Wilko Johnson 'Blow Your Mind': First Album Of New Material In 30 Years

Wilko Johnson/Blow Your Mind

'I'm supposed to be dead!' Canvey Island's Dr Feelgood guitar legend Wilko Johnson was diagnosed in late 2012 with terminal pancreatic cancer. However, despite the doctors' worst predictions, he continued to perform with a new lust for life and even made the most successful album of his career 'Going Back Home' with the legendary Roger Daltrey.

Following that album's remarkable success he announced that thanks to a third opinion from a doctor moonlighting as a rock photographer and life-saving surgery, he was now cancer-free. With customary humour Wilko said of this late-career resurgence, "Man, there's nothing like being told you're dying to make you feel alive."

'Blow Your Mind' is Wilko's first album of new material in 30 years, and is the sound of a man feeling very much alive.

Joining Wilko on the album are his long-standing band; Norman Watt Roy on bass and Dylan Howe on drums along with producer Dave Eringa who worked with them on the gold-selling album 'Going Back Home' with Roger Daltrey. Describing the record as 'The album I never thought I'd get to write' it deals with the trials and tribulations that he faced in the last five years, songs such as Marijuana and Take It Easy deal very directly with the terminal diagnosis he was given.

Speaking about the first sets of lyrics that he'd written in three decades Wilko says, "It's tricky when you get to seventy years old, because what am I supposed to be singing? 'I love you, baby, but you done me wrong?' Come on! That's kind of a problem. But I never thought that I'd be the sort of person to write songs about different sorts of real-life experiences until I got sick."

Anyone expecting that Wilko's particular brand of R&B to be softened by such heartfelt lyrics is in for a surprise, if anything his guitar style of 'the chop' as he calls it, is even more aggressive. The introspection of some of the tracks on the album is more than balanced out by the good time upbeat party feel of the title track, Beauty and I Love The Way You Do that have the urgency of Wilko's earliest work with Dr Feelgood.

On going back into the studio after everything that he'd been through, Wilko has this to say about the 12 tracks that make up 'Blow Your Mind,' "I didn't really intend to ever use them and, obviously, I didn't know if I'd ever get back into the studio. One of those songs, that's a reflection of that time, about sitting around the house at night knowing that death's coming; we've recorded it, and it'll be on the album. It's actually quite a cheerful one, too!"

Producer Dave Eringa puts it succinctly, "I never expected to be making another Wilko Johnson album after 'Going Back Home' but what a pleasure & a privilege it was to be able to capture Wilko's first new songs for 30 years! He is one of music's true gentleman - literate, intelligent, and articulate but still rock'n'roll as f***!"

WILKO JOHNSON 'BLOW YOUR MIND'

CD, LP AND DIGITAL RELEASED 

ON CHESS RECORDS / UMe JUNE 15th

01. Beauty
02. Blow Your Mind
03. Marijuana
04. Tell Me One More Thing
05. That's The Way I Love You 
06. Low Down
07. Take It Easy
08. I Love The Way You Do
09. It Don't Have To Give You The Blues
10. Lament
11. Say Goodbye
12. Slamming

ABOUT WILKO JOHNSON:

Born on Canvey Island in 1947, Wilko studied English at Newcastle University before doing a bit of travelling and had aspirations to be a teacher before rock and roll came calling. Wilko was lured into music by his first Fender Telecaster, bought from a music store in Southend, Essex and soon became the strutting, grimacing, six-string rhythmic powerhouse behind Lee Brilleaux in Dr Feelgood. Throughout the mid-70s, Wilko duck-walked his way across countless stages and venues in the UK with Dr Feelgood in the vanguard of the pub rock movement, performing the gutsy down-to-earth rock and roll that was a welcome antidote to prog-rock. His influence was felt in bands up and down the country, and later in the emergent punk revolution (Joe Strummer of the Clash bought a Tele after seeing Wilko play). Dr Feelgood had four successful albums in Wilko's time, followed a busy creative period playing in an early incarnation of the Wilko Johnson Band, the Solid Senders, before he joined Ian Dury's band The Blockheads, in 1980.

All through the '80s, '90s and into the new millennium he continued to gig in the UK, Europe and Japan. But it was when Julien Temple's award winning Oil City Confidential came out in 2009, with Wilko emerging as the film's star, that the world once again sat up and paid attention to his extraordinary talent.

His career took another twist in 2010, when he was offered an acting part in the hit series Game of Thrones, playing the role of mute executioner Ilyn Payne. He appeared in 4 episodes shown in 2011 and 2012.

2014 saw the release of the hit album 'Going Back Home,' Wilko Johnson's collaboration with Roger Daltrey, which went to Number 3 in the UK album charts. The pair decided to work on the album together not just because they were both huge fans of Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, but because, as Wilko was still believed to be dying from cancer, it was believed that they'd 'better get on with it.'

