Alan Fletcher - Neighbours Dr Karl Kennedy brings his warmth to the UK - AND a Christmas single!

Working with two stations allows me to wear a few different hats.
Whilst my  Classic Rock Radio rock hat is firmly fixed in place over
 the blonde mane, I do enjoy interviewing and getting to know a number of people from all sides of the 'entertainment biz'

I've met and interviewed 'Neighbours' actor Alan Fletcher (or Fletch as he
 likes to be called) a number of times, and even gone to watch some
 shows with him,  a very pleasant time indeed.

I recently spoke with him again for Radio Deeside  which aired on
 Sunday December 7. I'll be popping a transcript of that interview up on the blog at some point soon.

We spoke about his 20 years in Neighbours, his forthcoming panto role as the Sheriff Of Nottingham
in Dunstable  ( it runs from December 12 - January 4 ) and his
brilliant Christmas single 'If You Want A Happy Christmas'

I have no shame in admitting I love the song to bits, and it always makes me smile.

You can send a Christmas Card from Alan Fletcher (Dr Karl) to a friend or family member. The Perfect gift for any Neighbour’s fan and it Includes Alan’s  Christmas single (with the gorgeous Pacific Belles ) '' If You Want a Happy Christmas” 

It makes a perfect pressie and Fletch  is busy getting RSI as he is signing so many cards!  Pop along here to see how you can get it! There is a discount for those who subscribe to Fletch's site/ muisc blog . That will also bring you some surprise treats too.  Peek here and subscribe (it is FREE to subscribe)

You can also connect with him on Facebook here and here on Twitter

January sees Alan off to Iceland (the country not the supermarket! ) to play a gig on the 9th!  Who wants an excuse to go visit Iceland and see  the good 'doc' too ?  You have it now!

Marilyn Michaels
You will also find me on Twitter  & Facebook . All the links in this post are in red. Just click!

Marillion - Christmas Shows - still some dates left!

Marillion ; purveyors of soulful, powerful,  and often deeply-moving music,  with a long-standing reputation for blistering live  shows which have earned them an impressive  and faithful global fanbase. MARILLION have: Sold 15 million albums Released 17 studio albums Had 8 UK Top 10 albums Played gigs to over 3 million people Released 23 UK singles During the period the band were fronted by Fish  (1981 -88) they scored eleven Top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart, including 1985's "Kayleigh", which reached No. 2 and became their biggest hit single. The first album released with Hogarth, 1989's Seasons End, was another Top Ten hit, and albums continued to chart well until their departure from EMI following the release of their 1996 live album Made Again  Steve "h" Hogarth fronts the band (since 1988) and brought a new heart and energy to the band when since becoming lead-vocal/lyricist. Predictions of doom were swiftly dispelled, as across a further 13 albums, Hogarth – along with existing members Steve Rothery (guitar), Mark Kelly (keyboards), Pete Trewavas (bass), and Ian Mosley (drums) – reinvigorated and constantly redefined Marillion’s sound. They forged into new musical territories with a succession of inventive, emotional albums, displaying little regard to the vagaries of the musical "Fashion Police", or radio playlists. The line-up remains unchanged to this day.

After the release of 1999’s ‘marillion.com’ the band banished the spectre of record company pressure once and for all by launching their own record label (the aptly-named Intact imprint) and freeing themselves up to produce some of the finest music of their career. Thanks to their much lauded (and much copied) pioneering Internet-based rock n'roll business model, Marillion have developed a unique and intimate relationship with their fans. From sponsoring entire tours of the USA to funding the recording of recent albums, Marillion’s global fan-base is unique in its affection and dedication.  In fact Marillion are credited with inventing Crowdfunding. The history of the band's use of the Internet is described by Michael Lewis in the book Next: The Future Just Happened as an example of how the Internet is shifting power away from established elites, such as multinational record labels and record producers.  As a result, such passionate, wholesale support has allowed Marillion to step outside of the conventional music industry and find their own path.

