MetaFilter posts tagged with liverpool

Frankie Say Silver Anniversary

hippybear — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:37:44 -0800

October 29, 2009 marked the 25th anniversary of the release of Welcome To The Pleasuredome, by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, kicking off the short rule of Frankie over reality. oh so much Emerging from a fairly scandalous beginning, they were "disovered" by producer Trevor Horn who worked to mold their sound. After teasing the public with the lead off singles Relax (NSFW) [safe version] [even safer version], and Two Tribes [short version], the double album was released at the top of the charts and became an instant legend of pop music success, blending art, fashion, and music into a dominant (and controversial) force. They quickly followed the album's release with a dominant holiday single, The Power Of Love which was knocked off the Christmas #1 position by Band Aid's "Do The Know It's Chrismas?" Rumored to be unable to play live, FGTH released a fourth single (Welcome To The Pleasuredome) and toured the world in earnest in 1985, and even were featured on the program Europe A Go Go. Trying to return to England after their tour abroad, they found themselves exiled due to failure to pay taxes, and Frankie vanished, landing in Holland, leaving fans puzzled. They finally resurfaced in 1986 with lead-off single Rage Hard, and announced their new album Liverpool. The sales performance of the album was a disappointment, and Frankie tried to boost its appeal by releasing two more singles, Warriors Of The Wasteland and Watching The Wildlife, and embarking on an ambitious tour in 1987. [nearly complete filming from Kiel, Germany: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11] The pressures of fame and touring soon overwhelmed the band, and they broke up after the Liverpool tour, with the band members going their own ways. Holly Johnson became involved in a legal battle with Frankie's record label, and his victory won freedom for all the band members. Peter Gill (Ped), the drummer, went on to form Ltd. Noise (click the band name for RealAudio music links). Mark O'Toole, the bassist, joined a US punk band, Trapped By Mormons. Brian Nash (Nashers), the guitarist, released several albums under his own nickname [MySpace page, surprisingly non-retina-scarring, with audio], and continued performing. Paul Rutherford, backup vocalist who "just came to dance", released Oh World, an electronica / dance / pop album which featured the singles Get Real, I Want Your Love, and Oh World, before he retired to New Zealand for many years. Holly Johnson has remained the most active of any of the Frankies, using his hard-won artistic freedom to release several albums. His first, Blast, was a chart-topper in Britain and yielded four singles, Love Train, Americanos, Atomic City, and Heaven's Here. Later albums yielded less successful tracks, including Where Has The Love Gone?, Across The Universe, and Disco Heaven. Meanwhile, the Frankie legend has hardly faded. ZTT's practice of releasing endless numbers of remixes of the FGTH catalog [extensive discography link] has continued unabated over the decades, culminating with a near reboot of Frankiemania in 2009 sparked by a new mix of Relax. Johnson did some press related to the silver anniversary of the birth of the phenomenon, and Virgin Atlantic's choice to use FGTH's lead-off hit in an advertising campaign soon sparked rumors of a full-on reunion. Johnson himself only this month squashed those rumors, leaving many Frankie fans, new and old, to feel their disappointment, even as Peter Gill and Paul Rutherford announce plans to team up on a new project, Mark O'Toole and Holly Johnson have recently become active in at least one online fan forum, and the band's official website has begun to feature new, previously unrevealed content from the past. Bonus footage: "Frankie Say Reform" VH1's 2004 documentary chronicling the attempt to replace Johnson as lead singer after his refusal to reunite for a Prince Of Wales charity concert. Parts 1 2 3. FRANKIE SAY NO MORE! But only for now. At least, we hope!

A really big circular slice of a building that moves. Yes.

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:17:35 -0800

Haven't we all, at one time or another, wanted to carve an enormous circle into an industrial building facade and have it rotate in three dimensions? Of course we have. But Richard Wilson did it. That's right, he actually did it. Wiki page on sculptor Richard Wilson, who also happened to be a founding member of the Bow Gamelan Ensemble.