In 2015, Wilko and Julien Temple teamed up again for the documentary 'The Ecstasy Of Wilko Johnson,' a film, which explored Wilko's diagnosis of terminal cancer, and the unexpected reprieve that followed. The film would become quite the hit, captivating audiences whether they saw it on the big screen or on BBC 4, and earning a 'Kermode' award in 2016.

Wilko's new memoir, 'Don't You Leave Me Here' was published in Spring 2016 via Little, Brown.

ABOUT NORMAN WATT-ROY:

One of the most in demand bass players of his generation and was virtually the in house go to guy for the legendary Stiff Records playing on tracks by Nick Lowe Rachel Sweet and Jona Lewie as well being a founding member of Ian Dury and The Blockheads and his sessions for the likes of The Clash and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Madness, Nick Cave, Roger Daltrey and Viv Albertine.

ABOUT DYLAN HOWE:

Dylan has played with a great array of artists from Ian Dury and the Blockheads, to his dad Steve Howe as well as playing with Nick Cave, Damon Albarn, Ray Davies, Paul McCartney, David Gilmour, Beth Gibbons, Gabrielle, and Hugh Cornwell. In 2014 Dylan released his highly acclaimed new album: Subterranean - New Designs On Bowie's Berlin. A radical new take on the instrumental cuts from David Bowie's 1977 albums "Low" and "Heroes". Which received the official endorsement from David Bowie himself – stating, "That's a top-notch album you've got there. Really."

SOURCE: UMe

Madame Tussauds Orlando Announces New Justice League Experience

Madame Tussauds Orlando is issuing a challenge to the bravest of Justice League fans

Justice will be served this summer at Madame Tussauds Orlando. The world-famous attraction revealed plans to unite an all-star cast of DC Super Heroes in an epic new experience. For the first time ever, fans of DC's Justice League will come face-to-face with their favorite heroes in an action-packed adventure unlike any other.

Justice will be served this summer at Madame Tussauds Orlando. The world-famous attraction revealed plans to unite an all-star cast of DC Super Heroes in an epic, new experience.

From fear comes courage! Guests will get a chance to star alongside Justice League's Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill as Superman and Ben Affleck as Batman, as they fight to save the world from Lex Luthor's evil corporation, LexCorp.  

Developed in collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products on behalf of DC Entertainment, this first-of-its-kind attraction experience combines an all-star cast with blockbuster thrills, authentic replica props and costumes that bring each character to life like only Madame Tussauds can do.

"Fans have never come this close to the action," said James Paulding, General Manager. "Madame Tussauds Orlando, together with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, have created a Justice League experience you have to see to believe – from the unbeatable roster of DC Super Heroes to the sensational, hi-tech experiences."

Justice League: A Call for Heroes will also debut later this summer at Madame Tussauds Sydney, part of a greater transformation across Madame Tussauds attractions around the globe to deliver live fame experiences that make guests the star of their favorite stories.

Justice League: A Call for Heroes

Justice League: A Call for Heroes

HEROES UNITE! The battle begins when the Justice League lands at Madame Tussauds Orlando on May 25, 2018. Guests who answer the call will be transported to the streets of Gotham City and Metropolis, uniting with the Justice League Super Heroes in a series of thrilling missions to destroy LexCorp's hold on the world.

Wonder Woman guests will help to destroy LexCorp's formidable technology that has disabled the city. By harnessing their inner super power, guests will be able to emit a powerful blast from Wonder Woman's gauntlets to weaken LexCorp's control over the city.

Elsewhere in the city, Lex's experiment wreaks havoc, sending a helicopter and its occupants hurtling toward the ground. Guests will have to summon all their strength and join Superman to help lift a REAL helicopter back into the sky as onlookers cheer from the streets below.   

As the battle continues, one Super Hero will remain elusive. Guests must summon Batman with the Bat-Signal. Billowing smoke and wind reveal Batman as he's called into battle on the rooftop, ready to save the world.  

Justice will be served this summer at Madame Tussauds Orlando. The world-famous attraction revealed plans to unite an all-star cast of DC Super Heroes in an epic, new experience.

The Adventure Starts Now

Madame Tussauds Orlando is issuing a challenge to the bravest of Justice League fans – starting now! Mother Boxes, unique artifacts with immense powers, have surfaced in five cities across the globe. The Mother Boxes must be found and brought to Madame Tussauds Orlando in order to help destroy the energy-extracting forces that threaten Earth.

