Saturday, October 27
Lush | De Luxe v.2 - Full Video is Back!
Yay! The full video is back online at YouTube, no corporate red-tape involved :) An earlier video post had been disabled over copyright infringement concerns with the BMG record company. I don't want to infer that I condone pirated material, but no money was exchanged illegally through these postings. Maybe somebody realized that the posting of music videos on YouTube can only help all those concerned.
Wednesday, October 10
Miki's 'Under the Radar' Interview
Miki Berenyi / Under the Radar Interview
Miki Berenyi - Lush’s Former Singer Reminisces on Britpop Oct 01, 2007, Web Exclusive By Lorraine Carpenter
"We had a weird bar count in a couple of songs—the break in “Sweetness and Light” and the one in “Superblast!”—and it was my job to give Chris the nod when the drums had to kick in again. I’d turn away from the mic, look round at him, and he’d always pull some silly face or be laughing hysterically at something. It makes me feel bereft to think that those days—and that person—are gone."
"—in a funny way it reminded me of Emma’s songs. I know they’re completely different really, but there’s something in the weird harmonies and the slight jazziness—and [they’re] really bloody hard to sing!"
"I saw Sing-Sing a few times early on. To be honest, it was a little painful for me. I felt replaced!"
"...he’s been playing bass with The Jesus and Mary Chain! We went to see him a few weeks ago at the Brixton Academy. They were really excellent and I thought, “Oh look at Phil! He finally got his own mic!”"
Always got to love the unpretentiousness and honesty of Miki. There were too many good quotes from the interview... so run over there and have a read already.
Read it. Learn it. Believe it.
Friday, August 17
Miki's Mum
as Suki in 'The Protectors'As many of you know, Miki's mum is of Japanese heritage. What some of you may not know is that she, like her fab daughter, was no slouch and no stranger to fame either.
Says Miki: "My mum, Yasuko Nagazumi, was an actress and had a very small role in You Only Live Twice (me too - she was 3 months pregnant). She was also in Space 1999, and The ProtectorsThe New Avengers. And a film called Wombling Free which I was very excited about at the time because I was about 9 and got to meet Bernard Cribbins."
Here's an expanded version of her bio from Wikipedia...
Yasuko Nagazumi (永積靖子 Nagazumi Yasuko, b 1943) is a producer and manager in Hollywood responsible for print advertising campaigns for clients such as Armani, Donna Karan, Guess?, Pirelli, Vogue Magazine and working with photographers Peter Lindbergh, Herb Ritts, Helmut Newton and others.
as Yasko in 'Space 1999'
A former actress, Yasuki is best known for her roles in British television as a regular cast member of The Protectors (as Suki) and Space: 1999 (as Yasko), and appeared in other programs such as The New Avengers (ep. "The Trap"). She was also featured in the James Bond film You Only Live Twice.
See more at: Yasuko Nagazumi - IMDb
Wednesday, August 1
Anniversary - Version One
Depending upon which school you have joined up with (the 1987 vrs. the 1988 chronical of events) right about now would be the 20th anniversary of a date that carries some significance to the Friends of Lush.
Going by an interview/story written by Pat Gilberts for "Record Collector" magazine (sorry, no date) we have evidence for the year 1987 as being the date for the creation of Lush. I'll pick up the interview where the 'date of somewhat significance' appears:
... Miki was adding primitive guitar to rockabilly garage band the Bugs, and even accompanied them on a European tour to promote their August 1987 album, 'Darkside' (which she didn't actually play on). Around this time, Miki and Emma began hatching a plan for their own band, initially called the Baby Machines. Recruiting two of Miki's classmates, singer Meriel Barham and Kendal-born drummer Chris Acland (then Miki's paramour), they began rehearsing in Miki's bedroom. After a few weeks, they realised they needed a proper bassist, and approached another student, Steve Rippon, who was five years older than the others and originally from Bracknell. 'I was in their class as well,' recalls Steve, phoning from Ireland. 'I was sitting in the college canteen one day, and they sidled up to me, really embarrassed. They said can you play bass? I said, no. They said, great, can you learn in six weeks?
