The synth that you see above this text is a Roland Juno 6.  It was a bit of a weird one because as soon as this one was released, then they released the 60 and then the 106 which had midi and presets (meaning you could run it through a computer and you could commit sounds to memory).  I didn’t give a crap about either of those things because, in 1985, I didn’t have a computer and I didn’t care about memorizing sounds as I was too busy making new ones.

Actually, my cousin Nick (Foggin) had one of these before I did.  In fact Nick is my musical inspiration, period (even though I’ve not seen him in 15 years!).  He is a couple of years older than me and was very impressive (not least because his first band , The Doll Squad, were the only band ever to sing the lines “eating glass, drinking acid”).  I used to go round his place in Stoke-on-Trent and he would dazzle me with brilliant kit and skill (he could also trampoline very well, there were no limits to his talent).  The best part of my visit though was when he would let me play the arpegiator on his Juno 6.  It was amazing.  So, to cut a long story short, I bought one.  I still own it (it’s back in London in storage) and I miss it.  To give you an idea listen to this…

So raise your glasses ladies and gentlemen to an almost forgotten analogue synthesizer.  It might not be digital, hell it might not even have presets or midi, but it could bust down an arpeggio like nobody’s business.

Winona Ryder returns with a rare interview with BlackBook Magazine and BBook.com. With candor, humor and grace, the twice Oscar-nominated actress reveals where she went and why she’s back.  She also talks about Angelina Jolie, what she looks for in a partner, and her latest role of Sandra in Rebecca Miller’s ‘The Private Lives of Pippa Lee’.

The interview shows a more mature Ryder, one very comfortable in her own skin and in philosophical mood regarding her old co-star Angelina Jolie.

“I never had any bad feelings about Angelina,” she says.  “And I was hurt that people thought that.”

When asked about relationships, “I’ve just always wanted to find someone who understands what I do, who doesn’t think my life is so glamorous and who doesn’t really care.  In a way, actors really do fit that category, but I would want to be with one who had been around a while.

She also peeks into the future to reveal what she’s NOT going to do, “I’m not going to turn into Gloria Swanson and sit in my mansion watching my movies, with a crazy cigarette holder.” Photographer: ANDREW MACPHERSON

Elsewhere in the issue:

Terry Gilliam returns to the spotlight with his best film in years – and he’s taking supermodel-turned-actress Lily Cole along for the ride.  He jokes, “Lily can’t act, but she thinks she can, and that’s the important thing.” Excellent photographs by Mark Zibert accompany the feature.

Willem Dafoe shows that he is a  beer-sipping yogi in search of the perfect collaboration.  In Willa Paskin’s interview (with photography by Martin Schoeller) he also admits that his reluctance to see a therapist often rears it’s head, “I have never been attracted to [therapy].  Although many people have told me, ‘Believe me, you need it!”  In the heat of fights, that always comes up: ‘You need to see somebody!’”

La Roux poses for a four-page spread and dismisses her instant rise to dance music mega-star status. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a good artist or if you’re a shit artist, if you’ve got a catchy song, people will catch onto it really quickly.”  Her views on icons are equally down to earth, “An icon is someone who doesn’t sell out.  You never see icons doing shitty interviews.”

Plus: Jared Leto and his certified-platinum band 30 Seconds to Mars give their guide to New York, 20 pages dedicated to fall fashion, Mark Ronson’s collaboration with Gucci, the latest movie, music, hotel and iphone application reviews, and much more.    http://www.bbook.com

Legends.  To some of us, that’s exactly what Echo & The Bunnymen are.  They gave us something leftfield, artistic, poetic and credible to listen to to break us out of the grip of the British New Romantics of the time.  It was also a time when Ian McCulloch’s nemasis - Bono was doing quite well.

‘Bono? He’s a twat’.  Mac told me once.  I learned not to mention the U2 front-man again as Ian’s tirades about the man are both animated and… lengthy. So when The Bunnymen came to LA this weekend to play a sold out show at The Nokia Theatre, it was a coincidence that U2 were playing the following evening at Hollywood Bowl.

One of these gigs would be a spectacle of greatest hits, posturing, special effects and multi-million dollar marketing.  The other would be an extraordinary performance by one of the world’s greatest, slightly unsung bands.  The gig that they were about to perform would be the best E&TB gig that I have ever seen, and although  I was a little worried that the LA crowd wouldn’t be that into them, I shouldnt have been.  I was dead wrong.