Brave challengers who find the Mother Boxes will be rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime VIP experience including a five-day, four-night trip for the winner and one guest to Orlando, plus two tickets to be among the first to help save the planet in Justice League: A Call for Heroes. Winners will also receive two tickets to MegaCon Orlando and SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium. 

To find the Mother Boxes, follow @tussaudsorlando and #FindTheMotherBoxes on Instagram.

Justice will be served this summer at Madame Tussauds Orlando. The world-famous attraction revealed plans to unite an all-star cast of DC Super Heroes in an epic, new experience.

About Justice League

Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Raymond Fisher, Jason Momoa and Ezra Miller star in the action adventure Justice League.

Fuelled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

Justice League was directed by Zack Snyder from a screenplay by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon, story by Terrio & Snyder. Based on characters from DC Entertainment; Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Jon Berg and Geoff Johns produced the film, with Jim Rowe, Wesley Coller, Curtis Kanemoto, Chris Terrio and Ben Affleck serving as executive producers.

SOURCE: Madame Tussauds Orlando

Renault Joins Forces with "Solo: A Star Wars Story" to Take Customers on the Alternative Road [Video Included]

Image from the Renault's "Star Wars" TV commercial [starring Chewbacca]

Are you ready to take the regular road with Renault?
Does Renault’s alternative road have you considering the regular road with Renault? From browsing articles about ‘How the 10 Worst Renault Trafic Sports Fails of All Time Could Have Been Prevented’ to checking out a lease on a new Renault KADJAR, if you’re inspired by Renault, it might be time to look into purchasing that new motor. You don’t have to invest in an entirely new vehicle either - you could consider lease or secondhand options to find a car you’d be happy to take on a new journey.

Renault is teaming up with "Solo: A Star Wars Story" to provide a thrilling experience for its customers ahead of the launch of the film, released in UK cinemas on 24 May 2018.

From April to July 2018, Renault is inviting everyone to 'take the alternative road' through a pan-European campaign - designed and produced in collaboration with Lucasfilm, Disney and Publicis Conseil. For the French car manufacturer, this is an unprecedented collaboration which will be live in 25 countries throughout Europe.

When Renault joins forces with "Solo: A Star Wars Story", it's natural to expect adventure. In the all-new movie featuring the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy, we'll find out how taking the alternative road led Han Solo to meet his mighty future co-pilot, Chewbacca. Now, thanks to the features of Renault KADJAR - 4x4 transmission, emergency breaking system and blind-spot alerts - Renault is offering its customers their chance to 'take an alternative road' too.

Image from the Renault's "Star Wars" TV commercial [starring Chewbacca]

Live out your "Solo: A Star Wars Story" dream with Renault 

From 9 April 2018, Renault is giving everyone the opportunity to be a part of Han and Lando's adventure in "Solo: A Star Wars Story" in selected dealerships*: Visitors will be invited to watch an exclusive scene from the upcoming film, seven weeks before its release. To add even more excitement, the preview is brought to life through virtual reality (VR) technology.

*Available at dealerships in the following countries: UK; Ireland; Netherlands; Portugal; Switzerland; Austria; Poland; Czech Republic; Sweden; Denmark; Belgium

Image from the Renault's "Star Wars" TV commercial [starring Chewbacca]

Are you ready to take the alternative road? 

Renault has also partnered with Shazam to provide those on their commute a chance to taste the Renault and "Solo: A Star Wars Story" experience - at their bus stop. Taking part is simple: participants just have to use their Shazam app to scan the Renault and "Solo: A Star Wars Story" out of home advertising - then the adventure begins.

This activation launches a video where the user can explore the Renault KADJAR, observing each aspect of the vehicle as if it was just in front of their eyes via augmented reality. Users then click through to learn more about the features of the vehicle.

The augmented reality experience is just one part of the fully integrated campaign, which also includes a TV spot that stars Chewbacca. Renault also worked with leading visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic, known for their work on the Star Wars films, to create the special effects in the TV spot.

In addition to the exclusive in-dealership and Shazam experiences, Renault is also running a national competition which will provide those who enter the chance to win a variety of goodies and "money can't buy" experiences. Consumers can enter the competition by visiting their nearest dealership.

Alongside the TV spot, press and out of home materials communicating to the general public, the majority of the assets developed will be published on digital platforms. The content has been developed with customer profiles at its heart, providing a tailored experience for each different audience.

Image from the Renault's "Star Wars" TV commercial [starring Chewbacca]

SOURCE:  Publicis Conseil and Renault

The Video:

Film Pioneer Georges Méliès's Long-Lost Autobiography to be Published via Kickstarter

Georges Méliès's iconic moon from A Trip To The Moon (1902) (PRNewsfoto/Canal Cat Films)

The autobiography of Georges Melies, the father of cinema, has been discovered by a filmmaker in London, UK. It is being published after being unavailable for 73 years and this is the first time it has been translated into English. 