Going by an interview/story written by Pat Gilberts for "Record Collector" magazine (sorry, no date) we have evidence for the year 1987 as being the date for the creation of Lush. I'll pick up the interview where the 'date of somewhat significance' appears:
... Miki was adding primitive guitar to rockabilly garage band the Bugs, and even accompanied them on a European tour to promote their August 1987 album, 'Darkside' (which she didn't actually play on). Around this time, Miki and Emma began hatching a plan for their own band, initially called the Baby Machines. Recruiting two of Miki's classmates, singer Meriel Barham and Kendal-born drummer Chris Acland (then Miki's paramour), they began rehearsing in Miki's bedroom. After a few weeks, they realised they needed a proper bassist, and approached another student, Steve Rippon, who was five years older than the others and originally from Bracknell. 'I was in their class as well,' recalls Steve, phoning from Ireland. 'I was sitting in the college canteen one day, and they sidled up to me, really embarrassed. They said can you play bass? I said, no. They said, great, can you learn in six weeks?
'I went down to an audition at this place behind the Holloway Road,' he continues. 'They were possibly the worst group I'd ever seen in my life. It was an absolute cacophony. The songs were really simple and had titles like 'Female Hybrid', 'See-Saw' and 'He's A Bastard'. I thought, yeah, I can play bass to this.'
The urgency to recruit Steve was because of an impending gig at the Camden Falcon on 6th March 1988, supporting the Rosehips. In the event, the night passed as smoothly as could be expected, and the band branched out to play other venues on the London toilet circuit. They even supported Ted Harris from 'Playschool' at Ealing College. After they cut a four-song demo, internal tensions bubbled over and Meriel was given the push. 'She just wasn't interested,' sneers Emma. 'We'd organise all these gigs and she couldn't play them because her boyfriend was going away the next day or whatever. He came first. But she also felt uncomfortable playing guitar.' Meriel went on to join fellow 4AD shoe-gazers, the Pale Saints.
You know the rest of it. Miki took over the lead vocals position vacated by Meriel when no replacement could be found. And the rest is music history.
You can read the entire article reproduced here: http://www.curve.demon.co.uk/lush/press/p_art3.html
Monday, July 16
Sunday, June 10
Emma Has a Birthday!
Today Emma has a Birthday!
It's her 40th!
I'd like to wish you a very
Happy Birthday Emma,
and Many More!
Sunday, March 18
Thursday, March 8
Flat7, Mitsuo Tate, Robin Guthrie & Miki too
flat7 is the recording artist name for Mitsuo Tate, formerly guitarist for the Cocteau Twins. His name might also be familiar to those who read the production notes inside Lush releases. Matsuo Tate was also the assistant engineer on Lush's Spooky lp. Lost in Blue is flat7's latest release, issued in 2005. Included among the tracks for Lost in Blue are two versions of a song...it's titled "Smile"
| flat7 - smile robin guthrie remix .mp3 | ||
 | ||
 | Found at bee mp3 search engine |  |
Out of everything to come out since the breakup of Lush, the song "Smile" perhaps comes the closest to recapturing the sound and the feeling that was uniquely their's. "Smile" is sweet and heart-rending all at the same time. The song's lyrics were penned by Miki as well as beautifully sung by her, with the instrumentation performed by Tate. The alternate version on the same album is a remix by none other than Robin Guthrie, Lush's producer and engineer from Mad Love to Spooky. Robin also adds his guitar and drums to the song, so we actually have a mini-Lush reunion happening with Smile.
And yes, I'm going to say it...
this release should make any Lush fan smile.
Sunday, February 11
Miki Alert! Guest Vocalist on Upcoming Release
"Miki Berenyi, former singer/songwriter from the band LUSH has agreed to join forces with Seinking Ships. Miki will be Seinking Ship's guest vocalist on a few select tracks of our upcoming full-length LP. Recording sessions in London are to commence in the spring of this year, 2007. More details pending... "
500: Live at T In The Park, July 13 '96
Good stuff from Youtube! Live video from Lush's T in the Park concert in Scotland, July 13 1996.
Ladykillers: Live at T In The Park, July 13 '96
Some more exciting stuff recently uploaded to YouTube - Lush playing Ladykillers live at T in the Park, July 13, 1996 at Kinross, Scotland.
Saturday, February 10
Chris Played Drums, and How He Played!
I haven't found any definitive information for Chris's equipment other than that it was obviously Yamaha. Drummers just don't get enough respect!
What is known that he played it skillfully, and hard, drawing on his early garage/punk experience. He was the driving force and power that kept the music from ever being accused of being too lightweight or fluffy.
I also believe that I read that at least one of his kits was passed on to a cousin who also played.
If I can learn more about Chris's drumkit(s) I'll update this entry with the information asap.
A bit of trivia: Between July and October 1991, while the band worked on their debut album, 'Spooky', producer Guthrie was taken with the idea of swamping the mix with swirling, phased guitars. Chris was also persuaded, perhaps against his better judgement, to forsake his normal drum-kit for a set of Simmons electronic pads, and to play to a click-track.
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