FAITHLESS - Wednesday 20 June
The rumour mill had it that Faithless were due to split up following their tour for 2004’s No Roots album, but the trio of Maxi Jazz, Rollo and Sister Bliss re-emerged last November with the album To All New Arrivals, sounding as vital as ever. The album was preceded by the single ‘Bombs’, the video for which caused some controversy thanks to its war-themed imagery.
Faithless, of course, have become one the most popular dance acts around over the last ten years, thanks to tracks such as ‘Insomnia’ and ‘God Is A DJ’. The group’s 2005 greatest hits collection Forever Faithless (the best selling dance album of that year) offers a fascinating overview of their career, which has been distinguished by a series of landmark singles, including ‘We Come 1’, ‘Muhammad Ali’ and ‘One Step Too Far’. Faithless remain one of the most powerful live acts in dance music.
Did you know?

• Rollo is Dido’s brother.
• Maxi Jazz is a keen car enthusiast and has appeared on the Sky motoring show Vroom Vroom to discuss his collection.
• Last year, Maxi raced a Porsche 997 in the UK Porsche Carerra Cup.
• Michael Stipe was a massive fan of the single ‘Insomnia’.
• Maxi guested on the Grammy-nominated album 1 Giant Leap (co-produced by ex-Faithless member Jamie Catto), singing ‘My Culture’ with Robbie Williams.

Essential Album: Reverence (1996)

ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS - Thursday 21 June
Antony And The Johnsons’ atmospheric brand of chamber pop has earned them a loyal fanbase, many of whom were particularly seduced by the baroque charm of 2005’s Mercury Prize-winning I Am A Bird Now. The group also have countless admirers amongst A-list artists, including Lou Reed, Bjork, Marc Almond, Kate Bush and Phillip Glass.
Mainman Antony Hegarty has certainly been keeping busy in recent times, singing backing vocals on both Joan As Policewoman’s 2006 album Real Life and Lou Reed’s first full live performances of Berlin, which took place in New York and Sydney. He also featured on two tracks, ‘Dull Flame Of Desire’ and ‘My Juvenile’, on Bjork’s recent album Volta, and duets with Marc Almond on ‘The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men’, set for inclusion on Almond’s forthcoming album Stardom Road.
A captivating live ensemble, Antony And The Johnsons will doubtless prove a favourite with Leeside audiences.
Did you know?

• Upon hearing Antony And The Johnsons’ EP I Fell In Love With A Dead Boy, Lou Reed immediately recruited Antony to sing on his Edgar Allan Poe-themed album The Raven.
• Reed, along with Rufus Wainwright and Boy George, is a guest vocalist on I Am A Bird Now.
• I Am A Bird Now was produced by noted film composer Thomas Newman, whose previous credits include the scores for American Beauty and The Shawshank Redemption.
• Antony performed ‘If It Be Your Will’ in the 2006 documentary Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man.
• Antony And The Johnsons’ eagerly anticipated third album is expected to be released in early 2008.

Essential Album: I Am A Bird Now (2004)

SLAYER - Tuesday 26 June
Remarkably, nearly a quarter of a century after their first album, the thrash metal kingpins’ career continues on an upward trajectory. Last year’s Christ Illusion album entered the Billboard Charts at No. 5, the group’s highest placing to date. The band also landed a Grammy earlier this year in the Best Metal Performance category for the record’s second single, ‘Eyes Of The Insane’.
Recent times have found the band visiting the Spandahlem US Air Force in Germany and making their first network TV appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! In addition to their performance at Live At The Marquee on June 26, this summer also sees Tom Araya and the boys playing at the UK Download Festival, the Switzerland Greenfield Festival and – the end is officially nigh – touring with Marilyn Manson. The band have also been engaged in an ongoing feud with fellow metal supremos Machine Head, whose singer, Robb Flynn, once opined that Slayer guitarist Kerry King had “eaten so many cheeseburgers his brain’s starting to clog up.” Well, it certainly makes a change from Blur Vs Oasis.
Did you know?

