EDDIE JOBSON

Watch the new video for RADIATION here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFlnG3AKOW8

 
Hi Folks

Andre' Cholmondeley here , from Project/Object, Adrian Belew Tours and more…….

I am proud to be doing some work for and with another of my all time favorite musicians/composers….I'm running Show Production for this one-night tour for  none other than EDDIE JOBSON, the violinist/keyboardist. Many of you first heard Eddie's work with King Crimson or, like me,  when I was 16 in a dorm room at Rutgers University, 1981…on ZAPPA IN NEW YORK….

Eddie is making his first return to the stage with his own music after almost 28 years (!!). He's been VERY busy in music — running a record company, producing, and scoring TV shows like Nash Bridges (100+ episodes), TV commercials, movies, etc. When he came off the road from the Jethro Tull Tour in 1981, he has not performed live except for a Bach Tribute with Tull in 1985, and the "Concert For Peace" and Moscow concert in Aug/Sep 2008. You may have read my  blogs from those events….

Spread the word on this historic show!!! If you are ANYWHERE near NYC , do not miss this!! The opening act (Tony Levin's new band!) will also be making their US premiere (read on). With people flying in from England, Europe, South Africa, all around the USA……you have no excuse!!!

Thanks! – Andre'

Watch the new video for RADIATION here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFlnG3AKOW8

 

For interviews, CDs, review tickets and further press info …

Contact: Randy Alexander, Randex Communications (856) 596-1410 or randex@randexpr.com

Online press kit with downloadable jpegs at www.randexpr.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

KEYBOARD/VIOLIN LEGEND EDDIE JOBSON RETURNS FROM 27-YEAR RETIREMENT

 TO INTRODUCE ‘VIRTUAL VIRTUOSO’ SUPERGROUP UKZ IN NEW YORK CITY

 

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR ‘ONE CITY WORLD TOUR’ WORLD DEBUT CONCERT EXCLUSIVE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 AT TOWN HALL

 

UKZ Debut EP, RADIATION, to follow in March via Ryko Distribution

 

Watch the new video for RADIATION here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFlnG3AKOW8

 

“The word ‘genius’ is bandied about a bit too freely these days, but in Jobson’s case, the term not only applies, it’s been used to describe him since his northern England childhood.” – EMMY Magazine

 

NEW YORK (Jan. 7, 2009) — Keyboard and electric-violin legend EDDIE JOBSON (U.K., Roxy Music, Frank Zappa, Jethro Tull) is returning in grand style from a self-imposed 27-year retirement to introduce UKZ, his new “Virtual Virtuoso” supergroup, with a world debut concert exclusive in New York City.

 

 Anticipated by Ticket News as “one of contemporary music’s iconic performances” and attracting concertgoers from around the world, UKZ will begin and end its “One City World Tour” on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St., NYC. Show time is 8 p.m. This rare concert event also will feature the U.S.debut of special guests Stick Men, featuring King Crimson’s Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto. Tickets are $125, $95, $85 & $60 and on sale NOW through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com. For info, call the box office at 212.840.2824 or visit www.the-townhall-nyc.org.

 

In a state-of-the-art display of masterful musicianship that elevates the spirit of progressive music to the modern demands of younger new audiences, UKZ will be premiering compositions from its upcoming debut EP, RADIATION, set for release March 24 via Ryko Distribution. UKZ’s updated sound infuses the industrial edge and rhythmic aggression of bands from Tool to Nine Inch Nails, and it’s exemplified in the seven-minute video for the title track, which already has received over 5,000 hits in its first week on YouTube.

 

“New directions excite me,” says Jobson, “I decided a year-and-a-half ago that I still had more to say in the rock arena, and that the internet had allowed every aspect of that _expression to be approached in a new way. Everything with this band project has been self-produced, independent of the music-business machine.  I have created a real ‘player’ band of virtuosos and I am taking it straight to the people.”

 

A classically trained progressive-rock icon, Jobson assembled UKZ virtually by auditioning performances on YouTube. The result is a multi-generational “dream band” of world-class improvisers from all parts of the globe whose members are: Trey Gunn (American, a 10-year veteran of King Crimson and the leading exponent of the Warr 10-string touch guitar), Aaron Lippert (Belgian, former lead singer of Expanding Man), Alex Machacek (Austrian guitar prodigy, also in TERRY BOZZIO's OUT TRIO), and Marco Minnemann (German drum sensation, in several projects including with MIKE KENEALLY), with Eddie Jobson of course hailing from England/UK..

 

Jobson has spent much of his time away from band activity creating music for film and television. He’s been an integral contributor to movie and TV soundtracks, and also has earned several Clio awards for his commercial compositions. 

 

More recently, he’s been the driving force behind the Bulgarian Women’s Choir, which he began working with 13 years ago while exploring new sounds for a reunion of U.K., the influential British supergroup. Jobson also runs Globe Media Arts, a music/video production company, music publishing company, and online store, including two indie labels for advanced musicians, Globe Music and Glo Digital.

 

“I have spent my life looking for new musical challenges,” he says. “The latest is in taking on the challenge of creating a truly contemporary rock environment for some of the world’s best players to exhibit their craft, while maintaining some level of accessibility.  So far, I am pleased with the results and I am looking forward to returning to live performance to share those results with fans from around the globe, in New York City — the capital of the world.  My hope is to move things forward — at least a little bit.”

 

www.ukzband.com

www.eddiejobson.com

 

BITCHFEST (our first gig went over well)

 < Click to hear our band

 

We did LOADS of publicity stuff for our first gig in Berlin. Lot's of TV spots (some were dumb, they had me massage random people on the street in front of the club) but hey, sometimes you have to sing for your supper.  That's Enno on the right. He is almost impossible to photograph, moves around so much.

