Ranking Roger, R.I.P.

More gutting news: Ranking Roger (aka Robert Charlery) has died. Last August he was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer and had undergone surgery to remove a brain tumor. Roger revealed his diagnosis to fans in January prior to the release of The Beat's excellent new album Public Confidential. In the candid video interview Ranking Roger remained optimistic that he'd fight it and be back on stage soon. Alas, the legend peacefully died today surrounded by family. He was 56 years old.

During his final months Ranking Roger wrote his autobiography I Just Can't Stop It - My Life In The Beat. The book will be published later this year by Omnibus Press (release date TBA).

RIP @RankingRoger who sadly past away peacefully at home with family by his side early today. Roger was a fighter. ❤️💔 pic.twitter.com/lIOh2XwFwx

— The Beat (@TheBeat) March 26, 2019

Published March 26th, 2019

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Classic Alternative - Episode #98: Demons

Classic Alternative - Episode #98: Demons

Includes music from Roxy Music, XTC, Belly, The Telescopes, Depeche Mode, Lords Of The New Church, Pixies, Primal Scream, Buzzcocks, The Smiths, and more.

Stream below or here and catch up with the archive of previous episodes here or here.


Music stories from the week

Peter Hook talks Movement in third episode of New Order's Transmissions
Primal Scream announce career-spanning singles collection Maximum Rock 'n' Roll
Steve Diggle talks Pete Shelley and Buzzcocks in new video interview
Gary Numan launches campaign for new LP; offers rarities from his vaults
Robert Smith confirms new LP; talks live shows, and his evolving "look"
Squeeze announce U.S. leg of Difford & Tilbrook Songbook 2019 tour
Adam Ant brings 'Friend Or Foe' tour to U.S.; plays Detroit
Morrissey debuts "Morning Starship" cover
The The launch line of 40th anniversary shirts; premiere Soul Mining tees
Andrew Golding of The Wolfhounds launches new project Dragon Welding

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Primal Scream announce career-spanning singles collection 'Maximum Rock 'n' Roll'

Primal Scream will release a career-spanning greatest hits collection on May 24th. The collection will be released on CD and vinyl -- the CD version comes as a double disc set with ALL the singles; the vinyl edition is spread across TWO different volumes -- Maximum Rock 'n' Roll: The Singles Volume 1, a 2LP set which covers the singles from 1986 through 2000 and Maximum Rock 'n' Roll: The Singles Volume 2, a 2LP set with material from 2000 through 2016. A bundle which includes the 2CD and both of the vinyl editions is also available. Head here to view all the pre-order options.

CD 1

01. Velocity Girl
02. Gentle Tuesday
03. Imperial
04. Ivy Ivy Ivy
05. Loaded
06. Come Together
07. Higher Than The Sun
08. Don't Fight It, Feel It
09. Movin' On Up
10. Rocks
11. Jailbird
12. (I'm Gonna) Cry Myself Blind
13. Kowalski
14. Star
15. Burning Wheel
16. Swastika Eyes
17. Kill All Hippies

CD 2

01. Accelerator
02. Miss Lucifer
03. Autobahn 66
04. Some Velvet Morning
05. Country Girl
06. Dolls (Sweet Rock and Roll)
07. Sometimes I Feel So Lonely
08. Can't Go Back
09. Uptown (Weatherall mix)
10. 2013
11. It's Alright, It's OK
12. Goodbye Johnny
13. Where The Light Gets In
14. 100% Or Nothing