• ‘Eyes Of The Insane’ was included on the soundtrack to Saw 3.
• Slayer have long been an inspiration to authors and filmmakers; they feature at key moments in Dennis Cooper’s novel Try as well as cult movies River’s Edge and Gummo.
• Slayer were signed to Def Jam by legendary producer Rick Rubin, who is working on the next U2 album.
• The band’s landmark album Seasons In The Abyss was co-produced by Andy Wallace, who went on to mix Nirvana’s Nevermind.
• Before joining Slayer, Tom Araya worked as a respiratory therapist.

Essential Album: Seasons In The Abyss (1990)

THE WHO - Saturday 30 June
Roger Daltrey may have recently slammed this year’s Live Earth shows, but he and Pete Townshend will most definitely be present and correct for The Who’s Live At The Marquee show on June 30. The rock legends – whose current drummer is Ringo Starr’s son, Zak Starkey – are touring in support of their 2006 album, Endless Wire. A top ten hit in both the UK and the US, Endless Wire is The Who’s first full album of new material in almost quarter of a century, and contains songs on subjects as diverse as Stockholm Syndrome and Mel Gibson’s The Passion Of The Christ.
The Who have already sealed their place in rock lore as one the most incendiary live acts of all time, and they still put one hell of a show. Those who catch them Leeside can expect to rock out to classics like ‘Baba O’Riley’, ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ and, of course, ‘My Generation’. Get practising those windmills right now.
Did you know?

• Endless Wire contains The Who’s first mini-opera since ‘Rael’ on 1967’s The Who Sell Out.
• The Who’s Endless Wire tour has so far grossed $28m.
• Pete Towshend’s younger brother, Simon, plays in guitar in mod outfit The Casbah Club, who have been supporting The Who regularly on the Endless Wire tour.
• Roger Daltrey performed a specially commissioned song, ‘Highbury Highs’, following the final match at the stadium between Arsenal and Wigan in May 2006.
• Zak Starkey was invited to become a full member of The Who last November, but declined the offer.

Essential Album: Who’s Next (1971)

BELL X1 - Sunday 1 July
Having parted ways with Island Records earlier this year, Bell X1 will be releasing the follow-up to their Irish No.1 album Flock on a different label. In the meantime, to coincide with their summer gigs at Live At The Marquee and Malahide Castle, the group have announced plans to release a live CD/DVD, Tour De Flock, on their own imprint, BellyUp Records.
Bell X1 are also currently touring Europe with The Frames and their former Juniper band mate, Damien Rice, while Paul Noonan recently appeared on and co-produced the charity album The Cake Sale, alongside the likes of Gary Lightbody, Neil Hannon and Nina Persson. The group have recently added some new wave touches to their sound, with tracks like ‘Flame’ displaying a noticeable Talking Heads influence.
A band who inspire a communal atmosphere at their live shows, Bell X1 remain one of the most popular homegrown acts around.
Did you know?

• Paul Noonan was a childhood friend of Future Kings Of Spain’s Brian McMahon.
• Bell X1’s 2000 debut, Neither Am I, was produced by Nick Seymour of Crowded House.
• Tour De Flock was filmed at the band’s concert in the Point Theatre last December, their biggest headlining show to date.
• ‘Eve, The Apple Of My Eye’ from Music In Mouth was used in an episode of The OC.
• Bell X1’s cover of The Only Ones’ ‘Another Girl, Another Planet’ was utilised by Vodafone for their 2006 Christmas TV commercial in the UK.

Essential Album: Flock (2005)

STATUS QUO - Monday 2 July
Twenty-two years ago, Bob Geldof chose Status Quo to open Live Aid with ‘Rockin All Over The World’. Today, after 40 years in the business, nearly 30 albums and more hits in the UK than any other group in rock 'n' roll history (over 60), Status Quo are still going strong. Their distinctive heads-down guitar boogie tunes still command an ultra loyal fanbase, and Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt and co. remain a hugely popular live act.
18 months ago, Parfitt actually underwent tests for throat cancer, but was thankfully given the all clear. Since then, the Quo have performed in the Children In Need comedy feature ‘How clean is you gig?’, which saw dynamic dusting duo Kim and Aggie investigate the group’s tour bus, and have also recorded material for their forthcoming album In Search Of The Fourth Chord, due for release in September.
Let’s face it, any band can who sing “Well giddy up and get away” (as the Quo memorably did on ‘Rockin All Over The World’) are deserving of our respect. And, yes, Francis and Rick still do that thing where they talk in the middle of a song and pretend they can hear each other.
Did you know?

