The extraordinary and searingly honest personal story of musician Miki Berenyi, revealing the highs and lows of navigating the madness of the ’90s music industry.
Formed in 1988, Lush were part of the London gig scene during one of the most vibrant and creative periods in UK music. Now, Miki Berenyi tells all.
The book begins with her childhood of extremes. From the bohemian lifestyle of her father’s social circle to the privileged glamour of her mother’s acting career, Miki’s young life was a blur of travel, celebrities and private schooling. But frequent relocation, parental neglect and the dark presence of her abusive grandmother resulted in crippling shyness, mental-health issues and a vulnerability to exploitation. The route out of this hole was music – a passion shared by schoolmate Emma Anderson. The teenagers began attending gigs together and would eventually go on to form Lush.
Peppered with anecdotes involving a cast of hundreds (including Blur, Sean Connery, Tracey Emin, Pearl Jam and the Red Hot Chili Peppers), this uncompromising autobiography documents Lush’s thrilling rise, dispiriting fall and subsequent bounceback, reliving the tours, recording sessions and problematic managers they experienced along the way. But at the heart of the book are Miki’s own battles: the conflict between her mouthy public persona and her thin-skinned private identity; the trials of being a woman in an infuriatingly male world; the struggle to find a middle ground between safe indie obscurity and sellout international success. The memoir also explores Miki’s complex relationship with Emma – one that has fluctuated between camaraderie and rivalry over the years – and addresses the most devastating tragedy of all: the suicide of her soulmate, Lush drummer Chris Acland.
Told through frank confession, wry humour and emotional honesty, this is the incredible tale of a trailblazing woman and a seminal band.
The Rolling Stones and Mercury Studios proudly release The Rolling Stones Live At The Wiltern on DVD + 2CD; Blu-Ray + 2CD, 2CD, 3LP (3 variants: Black, Gold (D2C Exclusive), and Black & Bronze Swirl (local retail Exclusive) on March 8, 2024.
One of the greatest box-office successes of 2002/2003, 117 shows grossing over $300 million, The Rolling Stones’ “Licks World Tour”—in support of their 40 Licks compilation—celebrated the band’s 40th Anniversary in splendid fashion, highlighted by this intimate Nov. 22 L.os Angeles show at The Wiltern. With its 2,000+-seat capacity, it would prove to be a welcome respite from the global stadiums and arenas. Fans knew they were in for something special when gems like “Stray Cat Blues,” “No Expectations” and “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love” (complete with the co-author of this 1964 Soul Classic, Soloman Burke) rocked the house.
Over 80 songs were performed on this tour from all eras of the band’s glorious one-of-a-kind history. Mick Jagger played guitar, harmonica and keyboards at various stops. Keith Richards, stellar on guitar and vocals, provided both visual and musical highlights throughout the night. On stage right, Ron Wood’s complimentary guitar work weaves seamlessly with Richards’ playing. Drummer Charlie Watts [1941-2021], as always, was the heart’n’soul backbeat that drove the band forward. A-List musicians bassist Darryl Jones, keyboardist Chuck Leavell, saxophonist Bobby Keys and backing vocalists Lisa Fischer, Bernard Fowler and Blondie Chaplin added immeasurable flourishes.
With Tom Petty, Neil Young, Sheryl Crow, Johnny Depp, Stephen Sills and Eddie Murphy in the audience, The Rolling Stones proceeded to raise the roof to put on arguably one of their best shows ever.
Ron Wood states “We couldn’t really go through a whole tour doig predictable shows. We’ve got to have songs out of the blue.” Adds Mick Jagger “…it makes it interesting for the audience and the band. I’ve got to think a lot more about set lsts than I’ve ever done.” Enthuses Keith Richards: “Sometimes on the road, the weather’s bad and half the band’s down with something, but apart from those obvious blue days, there’s an amazing freshness about these guys.”
