitled Rock & Roll Party.

Eagle Rock Entertainment will offer the Blu-Ray and DVD of this special one off show also on February 21st. They will include seven extra live performances as well as bonus footage and interviews.

Following these releases, Beck will take the “Rock ‘n’ Roll Party” on the road for a short U.S. tour. Beck will once again be backed by The Imelda May Band and its enchanting singer Imelda May, who joined Beck on stage at the 2010 Grammy Awards for a spot-on rendition of Paul’s “How High The Moon.”

Ahead of the official release on CD and DVD here is a clip in which Jeff Beck talks about the influence of Les Paul, along with clips from the show.

Jeff Beck – Rock n Roll Party Honouring Les Paul (Trailer)

Turn it up loud and clear your head!

Blur – Song 2 – Live at Wembley Arena 1999

Chrissie Hynde

Moby

Radiohead live in Japan 2003

The former Thin Lizzy guitarist was said to be in good spirits in the bar of the hotel the night before his death, enjoying a bottle of Champagne and a snack with his female companion before retiring to their room.

Shocked guests at the resort who had spoken to the guitarist in the bar and found him in good spirits, happy and friendly when he departed for bed at around 11pm.

After leaving Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore carved out a solo career for himself reaching the charts with his former band mate Phil Lynott in 1979 with the beautiful single Parisian Walkways.

He would later enjoy phenomenal success both on record and with his live shows performing the blues in his own inimitable style.

His death has shocked his many friends in the music industry as well as fans worldwide who considered the 58 year old to be a robust and healthy person who had not succumbed to the typical rock and roll lifestyle.

Gary Moore – Parisian Walkways – Live

The Primitives release the 4-track Never Kill A Secret EP in March, their first new recordings since they split up in 1992.

They emerged along bands like My Bloody Valentine & Primal Scream, following the noisy buzz-guitar indie pop of The Jesus & Marychain in the mid-1980s and are best known for their most commercially successful single, Crash.  Though like The Jesus & Marychain, they dropped the noise of their first two singles, Really Stupid & Stop Killing Me before receiving commercial success.

A further two hit singles followed Crash in 1988 (Out Of Reach and Way Behind Me) and two more in 1989 (Sick Of It and Secrets).   But by now The Primitives and their brand of sweet indie guitar pop music had been replaced by the grunge of Nirvana and the indie dance of The Stone Roses.

After three albums, Lovely, Pure and Galore, The Primitives decided to split up in 1992. Last year they reformed and this March they release their new EP and will be touring the UK.

The Primitives 2011 UK Tour Dates:

Wed 16 March
Joiners Arms, Southampton

Thu 17 March
Haymakers, Cambridge

Fri 18 March
Start the Bus, Bristol

Sat 19 March
Fibbers, York

Sun 20 March
The Arches, Glasgow

Mon 21 March
Moho, Manchester

Wed 23 March
Academy, Birmingham

Thu 24 March
Garage, London

Coldplay’s Chris Martin was quoted as saying: “This is the greatest thing that’s ever been organised probably in the history of the world.”

For many, the highlight of Coldplay’s Live 8 set was when they were joined on stage by Verve lead singer, Richard Ashcroft for a live rendition of ‘Bittersweet Symphony‘.