Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
"The Alarm" Is Sounding Off!
Brand New Album Sigma Set For June 28th Release
A fraternity of alternative British rock bands led by acoustic pioneers The Alarm, post punk auteurs Modern English, and the charismatic Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel have announced they will take to the road throughout North America this summer 2019. See initial dates below.
The Sigma LXXXV Tour #sigmatour2019 will stop by some 30 plus North American cities, presenting the very best music and ideas from a generation of enduring artists, brought together through a legacy of timeless sound and song. Tickets go on sale today Friday, February 22 and information is available at all three bands websites: www.thealarm.com, www.modernenglish.me,www.genelovesjezebel.co.uk
With all three artists still proving to be as creative as ever, The Alarm will release a new album Sigma to coincide with the tour on June 28th alongside a reissue of their significant 1985 album Strength (available March 15). Strength is available to PRE-ORDER now from thealarm.com. All individual CD and LP pre-orders placed through thealarm.com will qualify for a Free CD that is exclusive to the alarm.com entitled: ‘The Alarm – A Story of Strength‘ featuring a host of exclusive Alarm tracks and narration by Mike Peters. This fascinating CD tells the entire story of The Alarm’s Strength period from 1985-1986. A special Limited Edition package of 300 is also being made available to pre-order which will include both the CD and LP Editions, a free CD copy of The Alarm – A Story of Strength, along with a very special Replica Strength Era Backstage Pass personally signed by Mike Peters, that can be used to create a unique ‘collectors’ edition. The Limited Edition Collectors package is only available at thealarm.com All titles have been remastered from the original master tapes by mastering engineer Pete Maher (U2, White Stripes…) under the supervision of Mike Peters.
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| Photo: Andy Labrow |
The Alarm will perform a full and lengthy set at Irving Plaza on April 13th as part of their US/NYC “Gathering” concerts and will also headline The Gramercy in NYC the day before (April 12) performing a set list that was originally performed by the band during the “Spirit of ’86” concert that was historically broadcast around the world via MTV on April 12, 1986.
Sigma acts as the sequel to 2018’s critically acclaimed EQUALS release and features musical contributions from original Alarm guitarist Dave Sharp and Billy Duffy from The Cult. Full details on Sigma will be revealed in the coming weeks.
In addition, Mike Peters was recently honored with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) Award by HIs Royal Highness Prince Charles Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. The MBE is one of Britain’s highest honors. Mike was awarded for his services to charity having raised thousands for cancer care projects in the UK and abroad and dedicating his life to giving hope for families affected by cancer.
Modern English first toured on a double bill with The Alarm back in 1985/86 during the Strength tour. Modern English released their latest album Take Me To The Trees in 2017, and are still a staple of American First Wave Alternative radio station playlists with amongst others, their classic hit ‘I Melt With You’.
Also hailing from Wales UK, are Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel, who first broke onto the American charts in 1985 with a cocktail of infectious hit songs such as ‘Desire’, ‘Jealous’ and ‘The Motion Of Love’, and will be joining the Sigma LXXXV Tour in support of their most recent album release, Dance Underwater which was received with delight by their legion of fans.
Throughout the Sigma LXXXV Tour, members of all three bands will join together each night for a Grand Finale version of the ‘Love Hope Strength’ charity anthem to highlight the additional life-saving aspect of the tour.
Love Hope Strength is a charity dedicated to ‘Saving Lives One Concert at a Time’ and throughout the Sigma LXXXV Tour it will be hosting bone marrow drives at each concert aimed at finding donors for people suffering from Blood Cancer who need a transplant for a second chance at life! The charity has already registered over 200,000 individuals and located some 4,000 plus potentially lifesaving matches. Visit
www.lovehopestrength.org for more information.
