Our Secrets Are The Same, Auction, Fan Remix
Rogue Catalunian DJ Jordi Tardà continues to broadcast the leaked Simple Minds album on his show. Between a repeat airing of Jeweller To The Stars and End Of The World he described the legal problems between Simple Minds and EMI, pointed out that the album had no release date, but stated that he would continue broadcasting tracks until it was released.
Shaun Tranter's auction is now available on-line. There are 304 lots, some of which are being offered for sale for the first time. The auction also includes four presentation discs, the first to offer such a high number for sale.
The full listing and contact details are here.
Bidding is by post or phone. Check the auction page for phoning times. No bids will be taken over the Internet.
The auction is currently running and will close on Saturday, January 27th.
Good luck.
One of the first fan remixes has appeared on the Internet. Ian Rywalt has put together a great, extended remix of Real To Real, the opener of Real To Real Cacophony.
If you'd like to hear it, an MP3 can be found in the Files section of the Simple Minds mailing list. Browse over to http://www.egroups.com/group/simple-minds and follow the links.
Our Secrets Are The Same, Kirsty MacColl, Mick MacNeil, Jim Kerr: Ambassador, Dot Music Awards, Mel Gaynor, Auction, For Sale
Our Secrets Are The Same 1. Swimming Towards The Sun (Was available as MP3/CD quality) 2. Jeweler To The Stars (Was available as MP3) 3. Space (Was available as MP3) 4. Death By Chocolate (Was available as MP3) 5. End Of The World (Was available as MP3) 6. Neon Cowboys (Was available as MP3) 7. She Knows (Was available as MP3) 8. Hello (Was available as MP3) 9. Happy Is The Man (Was available as MP3) 10. Sleeping (Was available as MP3 A couple of weeks ago, Radio Catalunya completed their preview of the new Simple Minds album Our Secrets Are The Same by broadcasting the final song from the album, the slow, acoustic Sleeping.
It turns out that EMI distributed CD copies of the album to its various European offices for each country to offer their choice of singles. It appears that the copy sent to EMI Spain was leaked from the office and is the source of Radio Catalunya's broadcast. This copy has also been offered for a price of $250 US dollars to various fans.
In the meantime, CD bootlegs have started to appear at record fairs. Copies have surfaced in Germany and Scotland. It isn't known if these CDs are simply pressings of the low-quality MP3 files that have circulated or are CD quality from another source.
Over the last week, the now-infamous "Jim Kerr" mails have appeared on the mailing list. In these, the distribution of the album over the Internet has been condemed and the handful of sites which have featured the Secrets MP3s have shut themselves down. The jury is still out whether this is Jim Kerr or a hoax. If Jim could e-mail me to clarify the situation then that would be most welcome.
The legal dispute between Simple Minds and EMI moves on, and resolution is expected early next year. It is hoped that the album will then receive the release it deserves.
Kirsty MacColl has been killed by a speedboat while swimming with her two sons off the Mexican island of Cozumel in the Caribbean.
Kirsty MacColl with former husband Steve Lillywhite
She recorded a clutch of memorable tracks in the eighties, including They Don't Know (which didn't chart but later became a hit for Tracey Ullman), There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop (Swears He's Elvis), A New England (for which the original writer Billy Bragg wrote an extra verse, and which featured Mel Gaynor and Derek Forbes on drums and bass) and Fairytale Of New York recorded with The Pogues.
She also worked as a session backing singer for Talking Heads, The Smiths, The Happy Mondays (on Hallelujah) and Simple Minds. She was the featured female vocalist on Sparkle In The Rain supplying backing vocals for Speed Your Love To Me and Street Hassle. It was at these recording sessions that she met her husband producer Steve Lillywhite for the first time.
She had "the wit of Ray Davies and the harmonic invention of The Beach Boys" - Johnny Marr
"The Noel Coward of her generation" - Bono
"My thoughts go out to her family at this tragic time" - Jools Holland
Need a last minute Christmas present? Mick MacNeil's solo album People Places and Things is still available via the www.mixrecords.com website.
