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SONOS Song Stories : Bowie in NY free event

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“New York’s a go-go”

Sonos, the leader in whole home audio, has teamed up with Mick Rock, Nikki Sixx, Mark Mothersbaugh and Meredith Graves to present Sonos Song Stories: Bowie – an intimate event at the Sonos Store in Soho honouring the work and legacy of David Bowie as told through powerful stories of artists and fans alike with the help of the new Sonos One with Amazon Alexa. The event will take place Tuesday, December 5, offering fans a one-of-a-kind experience to listen to never-before-heard stories about Bowie, paired with the songs forever linked to those memories on Sonos One – the smart speaker for music lovers.

The immersive, free event will debut exclusive content, unveiling an original photo display curated by cultural commentator, Paul Gorman, which features rarely seen images of Bowie's New York City life taken by photographers including Mick Rock, Bob Gruen, and more. Sonos will then welcome artists and creators influenced by Bowie, including legendary rock photographer, Mick Rock; bassist and co-founder of Mötley Crüe, Nikki Sixx; composer and founding member of DEVO, Mark Mothersbaugh; and music journalist (currently host of “MTV News”) and front-person of Perfect Pussy, Meredith Graves to share powerful, personal memories of Bowie and the accompanying songs that perfectly soundtrack the memory.

The New York edition of Sonos Song Stories: Bowie is a continuation of a series of chats that kicked off at the recently opened Sonos Store in the Seven Dials neighbourhood of London, England. The inaugural event, hosted by Miranda Sawyer on November 15 and 17, featured rarely-seen images of Bowie's London life captured by Mick Rock, Brian Duffy, Rolf Adlercreutz (Alamy) and Mike Maloney; the evening also included powerful, Bowie-inspired memories and stories as told by Nick Rhodes, Goldie, Graham Coxon, Carl Barat, Peaches and Rostam.

Sonos Song Stories: Bowie is a free event and fans can register for a chance to hear these never-before shared stories in New York City at sonos.com/bowie.

FOOTNOTE: The Mick Rock photo accompanying this piece is of David Bowie on board the SS Canberra about to sail to New York, Southampton, January 1973.

#SongStories  #SongStoriesBowie  #SONOSBowie

tags: 2017 November
Tuesday 11.28.17
Posted by Joey Porterfield
 

Beauty And The Beast 40th anniversary picture disc

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"You can't say no to the Beauty And The Beast”

The fact that Beauty And The Beast will be the next limited edition 40th-anniversary 7" picture disc (due January 5th, 2018), will come as no surprise to those of you who have been following this series of releases.

As you know, there were just two singles taken from the "Heroes" album in the UK. Following the September 1977 release of "Heroes"/V-2 Schneider (Peak UK chart position: #24), Beauty And The Beast/Sense of Doubt was issued on January 6th 1978. (Peak UK chart position: #39)

As with many Bowie single releases, the track sounded like nothing else on the radio at the time. As with its predecessor ("Heroes"), perhaps the public en masse wasn’t quite ready for the latest Bowie sound, with Fripp’s incredible guitar lines again taking centre stage and that Bowie/Visconti production ensuring Bowie was ahead of the curve yet again.

The advertising slogan: “TOMORROW BELONGS TO THOSE WHO CAN HEAR IT COMING”, never seemed so apt.

The song was certainly strong enough to be the "Heroes" album opener, and though it may have been considered an unusual choice for a single, it was just as viable as any of the other tracks on the album. Tony Visconti confirms that the line: “Someone fetch a priest”, was originally recorded with a different F-word to fetch. A wise decision to change it perhaps, or it may not have received quite the airplay that it did.

Though there had only been four previous Bowie picture sleeve singles released commercially in the UK (Starman 1972, Life On Mars? 1973, Space Oddity 1975, Suffragette City 1976), Beauty And The Beast was graced with one (basically the album cover), but the single still only just scraped into the Top 40 on the official UK singles chart. Nevertheless, Bowie picture sleeves would become de rigueur from Beauty And The Beast onwards.

An extended version was released as a promo only 12” single in the US and commercially as a 12” single in Spain. Listen to it now on Spotify.

The AA of the 7” picture disc is a previously unreleased live version of the "Heroes" album track Blackout, which was recorded on May 16th, 1978 at the Deutschlandhalle, Berlin during the ISOLAR II tour.

The images used on the A and AA sides of the picture disc are by Masayoshi Sukita and were taken in Japan in April 1977 (A-Side) and Madison Square Garden, New York in May 1978 (AA-Side).