You'll never walk again

MuffinMan — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:25:06 -0800

20 years ago today, a crush of fans at the Leppings Lane entrance of Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium killed 96 people, among them the cousin of current Liverpool player Steven Gerrard (who has the dubious honour of being the youngest victim). Coming just 4 years after the Heysel stadium disaster, which killed 39 people and was officially blamed on Liverpool fans, and almost two decades of hooligan violence, the most obvious or convenient conclusion was that history had repeated itself. The intervening years have seen bitter recriminations, against the Police and also The Sun - who repeated the accusation that Liverpool fans brought about the disaster and disgraced themselves - and a government enquiry. Still, to this day, many feel the real story has yet to come out. *The post title is deliberately ironic. Although the subversion of Anfield's iconic son "You'll Never Walk Alone" predates Hillsborough, it is still occasionally chanted by opposing fans mocking the disaster.

We won't be like that again.

Abiezer — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:23:00 -0800

Behind The Rent Strike [YouTube playlist; six parts of 50ish min. documentary] Nick Broomfield's graduation piece, a documentary on the 14-month rent strike by the people of Kirkby New Town, near Liverpool, which began in late 1973 in response (it wasn't the only one) to the Heath government's Housing Finance Act. Broomfield gets plenty of insight from local people and examines the social conditions behind the events. Great viewing of good film-making and an opportunity for a bit of nostalgia if you're a viewer from round that way.

Kingdom of the Spiders

MrMustard — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:50:52 -0800

La Machine - the troop who brought The Sultan's Elephant to London (previously) - are at it again. This time, it's a gigantic, mechanical spider in Liverpool. YouTube. flickr.

Cunard Yanks

PeterMcDermott — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:49:58 -0800

They were Britain's pop culture pioneers, bringing back American music and fashions to a nation still starved by post-war rationing and austerity. They paved the way for The Beatles. Meet the Liverpool Merchant Seamen known as the Cunard Yanks.

Writer, musician, polymath

PeterMcDermott — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:58:21 -0800

Stan Kelly-Bootle began his career as a member of the earliest wave of computer programmers, who wrote prolifically about a wide range of computing issues. Back in his home town though, he's probably best known for his contributions to a lexicon of local slang, Lern Yerself Scouse, and for his canonical and not-so-canonical contributions to the British folk repertoire. Stan's website

Was today's Champion's League draw a set-up?

uk_giffo — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:34:38 -0800

Did UEFA fix today's Champions' League quarter-final draw? It was made at noon UK time, but a full 90 minutes beforehand a Liverpool fan claimed on a football message board that he not only knew the outcome of the supposedly random draw but also that his local bookmakers were refusing to take bets on it. A little bit of press coverage so far, mainly cautious. Tinfoil hat time for football fans or just a bit of a coincidence?

Gissa job la? Go on, I can do that. Gissa job?

PeterMcDermott — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:27:07 -0800

During the latter half of the twentieth century, Liverpool writers made an enormous contribution to television drama. Writers like Willy Russell and Jimmy McGovern have been hugely influential. But the daddy of them all was unarguably Alan Bleasdale, whose television dramas dominated our screens during the latter half of the 20th century in a manner that was unmatched by anybody besides the late Dennis Potter. Though many of his television dramas were to win praise and awards, it was his two series, Boys from the Blackstuff, an examination of the lot of the Liverpudlian working class under Thatcherism, and GBH, which turned his gaze onto the local political scene -- then dominated by the Trotskyite Militant Tendency -- that really cemented his reputation as one of the top three British television dramatists of the second half of the twentieth century. Now you can find large parts of both Boys from the Blackstuff and GBH on YouTube. Quality viewing for Telly Friday.

Is This Utopia? Are Ruins Beautiful?

salvia — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:56:46 -0800

Shrinking Cities (virtual and real): Analysis and Interventions. Don't miss the map of shrinking cities around the globe [PDF] or their description of urban decline in Second Life and a contest about what interventions to apply there (stay tuned). The title is from this quirky image in their press kit. Previously: 1, 2, 3.

It was 50 years ago today... Sgt Pepper taught a band to play

psmealey — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 03:09:40 -0800

Birth of the Beatles On July 6, 1957, John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time at The Woolton Church Parish Fete where The Quarry Men were appearing. John Lennon was impressed that Paul McCartney could tune a guitar and his knowledge of rock & roll lyrics.