For that extra special Christmas present, have your copy of the album personally signed by Mick, please state if you wish this at time of ordering, and to whom you wish the dedication to be made to. Please note, all orders are sent out by regular mail unless otherwise requested. Guaranteed delivery before Christmas is available on payment of an additional Post Office postal rate, please contact us if you require this and for current additional postal rates. Regular mail will take appoxiamtely 2 to 3 days for UK inland and a week or more outside the UK, depending on the postal service in the destination country and distance of country from the UK. Please also remember that the postal service can get overloaded at Christmas, and unforseen eventualities like postal strikes may occur, therefore we cannot guarantee delivery by particular dates. If you are sending us your order by regular post and not ordering on-line, please ensure to include, all delivery and order details, the dedication, if any, you would like and to make all international cheques or money orders made payable to "Michael MacNeil LTD". Please also use the form which is available for printing out from our website at www.mixrecords.com
We hope to have new developments in place on the website in the very near future, such as the long awaited live webcam!... a live audio feed from the studio, news of new releases and much more, all of which you will be notified of through the mailing list, which I aim to be making more regular.
Thank you for your support at Mix Records in the past year, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year.
Yours,
Mick MacNeil(My sincerely apologies to Mick for taking so long to getting this message onto the website. (It was sent on Mick's mailing list earlier this month.) Obviously it's now just-too-late for Christmas, but a signed PPT album would make a great present at any time of the year - Simon).
Star Jim To Share Secret Of Success With Kids
POP star-turned-entrepreneur Jim Kerr has taken on a new role as a special ambassador in Scotland.
His key task will be to boost the confidence of young Scots to take on the world.
The lead singer of Simple Minds was asked to take on the role by First Minister Henry McLeish as part of a drive to create a "can do" culture and instil the "three Cs" into youngsters - confidence, compassion and competitiveness.
Kerr, who part-owns a sushi bar in his home city of Glasgow and several e-mail firms, said yesterday he was delighted by the challenge.
He said: "I am honoured by the role. Youngsters must be imbued with the self-belief to allow them to prosper in the modern world whether they devote their career to music or microchips."
But he added: "As an artist, I believe we also need to add a fourth "C" to confidence, compassion and competitiveness - creativity."
Kerr also claimed Scotland could do more to sell itself to the world. He said: "It's time the Scots got together to tell people things are happening in our country, that we are a can do, confident nation."
McLeish said: "Jim is a role model for young Scots in terms of his rise to the top. He embodies the kind of Scotland we are striving to create. He has had to be competitive in one of the most competitive industries in the world.
"Jim and other ambassadors, whom I hope to involve, will work with me here in Scotland to help our young people."
Daily Record
November 30th
Many, many thanks to all those who voted for Dream Giver in the dotmusic awards. Last year, the site was ranked at #114. 
This year, with 2221 sites registered, and 75,000 votes cast, Dream Giver jumped to #67, putting it firmly in the top 100. Given the fickle nature of the industry and the sheer amount of boy and girl bands (A1, Steps, 5ive and Eminen were all in the top-five), this is a great result. Dream Giver also beat many contemporary acts and kept Simple Minds' name in the charts.
Thanks again for your votes and support.
Mel Gaynor was behind the drums for Roachford when they toured the UK last month. Unfortunately the news that he was touring was only received a day after the final gig!Mel has a solo album coming out soon. He's not involved with Simple Minds at the moment, but mentioned that there might be a 'best of' album coming out soon. I hope this was a reference to the 25th anniversary box set, and not another compilation of 'greatest hits' that no-one wants.
For 16,000 pounds sterling:With which band is Jim Kerr associated?
(The contestant had to 'phone a friend').
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
7th December
I'm currently typing in the auction catalogue. There are 304 items up for grabs so this may take a while. Expect the catalogue to be on-line at the end of this week.
