The BIMM group prides itself on making sure its students learn from the very best real-world, been-there-done-that musicians… and how do you fancy honing your drumming with advice from not one, but two of the UK’s greatest and most experienced drummers?
Both Mike Joyce of The Smiths and Richard Jupp of Elbow have joined BIMM Manchester’s Drums department, where they will be helping students to become the very best they can be.
Rumours have been flying around for years about a possible Smiths reunion, but Morrissey isn’t budging and Johnny Marr is doing his own thing. I was lucky enough to see The Smiths a few times and I am a huge fan.
So when I discovered this early, extremely rare cassette tape recording of a rehearsal on Youtube I thought I would share it. Before I knew it Mike Joyce had tweeted it via original Oasis guitarist Bonehead and the NME were on the phone.
Unearthed, Very Rare Rehearsal Recording
{Awash with Unusual idiosyncrasies & early lyrics}
Recorded at Crazy Face, 13~15 Chapel Walks, Manchester.
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You’ve Got Everything Now
Accept Yourself 04:26
What Difference Does It Make 08:46
Reel Around The Fountain 12:52
These Things Take Time 19:28
I Don’t Owe You Anything 22:37
Hand In Glove 28:06
Handsome Devil 31:04
Miserable Lie 34:11
In May 1983 (exact date unknown), while preparing to record their debut album, The band ran through & recorded a selection of songs at a rehearsal in band manager, Joe Moss‘ jeans warehouse (Crazy Face).
The cassette tape was recorded for Troy Tate in order to give him something to work with before going into the studio
It’s pretty rough, but considering it was recorded on cassette with a stereo Mic pointing into the room, the quality isn’t too bad. Morrissey‘s vocals are a bit distorted – maybe singing too close to the mic or maybe the cassette Mic was too close to the PA but everything else is surprisingly clear.
There is some tape flutter at various points.
I was lent the master cassette by a source close to the band who made the recording, let’s call him Pablo Cuckoo in 1997 with a view of trying to put it out as a semi-official release.
As it was recorded before the band had signed to Rough Trade, technically he had the rights to the recording.
But a combination of poor sound quality & threats from Warner Bros meant that the idea was shelved.
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Free & Safe HQ lossless audio download available at the ever excellent Smiths Torrents http://www.smithstorrents.co.uk/forum…Courtesy of the very generousbellapintura.
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The Moz & Joe Moss picture is sourced from, The Arcane Old Wardrobe http://foreverill.com/gallery/details… A Morrissey & The Smiths Photo cornucopia lovingly maintained by the indispensable Comtesse DeSpair
‘OFFERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TALENTED MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS STATE OF THE ART EDUCATION’
BIMM Manchester is offering budding musicians and music industry professionals a life-changing opportunity to pursue their musical ambitions.
As the newest college in the award winning BIMM Group, BIMM Manchester is offering £120,000 worth of Foundation Scholarships when it opens its building in the heart of the city centre in September 2013.
BIMM Manchester will be offering one full Foundation Scholarship (valued at £18,000) for each of its seven BA (Hons) courses – meaning prospective students can study a degree level course in Guitar, Bass, Drums, Songwriting, Vocals, Music Business and Music Event Management, to cover all tuition fees.
BIMM Manchester Principal Vaseema Hamilton adds, “Since we launched BIMM Manchester earlier this year, we have been thrilled by the number of applicants to all our courses and astonished by the level of talent and dedication that has been presented to our assessment and audition teams.
‘We also recognise that the current financial climate is immensely challenging for many families and we have created these Foundation Scholarships in order to support members of the next generation of Manchester Music Industry creatives who might otherwise not have been able to gain a BA (Hons).”
All BIMM Manchester BA (Hons) degrees are validated by the University of Sussex (currently ranked 21st in the UK) and studied on a full time basis, for three years.
BIMM Manchester is open for applications now, and due to continued demand is hosting its fourth Open Day on Saturday 16th March, starting at 12 noon at the Gorilla music bar.
More Open Days are planned for April and May.
Talking at the last BIMM Manchester Open Day in January, Mike Joyce said, “I wish we had something like [BIMM Manchester] when The Smiths were starting out. Nobody told us about the pitfalls of the music business. We might have avoided the problems we encountered.”
After visiting the BIMM Brighton college, Roger Daltrey CBE said, “Really impressed with what you have here, you’re very lucky.”
Today it was announced that Roger Daltrey is to be a Patron for BIMM.
For more information on the courses available, click here.
Budding musicians and industry professionals are to be offered a top class contemporary music education in Manchester.
The award-winning BIMM Group is opening a state of the art £3M campus in the city this September, and has just appointed former EMI CEO Tony Wadsworth CBE as a director to the board.
The college is open for applications now and to celebrate, is hosting an open day on Friday 25th January, from 3.00pm (doors open at 2.00pm). BIMM Manchester will take over Gorilla bar and live venue around the corner from the BIMM Manchester campus for the afternoon.