3LP Track Listing
Side A:
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Live With Me
Neighbours
Hand of Fate
Side B:
No Expectations
Beast of Burden
Stray Cat Blues
Side C:
Dance, Part 1
Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (with Solomon Burke)
That’s How Strong My Love Is
Going To A Go-Go
Side D:
Thru And Thru
You Don’t Have To Mean It
Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
Side E:
Rock Me Baby
Bitch
Honky Tonk Women
Start Me Up
Side F:
Brown Sugar
Tumbling Dice
2CD Tracklisting:
CD1:
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Live With Me
Neighbours
Hand of Fate
No Expectations
Beast of Burden
Stray Cat Blues
Dance, Part 1
Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (with Solomon Burke)
That’s How Strong My Love Is
Going To A Go-Go
Band Introductions
CD2:
Thru And Thru
You Don’t Have To Mean It
Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
Rock Me Baby
Bitch
Honky Tonk Women
Start Me Up
Brown Sugar
Tumbling Dice
DVD & Blu-ray have the same tracklisting as both the 3LP and 2CD
The latest single from the official soundtrack to Paramount’s upcoming MEAN GIRLS movie, “World Burn” sung by Reneé Rapp and The Cast of Mean Girls is out now. Rapp’s powerful performance of the song was first seen during her breakout role playing Regina George in Mean Girls on Broadway. Rapp’s rendition quickly caught the attention of fans not only for her incredible display of vocal talent, but also the ability to bring both vulnerability and authenticity to the character through her singing. Now, reprising her Broadway debut in the movie adaptation of the 2018 Broadway musical, Rapp brings the iconic performance to the silver screen. Stream “World Burn” by Reneé Rapp and The Cast of Mean Girls here.
The MEAN GIRLS soundtrack will feature songs from a number of the movie’s stars, including Rapp as Regina George, Angourie Rice as Cady Heron, Auli’i Cravalho as Janis ‘Imi’ike, Jaquel Spivey as Damian Hubbard, Avantika as Karen Shetty, Bebe Wood as Gretchen Wieners, and more. The soundtrack will also feature hit record “Not My Fault” by Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion, which was released in December of last year to widespread acclaim. “Not My Fault” earned Rapp’s highest ever day one streams on Spotify to date with over 984,000 streams within the first 24 hours, 5M streams within the first weekend globally, and now at over 10M streams across all platforms. Watch the track’s official music video, which released last Friday, HERE. The MEAN GIRLS soundtrack is set for release via Interscope Records/Universal Music Canada on Friday, January 12th alongside the film’s theatrical release. See below for track-listing and pre-save album HERE.
MEAN GIRLS Soundtrack Track-listing:
A Cautionary Tale – Auli’i Cravalho & Jaquel Spivey
What Ifs – Angourie Rice
Meet The Plastics – Reneé Rapp
Stupid With Love – Angourie Rice & The Cast of Mean Girls
Apex Predator – Auli’i Cravalho & Jaquel Spivey
What’s Wrong With Me – Bebe Wood
Sexy – Avantika
Someone Gets Hurt – Reneé Rapp
Revenge Party – Ali’i Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey, Angourie Rice, Tim Meadows & The Cast of Mean Girls
World Burn – Reneé Rapp & The Cast of Mean Girls
I’d Rather Be Me – Auli’i Cravalho & The Cast of Mean Girls
I See Stars – Angourie Rice & The Cast of Mean Girls
Not My Fault – Reneé Rapp & Megan Thee Stallion
In December, it was also announced that Rapp will perform on the January 20th episode of Saturday Night Live with Jacob Elordi as the host. This capped off an explosive year for the singer-songwriter / actress, from the release of her debut album Snow Angel earning the largest first-week sales for a female artist’s debut album, to her star-studded sold-out Snow Hard Feelings Tour. The run of dates included stops in all major cities including Chicago, Detroit, and Atlanta while boasting surprise appearances from Bryson Tiller, Lizzy McAlpine, Kesha, and more. Recently, Rapp released the deluxe version of Snow Angel, featuring four new songs including a remix of standout track “Tummy Hurts” featuring Coco Jones. Snow Angel was noted as one of the best albums of 2023 by BILLBOARD and “Tummy Hurts” (Remix) with Coco Jones noted one of the best songs of the year by ROLLING STONE.