• In September 2005, a contestant on Mastermind chose Status Quo as his specialist subject.
• lso in 2005, the group took part in a Coronation Street storyline which involved them being sued by Les Battersby, and performing live at his wedding as compensation.
• Status Quo and the Man Utd football squad had a No.1 single in 1994 with ‘Come On You Reds’, a reworked version of the Quo song ‘Burning Bridges’.
• Status Quo are credited as co-writers of the Death In Vegas song ‘Scorpio Rising’, which has an almost identical melody and chord sequence to ‘Pictures Of Matchstick Men’.
• Ozzy Osbourne, backed by goth metal outfit Type O Negative, covered ‘Pictures Of Matchstick Men’ for the Howard Stern biopic Private Parts.

Essential Album: Whatever You Want (1979)

THE FLAMING LIPS - Thursday 3 July
The Flaming Lips’ 2006 album At War With The Mystics was their most commercially successful yet, cracking the UK top ten and also hitting No. 11 on the Billboard charts. For good measure, Wayne Coyne and co. also recently bagged two Grammy awards for the album. Rarely has a band been so richly deserving of the widespread acclaim that the Oklahoma psych-rockers have been enjoying of late.
Lips fans will also be delighted to hear that the group are set to release a live DVD this July. Titled UFOs At The Zoo: The Legendary Concert In Oklahoma City, the concert film includes tracks from all eras of the group’s career to date. The inclusion of a segment entitled ‘The Mothership Descends’ also acknowledges the P-Funk influence on the Lips’ new stage design. Indeed, Flaming Lips live shows are always spectacular affairs, featuring fur suits, balloons, puppets, giant hands, confetti and video projections, all of which – combined with the group’s immaculate back catalogue – makes Wayne Coyne and the boys one of the hottest tickets at Live at the Marquee.
Did you know?

• West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin is currently adapting The Flaming Lips album Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots into a Broadway musical.
• Oklahoma City honoured The Flaming Lips in December by naming a downtown alley after the band.
• In 2005, the band performed at “floating festival” Xingolati, which is held on board a Carnival cruise ship in the Pacific Ocean.
• The Lips’ long-awaited sci-fi movie Christmas On Mars is finally expected to be released some time in 2007.
• The band wrote a song especially for The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.

Essential Album: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002)

50 CENT - Wednesday 4 July
50 Cent hits the road this summer to promote his third album, Curtis, which is released on June 25. With Dr. Dre and Eminem as executive producers, the album also features collaborations with Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, Mary J. Blige and Timbaland with Justin Timberlake. Fiddy has stated that Curtis will be just as aggressive as his previous hit albums, Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ and The Massacre.
Not a man to stand still, the rapper has also been broadening his creative horizons. After starring in the Jim Sheridan-directed, semi-autobiographical film Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ and making a cameo appearance in The Simpsons, Fiddy is currently working on The Dance with Nicholas Cage, and is set to star opposite Robert De Niro next year in New Orleans, a movie regarding a police death.
He has also completed work on the film Home Of The Brave, about a soldier returning home from the Iraq War, as well as launching his own video game, clothing line, production company and publishing imprint. And with superb tracks like ‘In Da Club’, ‘P.I.M.P.’ and ‘Just A Lil Bit’ to call upon, the hardest working man in hip-hop is also likely to be one of the highlights of Live At The Marquee.
Did you know?

• The movie Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ was written by Terence Winter, one of the main writers on The Sopranos.
• 50 Cent currently resides in a mansion in Connecticut formerly owned by Mike Tyson
• The hip hop star co-wrote a novel, The Ski Mask Way, which is expected to be turned into a movie later this year.
• Fiddy has worked with beverage company glaceau in the development of a low-calorie, natural drink called Formula 50.
• He has also launched a condom line and plans to donate part of the proceeds to HIV awareness.