Guests on the day will include Mike Joyce (The Smiths), Richard Jupp (Elbow) and recent BIMM graduate, Ben Thompson (Two Door Cinema Club), who will be talking to Jake Shillingford (Head of Music Business and My Life Story frontman) about their varied and extensive knowledge of the music industry during a live Q&A session and will be taking questions from the audience.
There will also be live performances from former BIMM students; Sam Kelly (Britain’s Got Talent Finalist) and Tiny Dragons.
Sam adds:
“During my time as a student at BIMM Brighton I acquired many skills key to becoming a successful musician that I would never have had access to anywhere else. I had a great time honing these skills in the local music scene.
“The key to a successful contemporary music college is being in a city with a thriving music scene, and the music scene in Manchester is nothing short of legendary. Any young musicians like myself who are looking to learn their craft – and learn from people who have really been there and done it – should definitely consider applying.”
Two Door Cinema Club ticket give-away: at the Open Day, Ben Thompson will be giving away 6 pairs of tickets for the band’s Manchester Apollo gigs that weekend to a few lucky attendees.
BIMM Manchester Open Day event schedule – times subject to change
3.00pm Welcome from BIMM Brighton College Manager Adam Bushell
3.05pm Live performance from Sam Kelly (Britain’s Got Talent finalist), accompanied by fellow BIMM Brighton graduate Jamie Francis
3.10pm BIMM Principal Vaseema Hamilton to present introduction to BIMM Manchester
3.20pm Mike Joyce, Richard Jupp and Ben Thompson live Q&A session.
4.00pm Performance from Tiny Dragons.
4.50pm Presentation to end. Drinks and snacks to be served for a ‘meet and greet / networking reception.
The new BIMM Manchester campus will be located on Gt Marlborough St in Manchester City Centre, to open in September 2013.
BIMM Manchester is now open for applications through UCAS and courses on offer for 2013 are: BA (Hons) in Professional Musicianship (Guitar, Drums, Vocals, Songwriting, Bass) plus BA (Hons) in Music Business Management and Music Event Management.
Courses at BIMM Manchester are fully validated by the University of Sussex, currently ranked in the UK’s top 20 Universities at number 13 and within the International top 100.
About BIMM
BIMM (Brighton, Bristol, Dublin, Manchester and Tech Music School London) is the UK and Ireland’s leading provider of contemporary music vocational and higher education courses.
In 2012 BIMM was awarded ‘highly trusted status’ by the UK QAA Agency and is fully accredited for International student enrollment. Also in the same year BIMM became a member of UCAS.
BIMM Group offers its students a broad range of course levels, from diplomas through to BA (Hons) degrees across all five colleges. Its 2000 students can study guitar, bass, drums, vocals, song writing, live sound and tour management and music business. Delivered by 100 trained active professional tutors, all of whom have touring, performing and session experience and a background in the professional music industry.
BIMM colleges enjoy outstanding retention and achievement rates, excellent student feedback and a strong track record of alumni success; students have scored an unprecedented thirty UK Top 40 singles and have been involved in successful UK Top 20 albums including The Kooks (2 million+ album sales), Beth Rowley and Kate Walsh.
Other student successes include Ben Thompson, currently on a world tour with Two Door Cinema Club and BIMM Bristol musician Steve Sparrow who is signed to Parlophone Records/EMI with his band Morning Parade. The band is recording their debut album with producer Jason Cox (Gorillaz, Jamie T, Blur) at Damon Albarn’s Studio 13.
The UK’s leading contemporary music college group is coming to Manchesterand is enrolling for 2013. The BIMM Group already has colleges inBrighton, Bristol, Dublin & TMS London, it’s hard to believe it has taken so long to arrive in Manchester with its incredible musical heritage.
If you are considering a career in the music business then a course at BIMM is for you. There is a free Open Day on Wednesday 5th December being held at Gorilla on Whitworth St, facing The Ritz. Come along to one of the two sessions and find what a BIMM course has to offer. All you have to do is register in advance via the link below.
The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce will be present at the morning session that begins at 11am and Elbow’s Richard Jupp with be joining for the afternoon session at 2pm.
Rise Again is the new single from The Rainband and is released in tribute to MotoGP legend Marco Simoncelli on 17 June with profits going to the charitable foundation named in his memory.
With a live tribute to Simoncelli already in mind for their June gig in front of 60,000 race fans at Silverstone, The Rainband were approached by the newly formed Marco Simoncelli Foundation and agreed to write a song to help raise funds to build disabled care homes across the world, a cause close to the racing hero’s heart.
The Rainband were booked to play at Silverstone after event organisers got in touch following the band’s sell out hometown show at Manchester’s HMV Ritz at the end of last year.