Funny thing is, Sansi  ^ (guy with hat and sun glasses) is our drummer, but they had him play guitar for this one TV spot.  Sansi doing what he does best at our gig ^

; < I was surprised how packed our gig was

From left to right ^ Vitri, Enno, me, Frank (bass), Sansi (hidden) and Thimo on guitar.                ^Me with sexy groupies/dancers. I was singing Highway to Hell

The first two rows were just press. They stayed the WHOLE show. I poured a whole bottle of water over my head. I was like "fuck it, I'm wet anyways, let's just go for it".

I started with a Frank Zappa t-shirt  ^  (this was made by a friend called Ines especially for me) then I changed into a Motorhead shirt that Phil (from Motorhead) gave me. I ripped it up right before show time. Then at the end of the show I put an Aerosmith shirt on, that was customized by Ines.  I decided to just sing barefoot the whole time and I was afraid of getting electrocuted since I poured all that water on my head and there were wires and cables all around my feet, but hey, I'm still alive.

 

See that cutie in the shiny black rubber skirt? That is Vitri, my back up singer.                                      Jasmine in the crowd   ^ watching me belt out some Janis

 < From L to R: Enno, Vitri, me, Thimo

                    ^ The girls in action                                                                 ^  ANOTHER change of clothes (fuck, I'm worse than Cher!

Not sure if you saw our Flyer but we had a Groupie Application form on the back. Jaeger Meister saw our flyer, found the idea amazing and said they will watch our show and they want to see how we do the Groupie competition. So what started out as just a joke, actually turned into a real Groupie contest. I had some of the girls come on stage and show their stuff. Literally. Our drummer, Sansi, got a lap dance while he played.

           

 Christy came from far away to be there, I was really grateful.                                  ^She shared her tattoo with the crowd and they went WILD!

 

^ Shai and Danielle were part of the groupie game, and made the after show party in our dressing room a men magnet.^ Christy with her brews

< Um, this fella LOVES feet.

I gave Danielle (who danced for me in our version of HOT LEGS) a nice foot rub after the show ^

I have been to WELL over 3,000 shows so far and I have to say, our dressing room party was one of the best I have ever seen. Not just saying that, it really ROCKED! It was packed until 6:30 am!! A  few famous German actors popped in and there were loads of Brits raising HELL all night long. The venue is called "White Trash" and they loved us so much they asked us to play once a month starting in September. Bitchfest will play the first Wednesday of every month from Sept 6th on. I will be doing  A LOT of flying back and forth from NYC to Berlin from now on.

 < Finally some male groupies for us!

 

 Like I said, our dressing room was PACKED! These lads kept pounding the SHIT out of the ceiling all night, singing soccer chants (yay!)

I have written a few songs for Bitchfest. I am good with words, but can't get a melody going. I guess I am too intimidated by my musical heros. I mean, how the fuck can you top

"the long and winding road"? . I come up with lyrics everyday, then send them to my band, and then they put them to melodies. Here is one song I wrote called "Adios Hedgehog" let me know what you think about it. I feel with a name like BITCHFEST I am allowed to vent and bitch in  my songs if I want. We are not the Bay City Rollers ok?

Hey Mr. Bait and Switch, you psycho son of a bitch,
you are shorter than me, that just won't do. Only thing you could do was massage and screw,
and that's just 'cause I taught you to.

Only takes the girls weeks to escape from you. Locking them in your house just
won't do. I hope when you hear this song you start to shake and bite what's left
of your nails, get nervous like you do.

*chorus:
I'm glad it's over, finally sober, not drunk on your lies anymore
This parting has surely inspired, you say there are ten men
at  my door? Send one home, I'm tired

Your music bores, so save your pennies for the whores. Such a fibber,
pretentious Indian giver,

Remember this sound: What goes around, comes around, you vicious little troll.

Goodbye insecure tiny scammer, I hope they toss you in the slammer"

*chorus:
Move on shorty, it's over, won't take your stalkin' anymore
This parting has surely inspired, you say there are ten men at  my door?
 Send one home, I'm tired

 

A few days after my gig, I got into the Football mood (soccer for you yanks) and went out partying big time. I passed by this bar on Oreinienburger strasse in Berlin

and saw everyone toking off this massive pipe and had a go. It's NOT grass, it's scented tobacco so I spat it out right away,  ew! It is a very popular thing here to toke for hours off of these

"Shisha" pipes, the bars and cafes hand them out, it does smell better than cigarettes.

John  from Belfast, me, and Rory enjoy a crowded as FUCK Ku'damm after German just won a world cup game. Here were are again raising hell ^

        Christy took this  ^ shot of me spitting off a very high balcony at Tacheles  <  click to see  picture

Next day Christy and I headed to Fan Mile to watch England play against Portugal ^  (photo taken by Rory)

We were GUTTED when England lost. I feel they had no chance with an Argentinian ref, but what's done is done. We got TONS of shit from German fans the

rest of the night. They were hissing and boooing at us and telling us "Englanders" to go home. Even though we aren't English, I still got defensive at the seemingly

racial tension going on. One guy even tried to start a fight over our English shirts. 'Hello, calm the fuck down', was my attitude for the rest of the weekend to say the least.

 

Rory's photo of me supporting England ^                                                                                                                 the final world cup game when Italy won ^

 

^ Rory took some amazing pictures of the whole world cup Berliner scene, thanks for letting me use them for my blog 🙂