Warm Leatherette Blue Jeans
After listening to Ladytron's "Blue Jeans" in both audio and video this evening, I started surfing and ran across this list of Ladytron influences (as judged by mp3.com). Impressive list:
Composer Wendy Carlos spurred electronic music to new commercial heights during the late '60s, popularizing the synthesizer with the enormously successful Switched-On Bach album....
Synth pop's first international superstars, the Human League were among the earliest and most innovative bands to break into the pop mainstream on a wave of synthesizers and electronic rhythms, their marriage of infectious melodies and state-of-the-art technology proving enormously influential on countless acts following in their wake....
During the mid-'70s, Germany's Kraftwerk established the sonic blueprint followed by an extraordinary number of artists in the decades to come....
One of the most fascinating figures of rock's fringes, Nico hobnobbed, worked, and was romantically linked with an incredible assortment of the most legendary entertainers of the '60s. The paradox of her career was that she herself never attained the fame of her peers....
One of the founding fathers of synth pop, Gary Numan's influence extends far beyond his lone American hit, "Cars," which still stands as one of the defining new wave singles. That seminal track helped usher in the synth pop era on both sides of the Atlantic, especially his native U.K., where he was a genuine pop star and consistent hitmaker....
A short-lived outfit whose existence is conveniently documented by a lone 1978 single, the Normal was an alias for Daniel Miller, owner of Mute Records. Through the likes of Cabaret Voltaire, Fad Gadget, and Depeche Mode, Miller's label was responsible for opening thousands of minds to the possibilites of electronic music....
Speaking of Miller's label, turns out that they have a new artist. Actually, an old artist. Meet...
The Residents are now entering its fourth decade as faceless anti-stars, existing in the dim outskirts of mainstream awareness. During that entire time, they've consciously kept their origins and personal lives shrouded in mystery. The creation of this obviously contrived "mystery" was one of the first decisions they reached after realising that they had become a group - something they define as an organism with a mind, will and direction of its own. The essence of this decision was to aggressively create a separation between their personal and professional lives. Anonymity was, and is, their only rule. They live by it to this day.
I had to leave the Mute US site and go to the Mute UK site to get this tidbit:
Depeche Mode World Tour Announced
Depeche Mode announce their highly anticipated 2005-2006 World Tour today - their first in four years. The band will be showcasing tracks from their eagerly awaited new album, which was produced by Ben Hiller.
One of the biggest bands in the world today, renowned for their groundbreaking live shows, this new Depeche Mode tour will undoubtedly be one of the musical highlights of next year.
Prior to the UK dates announced today, Depeche Mode will undertake a six week, 21-date American tour this autumn before heading to Europe in 2006.
Their 39 European dates span a host of countries including Germany, England, Switzerland, Poland, France and Italy. The tour begins in Dresden, Germany on 13th Jan 2006 and ends in London’s Wembley Arena on April 3rd.
Extra European dates will also be announced later this summer.
UK Tickets are priced at £27.50 and £30 (London). Ticket prices are subject to booking fees and go on sale June 24th. The full UK dates are:
March
30th – MEN Arena, Manchester, Tel: 0870 400 0688
31st – Birmingham NEC, Tel: 0870 400 0688
April
3rd Wembley Arena, London, Tel: 0870 400 0688
Depeche Mode last toured in 2001 with ‘Exciter’. The band played an incredible 85 shows to nearly two million people.
www.depechemode.com
European Dates
January
13th – Messenhalle, Dresden, Germany
15th – Color Line Arena, Hamburg, Germany
18th – Velodrom, Berlin, Germany
20th – LTU Arena, Dusseldorf, Germany
23rd – Sazka Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
24th – Messenhalle, Erfurt, Germany
26th – Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany
29th – Sports Paleis, Antwerp, Belgium
31st – Arena, Geneva, Switzerland
February
1st – Le Dome, Marseille, France
3rd – Zenith, Toulouse, France
4th – Tony Garnier, Lyon, France
6th – Palacio Deportes, Madrid, Spain
8th – Pavilhao Atlantico, Lisbon, Portugal
10th – Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain
14th – Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
16th – Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
18th – Forum, Milan, Italy
21st – Bercy, Paris, France
25th – Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
March
3rd – SKK, St. Petersburg, Russia
4th – Luzhniki, Moscow, Russia
9th – Schleyerhalle, Stuttgart, Germany
10th – Messenhalle, Friedrichshafen, Germany
11th – SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
13th – Messenhalle, Graz, Austria
14th – Spodek, Katowice, Poland
16th – Saku Arena, Tallinn, Estonia
17th – New Arena, Riga, Latvia
18th – Siemens Arena, Vilinus, Lithuania
21st – Arena, Budapest, Hungary
22nd – Hala Tivoli, Ljubljana, Slovenia
24th – Galaxie, Amneville, France
25th – Gayant Expo, Douai, France
26th – Ahoy, Rotterdam, Holland
28th – Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
30th – MEN Arena, Manchester, UK
31st – Birmingham NEC, UK
April
3rd – Wembley Arena, London, UK
Anyway, back to "Blue Jeans." As my buddy Martin used to say, what does this mean?
...You've been trying to protect me,
An insect living in your memory,
Don't, blue jeans won't cut at the seams,
Like you want them to....
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