The true Modfather?

PeterMcDermott — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:57:57 -0800

Roger Eagle is one of the great, unsung heroes of the British music scene. Over a period of twenty five years or so, he was responsible for not one, not two, but three legendary music venues, each of which defined their particular era. Still fondly remembered.

FA Cup Final Highlights

nthdegx — Sun, 14 May 2006 02:15:10 -0800

5 mins of highlights from yesterday's epic FA Cup Final between Liverpool and West Ham. Read the West Ham and Liverpool player ratings for a good idea of how the players performed individually. This game had everything.

You messed my pants!

magpie68 — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 06:07:47 -0800

£45 GBP lost to "compo" in Liverpool - Insurance fraud rife in UK A man who tried to sue a local council after he soiled his trousers tops a list of spurious public liability claims which cost UK local government and insurance companies an estimated £250m each year, reports the UK Guardian. Publishers of said report, Zurich Municipal are tackling the growing issue of fraudulent insurance claims. They found that "Only 16% of adults questioned said that they would contact the police if they knew someone had submitted a fraudulent claim against a council." Knowsley [Liverpool] Metropolitan Council "saw its claims from slips and trips soar ... to £5m annually." - for a borough of 111,000 adults that's an impressive £45 GBP per person per year. Among other factors, Zurich blames the "claims farmers" decried here by our Citizens Advice Bureau but also intriguingly says they are "continuing our campaign to combat school arson through initiatives such as our school theatre programme, ACT...."

Lego meta-art?

funambulist — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 07:11:44 -0800

The next Turner Prize winners? Art Craziest Nation is a mini-gallery of (in)famous pieces by modern artists, accurately reproduced with Lego by a duo called The Little Artists (John Cake and Darren Neave). The exhibition is at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool until next January. See the Lego version of Damien Hirst's Shark Tank, Tracey Emin's Bed, Jeff Koons' Balls, Andy Warhol's Money, Salvador Dali's Lobster Telephone, and many others. It's all in one single piece, with some of the artists themselves in Lego version - and others whose work is not exhibited, like Matthew Barney and Gilbert & George - hanging around sipping their Lego wine (ok, air) from Lego cups (or even throwing it at the Lego person standing next to them). Liverpool Football Club star Gerrard also featured in a tribute to the team's victory of this year's European Cup.

Saranda's Story

plep — Wed, 25 Jun 2003 10:47:06 -0800

Saranda's Story. 'My name is Saranda and I am 13 years old. I moved to Liverpool from Kosovo three years ago ... '

You would think they might scream or something...

grabbingsand — Mon, 05 May 2003 07:58:16 -0800

Fish have feelings too. Or so says Dr. Sneddon of the University of Liverpool. Her research into "trout trauma" is leading her to believe that fish don't care much for hooks and barbs.

“Our research demonstrates nociception and suggests that noxious stimulation in the rainbow trout has adverse behavioural and physiological effects. This fulfils the criteria for animal pain.”

I'm all out of sorts now. My dad loves to fish. He taught me how to fish. I like to fish with my dad. And now I'm a fish-hurter?!?

johnnyboy — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 03:00:41 -0800

you gotta love 'em scousers and here we have possibly the best website I can find paying homage to all things scouse (guffaw).

holgate — Fri, 29 Jun 2001 13:32:09 -0800

Let me take you down (from 15,000 feet), 'cause we're going to... be landing at John Lennon Airport. The renaming ceremony for Liverpool's airport takes place on Monday. So, who else deserves an airport named after them? [more]

Mocata — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 07:17:40 -0800

Peter Jonny likes football.

twistedonion — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 06:35:32 -0800

The Parole Board has decided to release the two murderers of James Bulger. They have made their decision, lets respect it.

feelinglistless — Wed, 16 May 2001 14:28:42 -0800

Liverpool win the cup triple. It's the kind of thing bring a tear to your eye even if you're an Evertonian. I always said Golden Goals were a great idea.