Néapolis: Very limited press promo box set
All this in a very nice big round (27.5cm diameter) silver movie tape-style case, with Simple Minds engraved on top. Bids for this exclusive item can be made through e-mail at puk_puk@gmx.net. Current offer stands at 93 Euros. (Shipping costs are for the buyer)
- CD Néapolis
- Interview CD
- Video Tape: Glitterball video and interview
- 3 large coloured photos (on Kodak photo paper)
- Press release Neapolis
- Biography
- Transcript of interview CD.
Our Secrets Are The Same
Jordi didn't let anyone down this weekend, and played Neon Cowboys and She Knows from the new album. A couple of hours after the broadcast, the new songs appeared on the MP3 sites.
Additionally, Swimming Towards The Sun, one of the first songs previewed, has also finally been uploaded.
This just leaves Sleeping to go.
Happy Birthday Charlie!
Our Secrets Are The Same 1. Swimming Towards The Sun (Available as MP3) 2. Jeweler To The Stars (Available as MP3) 3. Space (Available as MP3) 4. Death By Chocolate (Available as MP3) 5. End Of The World (Available as MP3) 6. Neon Cowboys (Available as MP3) 7. She Knows (Available as MP3) 8. Hello (Available as MP3) 9. Happy Is The Man (Available as MP3) 10. Sleeping
Our Secrets Are The Same
Death By Chocolate was given its first play this Saturday. The first 'acoustic' track to appear from the already diverse Our Secrets Are The Same, it has joined Space and Jeweler To The Stars as a firm favourite.
It was joined by End Of The World which got a repeat airing on Catalunya Radio.
The preview of the album looks set to continue, and many will be tuning in to Jordi's show next Saturday.
Our Secrets Are The Same 1. Swimming Towards The Sun (Broadcast - not available as MP3) 2. Jeweler To The Stars (Available as MP3) 3. Space (Available as MP3) 4. Death By Chocolate (Available as MP3) 5. End Of The World (Available as MP3) 6. Neon Cowboys 7. She Knows 8. Hello (Available as MP3) 9. Happy Is The Man (Available as MP3) 10. Sleeping
Our Secrets Are The Same
Two more songs from Our Secrets Are The Same were played on Spanish radio last Saturday. They included Hello, the song that was finished for the movie The Match but just missed being included on the soundtrack. The other song featured was Happy Is The Man.
Low quaility MP3 files of these songs are currently circulating. Pointers to their location(s) can be found on the Simple Minds mailing list.
Our Secrets Are The Same 1. Swimming Towards The Sun (Broadcast - not available as MP3) 2. Jeweler To The Stars (Available as MP3) 3. Space (Available as MP3) 4. Death By Chocolate 5. End Of The World (Available as MP3) 6. Neon Cowboys 7. She Knows 8. Hello (Available as MP3) 9. Happy Is The Man (Available as MP3) 10. Sleeping
10th November
Our Secrets Are The SameMore tracks from Our Secrets Are The Same are expected to be aired on Spanish Radio tomorrow (Saturday). The URL is www.catradio.com (and click on "Directe Catalunya Radio.")
The track listing so far revealed is:
Our Secrets Are The Same
1. Swimming Towards The Sun (Broadcast but not available as MP3)
2. Jeweler To The Stars (Broadcast)
3. Space (Broadcast)
4. Death By Chocolate
5. End Of The World (Broadcast)
6. TBA
7. TBA
8. Hello
9. TBA
10. TBA
9th November
Mick MacNeil, Exhibition In GlasgowMick MacNeil has recently updated his own web site which can be found at www.mixrecords.com. Included in the site overhaul are two new compositions which can be found in the New Projects section.
(Ultra rare Simple Minds poster originating from the Real To Real Cacophony tour. This poster will be displayed at the exhibition (see below). It's also one of the lots in the forthcoming auction in January.)
Highly recommended, especially Track One which sounds like Alice Deejay versus Simple Minds.
The Modern Institute are preparing an exhibition at Glasgow's Lighthouse of music from the city over the last 25 years. It will open later this month and will run through to February 2001. The exhibition will obviously include Simple Minds and it ties in nicely with Jim and Charlie's 25th anniversary of playing in bands together.