Maximum Rock 'n' Roll: The Singles Volume 1

Side A

Velocity Girl
Gentle Tuesday
Imperial
Ivy Ivy Ivy
Loaded

Side B

Come Together
Higher Than the Sun
Don't Fight It, Feel It
Movin' on Up

Side C

Rocks
Jailbird
(I'm Gonna) Cry Myself Blind
Kowalski

Side D

Star
Burning Wheel
Swastika Eyes
Kill All Hippies

Maximum Rock 'n' Roll: The Singles Volume 2

Side A

Accelerator
Miss Lucifer
Autobahn 66
Some Velvet Morning

Side B

Country Girl
Dolls (Sweet Rock and Roll)
Sometimes I Feel So Lonely

Side C

Can't Go Back
Uptown (Weatherall mix )
2013
It's Alright, It's OK

Side D

Goodbye Johnny
Where the Light Gets In
100% or Nothing

Published March 24th, 2019

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Steve Diggle talks Pete Shelley, Buzzcocks and more in new video interview

Buzzcocks will perform in London on June 21st to pay tribute to Pete Shelley. A Celebration Of The Life Of Pete Shelley will feature current and original/ex-members of Buzzcocks along with guest vocalists which will be announced in the coming weeks. The event takes place at Royal Albert Hall and will include support from Skids and Penetration.

Meanwhile, Steve Diggle from Buzzcocks discusses Pete Shelley, Buzzcocks, and his life as a musician in a new interview with John Robb of Louder Than War. The almost hour-long video interview is Diggle's first major interview since Shelley's death in December. Diggle called Shelley's tragic death a "massive loss" and said though he and his fallen bandmate were "polar opposites" they complemented each other and were "different sides of the same character."

Head here to stream the full fascinating interview with Diggle.

Published March 24th, 2019

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Gary Numan launches campaign for new LP

Today Gary Numan has officially launched a campaign through Making Music for his forthcoming new album.

Numan revealed that he purposely avoided writing anything for this new record until today's launch of the campaign because he wants fans to witness the entire process. Much like his previous campaign for Savage, fans will see songs/lyrics/arrangements form and morph from ideas and concepts to the final result.

"Making an album is challenging on many levels. As I’ve said many times before, starting a new album project is very much like standing at the foot of a mountain, looking up and realizing that you have a long and difficult climb ahead. At times it will go well, at other times it will be incredibly difficult and stressful, and it’s always daunting. Confidence will be high one day, and destroyed the next. Frustrations will set in, tempers will flare and at times it will seem impossible, hopeless. Truly euphoric moments of triumph will be few but, hopefully, they will happen from time to time. You will witness songs develop from the very first note, through the many ups and downs of its tortuous path to the finished, produced, mastered piece of music that we will go on to play at shows all over the world."

The album is expected to be completed and released in 2020 (release date TBA). In the meantime fans can sit back and enjoy the ride.

As part of the campaign, Numan has offered up many rare items from his vaults including equipment like processers and dat machines; lyric sheets, printed music booklets, legacy tour books, test pressings (including pressings for Telekon, I, Assassin, and Music For Chameleons) along with other exclusive items. Head here to view Numan's full statement and pre-order options.

Published March 22nd, 2019

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Peter Hook talks 'Movement' in third episode of New Order's 'Transmissions'

Today New Order debuted the third segment in their Transmissions docu-series. The latest episode is a candid interview with Peter Hook who recalls New Order's early days and the recording of Movement. Hooky considers Movement as an escape from dealing with Ian Curtis' death and said manager Rob Gretton was instrumental in keeping them going by lining up gigs for them.

Watch the interview with the always intriguing Peter Hook below and catch up with the previous episodes here.



Transmissions leads up to and celebrates the release of the Movement Definitive Edition box set. The four piece set (1LP/2CD/1DVD) arrives April 5th and contains a copy of Movement on vinyl, a copy of Movement on CD, a bonus CD with previously unreleased tracks (Western Works and Cargo demos, rehearsal versions and more), a DVD collecting live concert recordings from 1980/81 along with their Granada TV and BBC appearances, plus a hard back book. Pre-order here.

This month New Order issued remastered editions of four iconic Movement-era non-album singles. So far they've reissued both versions of "Ceremony," and "Everythings Gone Green" (with the correct tracklisting for "Mesh" and "Cries And Whispers!) This week they wrap up the reissue series with the remastered version of "Temptation." Head here to order.

Published March 21st, 2019

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