The Fat Angel Sings

The Doors will kick off their 60th anniversary in 2025 with a new anniversary logo, a series of physical releases, an anthology book, and more.

According to Rhino Records, which is spearheading the anniversary campaign that was announced on October 2024, here’s a rundown of what fans can expect: Firstly a 6-LP high-fidelity audio set featuring all six of the band’s original studio albums cut from the original analogue master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio—“The Doors 1967-1971” via Rhino.

A new book “The Doors Anthology” from Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger Titled Night Divides the Day, will be made available for pre-order and available in early 2025.

The Doors’ first-ever complete anthology book Night Divides the Day will illuminate the band’s archives like never before with rare photography, intimate interviews with Robby Krieger and John Densmore, and meticulously sourced archival text from Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek. With unlimited access granted by the band, Night Divides the Day includes a unique collection of historical ephemera—including childhood photos, song lyrics, poster artwork, movie stills, and much more—which adds context to the wealth of rare photography that documents the band’s musical odyssey.

“Joining Robbie and John are a host of contributors, with a foreword by Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, and afterword by maestro Gustavo Dudamel. The anthology is presented in a limited-edition of only 2,000 numbered boxed sets, each hand-signed by Densmore and Krieger. Each set includes the 344-page signed edition, a 7-inch vinyl record with rare demos of ‘Hello, I Love You’ and ‘Moonlight Drive,’ and other assorted historical memorabilia.”

“The Doors 1967-1971” 6-LP set will arrive as the latest installment in Rhino’s acclaimed High Fidelity audiophile vinyl series on November 22nd, featuring all six of the band’s original studio albums cut from the original analogue master tapes . The vinyl was pressed at Optimal Media and the box includes a heavyweight gatefold jacket featuring rare photos and liner notes by Doors archivist David Dutkowski. Only 3,000 copies of the limited-edition set will be available exclusively at thedoors.com and rhino.com.

According to the announcement from Rhino: In the Summer of 1965, Ray Manzarek had a chance encounter on Venice Beach with Jim Morrison, a young poet whom he knew when they were both students at UCLA’s film school. Jim told Ray he had been living on a friend’s rooftop writing songs. Though Morrison had never intended to be a singer, he sat down on the beach and sang the new songs to Ray, including ‘Moonlight Drive.’ Manzarek thought they were the best rock and roll lyrics he’d ever heard. At that moment, they both agreed to start a rock band and call it the Doors, taking their name from Aldous Huxley’s psychotropic monograph The Doors of Perception and William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.

Guitar player Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore, who’d played together in the Psychedelic Rangers, were recruited soon thereafter. After months of rehearsals, they landed a gig as the house band at a small Sunset Strip club called the London Fog. By May 1966, they had graduated to their dream gigas the house band at the Whisky a Go Go. Soon after, Elektra Records president Jac Holzman and producer Paul A. Rothchild saw the band performing at the Whisky and signed the Doors to the label.

Over the course of a week, the Doors recorded their debut album at Sunset Sound Recording Studios in Hollywood, putting on tape the songs they had been playing night after night at the Whisky. With an intoxicating, boundary-pushing sound, provocative and uncompromising lyrics, and mesmerizing stage presence, The Doors would go on to have a transformative impact on both music and culture.”

Also to be released recording of “The Doors—Live in Detroit” This will arrive on 4-LP vinyl for the first time ever for 2024’s Record Store Day Black Friday.

The Doors performance from Cobo Arena, 8th May, 1970 is available on 4-LP vinyl for the first time. Captured during the band’s “Roadhouse Blues” Tour, it was one of the band’s longer shows. In fact, the band played for an hour past curfew and were banned from the arena on future tours. The fiery set includes a number of Blues covers, including “I’m a King Bee”, “Back Door Man”, Junior Parker’s “Mystery Train” and “Crossroads” by Robert Johnson.

The Doors also tear through 17 minute-plus versions of “The End” and “When The Music’s Over“, as well as an over 19 minute version of “Light My Fire” and other rare tracks such as “Love Hides” and “Dead Cats, Dead Rats”. This collection captures the band at an absolute zenith.

RELEASE DATE: 29th November 2024

Released recently in 2023 out of Europe. The couple of shows, however, are new recordings. First one up is one from Washington State “Wipeout” is a 2 LP set that comes in a nice gatefold with a picture of the band included. The vinyl that comes with the set are a beautifully clear colour and they look stunning.