 

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DAVID BOWIE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST LIMITED EDITION 40th ANNIVERSARY 7" PICTURE DISC

A-Side BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (2017 remaster)
(David Bowie)
Produced David Bowie & Tony Visconti
Mixed by Tony Visconti at Hansa by the Wall

AA-Side BLACKOUT (Live In Berlin 1978)
(David Bowie)
Produced David Bowie
Previously unreleased
Recorded live at the Deutschlandhalle, Berlin on 16th May, 1978

 

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Beauty And The Beast is released via Parlophone on January 5th, 2018.

#DBBATB40  #BowieVinyl  

tags: 2017 November
Wednesday 11.22.17
Posted by Joey Porterfield
 

Ricochet medium format version due autumn 2018

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“Feels like something’s going to happen next year”

As you know, Moonlight Books are due to publish Ricochet : David Bowie 1983 by Denis O’Regan in May 2018.

Aside from the limited edition fine art book, Denis O’Regan and Penguin Random House are also producing a medium format version (without extras) for retail distribution.

Denis had this to say about this more affordable version:

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“The collaboration with Penguin Random House (who are publishing a medium format version of the main book in Autumn 2018 at a price point of around £30) is hugely significant for me, as it makes this long standing project accessible to David’s millions of fans across the world.”

 

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Every image in ‘Ricochet : David Bowie 1983’ is personally approved by David Bowie. (A small sample here)

Go here for the full press release.

#DavidBowieRicochet

tags: 2017 November
Sunday 11.19.17
Posted by Joey Porterfield
 

SONOS Song Stories : Bowie in London free event

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“So deep in your room...”

Sonos, the leader in smart home sound systems, today announced its first European concept store; a retail, exhibition, screening and listening space that will open its doors to the public on Thursday, 16th November 2017.

Inspired by Sonos’ flagship store in New York, it features state-of-the-art Listening Rooms – two acoustically-tuned, house-shaped structures designed to emulate a real multi-room home listening space. Guests will be able to stream their personal music to one or both rooms and create their own, unique sonic adventures.

Celebrating music culture, past and present, the space will play host to an ongoing line-up of listening events, screenings, cultural talks and installations. The first of these events will celebrate David Bowie, modern music’s most unrelenting innovator, whose singular sound and vision impacted generations and continues to play a vital role in shaping the musical landscape of London and the world. To mark the release of their first-ever voice activated speaker, the Sonos One, the brand wanted to honour his unique voice by collaborating with cultural commentator, Paul Gorman to curate a display of rarely seen images of David Bowie's London life taken by photographers including Mick Rock, Brian Duffy, Rolf Adlercreutz (Alamy) and Mike Maloney.

Alongside this, on the 15 & 17 November Sonos presents Song Stories: Bowie – a series of intimate events hosted by Miranda Sawyer, honouring David Bowie’s work and legacy, as told through the powerful stories of artists and fans alike, including Nick Rhodes, Goldie, Graham Coxon, Carl Barat, Peaches and Rostam. The events will lend a voice to creators inspired and influenced by Bowie, and give fans the opportunity to hear their original stories paired with the songs that best accompany them. The event is free to attend via RSVP here: Sonos.com/Bowie (http://sonos.com/Bowie)

Opening weekend, NTS Radio will be broadcasting live from the Sonos London store on Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 November, with a full 16hr programme co-curated by DJ’s Ross Allen, Charlie Bones, Nabihah Iqbal and Bullion with friends and special guests consisting of mixes, interviews and interesting conversations inspired by and celebrating the life of David Bowie.

Keep reading for the full press release.

#SongStories  #SongStoriesBowie  #SONOSBowie

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SONOS’ FIRST EUROPEAN CONCEPT STORE
BRINGS MUSIC HOME IN SEVEN DIALS, LONDON

November 8, 2017: Sonos, the leader in smart home sound systems, today announced its first European concept store; a retail, exhibition, screening and listening space that will open its doors to the public on Thursday, 16th November 2017.

An experience designed for all, unique for every listener

Located in London’s Seven Dials, the store has been designed to replicate the home environment, and showcase how Sonos fits seamlessly into any home environment.

Inspired by Sonos’ flagship store in New York, it features state-of-the-art Listening Rooms – two acoustically-tuned, house-shaped structures designed to emulate a real multi-room home listening space. Guests will be able to stream their personal music to one or both rooms and create their own, unique sonic adventures.

