20 January 2012
Marc Almond in Concert - A Birthday Celebration, London O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, Monday 9 July. Five years since his 50th Birthday Concert at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, Marc returns for another milestone celebration with a concert on the night of his 55th Birthday. In this retrospective concert Marc will be performing his favourite self written songs, throwing in few surprises along the way. As well as his regular band he'll also feature a string and brass section. Being a Northern Soul fan the show will end with a Northern Soul celebration! Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 27 January. For further information see the Live page.
29 December 2011
Marc is to play the part of philosopher 'Seneca' in a new production at the Paris Chatalet Theatre of Pop’pea based on Claudio Monteverdi's Opera L'Incoronazione Di Poppea. The production, which runs at the theatre from May 29 to June 7, is already in rehearsal and workshop stage. Carl Barat plays the part of Nero. Further information on the production can be seen here. A blog for the making of Pop'pea can be seen here.
Happy New Year
20 December 2011
I’d like to thank everyone who gave me support this year. Thank you in particular to those who travelled to Edinburgh to see Ten Plagues and who came to see the Sin Songs Tour. Ten Plagues will be performed again but where and exactly when I can't as yet confirm. A soundtrack will, however, be released next year. The Sin Songs tour was a great success and that too will happen again with a new selection of songs but probably not until 2013 apart from maybe the odd one off or maybe a European show or two.
I have a very exciting project lined up for May and June, maybe through summer, and an announcement will be made early next year. There will be some All The A's shows later next year which I'm also calling 45's at 55 and I also hope to announce a birthday show in the next few weeks. As it’s my 55th birthday next year I intend to do as much as possible to celebrate it and, yes, milk it! Thankfully I only feel about 22 (on a good day) so I intend to go on for a while yet, though I may take different directions after next year.
There are no plans for new recordings next year but one or two very limited edition Blue Star official bootlegs will be available through the shop on the site during the year. These will include an acoustic show in Barcelona, an Open All Night tour show from New York and the long awaited Marc And The Mambas Duke Of Yorks show from 1983. We have had a delay on this because of mastering problems from the only existing and deteriorated VHS copy given to me by the late wonderful Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson who filmed it. Kate is doing her best to create some magic by making it watchable and listenable. These are, I feel, great archive pieces that I know will only appeal to more dedicated fans and collectors. Because of the limited appeal and interest in these releases, including the mambas, we will be keeping packaging simple and economical, keeping the price down so please don’t expect lavish packages with booklets and photos. I have no rights to any Mambas photos, there aren't that many, and have no time or wish to pursue them. That would delay things forever. The Raoul And The Ruined Gutterhearts fan club release will also be made available again. Heart On Snow is ready for re-issue with a new sleeve and extra tracks at some point. I'm still struggling to get the A's Collection together and next year would be a perfect year but I'm reticent to announce anything definite as I know you've heard it too many times before. All in all it’s an archive and catalogue year.
There will be no more T Shirts available for future concerts or tours as I think we've all grown out of them so what we have still available will be the last ever.
I want to wish everyone a very happy Christmas 2011 and a very happy, healthy and successful 2012, despite the doom and gloom. We need music and glitter and magic, preferably all at the same time, more than ever.
Marc Almond xx
PS I feel a Christmas iTunes download EP coming on for 2012…
17 December 2011
Impermanence, the latest album from Othon that features Marc, has been nominated for best 'Greek' album at www.postwave.gr. It would be lovely if it won so if you are able to pop over there and cast a vote that would be great! :-)
13 December 2011
Marc Almond Live At The Sala Apolo is an official double bootleg recorded on a single hand-held camera and portable audio equipment at an acoustic show in Barcelona's Sala Apolo in 2007 and captures Marc at his best; intimate and warm and trying out new songs such as Lavender and Sandboy which were as yet unrecorded. Accompanied by Martin Watkins on piano and Baby Dee on harp and piano it is a must have document for fans of Marc's acoustic shows. The double disc set will start shipping at the end of December/early January and is available to pre-order now from the Shop for £10. Please note that this is a lower quality visual and audio recording so the quality is not to the level of standard audio/visual mastering, although every effort has been made to make this of the highest standard possible.
The Wilton's Music Hall 2012 Calendar is now available and, apart from some wonderful images from this amazing place, December features a fabulous photograph of Marc taken during his Christmas Shows last year. This is a fabulous calendar and only costs £5, with all money raised going to Wilton's Capital Project to help save the building. Visit www.wiltons.org.uk and click the 'Wilton's Shop' image on the front page to order yours.
