News Archive -- Jul 1997-Oct 1997
Cover of Duchess Released
 "My Life Story" is an eleven piece British band with an "orchestral"
sound. On July 28th, they released a cover-version of "Duchess" as a
single in the UK. This cover was originally recorded for "Come Again",
a compilation album celebrating EMI's centenary and featuring current EMI
artists covering some of EMI's back-catalogue.
New EMI Release
The latest Stranglers release from EMI is "The Collection". This is
not the 1982 compilation, but a new collection of archive material, through
EMI Gold.
The track-listing is:
Walk on By; Go Buddy Go; Top Secret; Old Codger; Man in White;
Rok it to the Moon; Love 30; Shut UP; Vietnamerica; Mean to Me;
Cruel Garden; Yellowcake UF6; 5 Minutes; Sverige; N'Emmes Pas Harry;
Fools Rush Out; (Get a) Grip (on Yourself); Straighten Out.
Hugh Releases New Album
"Guilty", Hugh Cornwell's long-awaited new album was released in the UK
recently on the "Snapper" label (through EMI).
The track-listing is:
One Burning Desire; Snapper; Nerves of Steel; Black Hair Black Eyes
Black Suit; Hot Head; Endless Day Endless Night; Five Miles High;
Sravandrabellagola; Long Dead Train; Torture Garden; House of Sorrow.
May/June '97 Band Activity
(With Thanks to John Ellis)
At the end of May, the band went to Bosnia, to play for the troops
stationed there. Shortly thereafter (May 23rd), they headlined a 'punk
night' at the Gorbunov Palace, in Moscow. The following day saw them in
Dublin for Midnight at the Olympia.
The much anticipated 21st anniversary gig with "Electra Strings", an 18 piece string
orchestra took place on Friday, 13th June at the Royal Albert Hall in
London. From all accounts, this concert was a spectacular affair. The
tracks played were as follows (with thanks to Neal Miller):
Waltzinblack (Strings only--not pre-recorded); Valley of the Birds;
Skin Deep; Always the Sun; Face; Heaven or Hell; Midnight Summer's Dream;
Daddy's Riding the Range; Strange Little Girl; Still Life; Let Me Down
Easy; Golden Brown; Sinister; Lies and Deception; European Female
(JJ vocals); Ice Queen; Thrown Away; All Day and All of the Night;
Duchess; Down in the Sewer. Encores: 5 Minutes; 96 Tears; No More Heroes;
Summer in the City.
SIS UK Experiencing Operational Difficulties
Marian Shepherd of SIS UK has asked that I post the following with regards
to the difficulties that they are currently facing. This text is being
sent as a letter to anyone with an outstanding mail-enquiry at SIS UK.
"Many apologies if any of you have been waiting a while for a reply.
I'm truly sorry to have to tell you that circumstances beyond our control,
and which SIS has been fighting against for a long time, have forced us to
cease our business activity at the present time. As explained in a letter
to everyone some time ago, we have had to rely solely on income from
merchandise sales and subscriptions to keep the company running, and
after a long struggle, as things stand at the present time, we simply
do not have the funds to survive. SIS means a lot to everyone who has
been involved with things at this end and, I know, to all of you, and this
is a situation that I will move heaven and earth to rectify if at all
possible, but in the meantime I will continue to add news regarding the
band and the situation regarding SIS to the phone line as and when it
comes in. Thank you for your support, and I hope to have some better
news for you soon.
Very best regards,
Marian Shepherd
S.I.S."
With regards to this situation, SIS OnLine (the Rat's Lair) would like to
state the following:
At this time, we cannot add any further information to Marian's
statement without proper authorization. Please do not send email requests for
updates -- we will announce developments on this page, as we receive word
from the appropriate source.
Secondly, although sanctioned by SIS UK, we are a separate entity.
As such, SIS OnLine and the Rat's Lair will continue to function, and be
regularly updated, as before.
We wish Marian and all the folks involved with SIS UK all the best at
this difficult time.
The Men in Black on Film
"Men In Black", the "sci-fi comic
adventure" starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith opened across North
America on July 2nd. This film is apparently based on the cult comic book series of
the same name (produced by Malibu comics).
No More Heroes
"No More Heroes" is a Stranglers tribute band based in Nottingham, UK.
The line-up consists of Rob Holmes (on bass and vocals), Sprock on
keyboards, Dave on Guitar and Ash Reynolds on Drums."
No More Heroes have the following up-coming gig:
Sat 21st June: Chequers, High Street, Hucknall, Nottingham. Free
admission.
Written in Red
 The Stranglers' 13th
studio album, "Written in Red" was released in the UK on January 27th.
As with the UK version of "About Time", this release is on the
When! label (Catalogue # WHEN009), through Castle Communications.
The track-listing for "Written in Red" is:
Valley of the Birds; In Heaven She Walks; In a While; Silver Into
Blue (originally titled "Mirror" -- see convention news below); Blue Sky;
Here; Joy de Viva; Miss You; Daddy's Riding the Range; Summer in the City;
Wonderful Land.
The media launch-party for "Written in Red" occurred on Friday 13th
December at EuroDisney, Paris. This event included a live performance
of the new material, plus "Always the Sun", "Golden Brown" and "Let Me
Introduce You to the Family".
To promote the new album, the band performed at the HMV branches
in Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield and Leeds during the week of
Jan 27th.
"In Heaven She Walks" is the first single to be taken from the album;
the release date for this single was brought
forward to February 3rd. The single is in two parts -- the first
CD features a sleeve similar to the "Written in Red" cover, with a
track listing of: "In Heaven She Walks", a live version of "Golden Brown"
from 1995 and an extended version of "In Heaven She Walks". The second
CD sleeve features a still from the video; tracks are "In
Heaven She Walks", and live versions of "Grip" and "Something Better
Change" (also from 1995).
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