LOU REED, LESTER BANGS, BLACK GRAPE AND GORRILAZ, DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL (GETS HEAVY)

Artrockers,
here at Artrocker Towers we're more than a little excited about the launch of our new website today, have a butchers here. You'll find all the usual Artrocker delights plus some new blog action and all sorts of groovy stuff. Our thanks to Stephen and Emma, you've done a great job. Meantime there's lots of daft stuff going on right now. Let's start with the return of Black Grape : "It's great, it's interesting, it's part two. I've had a break and now I'm back to do it. Danny Saber and I have a great working relationship and the time is right". Says Mr Ryder. But is the time right? Could there ever be a time when this sounds like a good idea? And Download Festival have outlawed flags, maybe under the prevention of terrorism act, which seems to be used with wild abandon against everybody but terrorists: "They will be stopped at the entrance to the arena and anyone who breaks the rule will be ejected from the festival, it's a rule and if someone thinks they can be funny by smuggling in a stick up their ass then they should expect swift action." Of course, if somebody has a flagpole up their jacksy I'd say they'd probably seen all the action they could handle(!) for one day. And the week that we Artrockers got all excited about Lou Reed's return with his Metal Machine Music Trio we discover that he's been collaborating with Gorillaz...proving once again that heroes too have feet of clay. Reviews editor Ric Rawlins is interviewing Lou this week - he's a brave man. "Just don't mention Lester Bangs" was my advice: "Would you like to do the interview Tom?" was Ric's reply, but I was already out of the building and running hard. Chances are that this trio of his won't deliver the visceral noise of the original album, but it'll be interesting nonetheless. You can read Bangs on Metal Machine Music here.
Some say that MMM was simply a way of running out his contract with a double album of feedback, Lester and I disgaree, it might be noise to you but this Artrocker listens to it on a regualr basis. Why? Cos it's fantastic, and the logical conclusion to The Velvets obsession with 'The Drone'.
Laters.