The Simple Minds exhibit includes items from the personal collections of Bruce Findlay (their manager from 1978-1989), Kenny Hyslop (drummer from 1981-1982), David and Jaine Henderson (the 'invisible members' from the very early years of the band) and myself. Emphasis was on the early parts of the band's career.
(A sample shot of fanzines I sent to the Modern Institute. Clockwise from left: Original Simple Minds News folder, full set of Simple Minds News, full set of Travelling Man, full set of Colours Fly, full set of Thunder And Rage, full set of Shadowlands, FAB 138 Simple Minds special (dating from Empires And Dance), and Who's Doing The Dreaming Now. The later, the original folder and contents, and FAB 138 will be on show.)
It is expected that Jim will be interviewed for the event. The interview will be part of the display, which will also include video material from the band's 25 year career, starting with the Chelsea Girl video through to War Babies, interspersed with rare archival footage.
(Another sample shot sent to the Modern Institute. The large blue poster, which dates from 1979 will be on show along with the Empires And Dance US tour flyer behind it. A framed Jim Kerr red-eye poster dating from 1979 (similar to the one shown top-right) will also be on view.)
More details very soon...
4th November
Simple Minds Leave EMI, Blow Up
EMI Lose Their Minds Simple Minds have been dumped by their record company after a series of bust-ups.
They axe Kerr & Co in bust up
EMI refused to release the band's new album Our Secrets Are The Same, sparking a legal dispute.
Jim Kerr, frontman of the band which sold 30 million albums in the '80s, said: "Things broke down and we took the plunge by saying to them, 'We would rather not work with you on this record and we'd like to take it back.' They did remix some tracks but it was all very paltry."
"Had there been enthusiasm the record would have come out but EMI weren't very enthusiastic about putting it out. We looked to them for leadership and direction but we felt it wasn't there."
The band, whose hits include Don't You Forget About Me and Alive And Kicking, are now locked in a legal battle with EMI, who last night refused to comment.
Simple Minds' departure comes just weeks after fellow '80s favourites Simply Red were axed by Warner Brothers.
The Sun
Dominic Mohan's Bizarre Column
November 3rd, 2000After refusing to let EMI release their new album, Simple Minds have been dropped by their record company. After the poor promotion and marketing of Néapolis, the band wanted the best for Our Secrets Are The Same, but didn't find any enthusiasm or leadership from the label.
(The 1989 promotional shot that The Sun used for illustration. Mick MacNeil hasn't returned!)
Simple Minds signed a two-album deal with the record company, but want to take Our Secrets Are The Same back to release themselves. The album is now in the hands of the lawyers.
Therefore Simple Minds' plans for the future are now uncertain. A legal battle over the album now seems certain.
The Scottish Sun's Bizarre column has offered 'big money' for the band to play a month long series of gigs in Las Vegas to celebrate their 25 years in the music business. (But don't hold your breath!)
By coincidence, Liam Gallagher also shared space on the same page after another spat with Robbie Williams. When asked, Jim replied: "All I can say is that any time I have met Liam he has been a gentleman - which is very wise on his behalf... me and my family are from Glasgow and wouldn't stand any nonsense."
"The bad news is Simple Minds intend to be around for ever."
Blow Up, the Italian Simple Minds tribute band, will be playing a two-hour set at the Auditorium Flog in Florence next Saturday (November the 11th.)
The set list is:
When Spirits Rise
Street Fighting Years
See The Lights
Changeling
Up On The Catwalk
Book Of Brillant Things
Glittering Prize
Wish You Were Here
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) (Bono's duet performed by our special guest Gianluca Genovese)
Waterfront
Don't you (Forget About Me)
Mandela day/Saturday girl/Someone Somewhere In Summertime (Acoustic Set)
End Of The World (from Our Secrets Are The Same)
Glory Days (original song by Blow Up)
All The Things She Said
Alive And Kicking
Sanctify Yourself
Sun City(See the news for October 7th for more information).