Reneé Rapp is a critically acclaimed multi-hyphenate with experience in music, film and TV acting, and Broadway. Her debut album Snow Angel, released on August 18th, earned the biggest US first-week sales for a debut female album in 2023.
After landing her breakout role as Regina George in Mean Girls on Broadway, she eventually turned her attention to her solo music career in 2022. To date, the multi-hyphenate’s entire discography has amassed over 300 million streams and counting. She was recently nominated for two MTV VMA Awards, in the categories of ‘Best New Artist’ and ‘PUSH Performance of the Year’, performed to a packed crowd for The Today Show’s Summer Concert Series, and was noted by TIME Magazine as “a powerful vocalist with the confidence to back it up”. She recently wrapped up the North American leg of her sold out ‘Snow Hard Feelings’ Tour – which sold over 65,000 tickets within the first 24 hours alone (and over 100,000 worldwide). In addition to her own music, Rapp will reprise the role of Regina George in the forthcoming Paramount feature film MEAN GIRLS.
From the comedic mind of Tina Fey comes a new twist on the modern classic, MEAN GIRLS. New student Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called “The Plastics,” ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George (Reneé Rapp) and her minions Gretchen (Bebe Wood) and Karen (Avantika). However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney), she finds herself prey in Regina’s crosshairs. As Cady sets to take down the group’s apex predator with the help of her outcast friends Janis (Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey), she must learn how to stay true to herself while navigating the most cutthroat jungle of all: high school.
Parlophone Records are proud to announce the release of a very special David Bowie limited vinyl LP, WAITING IN THE SKY (BEFORE THE STARMAN CAME TO EARTH) which will be released on 20th April, 2024 for Record Store Day.
The album is taken from the Trident Studios 1/4” stereo tapes dated 15th December, 1971, which were created for the then provisional tracklisting for what would become THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS album.
The tracklisting for WAITING IN THE SKY (BEFORE THE STARMAN CAME TO EARTH) runs differently from the ZIGGY STARDUST album and features four songs that didn’t make the final album.
On Side 1, in the place of ‘STARMAN’, one of the last three tracks recorded for the album in February 1972, is ‘ROUND AND ROUND’, a Chuck Berry cover. The track was finally released on a single as the B-side to ‘DRIVE-IN SATURDAY’ on 6th April, 1973. Initially, closing Side 1 of the album was Bowie's version of Jacques Brel’s ‘AMSTERDAM’, which would later appear as the B-side of ‘SORROW’ on 12th October, 1973.
Side 2 of the 15th December, 1971 tracklisting features two long-time non-LP fan favourites, ‘HOLY HOLY’ and ‘VELVET GOLDMINE’. The former is a re-recording with The Spiders of David’s 1971 single. Again, this version of the track had to wait several years before surfacing as the B-side of ‘DIAMOND DOGS’ on 14th June, 1974.
‘VELVET GOLDMINE’ is considered by many to be a lost Ziggy era classic, one Bowie often referred to as ‘He’s A Goldmine’ or ‘She’s A Goldmine’ in his notebooks and interviews. The track was recorded during the Ziggy sessions but was not released until 26th September, 1975, alongside ‘CHANGES’ backing the re-released album version of ‘SPACE ODDITY’, which peaked at no. 1 in the U.K. singles chart in November 1975.
The cover of WAITING IN THE SKY (BEFORE THE STARMAN CAME TO EARTH) features a photo of David taken at an early Ziggy Stardust period session by Brian Ward, and the two sides of the inner bags are the fronts of the two Trident Studios tape boxes. The album’s title comes from the lyrics of ‘STARMAN’, which, along with ‘ROCK ’N’ ROLL SUICIDE’ and ‘SUFFRAGETTE CITY’, had not yet been recorded when this variation of the album was compiled.
WAITING IN THE SKY (BEFORE THE STARMAN CAME TO EARTH) was cut on a customised late Neumann VMS80 lathe with fully recapped electronics from 192kHz restored masters of the original Trident Studios master tapes, with no additional processing on transfer. The half-speed vinyl cut was by engineer John Webber at AIR Studios, London.