The 2 LPs carry a different a show for each. On album 1, we get the Spokane Washington show that was performed on July 24rd, 1984. This would’ve been after the release of their 1984 album, ‘Slide it In’, which came out on January 30th, 1984. The show was at the Spokane Coliseum and had the line-up of David Coverdale, John Sykes, Richard Bailey guitars, Neil Murray bass and Cozy Powell on drums. A stellar line-. They opened for Ronnie James Dio so not a long set list and it is all captured . The recording was an FM Radio Broadcast.

On the second album , The show that was recorded on March 1st, 1984 and was another FM Radio Broadcast (I’m sure this was a Radio One In Concert series. recorded at the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow, where they were the headliner with Great White opening. The full show is 16 tracks so we don’t get the whole show, but we do get 5 tracks at least. If you want the full show, pick up the “Slide It In” Super Deluxe Edition as Whitesnake issued it officially in that box set. I believe this show would include Jon Lord as he left the band in April. 

It’s been more than half a decade since Korean-American singer-songwriter Minji began the solo project The Hidden Shelf without much intentions of sharing her songs to her social circle. In recent days, she no longer finds herself as reliant on the natural secrecy of her work.

Hailing from the Greater Philadelphia Area and now based in Washington, D.C., Minji returns with a third album, for which she sought to become more open, comfortable, and vulnerable with her sound. “Brighter Days Are Ahead of You!” reflects her continued explorations of who she is, what she wishes to give and can’t give to others, and the uncertainties in between.

releases October 18, 2024

All songs written, played, recorded, and produced by The Hidden Shelf

“Prelude to Ecstasy” Covers and Acoustics’ on a 2-disc limited edition Amber vinyl, housed in a beautiful gatefold sleeve featuring new artwork. This edition features the critically acclaimed studio album plus curated acoustic versions and covers.

After the release of their “flamboyant, fun and totally distinct” debut album ‘Prelude To Ecstacy’, The Last Dinner Party have been busy showing people just why there was so much hype around the group with a number of euphoric, urgent festival performances. They owned Glastonbury, made themselves at home at Reading & Leeds and have even started work on album number two. 

Now, the newly-crowned monarchs of baroque-pop are gearing up for their biggest ever UK headline tour. The 23-date run is sure to be a celebration of everything the band has achieved so far, but it could also allow a glimpse into what comes next. 

Indigo De Souza has released a surprise three-song EP, marking her Loma Vista Recordings debut. It’s called “Wholesome Evil Fantasy”, and its tracks are appropriately titled “Wholesome,” “Evil,” and “Fantasy.” .

“These songs come from the spiciest, most goofy, glitter gloss place in my psyche. I wasn’t really thinking very hard when I wrote them. I was just having so much fun.” De Souza said of “Wholesome Evil Fantasy” EP in press materials.

She continued: I am continuously inspired by the sounds and energy brought by my collaborators, Elliott Kozel and Jesse Schuster. They are always making me laugh and bringing out the silliest version of me. I would not have discovered this new space without them. Listening to these songs fills me with gratitude for the playful musical connection we have, as well as everlasting friendship. My baseline existence can be pretty heavy and complicated, but these songs made me deeply joyous the whole time I was working on them.

De Souza is throwing two dance parties to celebrate the new EP. The first will occur in Los Angeles, in October with the other taking place in De Souza’s hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, . The Los Angeles party will feature DJ sets by Harmony, Succubus, and Azure.fm, while WiFi Mommy, Boys_Camp, and Oragami will man the decks in Asheville. De Souza will host both events.

Interpol celebrates the 20th anniversary of their iconic sophomore album, “Antics”, first released on September 27th, 2004. the release comes with a live recording of a 2005 show in Mexico City and the B-side “Direction” complete the reissue, 

Interpol have released a new reissue of “Antics” for its 20th anniversary. The new version, released via Matador Records, comes with a full live album and film included a live recording of a 2005 show in in Mexico City in 2005, along with the new-to-streaming B-side “Direction.” Limited vinyl editions will follow in 2025, The Mexico City show will also be uploaded to YouTube in full, watch a cut of “Slow Hands” .

Released in 2004, “Antics” cemented Interpol’s position as one of the most influential bands of their generation. The album’s dark, atmospheric soundscapes and frontman Paul Banks’ signature vocals spawned iconic tracks such as ‘Slow Hands,’ ‘Evil,’ and ‘C’mere’ and “Antics” continues to resonate with fans worldwide, solidifying its place as a modern classic.

Formed in New York City, Interpol quickly rose to prominence with their unique blend of post-punk, shoegaze, and dark wave influences. Their debut album, “Turn on the Bright Lights”, became a critical and commercial success, establishing the band as a major force in alternative music. Over the course of their career, Interpol have released seven critically acclaimed studio albums including “The Other Side of Make-Believe” in July 2022.  

