Who needs bathrooms? ([email protected])
Sun, 18 Oct 1998 12:43:49 -0600
The Sweetest Thing
Achtung, baby: U2 overload coming your way.
U2's generous $50 million record deal has yet to generate new music
These are bountiful times for U2 fans. In early November comes the
release of The Best of 1980-1990, a greatest hits package, complete with
a disc-full of B-side favorites. Then, in the next year, as part of the
$50 million deal the band recently signed with its label Island Records,
the second of three greatest-hits installments are expected to hit
stores shelves. But that may not be all.
According to a music industry attorney with knowledge of U2's $50
million deal, the enormity of the contract was used primarily as an
"incentive for the band to produce new studio material, to make sure
Island got new product quickly." Consequently, it's possible U2 may
release three records (two greatest hits packages and a new studio
offering) within the next fourteen months. U2's last studio album, Pop,
was released in early `97. A spokesman for Island says there are no
plans at this time to release a U2 studio album next year.
The incentive clause goes a long way towards explaining the $50 million
deal, which was seen within the industry as unusually generous. After
all, just two years ago, R.E.M. signed a monstrous $80 million deal with
Warner Bros. to produce scores of new studio records over a long period
of time. For Island to pay U2 $50 million to simply repackage old
material in greatest hits form was considered odd, even for the label's
most lucrative act. (It was also odd that greatest hits records were not
part of U2's existing contract and had to be negotiated separately.) If
Island could quickly land another studio album from the band, whose
albums continue to sell internationally even as its American base
shrinks, then the label stands a better chance at recouping its $50
million investment.
ERIC BOEHLERT
------------
Condensed from The Washington Post :
Vibes of Electronic Peace and Love
By Mary Ishimoto Morris
Sunday, October 4, 1998; Page X09
GENERATION ECSTASY
Into the World of Techno And Rave Culture
By Simon Reynolds
Little, Brown. 454 pp. $25
Ravers, relax. He's one of us. Non-ravers, take notice. Here's
an earnest introduction to an evolving youth movement -- a
vibrant electronic music subculture called rave. Its all-night
dance events have become as institutionalized as rock and
roll in England and much of Europe, and it's been creeping
into the American psyche for a decade or so.
If you watch TV, you've heard beat-driven rave music --
sometimes called techno -- on the news, sports, MTV and
Nickelodeon, and in commercials for almost everything from
Gatorade to Lincoln Town Cars. If you listen to alternative
radio, its influence is in the music of U2, Madonna, the
Smashing Pumpkins, and underground crossover bands such
as the Crystal Method, Chemical Brothers, and the Prodigy.
(Prarit's note: The entire article can be found at:
http://search.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-10/04/091l-100498-idx.html)
------------
Condensed from The Washington Post:
Agonized Woman
>From PJ Harvey, a Brooding 'Is This Desire?'
By Mark Jenkins
Special to The Washington Post
Wednesday, September 30, 1998; Page D05
"Is this desire/ Enough/ To lift us higher?" asks PJ Harvey in
the title song of her new album, and it's clear that the answer
is supposed to be profound. In fact, though, "Is This Desire?"
(Island) doesn't lift its listener above the singer's usual
concerns. A small-town English bohemian raised by
blues-fan parents, Harvey has settled so deep into a swamp
of secondhand metaphors that her obsessions have become
shtick.
"Is This Desire?" was co-produced by Harvey with Flood,
who's worked with U2 and Depeche Mode and on Harvey's
1995 release, "To Bring You My Love." Both albums feature
brooding melodies, harsh timbres and wide dynamic range,
but the new one is somewhat less melodramatic. Harvey
sounds merely trapped rather than actively tortured, a
development that may reflect her attempt to make this disc
less personal. Although the sentiments are familiar, the
singer (whose given name is Polly Jean) attributes them to a
variety of alter egos, identified by such song titles as
"Angelene," "My Beautiful Leah," "A Perfect Day Elise,"
"Catherine" and "Joy." All these women seem as agonized as
their creator, however. "No hope for Joy," announces Harvey,
"She wanted to go blind."
(Prarit's note: The entire article can be found at:
http://search.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-09/30/112l-093098-idx.html
)
------------
A picture of the video cover for the PopMart video is available
at:
http://www.glp.net/backstag/ital/newvideo.htm
(Prarit's note: This is *not* the promotional cover!)
------------
Condensed from CNN:
Worlds Inc. Announces Internet Agreement with PolyGram
Merchandising, Inc.
Business Wire 12-OCT-98
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 12, 1998-- Plans To
Create Online 'SuperStars SuperStore'; Worlds to Have
Debut Press Conference for First 3D Internet 'SuperStars
SuperStore.com' on Tuesday, November 24th Worlds Inc.
("Worlds"), a pioneer in the development of 3D Internet
technology, and PolyGram Merchandising Inc. ("PolyGram
Merchandising"), one of this country's leading licensees of
recording artist merchandise, including collectibles, announced
the signing of an agreement that will permit Worlds to develop,
maintain and operate a 2D, or traditional HTML, as well as a 3D
Internet website, through which Worlds will promote and sell the
merchandise of PolyGram Merchandising's licensed artists,
utilizing Worlds' proprietary Internet technology and content.
Worlds 3DCD(TM) Internet software and content permits
animation and motion on the Internet, including a user's ability to
experience moving into and out of various spaces via the selection
of an avatar (one's alter ego character) for self-representation on
the Internet.