DAVID BOWIE/WAITING IN THE SKY (BEFORE THE STARMAN CAME TO EARTH)
Side 1
Five Years
Soul Love
Moonage Daydream
Round And Round
Amsterdam
Side 2
Hang On To Yourself
Ziggy Stardust
Velvet Goldmine
Holy Holy
Star
Lady Stardust
Premiering January 29th, the untold story of how the global hit “We are the World” almost didn’t happen! 46 of the biggest pop music stars had only one night to turn chaos into magic. As told by stars who were there, this film reveals the rollercoaster ride to write and record the groundbreaking song that would go on to raise millions for famine relief in Africa, win 2 Grammys and become a global sensation.
The Greatest Night in Pop is only on Netflix, January 29th, 2024.
To the rest of the world, Cass Elliot was a rock star; A charismatic, wisecracking singer from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted band, The Mamas & The Papas; A legend of Laurel Canyon, decked out in her custom-made Muumuus, glittering designer jewelry, blessed with a powerful, instantly identifiable singing voice which helped define the sound of the 1960s counterculture movement. But to Owen Elliot-Kugell, she was just Mom.
In the nearly 50 years since Cass Elliot’s untimely death at the age of 32, rumors and myths have swirled about, shading nearly every aspect of her life. In her long-awaited memoir, Owen Elliot-Kugell shares the groundbreaking story of her mom as only a daughter can tell it.
In My Mama, Cass, Owen pulls back the curtains of her mother’s life from the sold-out theaters and behind the closed doors of her infamous California abode. Born Ellen Naomi Cohen, the woman who was known to the world as Cass Elliot was decades ahead of her time: an independently minded, outspoken woman who broke through a male-dominated business, a forward-thinking feminist, and a single parent who embraced motherhood from the moment Owen entered the world. From the closely guarded secret of Owen’s paternity to Cass’s lifelong struggles with self-esteem and weight, to rumors surrounding her mother’s death, Owen illuminates the complex truths of her mother’s life, sharing interviews with the high-profile figures who orbited Cass, as well as never-before-heard tales of her mother and this legendary period of American history.
Featuring intimate family and archival photos as well as interviews and memories from famous friends, fans, and colleagues who loved and respected Cass, this book is both a love story and a mystery, a tale of self-discovery and a daughter’s devotion. At its core, My Mama, Cass is a beautifully crafted testament befitting of Cass Elliot’s enduring cultural impact and legacy, written by the person who knew and loved her best.
Back during the COVID lockdowns, award-winning songwriter and musician Tara Dunphy spent much of her time walking in St. Peter’s Cemetery in London, Ontario, getting to know the stones and imagining the stories of the people whose names she read aloud. “I heard somewhere that so long as you say someone’s name, they’re never truly gone, so I tried to get everyone at least once” she explains. One stone kept grabbing her attention. “It bore two names,” she continues. “Thomas O’Meara, with a birth and death date, and below that it read ‘Beloved husband of Bridget O’Brien, 1885.’ Only a birth year, no death year.”
No matter the weather, 30 or minus 20 degrees, Tara was at the cemetery every day. And with every reading of the names, she just couldn’t shake the lingering question of what had truly happened to this Bridget O’Brien. “Did she marry someone else after Thomas died, and chose to be buried with the new fella? Did she pass away years later, penniless, unable to leave the money to have her name put on the stone? Is she still alive, having found the fountain of youth? I never found out, but one day a song just presented itself, almost as if Bridget wanted the question asked. Bridget O’Brien, where have you gone?”
“Bridget O’Brien” is the latest single from Canadian contemporary folk group, Maggie’s Wake, a band that emerged out of a shared vision for both honoring and building upon the foundation of traditional folk and Celtic instrumentation to create a constantly evolving sound that is truly fiery, limitless, and unique. Fronted by Tara Dunphy (The Rizdales, Luther Wright and the Wrongs) on tin whistle, flute, fiddle, guitar, banjo and lead vocals, and fellow award-winning musician Lindsay Schindler (Rant Maggie Rant, Trent Severn) on fiddle and vocals, Maggie’s Wake is additionally solidified by the powerhouse backing combo of Stephan Szczesniak on percussion, Andrew Kosty on bass, Dean Harrison on piano and accordion, and Kenneth Palmer on guitar.