81 years ago, at the age of 77, Georges Méliès - the father of narrative and fantastical film - hand-wrote his autobiography. It has been completely unavailable since 1945 and has never been translated into English. This is one of the great unseen texts of cinema history.

Georges Méliès (1861-1938) is arguably the most important figure in narrative cinema history. He pioneered the Sci-fi, Fantasy and Horror genres and was the first to create and use special effects. Many of his concepts are still used today and although his work is over 100 years old, he gave cinema its first iconic image - the moon with a rocket in his eye. Martin Scorsese's 2011 film 'Hugo' was an homage to Méliès.

"He invented everything, basically, he invented it all." - Martin Scorsese

Jon Spira a documentary filmmaker who works with the British Film Institute and directed recent Star Wars documentary Elstree 1976, discovered a facsimile of Méliès's handwritten manuscript in the collection of an antique bookseller in rural France and is now publishing the memoir in a brand new hardback edition.

Says Spira: "This is a hugely significant, long-forgotten text. A firsthand account of the birth of cinema from a man who was not only there but was its greatest innovator and artist. It deserves to be read."

Georges Méliès

More About Georges Méliès's Memoir:
(Via the Kickstarter  page)

This memoir is an enthralling story in which Méliès guides us from his childhood into his early career, explaining how all of the elements fell into place to put him in the perfect position to become a pioneer of cinema. He talks about becoming one of the first people in the world to see a projected moving image at a private demonstration by the Lumiére brothers and the international mission this inspired him to take to become a part of the new medium. He explains how and why he became the first impressario of cinema, how he built France's first film studio and how he invented special effects techniques and helped define the very format of cinematic film. More than this, it's a human story; at times braggadocios, joyous, humble and bitter. We learn how times and the industry changed, how he became the first victim of film piracy and how he ended up in his old age, forgotten, broke and selling toys and sweets in a tiny stall in Montparnasse train station. Most interesting to me was discovering that he was a man already aware of his legacy and surprisingly unhappy about how he could see he was going to be remembered. His memoir crackles with life and is a vivid account of the dawn of movies from its most colourful participant.

Georges Méliès's Memoir

⏩ Film fans and history buffs can pre-order their copies of the book or the deluxe wooden box set now on Spira's Kickstarter campaign at: kck.st/2GkTttH

SOURCE: Canal Cat Films

The Video:

BITE SIZE HORROR To Premiere At Cannes International Series Festival

BITE SIZE HORROR

BITE SIZE HORROR is a series of scares. Each 2 minute episode, is a stand-alone short horror film. ALL CITY Chief Content Officer, Tony Sella and Executive Vice President, David Worthen Brooks, created these disturbing films for Halloween season by teaming with innovative up-and-coming directors, such as Don't Go Down to Wildor – Ben Franklin & Anthony Melton; Floor 9.5 – Toby Meakins; Gregory– John William Ross; Live Bait – Andrew Laurich; Mondays – Michael Thelin; Monstagram – Jerome Sable; The Replacement – Chris Leone; The Road – Jack Bishop & Justin Nijm; Salt – Rob Savage; and Scaring Grandma – Chris Leone.

The cinematic collaborations are presented in genre bending and terrifying 2 minute shorts.  The BITE SIZE HORROR films are a festival of fright that explore every facet of human fear, from "Psychological Thriller" to "Horror Comedy" and everything in between, these slices of scare are guaranteed to put even the bravest viewers on edge. 

⏩ The 10 two minute shorts will be screened at Cannes International Series Festival.

The Bite Size Horror Videos:

BITE SIZE HORROR was created by Fox Networks Group's integrated agency All City– Chief Content Officer (All City) Tony Sella and Executive Vice President (All City) David Worthen Brooks, + Fox Digital Studio producers Arbi Pedrossian, and Steven Johnson. 

⏩ This festival of frights has premiered online as well as on the FOX broadcast network and FX.

Bite Size Horror

About ALL CITY 21st Century Fox:

All City is a creative content studio designed to develop and produce entertainment and branded content for major brands amplified with the platforms of Fox Networks Group, which includes FOX, FX, Fox Sports and National Geographic and media platforms including Hulu, iTunes, Netflix and Amazon.  Established as a joint venture with 21st Century Fox, All City has revolutionized branded content by cultivating story-based partnerships with top brands such as Mars Candy, T-Mobile, Verizon, Walmart, USAA and NASA. Recognized for their work by top tier festivals such as Cannes, Sundance and South by Southwest, All City brings networks and brands together at the creator's table to design entertainment for the future of media. 

SOURCE: ALL CITY 21st Century Fox