Among the recording artists and others whose products are
licensed by PolyGram Merchandising and whose products will be
sold by Worlds in the online 'SuperStars SuperStore.com' are (in
alphabetical order) All Saints, Billy Ray Cyrus, Hanson, Elton
John, John Mellencamp, Shania Twain, The Spice Girls, Sting, U2,
and Warren G, among others.
A Press Conference debuting the launch of Worlds' 'SuperStars
SuperStores.com' is planned for Tuesday, November 24th. After
the launch, Internet users may access Worlds' traditional 2D or
HTML Internet 'SuperStars SuperStore' by the URL
'www.WorldsStore.com' or 'www.SuperStarsSuperStore.com.'
Worlds 3D Internet 'SuperStars SuperStore' can be accessed by
using Worlds 3DCD(TM) which are scheduled for press
distribution at the Press Conference and mass distribution in
December.
------------
>From CNN:
Rushdie in BONO'S Garden
World Entertainment News Network
11-OCT-98
(OCT. 11) WENN/P - RUSHDIE IN BONO'S GARDEN Author
SALMAN RUSHDIE hid out for several years in a small house at
the bottom of U2 singer BONO's garden in Dublin, claims an Irish
Sunday newspaper.
A four-roomed gazebo, which Bono built in 1992 as a place in
which to compose and entertain pals, has been used regularly by
THE SATANIC VERSES writer since 1993, says the SUNDAY
INDEPENDENT.
Bono and Rushdie first met that year when the death threat author
made a dramatic entrance at a freedom of speech conference in
Dublin's TRINITY COLLEGE. He also appeared onstage in
London's WEMBLEY STADIUM with the group during their ZOO
TV tour.
When Rushdie took up Bono's offer, the superstar had electronic
gates, closed circuit TV cameras and other security measures
installed on his Killiney property.
Rushdie would then fly into Dublin airport and take a helicopter
to Killiney, where he would land on the beach below Bono's
garden.
He would only leave the grounds for late night and early morning
walks on the beach, and even then was accompanied by two burly
bodyguards. (SI/WN/RXT/GS)
------------
There's pics of the B-sides collection cover at:
For those of you who might not be able to see it, it features Peter
Rown facing the opposite direction of the camera. He appears
to be hugging himself(or attempting to hide himself?) from the
camera. The background is that "gold" color, and in the top
right corner it says "U2". Written under that in smaller lettering
is "B-SIDES", and under that in even smaller lettering is
"1980-1990". The covers for the Sweetest Thing single and
Best of are available there as well.
------------
Thanks to Derek McAllister for the following:
3 Articles on U2 were in The Irish star 12 Oct'98.
1st Atricle: Fugitive Author in Bono's house.
Written by Kathryn Rodgers.
U2 frontman is said to have given shelter to Salmon Rushdie in his
Killiney home.
Rushdie has been staying in a four roomed summerhouse at the end of
Bono's garden according to reports in a Sunday newspaper. Bono
originally built the house in 1992 for entertaining friends and
writting songs.
Rushdie is said to have used the house as a base for his worldwide
travels, he helicoptered from the beach below Bono's home to Dublin
Airport.
Rushdie never left the grounds of Bono and Ali's home exept for
midnight or moring walks on the beach.
Bono and Rushdie made little secret of their friendship, as the
writer even defied his death threat and appeared with U2 at their
Zoo TV tour of 1993 in Wembley stadium.
Rushdie went into hiding when the ayatollah khomenie placed a fatwa
on his head for writing the Satanic Verses. While Iranian spiritual
leaders have now lifted the Fatwa it has emerged that a radical
Student group has placed �190,000 bounty on his head.
A spokesperson for U2 was unavailable for coment yesterday.
Article 2.
Written by Maire Horgan.
U2 star Larry Mullen is set to become a dad for the second time
next year.
The millionaire drummer and long time girlfriend Ann Acheson are
expecting their new arrival next spring. The two are already proud
parents to Aarron Elvis Mullen who they named after Larry's music
idol Elvis Aarron Presley.
Larry is the only member of U2 who still lives on the northside of
Dublin.
Larry and Ann are childhood sweethearts and Ann has always remained
out of the media spotlight.
Ann worked for the U2 company Mother Records before embarking in a
career in video production with the company Dreamchaser
Article 3.
Spices jet in to record album.
U2 got a jolt of girl power this week when two of the Spice girls
joined them in the recording studio.
Baby Spice and sporty spice arrived in Windmill Studio's, dublin to
work on their third LP which is due for release in April.
The girls jetted in secretly last Tuesday morning and were
chauffeured straight to the studio where super group U2 were also
rehearsing for their new album.
Spice babes publicist Caroline McAteer told The Star only two of
the girls could get to the studio in dublin this week because Posh
was with Manchester United soccer player David Beckham and Scary
was still on her honeymoon.
Both Baby and Sporty are doing some writing and recording for the
album. All the Spices have been spending alot ot time in Dublin over the
last year.
Results of the latest U2NEWS poll:
Was it inappropriate of Prarit to post the nude
pictures of Bono on the website?
No. (107) 22%
Yes. (186) 38%
I didn't even know about the pictures. I'm just here
to see if that nude pic is still hidden behind Homer...(201) 41%
Total number of votes: 494
The poll has been changed. You can vote on the new question at
http://www.members.home.net/u2-news/poll.html
------------
Prarit.....
[email protected]
http://www.members.home.net/u2-news/u2.html
This page is brought to you by the letter "U" and the number "2".
-- Prarit....[email protected] U2 news: http://www.members.home.net/u2-news/u2.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b2 on Sun Oct 18 1998 - 11:43:06 PDT