(apologies for crap pictures. Iphone - 'nuff said).

Everyone of the 6,500 people in attendance went bananas, sang along and generally grooved through a two hour epic show, accompanied by a full orchestra for the entire playback of the seminal Ocean Rain album.  Every track inspired an arena full of fans to whoop and cheer and mouth the words back to a McCulloch, who was in silhouette throughout almost the whole show.  Now, not many rock stars are cool enough to pull THAT OFF.

After the final chords of Ocean Rain finished, there was a 20 minute interval, and then the band returned for a more traditional set that was one of the best I’ve seen them play in years.  Ian’s voice was better than ever and the show was a captivating example of what happens when brilliant song writers are put in an environment that can do justice to their talents.  The highlight of the night for most, predictably enough, was the encore performance of ‘Lips Like Sugar’, but for me it was seeing my friend Ian (Mac) McCulloch in his absolute element.

Who is the best band in the world?  U2?  There were at least 6,500 in Los Angeles this weekend who would have disagreed.

Thanks to Ian, Pete and everyone for the gig, the hospitality, the fun and games and the entertaining meet and greet ‘guest stars’.

Visit the Bunnymen’s website.

Flaunt Magazine celebrates 11 years of collaborations with David LaChapelle, with one of the year’s most beautiful & controversial magazine covers.

The cover artwork is a double-sided triple gatefold, featuring Naomi Campbell. It is classic LaChapelle, with David’s trademark of extraordinarily vibrant and extravagant settings, presented on a backdrop that exposes a more serious message. The reverse of the gatefold presents David’s wonderful inspiration piece - in watercolor, pencil and photo collage.

The original image includes Naomi Campbell with an exposed nipple, which is available as a LIMITED EDITION only, while another version where the nipple has been covered with strategic realignment of Naomi’s hair is available for more general consumption. The former is set to be an instant collector’s item due to its scarcity and because it is David’s original artistic intention.

In the issue (Flaunt #106 ‘The Eden Issue’) David talks about his life as a photographer for hire and how he turned his back on it all to live in a self-sustained environment in Maui, allowing himself the room to develop as a fine artist. He also talks about the creation of his latest works, including his controversial collection, “The Rape Of Africa”.

The collaboration was unveiled last week at a stunning downtown LA Fashion Week event at BoxEight Studios, and the magazine will be available nationwide by October 28^th.

Flaunt and David LaChapelle have worked together since the very first issue, published in late 1998.

“I’m very proud to be able to showcase David’s work on the cover of our magazine. Nipple or no nipple, it’s one of the most stunning covers we’ve ever had.” Luis Barajas – Flaunt Magazine founder.

Elsewhere in the issue:

· Rachel Bilson is photographed by Yu Tsai, in what must be the most beautiful series of the star yet.

· Over 80 pages of fashion, including the best of Fall ’09 Couture, Trussardi, Alexander McQueen, Lanvin and Marc Jacobs.

· Plus: Luke Grimes, Jennifer Lawrence, Helmet Newton, Kevin Carney, Ben Watts, and a special philanthropic message from Donatella Versace.

Visit Flaunt Website - click here.

La Roux is a pop sensation out of the UK (already having topped the US Dance Billboard charts, beating off competition such as Madonna, the word sensation is wholly justified) with the kind of influences list that would normally be reserved for 30-something eighties revivalists.  Yet Elly (the red headed warbler from the band - who inspired the name La Roux) is only 20 or something like that.  So when we heard that Elly was very sick, we were internalizing - ‘Oh no, a 20 yr old singer, thrust into the limelight, over worked and now exhausted.  I bet, that like most 20 yr olds at this point she will throw a hissy fit and refuse to perform, or at best perform a begrudged, moody set’.

Well no, in fact, it was a brave, honest and inspiring performance.  Elly definitely has a way with people, with her people at least, that is lost on most pop stars.  When she told everyone that she was sorry that she had come all this way and now she could hardly sing, there wasn’t one person, out of all of LA’s hipsters and dance music aficionados in that room that a) didn’t believe her sincerity and b) didn’t give her heartfelt applause and cheers.  For once, people were less worried about the money they had shelled out for the gig, and instead, grateful that she had the integrity to share her disappointment with them in such a real way, and go on to do the gig anyway.  It really wasn’t what she said actually, it was more how she said it.