Alarm Fans attending the tour will also have the opportunity to enhance their participation by purchasing EXPERIENCE SIGMA LXXXV TOUR 2019 passes which will be limited to '85' which matches the tour theme, and will feature additional and exclusive pre-show acoustic performances with Mike Peters, along with an interactive Q&A / Record signing session and a guaranteed photo opportunity Attendees will also have the opportunity and to catch up with exclusive tour merchandise along with the most recent Alarm record releases in the tour ‘pop up record store’ and merchandise emporium.
QUOTE FROM MIKE PETERS of The Alarm
"The Sigma Tour will bring out the best that The Alarm has to offer the 21st Century, and along with our friends Modern English and Jay Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel, we look forward to taking part in an event that will hopefully, live long in the memory for all our fans." says Mike Peters. "Our music, which still gets played on the radio every single day, gives us all a platform for creativity that will shine through every second of the Sigma Tour. Fans can expect collaboration, moments of reflection, camaraderie and also the unexpected. The tour will be alive on all the social media platforms allowing fans from around the world to see what its like for British bands to be on the road in the USA. Each show will be presented by an in-house MC / DJ and play host to intimate pre-show events that will connect fans to the musicians in a setting away from the spotlight. Up on the main stage every night, The Alarm will be celebrating the release of a new music album entitled Sigma, and honoring the 1985 Strength album reissue that has literally changed and saved lives through Love Hope Strength, the charity which sprang from the intention of the lyrics. The Sigma Tour will look, sound and feel like no other. It's an opportunity for our generations of fans, to make themselves heard, and for us as artists to prove that we are still as relevant as when we first helped shape the musical landscape of America, and when it's citizens looked to British bands for inspiration and alternatives."
QUOTE FROM JAY ASTON of Jay Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel
"We are so excited to be touring the U.S. with our dear friends The Alarm & Modern English." says Jay Aston. "We all go way back back of course. I remember The Alarm & Gene Loves Jezebel regularly playing different nights at the legendary RockGarden in Covent Garden and as a fellow Welshman, I always kept an eye on their incredible progress. We opened for Modern English early on in our career & often bumped into Rob & the lads at our label (Beggars Banquet) in London. Always great fun to see them and I can vividly remember Ivo (A&R man at 4AD), playing me songs from “After The Snow” & being concerned at rising studio costs (I think 4AD might have got a fair return on their investment…). I once played solo gigs with thee Mike Peters in the UK of course and James Stevenson has been playing with the The Alarm for some time. It’s actually amazing that we haven’t toured together before! We can’t wait to play songs from our “Dance Underwater” album and music from all our albums on the upcoming tour. We’re all planning to make it a very, very special tour." Jay Aston
QUOTE FROM ROBBIE GREY of Modern English
"We are all really looking forward to it." says Modern English vocalist Robbie Grey, "Three bands all from the same era, still creating and performing and coming together for this summer tour. The response has been amazing from promoters and fans alike. Modern English has known Mike Peters and The Alarm since the 80's, same with Jay Aston and Gene Loves Jezebel. It’s going to be fantastic. Modern English are looking forward to performing our early post punk material including 'After The Snow' songs, along with tracks from our most recent album 'Take Me To The Trees' and hopefully a new song which will be the first Modern English single in a long time (that’s a maybe by the way!!). When Mike said did we want to do it ? We said f…k yes".
Sigma LXXXV Tour 2019 Dates
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The Alarm “Gathering New York” solo shows:
April 12 Gramercy Theatre New York – Performing “Spirit of ‘86” setlist
April 13 Irving Plaza New York – Full electric concert
Fans who purchase weekend ticket passes for both events, will also receive a commemorative collectors laminate pass as they enter the venue on April 12th.
Click here to view The Alarm - Strength Live from The Gathering on February 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiAvNhjZPew&feature=youtu.be
Click here to view the original video for The Alarm - Strength 7" Single (1985) Remastered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyPm_B8dPMs&feature=youtu.be
Monday, February 25, 2019
Monday Motivation
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| Let's Get Unconscious, Honey- Madonna & Lady Gaga |
"Yes" peeps it's the morning after The Oscars - who saw Olivia Colman winning over Glenn Close. No one! However Social Media is buzzing at present about this image of Lady Gaga with her Oscar for Best Original Song and Mama Madonna holding them both.