The ultimate home listening experience

In keeping with Sonos’ meticulous attention to detail, the sonic and visual elements of the London concept store are tied to the city’s own artistic culture, and have been inter-related from the outset, designed to complement the listening experience. Vibrant textures that improve the overall acoustics, custom bevelled glass walls to reduce bounce, hand-woven rugs and bespoke bookshelves, have all been carefully installed to help improve the sound.

Every space within the store had been sonically tuned by Sonos sound engineers, overseen by Sonos Sound Experience Leader, Giles Martin. This includes the store’s custom built Listening Rooms, the smallest, audiophile spaces in London.

Designed for Listening

With Sonos’ commitment to providing the ultimate home listening experience, it is only fitting that the Listening Rooms have been designed to look and feel like the ultimate home. For launch, Sonos worked with renowned, London-based artists Camille Walala and Neil Raitt. Inspired by their experiences of using Sonos in their own homes, each artist has taken a Listening Room and added their own unique perspective, with bespoke signature prints that cover the walls and ceilings.

And from next year, Sonos will open up the Listening Rooms to further artists, providing them with a canvas to express their creativity, creating an evolving environment to discover and experience Sonos.

An optimal in-store experience

Through a personalised experience and superior service, the Sonos store will become the perfect destination for music fans to come together and celebrate listening to music out loud.

Guests can discover the home sound system that best fits their life, choosing from Spotify, Apple Music and dozens of additional major streaming music services, as well as any combination of Sonos speakers and components including the new Sonos One, the first Sonos product with built in voice control from Amazon’s Alexa.

Celebrating music culture, past and present

Much more than just a store, the space will play host to an ongoing line-up of listening events, screenings, cultural talks and installations. The first of these events will celebrate David Bowie, modern music’s most unrelenting innovator, whose singular sound and vision impacted generations and continues to play a vital role in shaping the musical landscape of London and the world. To mark the release of our first-ever voice activated speaker, the Sonos One, the brand wanted to honour his unique voice by collaborating with cultural commentator, Paul Gorman to curate a display of rarely seen images of David Bowie's London life taken by photographers including Mick Rock, Brian Duffy, Rolf Adlercreutz (Alamy) and Mike Maloney. Alongside this, on the 15 & 17 November Sonos presents Song Stories: Bowie – a series of intimate events hosted by Miranda Sawyer, honouring David Bowie’s work and legacy, as told through the powerful stories of artists and fans alike, including Nick Rhodes, Goldie, Graham Coxon, Carl Barat, Peaches and Rostam. The events will lend a voice to creators inspired and influenced by Bowie, and give fans the opportunity to hear their original stories paired with the songs that best accompany them. The event is free to attend via RSVP here: Sonos.com/Bowie

Opening weekend, NTS Radio will be broadcasting live from the Sonos London store on Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 November, with a full 16hr programme co-curated by DJ’s Ross Allen, Charlie Bones, Nabihah Iqbal and Bullion with friends and special guests consisting of mixes, interviews and interesting conversations inspired by and celebrating the life of David Bowie.

Whitney Walker, General Store Manager at Sonos said “The entire store experience is based on the idea of being in a really comfortable and inspiring environment. We’re proud to be opening our first European concept store in London, providing a dedicated space for music fans to create, connect and ultimately discover the best ways to listen to music out loud.

Whitney continues: “We have carefully considered how people bring music into their home environment through curation, and used it within the concept store to pay homage to the great city of London and the culture that was born here and continues to inspire the world. Our passionate staff look forward to opening the doors to the public and can’t wait to provide the capital with world class Sonos service.”

Commenting on the UK debut at Seven Dials, Sam Bain-Mollison, Head of Group Retail Strategy & Leasing at Shaftesbury, said: “Sonos is one of the most exciting brands in the world and we are thrilled they selected Earlham Street for their UK debut.  It is a significant launch for Seven Dials that adds to the authentic, cultural appeal of the destination.  More than that, however, it is a clear affirmation of the importance of bricks and mortar retail in allowing brands to deliver an engaging experience with their customers, that simply cannot be achieved online alone.

She adds: "Sonos will provide a truly new immersive experience within an area where leading international brands rub shoulders with a mix of independent shops, restaurants and boutiques.  This is in firm alignment with our strategy for Seven Dials of creating an influential and unique mix of retail and dining in the heart of London’s West End.”

With further European concepts planned soon, including a Berlin store in 2018, as well as our exciting new range of voice activated products, Sonos is committed to continually developing new and exciting ways to help music lovers get the ultimate home listening experience.

For more information about Sonos, please visit: www.sonos.com

tags: 2017 November
Wednesday 11.08.17
Posted by Joey Porterfield