30th October
Our Secrets Are The Same, Auction
The Simple Minds auction I mentioned on the 5th October has been postponed. Shaun Tranter, who is holding the auction, was concerned that it was going to run too close to Christmas, so the auction will be held in January.
Adverts have already appeared in Record Collector for the event (p169). All those who have written in will have their auction catalogues sent to them in January.
As I mentioned before, this auction will include four gold disc awards (one is shown on the right, a platinum award for Once Upon A Time), rare posters and other merchandise which has never been offered to fans before.
Shaun's address is:
Shaun Tranter
27 St. John's Road
Weston Hills
Spalding
Lincs
PE12 6DG
EnglandPlease enclose 2xIRC or SAE when writing.
23rd October
Our Secrets Are The Same
Happy Christmas!
(It's come early this year)
Starlight,
Starbright,
I'm the star you see tonightAnd I wish I may,
And I wish I might,
Be in your dreams tonight.
Space, Our Secrets Are The Same, Simple MindsSimple Minds' new album, Our Secrets Are The Same, was completed late last year, but has languished in record company vaults ever since. Some reasons for the continued delay were given in Jim's interview with Todd Richards from earlier this year.
Given this situation, and the lack of any firm release date, it was a total surprise when the first two tracks from the album were exclusively played on a Spanish radio station last Saturday (14th October). The DJ, Jordi Tardà from Radio Nacional de Cataluña previewed Swimming Towards The Sun and Jeweller To The Stars.
The two new songs were eagerly snapped up by Spanish fans, eager for new material since Néapolis. Judging from these tracks, the new album has a hard rock feel with less emphasis on the complex rhythms and textures of Néapolis. It had been described as the 'missing-link' between Good News From The Next World and Néapolis by those record company staff lucky enough to hear it, and after hearing these tracks, it can be heard why.
Three songs were played last Saturday on the same show. Jeweller To The Stars was aired a second time, along with the other contenter for first single, the wonderful Space, and the fifth track from the ten-track album End Of The World.
The show Tarda Tardá was broadcast over the Internet ( www.catradio.es/cr/tarda/) and these three songs have been uploaded as MP3 files. Sound quality isn't perfect, but no-one's complaining. The mailing list has exploded with opinions, with almost everyone excited about the fresh new sound. You can find discussion about the news songs on the mailing list:
Swimming Towards The Sun has escaped being uploaded, but if you ask on the list, you'll be given the URLs of Jeweller To The Stars, Space and End Of The World.
The dream is over,
The party's over,
I'm still waiting.
Nothing's falling.No confusion.
No suspicion.
If you're talking,
I will listen.
Space, Our Secrets Are The Same, Simple Minds
7th October
Blow-UpYes! Blow-Up, the absolutely live Italian Simple Minds tribute band, will play a 1 hour 45 minute set including songs as "Changeling", "Saturday Girl, "Theme For Great Cities", "Up On The Catwalk", "New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)", "Book Of Brilliant Things", "I Wish You Were Here" and many many others!
All the Simple Minds fans from all over the globe are formally invited. My band is working so hard for this gig, and all our efforts could be well rewarded only if we play to a real Simple Minds' addicted audience.
There are at least two good reason for attending Blow-Up's gig :
For more info: Lachi's site
- It's a good chance to visit the wonderful Florence with its artistic beauties, and Rome is only 2 hours distant.
- BLOW UP will give their hearts and souls on stage, that's for sure!!!
Never loose your faith in Simple Minds' music, and keep the pressure on!
"Mimmo - Blow-Up
6th October
Dotmusic Awards, Time-Warner/EMI Merger Falls ThroughVote for Dream Giver! It's voting time again for the Dotmusic Awards.
Last year, Dream Giver was placed at 114 - this was after 948 sites were registered and 30,000 votes were cast. (See the news of 25th April 1999). It would be great to be in the top 100 this year and every vote counts, so please click on the icon above and show your support for Simple Minds and this website. Thank you!
The merger between Time-Warner and EMI Records has fallen through after concerns from Europe:"EMI Group and Time Warner Inc. called off a proposed joint venture Thursday after European regulators opposed the deal, which would have created a massive music company, but EMI is expected to try again to forge a new agreement that would gain approval from regulators."