The band is about to head out on a tour of North America and Europe, playing the album.

Florist are back with a new song. “This Was a Gift” follows the New York quartet’s self-titled 2022 album. Listen to the track below. Florist have also announced a handful of October and November concerts.

In a press release, Florist singer Emily Sprague said, “‘This Was a Gift’ is a love song about enduring difficult seasons of life with the people that we keep close.” She continued, “It is a musical push and pull that mirrors and describes the process of becoming vulnerable to heartbreak and loss that leads to the acceptance of eventual endings and appreciation of community.

The band developed and grew with this song over the course of two years of live touring before committing it to recording, further deepening the roots of its meaning.”

In 2021, Steve Miller once again dug deep into his archives and found a never-before-heard-or-seen, full-length concert recording from 1977. “Steve Miller Band Live! Breaking Ground: August 3rd, 1977”, featuring such classic rock staples as “The Joker” and “Rock’n Me,” arrived via Sailor/Capitol/UMe.

The recording captures Miller’s legendary 1977 line-up at the beginning of the band’s turn from playing ballrooms and theatres to arenas and football stadiums.

Of the performance, the guitarist, multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter, bandleader, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and Songwriters Hall of Fame member says, “This show at the Cap Center in Landover, Maryland, captures the band right at the peak after “The Joker“, and in the middle of “Fly Like an Eagle” and “Book of Dreams”, a stream of hit [album]s… We decided to call it “Breaking Ground” because that’s exactly what we were doing.”

“Steve Miller Band Live! Breaking Ground: August 3rd, 1977 includes original liner notes by music journalist David Fricke who says – “Breaking Ground” captures the Steve Miller Band on stage in one of their biggest years, 1977. They were at a perfect crossroads of psychedelic zeal and progressive, popcraft while staying true to Miller’s first love, the blues.”

Miller’s “The Joker” became his first (of three) #1 singles, when it reached the top of the Hot 100 on Jan. 12, 1974. The album was recorded on multi-track tape and newly mixed and mastered by Miller and his veteran audio engineer Kent Hertz.

Michael Stipe & Jason Isbell performed at the ‘Get Out The Vote’ Concert/Rally at Schenley Plaza at the University of Pittsburg, Pittsburg, PA. Stipe and Isbell were introduced by Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff, and Stipe, ahead of ‘The One I Love’, said: “It’s been a while since I’ve sung these songs, 16 years in fact, but I’m really happy to be here with Jason and with the soon-to-be First Gentleman ever of the United States of America,”

A 4 song acoustic set, with ‘The One I Love” & ‘Driver 8’, with Michael on lead vocals & Jason on acoustic guitar & backing vocals, & Michael sang backing vocals on Jason Isbell’s two songs. The two musicians collaborated on Isbell’s ‘Traveling Alone’ from 2013 album ‘Southeastern’ and ‘Hope The High Road’ from Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s ‘The Nashville Sound’ from 2017.

(Last time Michael sang ‘Driver 8’ was in Lima, Peru on 14 November 2008)

Set: The One I Love / Traveling Alone / Hope The High Road / Driver 8

 R.E.M. recently shared ‘We Are Hope Despite The Times’, a digital compilation of songs to mark National Voter Registration Day.

The compilation features 18 hand-picked R.E.M tracks by the band from their career-spanning discography, highlighting themes of activism and social responsibility. The songs include ‘World Leader Pretend’, ‘Fall On Me’, ‘Welcome To The Occupation’, ‘Drive’, ‘Finest Work Song’, ’Turn You Inside-Out’, ‘Pop Song ’89’, ‘Stand’ and ‘Its the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)’.

The Sherlocks return with a brand-new album following the release of last year’s “People Like Me and You” – representing a bold evolution intheir sound,the record was the best set of their career to date.

On the first single from the album, ‘Death Of Me’, The Sherlocks capture the excitement of their live energy.

Over recent years The Sherlocks have become one of the most exciting live bands in the UK. Selling out tours across UK and Europe, the band have also achieved chart success with x3 Top #20 albums. Yorkshire brothers Kiaran and Brandon Crook joined up with band members Alex Proctor and Trent Jackson. With an incredibly passionate, loyal fan base, their fans have followed the band’s journey from pubs/clubs to selling out venues out all across the world, as well being asked to tour in arenas/stadiums with the likes of Liam Gallagher, Kings Of Leon, Kaiser Chief, The Libertines and many more.

On the first single from the album, ‘Death Of Me’, The Sherlocks capture the excitement of their live energy.