She need not have worried either.  The crowd cooed and cheered at this new music phenomenon from beginning to end.  Her presence on stage was fantastic, and even though she was visibly knackered, she still refused to give in to it and threw herself around the stage with her wonderful, straight out of the bedroom, dance style.

Ben, the other half of the La Roux song writing duo (and the one who can just about remember the 80’s the first time around) kept the 80’s electronic & rave inspired fusion (sorry, I tried to think of another word) dance music crisp and tight, whilst the sub-star of the night, the drummer, kept the rhythm and the vibe alive with loony long limbs and some prancing moves that strangely reminded me a bit of Bez from The Happy Mondays (although unlike Bez he seemed to be high on the music rather than Ecstasy).

What was the only problem with the night?  It was over too soon.  Alas, the set had to be kept short to let Elly get some rest before the next leg of her tour.  After the show Ben and I chatted about Synths and how excited he was to meet Heaven 17 the following day.  A man after my own heart, and a band that is breaking boundaries and making friends everywhere they go.

Thanks to Ben, Elly, Mike and the gang for the hospitality, a great night and the great performance.

http://www.laroux.co.uk

Say what you like about Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, but lets face it… he’s a game changer.  And true to form, his collaboration with BlackBook Media (the guys behind those infamous city guides and BlackBook Magazine) to create an iphone application shows both his forward thinking attitude as well as BlackBook’s new approach to this new, fragmented digital media landscape.

The 13 year-old media and technology company has flipped the traditional print media model. Now their digital properties are front and center in their business whilst their print properties, although still very significant, take a somewhat subordinate role to their iphone applications, ‘Access‘ Network and web presence.  Here’s some more info lifted from the release.  It’s interesting stuff.

Diddy’s BlackBook mobile guide is now available in the iTunes store – representing another channel for the coveted BlackBook city guides on the Access Network℠. Diddy’s BlackBook is an international, 50-city guide with BlackBook editorial reviews for more than 15,000 shops & boutiques, restaurants, bars & clubs, and hotels, and includes Comb’s top picks across the country. “It also includes a raw, real and stripped down series of portraits - a more personal look at the man as whole and not just the celebrity,” according to BlackBook’s Creative Director, Jason Daniels. “We wanted to show ‘Sean’.”

Diddy’s BlackBook is based off of BlackBook’s latest version of its own GPS-enabled, international city guides iPhone application – the BlackBook Guides version 3.3.2. Like Diddy’s BlackBook, the BlackBook mobile city guide is part of the Access Network℠ and includes special Perks provided by businesses that are featured on the guides (at present that list is growing and already includes David Yurman, Intermix and AG Jeans). BlackBook’s editorial team (which includes a world-wide team of contributors) has been curating the reviews for the city guides and producing content for BlackBook magazine since 1996.

The city guides are the core to the Access Network℠ - the technology infrastructure that connects the reviewed venues directly to consumers on GPS-enabled smart phones (iPhone initially) and enables these businesses to provide real-time, location-based, special offers (“Access Perks℠”) to drive consumers to their place. BlackBook has made this Access Network℠ open to other media partners’ city guides, which enables businesses to also offer Perks across a network of different channels.

Leveraging the excitement and customer growth with mobile products, BlackBook is leading brands towards the new media landscape, where the Access Network℠ can deliver measurable ROI for marketers, and it also continues to deliver important branding opportunities on the printed page (where aesthetic quality is still most visible).

“My partners and I acquired the BlackBook brand five years ago with the vision of providing a technology platform that is delivered with branded content.‘ added Ari Horowitz, BlackBook Media Corp CEO. “We envisioned the opportunities around location-based mobile technology, and we believe we have the winning formula by combining content and technology into a networked solution.”

Download the Diddy App for free…here…

http://tinyurl.com/BBDiddyapp

http://blackbookmag.com

La Roux are coming to Los Angeles on October 19th.  They’re playing one night only at the El Ray Theatre.  If you’re not familiar with them yet (and yes, it’s a ‘them’, don’t make the mistake that it’s ALL just about Elly) GET familiar as they’re going to knock yer socks off.

Check it…. (and watch this space… there might be some surprise news around the time of the gig).