7 November 2011
The new album by Othon Mataragas, Impermanance, is released today (7 November) and is available on Cherry Red and also iTunes. Marc features on two tracks, the title track and the wonderful single Last Night I Paid To Close My Eyes.
24 October 2011
Othon Mataragas has a new single released on I Tunes today by Cherry Red. The single, Last Night I Paid To Close My Eyes, is available in two versions. One is sung by Marc and the other by Ernesto Tomasini. Marc also features on Othon's forthcoming album and will make a guest appearance at his upcoming London show at the end of November (more details later).
21 October 2011
Here is the complete set list of songs Marc sang on the Sin Songs Torch And Romance tour along with the albums they are from and the original artists if not Marc. Marc hopes you enjoyed the tour and his choices and thanks you for your fantastic and overwhelming responses Marc hopes to do another Sin Songs tour in the future.
My Former Self (Torment And Toreros)
The Exhibitionist (Variete)
Be Still (Original artist Jobriath, album Jobriath)
Sebastian (Original artists Cockney Rebel/Steve Harley, album The Human Menagerie)
Lavender (Variete)
Northstar Grassman And The Ravens (Original artist Sandy Denny, album Northstar Grassman And The Ravens)
If He Swings (artist Marlena Dietrich, origins unknown)
If You Love Me Really Love Me (artists Edith Piaf, Kay Starr, PJ Proby And Others)
When I Was A Young Man (original Artists Julie Driscoll, Nina Simone, origins unknown)
Yesterday When I Was Young (original artist Charles Aznavour)
Beggar (Orpheus In Exile, original artist Vadim Kozin)
A Man Condemned (Feasting With Panthers, performed at Milton Keynes only)
El Desdichado (Feasting With Panthers)
Big Louise (Untitled, original artist Scott Walker)
In My Room (Torment And Toreros, original artists The Walker Brothers)
In Your Bed /Dans Ton Lit (Absinthe, original artist Juliette Greco)
Waiting (original artist Baby Dee)
I'm Coming/J'arrive (Jacques, original artist Jacques Brel)
Deaths Diary (Enchanted)
The Sea Still Sings (Enchanted)
Indigo Blue (original on rare vinyl Fruitcakes And Furry Collars)
John I'm Only Dancing (original artist David Bowie)
My Madness (Album Variete)
Those We Love(original artist Julie Driscoll)
Brewer Street Blues (Soho Songs/Piccadilly Bongo)
The Bed (original artist Lou Reed, album Berlin)
Terrapin (Untitled, original artist Syd Barrett)
Cabaret Clown (Album Variete)
Vanity Poverty Revenge (Berlin Moon)
The Devil OK/Le Diable Ca Va (Jacques, original artist Jacques Brel)
I Have Lived (Stardom Road, original artist Charles Aznavour)
I've Gotta Live The Life I Sing About In My Songs (original artist Mahalia Jackson)
Sleaze (original rare limited vinyl release)
Walk On The Wild Side (original artist Lou Reed)
Hot Love (original artist T Rex)
Marc is appearing as special guest of honour at the St Petersberg Russian Gay And Lesbian Film Festival next week, Wednesday 26 October. Marc's choice is the 1961 film Victim starring Dirk Bogarde and Sylvia Simms. The film helped change the law that criminalised homosexuality in Britain. Marc will be presenting the film and answering questions from the public. For further info visit the Side By Side website. Marc has also done an interview with the St Petersburgh Times which you can read on their website here.
18 October 2011
Just a reminder that if you are in the City, Marc and Jeremy Reed will be at the National Portrait Gallery in London on Friday 21 Octoberst at 6.30pm to promote Piccadilly Bongo. Marc will be performing four or five songs from Piccadilly Bongo and admission is free!
Marc takes his Hits And A Sides show to Holland and Switzerland this November and then Germany in January. One or two more European dates may be added in January.
The Sins Songs tour is proving to be a great success and Marc will plan more in the future.
2 October 2011
Marc is looking forward to the Sin Songs tour. He will be performing two sets with an interval at most shows, although it may become one set at certain venues but will remain the same set list throughout the tour. Marc will be accompanied by musicians Martin Watkins, Neal Whitmore, Carl Holt and Baby Dee. There will be no support and shows will start prompt at the advertised times. Marc looks forward to seeing you and hopes you will enjoy the show. Subtle video recorders, phone recorders and cameras without flash are welcome but anyone being overly blatant or using flash will be asked to desist or asked to leave.
Marc will be a special guest at Baby Dee's show on 5 November in London, performing some of Dee's songs. Further details are available at Baby Dee’s website www.babydee.org.