Blending high twang, rich harmonies and soaringly haunting vocals, “Bridget O’Brien” brings back to life the imagined untold tale of the once passionate Bridget O’Brien, from the perspective of her devastatingly heartbroken husband, who calls out from his grave, “Bridget O’Brien where have you gone/I’ve been lying here, waiting for you for so long/Praying each night you’ll return with the dawn/Oh my Bridget, where have you gone/Oh my Bridget, where have you gone?”
The lyrics go on to paint the picture of the enchanting woman he longs for: “Bold and unruly, she couldn’t be tamed/When she kissed me, my heart was claimed/So we boarded a liner and made our way west/Across the wild ocean, we rode every crest/Of the waves with abandon, I was beguiled/When we landed she carried our child.” Before long, however, the love story becomes an abrupt tale of painful tragedy and loss. “A baby born quiet and cold as the ground/That we buried him ‘neath in this town/Her eyes lost their fire, her heart lost its flame/She left me one dark night and never again/Would I feel the soft touch of her lips against mine/Or the love of my Bridget O’Brien.” The song leaves us with the even further chilling lines “And I asked for your name to be etched in this stone/Should one day you find your way home”.
Considering the merging of strong roots in honoring traditional folk and celtic music, a fearless ability to embrace a vast range of influences, and a songwriter as mystical and engaging as Tara Dunphy, it comes as no surprise that Maggie’s Wake was the winner of the 2023 Forest City London Music Awards in the category of Folk/Roots. And just as we are left wanting more from the inconclusive story of Bridget O’Brien in their latest release, we are indeed also left wanting more from Maggie’s Wake.
Originally from Créteil, French pianist Simon Denizart arrived in Montreal in 2011 and wasted no time in getting his music heard.
Initially working with the Canadian label The 270 Sessions, he produced three albums, Between Two Worlds (2015), Beautiful People (2016) and Darkside (2017). This productive period earned him the Radio-Canada Revelation award in 2016 and two ADISQ nominations in 2017 and 2018.
Released in 2021 on the Laborie Jazz label, his fourth album NOMAD offers a dynamic and original encounter between the piano and the calabash. It was again nominated for an ADISQ award in the Album of the Year Jazz category that same year.
Critically acclaimed, “Croyez-nous c’est un sacré talent” (Radio-Canada), “Simon Denizart, retenez bien son nom!” (FIP – Jane Villenet), he performs all over the world (France, Canada, Czech Republic, Cuba, etc.) and leaves no one indifferent.
“Simon Denizart is a pianist in a class of his own, with obvious jazz influences, but also rock, world music and even neo-classical music” (Jérôme Davieau, sors-tu.ca). “Cultivating a fluid, dynamic sound that brings him very close to the late Swedish pianist Esbjörn Svensson” (Christophe Rodriguez, sortiesjazznights.ca), he plays sensitive, energizing music, sprinkled with subtle, accessible melodies.
In 2023 he began a new collaboration with the prestigious Canadian label Justin Time Records, which produced his forthcoming fifth album: Piece of Mind.
With his debut solo album, To Begin With, Ritesh Das invites listeners to join him on a groundbreaking musical voyage that seamlessly blends the vibrant mastery of the tabla and transcends borders with a fusion of genres. This energetic and visionary album is a harmonious blend of meditation, psychology, and celebration.
The second single and music video from this album, “Forgiveness of Trees,” as a distinctive blend of tabla and rock and roll, featuring the raw vocals of Canadian rock icon Bif Naked and the powerful guitar work of Ash Ravens.
Das’s solo venture unfolds a new chapter in his illustrious career as the celebrated leader and founder of the Toronto Tabla Ensemble. The 66-year-old percussion maestro, originally from Calcutta and now based in Toronto, exhibits a sophisticated celebration of artistry in “To Begin With.”