The European Regulators would have passed the deal if Virgin Records was excluded from the EMI Group. Obviously Time-Warner couldn't face losing the Spice Girls so that was the end of that....
Would this help the release of the new album? No - as EMI are expected to try to merge again. If anything, this has made the future of EMI even more unpredictable.
5th October
New Web Site, Bootlegs, Le Menti, Auction, Rare Recording, Band For The TribesWhat? No new website?
The new Dream Giver site was to eclipse this site in September, timed for release just before the new single and album.
However, it still needs some work. And I could've killed myself trying to get it finished, but there's no sign of the new single and album either. So, I've decided to delay it's launch: it will appear just before the new single and album does.
My apologies to everyone who was waiting for the new site.
As a consolation, here's a preview of one of the many exclusives: Mission In Motion - Inside Simple Minds.
The illustration on the right is the first time that Adam Sweeting's book, Mission In Motion has ever been seen. This proof sleeve indicates that Sweeting's 1984 biography was probably finished: Malcolm Garrett's unique artwork was done, it had been allocated an ISBN, and it was probably ready to go.
But Alfred Bos was quickly chosen as the official biographer, and his book (the quirky and now elusive The Race Is The Prize) appeared in 1984 instead. Sweeting postponed his book, holding on to it and updating it for publication in 1987, after the release of Live In The City Of Light (its title was now just Simple Minds.)
There will be more about this proof sleeve in Who's Doing The Dreaming Now #10 and on the new site.
As the new site won't be appearing this side of Christmas, I've decided to finish the bootleg discography on this site. So, I've uploaded the details of one of the 'missing' CD bootlegs: Sanctify. This bootleg is the more common form of the Live USA varient and includes a selection of tracks from the first Mandela Day show and a couple of tracks from their January 1985 performance at the Glasgow Barrowlands.
After almost two years, during which editor Cristina Canciani penned the mighty Una Vita (see the news of 25th April 2000), Le Menti returns with issue six.
This catch-up issue brings the news up-to-date, includes a review of Mick MacNeil's People, Places And Things album, an interview with the man in the sky, the history of the Italian tribute band Blow Up and reviews of Forbes, Gaynor And Friends Italian concert.
It's still a hefty publication, published in English and Italian, and features a new cleaner design. Highly recommended.
Subscription information can be found on Lementi's fanzine page.
A Simple Minds auction is planned for November. This is an incredibly rare chance to pick up some top Simple Minds collectables.
For example, there's some stock items, but they are mint. Absolutely, never played, pristine sleeve, mint. The 7" records on offer stretch through the band's career up to the early nineties.
Unique autographed items, rare promotional videos, ultra rare posters (some dating from late 1979!) and four gold disc awards are up for grabs. (If my memory is correct, there's one silver, two gold and one platinum but I'll have to check on that.)
A full list will appear here in a couple of weeks. The auction will be postal and by telephone. Details will be available from this web site and Record Collector.
(The illustration right shows the gold disc auctioned at the Simple Minds Convention of 1999. The discs for auction in November will be similar - I'll get some shots soon.)
In 1996, Alan Stivell was the subject of a documentary which traced the roots of Celtic music. During his travels around the fringe countries of Europe, he visited Jim and Charlie at Bonnie Wee Studios. 
Part of the video includes studio footage of Jim (vocals), Charlie (acoustic guitar) and Alan (harp) jamming Tim Buckley's Song To The Siren (also known incorrectly as the Here I Am song.) It's not the first time that Simple Minds attempted this classic: a copy exists somewhere of another version, recorded in the late eighties by Jim, Charlie, Mick, Lisa Germano and Garth Hudson.
(See Who's Doing The Dreaming Now #4 for screen grabs, transcription and more information about this video.)
An audio copy of the song is now available on the Internet. You can download it at http://www.ida.net/users/sminds/HereIAm.mp3. It's 1.5 MB in size and lasts for a round one and a half minutes.
