NEWS • INFO • FAQs
JUNE 2002
| • JOE JACKSON BAND REUNION! They said it would never happen - in fact, Joe said it would never happen! But: the original Joe Jackson Band - JJ + Graham Maby (bass), Gary Sanford (guitar) and Dave Houghton (drums) are re-uniting for a new album and tour. In part, this is to celebrate the 25th anniversary, in 2003, of the band's formation and the recording of Look Sharp. However, this is not just an exercise in nostalgia, since the band will be recording a whole album of new songs. The Joe Jackson Band got together in 1978 and played non-stop until their last gig on December 15th 1980 (in Utrecht, Netherlands). Since then, Graham has worked on and off with Joe but also with Natalie Merchant, They Might be Giants, and many others. Gary has toured and recorded with Joan Armatrading, Aztec Camera and Kirsty McColl, among others, while Dave has been staying out of the spotlight, doing mostly local gigs in the south of England, teaching drums, etc. The band will be rehearsing and doing some exclusive warm-up gigs in the UK in September, then recording, also in the UK, in October. The album release and full tour are projected for March/April 2003. Joe already has 12 completed songs for the new album,
and is still writing. According to Joe, the album will be "High-energy,
fun, and in the spirit of the first couple of albums, but more mature.
I'm a better writer now, and a better singer. But I've still got a 32-inch
waist". Watch this space for more information. • OFFICIAL BOOTLEG Two Rainy Nights, recorded live on the 'Night and Day II' Tour, is available now exclusively thru this site. Get the details
• E-MAIL NEWSLETTER Join and get the latest information on tours, recordings, etc.
• JJ WINS GRAMMY! Joe Jackson's SYMPHONY No. 1 won the 2001 Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album. In a more than 20-year recording career, this was Joe's first Grammy, although he'd been nominated four times before (for NIGHT AND DAY, STEPPIN OUT, and film music for MIKE'S MURDER and TUCKER).
|
|
• RECENT PROJECTS NIGHT AND DAY II: Joe's latest album of all-new songs was released on October 24, 2000 on his own imprint, MANTICORE, in association with Sony Classical. The songs are all about New York City, as seen through the eyes of several different characters. The album picks up where Joe's classic 1982 album NIGHT AND DAY left off, and as on that album, the music is built around his own keyboards with significant contributions from GRAHAM MABY (Bass), and SUE HADJOPOULOS (Percussion). Also featured are the string quartet ETHEL, and three guest vocalists: Iranian diva SUSSAN DEYHIM, drag performer DALE DE VERE, and the legendary MARIANNE FAITHFULL. All other vocals are by Joe himself. Click here to see a special site created by Sony Classical for the recording. The NIGHT AND DAY II TOUR finished in New York on April 20th 2001, after 68 shows in 12 countries. According to Joe, this was one of his best tours ever, featuring his best-ever live band: GRAHAM MABY (Bass), SUE HADJOPOULOS (Percussion), ALLISON CORNELL (Vocals, Violin & Keyboards), ROBERT RODRIGUEZ (Drums), ANDY EZRIN (Keyboards), and CATHERINE BENT (Cello). Those who missed the show may soon have an opportunity to see it in your own homes. The shows in Seattle and Portland were filmed, and are being mixed and edited initially into a 50-minute film for possible TV broadcast, and later, for a DVD including much more material. Check this page for updates.
A CURE FOR GRAVITY: The North American paperback edition of Joe's book by Da Capo Press is now available. The UK edition, originally a trade paperback, was succeeded by the publication of a cheaper 'mass market' edition by Anchor/Transworld in early 2001. (Joe was not involved, consulted or even told about this edition, and thus had nothing to do with the glaringly inappropriate cover!) The German version EIN MITTEL GEGEN DIE SCHWERKRAFT is still available from Satzwerk Verlag. RICKIE LEE JONES: Joe can be heard on Ricki Lee Jones' album of covers and Standards, IT'S LIKE THIS. Joe contributed some vocals, piano, and string arranging. SUMMER IN THE CITY: This Live album, recorded in New York in August 1999, was released on Joe's own imprint, MANTICORE, in association with Sony. The live band was a trio: Joe on piano and vocals, Graham Maby on bass and vocals, and Gary Burke on drums. The album consists of new versions of songs from Joe's whole career and several cover versions. |
|
• SHEET MUSIC DOWNLOADS NOW AVAILABLE: Many thanks to all the people who have emailed us asking for J J sheet music. Your patience can finally be rewarded: music to many of Joe's better-known songs can now be downloaded from this website. As far as we know, this is the first time an artist's website has featured this. The excellent transcriptions have been done by Jackie Worth and checked by Joe himself. We'll be adding more songs over time, so please let us know if there are any particular ones you'd like to see. • MANAGEMENT: Any professional queries or requests should be directed
to Joe's managment:
Email: maska@bighassle.com
• OUT OF PRINT RECORDS: We have been bombarded with questions about Joe Jackson albums which A&M Records have deleted from the catalog. A&M now barely exists, since being swallowed by the new mega-label Universal. The following albums are no longer available:
Mike's Murder (Soundtrack) (was never released on CD) Tucker (Soundtrack) Will Power Big World Live 1980-86 Blaze of Glory Joe has been trying for years to retrieve the rights to these albums so that at least some of them can be re-released. In the meantime, we can expect Universal to put out more redundant compilations and re-releases of Joe's more successful albums.
• EMAIL: If you have not received an answer to your email, we
apologise, but it probably means either that (a) the answer is already
somewhere on the site, or (b) for whatever reason, we can't help you.
Please do not send the following: (a) messages asking where you can get
hold of those out-of-print albums; we have no idea! (b) queries about
when Joe will be playing in your town; we'll announce dates on this page
as soon as any are available, (d) requests for song lyrics - virtually
all of them are in the CD booklets anyway! (e) requests for sheet music
(see above), (f) requests for autographed items, (g) requests for Joe
to sing at your wedding (but congratulations, anyway!) If you still want
to send a message, fire away ....
HEAVEN AND HELL | NIGHT MUSIC | FILM SCORES & OTHER PROJECTS | JOE'S BIO © Joe Jackson 2001-2002 |