Honestly, can I be frank? I have never felt there was any "rivalry" ever between the two. They trotted it out when they each had something to promote and then it went away post haste.
Let's get real when Gaga did Born This Way a hybrid note for note of Express Yourself and Vogue she had to have had permission to do it. Otherwise Madonna could have sued and won. These two are partners in crime make no mistake about it.
Oh, yeah, what's today's Monday Motivation? Cheers to women supporting each other. Hey we should all support each other as human beings. Go out and be the best version of you that you can possibly be. Even if you actually suck as a human being, try to suck less today.
What's your motivation on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Sunday Schwing!
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| And He's In Leather! Matt |
Honestly I could not resist my primal urges today when I came across Matt on Tye Briggs Favorite Hunks & Other Things. Normally I like my men, well, manly. While Matt is pretty boyish, there is something down & dirty about him that appeals to my nether regions.
Not to mention there is an interesting back story that appeals to my inner beast that Tye tells in his usual astute way.
Oscar Mayer Wiener is what I say about today, if you get my drift and I think you do.
Now Schwing! minions, Schwing!
Right here, right now...
https://favoritehunks.blogspot.com/2019/02/age-of-opportunity-matt-by-steve-jerome.html
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Saturday Sinema - Vengeance: A Love Story
Sometimes U Need Vengeance -
On the Fourth of July, single mother Teena is brutally assaulted by a local gang in front of her 12-year-old daughter Bethie. Despite Bethie's ability to identify the attackers, the defense hires a local hot-shot attorney who manipulates the law to their advantage. When the criminals are set free, Gulf War veteran and detective John Dromoor (Nicolas Cage) is dismayed at the lack of justice and plots revenge against the men on Teena's behalf. Blu-ray includes 5.1 surround sound, stereo and English subtitles for the deaf and hearing-impaired.
Order It Here:
https://mvdb2b.com/b2b/s/MVD2029BR
Friday, February 22, 2019
Freaky Friday
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| WTF??? Glenn Close |
Well minions the Oscars are this weekend and E! Online decided to run images of this years nominated stars from their first Academy Award red carpet attendance.
In the immortal words of George Takei a Freaky Friday "Oh My" shout out goes to Best Actress nominee for "The Wife" Glenn Close for her total clueless lack of style in this WTF?! number she wore for her first evuh Oscar nomination in the Supporting Actress category for The World According To Garp.
Seriously, who the Hell dressed her in this hideous frock??? Even more seriously, how could she waltz down the red carpet not knowing how ghastly it truly is? I ask you? Gimme an answer now please!
Judging from her appearances on the Award circuit of late Ms. Close has certainly evolved in the style department and will be hitting the red carpet and looking fab not drab this Sunday.
You go Glenn Close!
Glenn on IMDB:
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Michael's Musings
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| My Finger Is On The Trigger Michael Shinafelt |
I love the smell of sex and "Yes" I am feeling bad, and I'm so perfectly good at it in every little way. Go there with me, join me. You know you want to...
Bernie Sanders needs to F#ck the Hell Off (Don't say I didn't warn you) -
Put on your best Sunday Dress - do it & do it now!!!
Someday we will be arrested for crimes of fashion. I will be the biggest perpetrator
Give it a name. Come on, your brain can't even do that?!
FYI I am not the Pole Vault Hooker
Pop up brothels are the new frontier
He touches the darkest regions of my dirty soul
Botched is an abomination unto itself
Cremation - it's a thing
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| Golden Showers The Oscars |
Ariana Grande fans are boycotting her song 7 Rings apparently. They should simply boycott her. It's really that easy.
I know why it happens
Are you there God? I'm horny
"I'm very much down to earth, just not this earth" - Karl Lagerfeld
Join me and Karl on another plain at:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt
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