If you're interested in hearing other rare recordings by the band, a new mailing list has been set up to announce and discuss these songs. To subscribe, send a blank message to songsforthetribes-subscribe@egroups.com (This is run by Mike Simpson and is part of his Song For The Tribes site.)
"This week [early September - Simon] has seen Dave and Stephen in the Rochdale Recording Studio, and I was fortunate enough to meet up with the guys last night. As well, as practicing over 20 songs , the guys got the opportunity to chat to a few of you in Mick's Chat Room, and I was a little worried that it was going to prove difficult to persuade Stephen to drop the mouse and pick up the microphone at one point! However, if you ever want to dangle a carrot in front of these guys, a can of lager will do the job. For over 2 hours, the guys blasted Simple Minds covers dating back to over 20 years ago."
"Like many, I was encouraged by the groups performance in London. However, there's a different meaning to them nowadays, and if you get the chance to see them, I am sure you will agree. Stephen's vocals are more defined, and his real personality comes out in the demos. I was lucky enough to work with Dave Kelly prior to the London gig, and I was interested in his progress to date. He blew my mind last night. Thorsten was absent last night, understandably due to living in Germany - however, from speaking to the rest of the band last night - they are so much looking forward to working with him again - the confidence and enthusiasm for playing live gigs is currently huge within the band and its a dream come true for everyone involved."
"For those of you wanting to view the official BFTT Wap Site, you can go to wappy.to/bftt (WAP devices only). The design for the official web site has already started and will be complete later in the Autumn."
"For some of you thinking of travelling to Dortmund for the gig in December, you may be worried about the cost of it all. Pretty soon, we will have prices for a hotel very close to the venue, and we will be posting out ticket information ASAP. We are aiming to get bulk discount for Hotel accommodation costs soon. Tickets for the venue are likely to be about £5. Hamm, I a reliably informed, is a lovely town and at its best in the weeks before Christmas."
"Also, for those put-off by the cost of flying to Germany from the UK, why not visit www.buzzaway.com for very cheap flights to Dusseldorf. (the closest airport to the gig) Flights are from London. Other flight information will be posted soon."
"If you are serious about going the gig (regardless of what country you are coming from) can you send me a quick email, so I can start to plan for tickets, etc."
Those who don't have WAP enabled devices can view the WAP site using a standard browser at http://wapsilon.com/?t=t;f=1::http://wappy.to/bftt/#index.
For those of you prepared to make a provisional booking, we have been able to get discount prices for the following hotel. Its very close to the venue where we are going to hang out for a few days. Its also in the Town Centre.
City Hotel
Schillerstraße 68-72
59065 Hamm
Tele.: Germany (0044)/2381/9206600A double-bed-room costs 119 DM (about 40 pounds for two people, breakfirst included). A single costs 80DM (about 26 pounds, breakfirst included). The Hotel has got 26 rooms, all are available at the moment for that particular weekend. However, its likely to get booked up pretty quickly so can I ask that anyone wanting accomodation emails me to reserve a room, BEFORE October 9th. The tickets will be 12 DM (about 4 pounds). They will be available on the night at the door. We will reserve a ticket for all those people who request it by emal to me.
Here is a bit of information about Hamm. Its twinned to Bradford (I guess somewhere has to be) , and has got 180.000 citizens. Closest Airport is Dortmund, but the cheap flights all go to Düsseldorf. Go to http://www.buzzaway.com before September 18th to book a cheap return flight from London for the gig. Special offer now on , will cost you around £80 return, inclusive. It will take about 1 hour 15 minutes to go from there to Hamm. You could make a nice weekend out of it. At that time of the year there are a lot of traditional christmas-markets everywhere. There might be good concerts in the area as well, we could find out for you. Cologne as the biggest capital locally and is only 1 1/2 hour drive by train or car away. Dortmund which is a big city as well, is only 20 minutes away. You could even go to Amsterdam in 2 1/2 hours or to Enschede (nice town in Holland) in 1 1/2 hours.
If anyone needs any futher help, please email me.