Crafted during a time when travel was no longer an option, Das mastered composing and recording software, leveraging technology and his home studio. The album not only highlights his diverse musical skills but also features a unique fusion of live instrumentation with programmed beats, samples and orchestral instruments.
“To Begin With” includes collaborations with world-class talents, such as the Montreal klezmer outfit Oktopus (‘Ot Azoy’), Egyptian vocalist Maryem Tollar, and sarod maestro Manik Khan (‘Ta Alu Nitabill’), along with Canadian rocker Bif Naked (‘Forgiveness of Trees’).
Ritesh Das, a tabla virtuoso, and the visionary founder of the Toronto Tabla Ensemble, has played a pivotal role in shaping the global music scene since the early 1970s. Born in Calcutta, India, Das embarked on a remarkable career marked by innovation and cultural fusion. As the artistic director of the Juno-nominated Toronto Tabla Ensemble, he seamlessly blends traditional tabla rhythms with diverse musical elements from around the world. His dedication to pushing the boundaries of traditional music has earned him recognition and acclaim, establishing him as a respected authority in the world of percussion and fusion. Das’s influence extends to music education, where he imparts his knowledge and passion for tabla to aspiring musicians.
Bif Naked is a celebrated and notorious performer in music, TV, film, and dance; a writer and poet; and a tireless advocate and humanitarian. Orphaned in India, emancipated by punk rock, and empowered by surviving breast cancer, kidney failure, heart surgery, divorce, and surviving as a Woman in The Entertainment Industry for twenty-five years. Bif is a platinum-selling recording artist, a best-selling author, a passionate entrepreneur, and advises and coaches other artists as a mentor and manager. She is an animal rights and human rights advocate and activist, there is nothing that could stop her! Bif has transcended any obstacles placed in her path to become one of the world’s most unique, recognizable and beloved icons.
Nominated for ‘Newcomer of the Year 2022’ by Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, and recipient of the SEED Award by City of Ottawa; the Bangladesh born, globe-trotting artist Ash Ravens has made Ottawa his home in 2021 after living & playing in Melbourne, Australia and Los Angeles, USA. Although he is new to the Canadian music scene, he is already making waves blessed with a recognizable sound full of guitar driven songs and virtuosic instrumentals and has performed in RBC Bluesfest, Citysounds Festival and Encore Ottawa. With musical talent to bridge the many genres in his music from rock to country; an electrifying stage presence backed by a solid band composed of Ottawa’s best musicians, Ash Ravens is a musical treat to experience.
The collaboration with Bif Naked and Ash Ravens on “Forgiveness of Trees” was inspired by a shared concern for nature and its impact on the environment. Das, impressed by Bif’s sensitivity, proposed the theme of “trees” for their collaboration, prompting her to write this song pleading for forgiveness from the trees and nature itself.
This release offers a glimpse into Das’s ability to seamlessly blend musical traditions and create impactful narratives that resonate globally. The varied sonic landscapes exhibit a dynamic blend of spirituality and technology, forming a soundtrack for a globe-trotting adventure film.
Das, a multifaceted artist with a storied career, reflects on his journey from Calcutta to Toronto and the evolution of the Toronto Tabla Ensemble. Having crossed Canada multiple times and mesmerized audiences internationally, Das’s compositions have earned recognition, including nominations for Global Music Awards, Independent Music Awards and Juno Awards.
As a restless artist, Das is already looking ahead to his next solo release, demonstrating his commitment to continual exploration. With projects ranging from radio-station themes to orchestral compositions, film scoring opportunities, and a return to performing with the Ensemble, Das’s inventive spirit continues to shape the musical landscape.
Get Into the Groove with our new print celebrating pop songs from the 80s.
The 80s was the decade that gave us big hair, massive shoulder pads and GIGANTIC pop songs. Dorothy’s NEW print celebrates 42 pop songs from this era by bands and artists including Duran Duran, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Whitney, Frankie and Prince. Expect a Power Ballad or two! You can get it here.