Martin Finnigan, lead singer of The Rainband, said :
“Being invited to open the British and Italian MotoGPs is a big honour for us. When we met Marco’s dad Paolo he talked about his vision for the Foundation. I agreed straight away to donate everything from the single to the work of the Foundation. It’s a great cause, in the name of a great man and I am proud we are involved. MotoGP champion and friend of Simoncelli, James Toseland plays keyboard on the single, another huge honour. It’s also wonderful that so many sport and music personalities have agreed to get behind the track including; Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, Jensen Button, Bradley Button, Guy Garvey, Elbow, Johnny Marr, Mike Joyce, Ocean Colour Scene, James, Kaiser Chiefs, Simple Minds…”
Picture this: Four twenty-something guys from various parts of the UK meet at a Ryan Adams gig in Manchester and decide to start a band. City Reign were born (did the Ryan Adams fans among you notice the reference to his track ‘City Rain, City Streets’ there)? Next, BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq picks up on and plays ‘Making Plans’, noticing the Idlewild influences. He then invites the band on air for an interview and hails them as a band to look out for, along with The Heartbreaks and Driver Drive Faster. Not a bad start for a DIY single.
Another previous single ‘Out In The Cold’ is included on the ‘Numbers For Street Names’ EP, which received a raving recommendation from The Independent (see quote below and the video on www.cityreign.net).
To complete the EP, there are three brand new tracks recorded at Blueprint studios. As singer Chris Bull says, “We’re extremely proud of these 5 songs. It’s a good mix of the punchier pop songs like the singles Making Plans and Out In the Cold, alongside bigger sounding songs like ‘The Line’. It closes nicely with a new song called ‘Anywhere Anyway’ recorded at the 11th hour, that we knew instantly where had to close the record. Although the song is stripped back, the vocal layers give it depth and it shows the attention to detail we put into everything we do.”
‘Numbers For Street Names’ will be released on the bands own label Car Boot Records on CD and digital download. It will be available to pre-order via the band’s brand new website www.cityreign.net from 1st October.
Track listing
1 Making Plans (GBK6T1000001)
2 Sleep Easy (GBK6T1000004)
3 The Line (GBK6T1000005)
4 Out In The Cold (GBK6T1000002)
5 Anywhere Anyway (GBK6T1000006)
Quotes
“Fans of Yuck and Dinosaur Jr will approve of City Reign’s anthemic, grunge. A million failing garage bands will ask why.”
The Independent
“‘Making Plans’, I do like that.”
Steve Lamacq BBC 6 Music
“I’m really digging the wistful lyrics, powerful guitars and pounding drums. It couldn’t be a better slice of English city life if it tried…it all makes for something very atmospheric”
There Goes The Fear
Murky guitar atmospherics, emote an almighty passion and power.
Manchester Evening News
This independence of mind can be heard in their driving guitar rock sound, unphased by suggestions that the guitar band is destined for the musical scrap heap.
Music Week
The Manchester-based band’s third single manages to hit all the right notes.
One’s to watch. 9/10
Shout4Music
Tour Dates
Oct 26th – The Ruby Lounge – Manchester supporting The Birthday Suit (former Idlewild Rod Jones)
The Narrows’ second single, Able Danger has already garnered rave reviews from the likes of Tom Robinson, who had the guys in for an interview on his BBC 6 Music Introducing show. This was on the back of their T in The Park performance in August (25:08:11) where they completely wowed the audience, as you can see in the video footage below, which outstripped the views of White Lies and Everything Everything‘s performances.
Utilising a laptop and guitars (and no live drummer), the track is pulsing with 80s electro-pop or, ‘dark futuristic electro pop’, as the band describe their music. “It’s a three and a half minute frenzy of loud guitars; synths that sound like broken computers; and snake-like drum-loops that keep threatening to go mad and eat someone! It is about fear, government, panic, terror and secrets. A mix between the electronic side of Radiohead, Kraftwerk and Queens of the Stone Age – a real pop song for right now.”
Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and Zane Lowe both tweeted about The Narrows: Zane saying he liked the video to their last single, ‘Initials MM’. Let’s hope he tweets the same about their new video too!
QUOTES:
Mike Joyce: (BBC 6 Music/East Village Radio)
“I like the fact they don’t sound like they are from Manchester!”
HIGH VOLTAGE:
“Here, right here, we could have the makings of another Manchester legend. Like Delphic run through a dark ambient wringer, or Johnny Greenwood playing session on a Portishead record comes the Narrows’ debut, and it is fucking ESSENTIAL… Manchester’s best dark alternative band… when it comes to current Manchester bands, The Narrows really are leading the pack”
MANCHESTER MUSIC:
“…consistently, utterly brilliant…they have precisley no contemporaries”
M.E.N /CITYLIFE:
“…one of the most original, provocative and iconoclastic new Manchester bands of 2011.”
MUSIC FROM RAINY SKIES:
“The Narrows’ sound almost transcends era pigeon-holing… the lyrical content is every bit as confrontational as the music… piercing lyrical genius, fantastically commanding… The Narrows will take over the world.”