In 2001 ‘Anoraknophobia’ saw Marillion take the groundbreaking step of asking fans to pre-order an album 12 months before release. An amazing 12,000 people signed up, helping to finance the recording. The band once again took pre-orders for the 2004 masterpiece ‘Marbles,’ but this time the money was channelled into a campaign fund to promote its launch. When singles ‘Don’t Hurt Yourself’ and ‘You’re Gone‘ breached the UK top 20 – the latter making it all the way to number 7 – jaws dropped right across the music world. Not bad going for a band without major label backing. But it was merely the latest twist in the history of a group who have held on to the conviction that what they’re doing MEANS something more than entertainment or selling records.

The band has evolved into a vibrant musical force – to those who already love Marillion, they’re something special; to everyone else they’re a love affair waiting to happen.

In 2012, the band released  their 17th studio album  SOUNDS THAT CAN’T BE MADE and performed a string of gigs in North and South America and all over Europe.  In 2014 Marillion toured Latin America and returned to the studio to begin writing their 18th studio album.      still some Marillion December 2014 UK Dates you can catch! Monday 8 December 2014 GLASGOW - O2 ABC Tickets: www.o2abcglasgow.co.uk SUPPORT: Luke Jackson Wednesday 10 December 2014 MANCHESTER - HMV Ritz Tickets: www.ticketline.co.uk SUPPORT: Luke Jackson Thursday 11 December 2014 LONDON - The Forum Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk SUPPORT: Luke Jackson At the London show, Marillion will be joining forces with Live Here Now to produce a CD of the concert that will be on sale straight after the show. With the shows being so close to Christmas, expect snow, Father Christmas and a great night of Marillion classics and more.

  

For more information on MARILLION, check out the following website / social media links:

Website - http://www.marillion.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MarillionOfficial

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MarillionOnline

Find Marilyn-Michaels on Twitter @RadioGirlProds

 and on Facebook here MarilynMichaelsRadioGirlProductions

Echo & The Bunnymen - tour dates and new album 'Meteorites'

ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN

***2014 AND 2015 UK TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED***

***METEORITES THE NEW ALBUM OUT NOW***

Echo & The Bunnymen have announced new tour dates which will see them tour across the UK this winter before returning to Liverpool for a hometown show in February 2015. 

June 3rd 2014, saw Echo & The Bunnymen release their twelfth studio album;Meteorites, their first studio record in five years to worldwide critical acclaim, - 'Uncut Magazine' calling it "Starry-Eyed Anthemic Rock" & The Quietus -  "Classic Bunnymen Pop".

Meteorites contains ten new songs written by frontman Ian McCulloch and performed with fellow original band-member Will Sergeant on guitar and was produced by Youth, who has in the past produced The Verve, Shack & The Orb.

Formed in Liverpool in 1978, Echo & The Bunnymen have been responsible for some of the most celebrated singles in all music history – Rescue, The Killing Moon, Lips Like Sugar, The Cutter, The Back of Love & Nothing Lasts Forever to name but a few  – The Bunnymen have recorded many classic albums in their long illustrious career, albums like their debut Crocodiles in 1980, the majestic Heaven Up Here in '81, Porcupine (produced by Ian Broudie) in 1983, the orchestral-rock masterpiece 'Ocean Rain' in 1984, their classic comeback album 'Evergreen' in 1997 & the haunting 'What Are You Going To Do With Your Life' ? in 1999.

Echo & the Bunnymen have just returned from a sell-out North American tour & performed "Holy Moses" on 'The Late Show With David Letterman', the band’s loyal and ever growing following is showing no signs of abating. The album ‘Meteorites’ is a key addition to their repertoire and sees them continue to be one of the most seminal British rock acts in modern history.

The tour started in November but the rest of the dates are: 

09/12/14       Holmfirth Picturedome 

10/12/14       Holmfirth Picturedrome – SOLD OUT

11/12/14       Newcastle O2 Academy 

12/12/14       Birmingham - Institute 

20/02/15       Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

 Tickets for their UK dates are available from http://gigst.rs/EATB / Box Office No: 0844 811 0051.

 Tickets for their HOLMFIRTH – Picturedrome show taking place on Tuesday 9^th December are available from: Box Office No: 0844 811 0051 or from The Picturedrome - www.picturedrome.net

(Doors 7.30pm

Tickets £26.50 adv)

Find the band on Twitter here  . Click here to go to their  website

Marilyn Michaels - Find me on Twitter at @RadioGirlProds  and via Faebook here