Essential Album: The Massacre (2005)

MADNESS - Thursday 5 July
Suggs may have forged an impressive career for himself as a TV and radio presenter, but he’s still entertaining audiences as frontman with evergreen ska-pop collective Madness. In recent times, the band have been working with White Stripes producer Liam Watson on their first album of new material in eight years, which is due for release this summer. The omens are good, with the single ‘Sorry’ having been Top 30 hit in the UK in March.
Madness have continued to be an influence on new bands over the years, with acts like Blur and No Doubt frequently expressing their admiration for the group. Last summer at the Reading Festival, drummer Dan Woodgate joined Franz Ferdinand onstage to perform the song ‘The Outsiders’. This year Madness will also be performing alongside acts like The Arctic Monkeys and The Stranglers at the Isle Of Man TT Race, the famed motorcycle racing event which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2007. With a back catalogue that includes such pop classics as ‘It Must Be Love’, ‘One Step Beyond’ and ‘House Of Fun’, Madness are a live act not to be missed.
Did you know?

• In 2005, Madness toured a number of the UK’s forests and woodlands in conjunction with the Forestry Commission.
• Limited edition live albums were released of all the band’s performances on their 2006 UK tour.
• Madness’ 2005 covers album, The Dangermen Sessions, Vol.1, featured reworkings of songs by artists like The Supremes, The Kinks and Bob Marley.
• Last year, Suggs performed the Madness classic ‘My Girl’ with the Ordinary Boys at the Brixton Academy.
• Morrissey once asked Madness’ backing singer and dancer Chas Smash to be his manager, although Smash declined the offer, saying, “I didn’t fancy having to iron his socks.”

Essential Album: One Step Beyond…(1979)

CHRISTY MOORE - Saturday 7 July
One of the true legends of Irish music, Christy Moore has enjoyed an intriguing couple of years. In 2005, his song ‘Don’t Forget Your Shovel’ was referenced in Nizlopi’s UK number one single ‘The JCB Song’. Last October found the Newbridge man perform an impromptu set before 50 or so people at the legendary An Goilin traditional singers club in Dublin, while the following month Christy performed at the festival marking Ballymun’s inception as Ireland’s first Fairtrade Town.
2004, of course, also saw Moore performing with the reformed Planxty to considerable acclaim. Fittingly, the singer is likely to be among the contenders for the title of Ireland’s greatest living musician, a one-off honour which will be presented as part of the People of the Year Awards. A spellbinding performer with a whole host of classic songs to draw from, Christy Moore is one of the all-time greats of folk and traditional music.
Did you know?

• Bono and The Edge co-wrote and contributed backing vocals to Christy’s 1995 single ‘North & South Of The River’.
• Following in the footsteps of Johnny Cash, Christy has covered the Nine Inch Nails song ‘Hurt’.
• Planxty are one of ex-Pavement singer Steve Malkmus’ favourite bands.
• In the 2004 Nirvana boxset With The Lights Out, Kurt Cobain is seen playing in front of a Christy Moore poster at an in-store performance in Tower Records.
• Christy’s debut album, Paddy On The Road, released in 1969, was recorded with Dominic Behan, brother of Brendan.

Essential Album: Ride On (1984)

ELTON JOHN - Monday 9 July
Elton John recently celebrated his 60th birthday in some style, performing for a record breaking 60th time at Madison Square Gardens and releasing the greatest hits collection Rocket Man – Number Ones. Also, in March, the singer’s entire back catalogue – nearly 500 songs from 32 albums – became available for legal download.
Last year also saw John collaborate with the Pet Shop Boys on the song ‘In Private’ and co-write the Scissors Sisters’ smash hit single ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’’. Indeed, the artist formerly known as Reginald Dwight continues to be an inspiration to a new generation of artists, with Brandon Flowers of The Killers, for example, recently telling Hot Press that “when Elton first listened to ‘Read My Mind’, he said it reminded him of the first time he heard ‘Space Oddity’.”
Elt has recently expressed interest in making a hip-hop album, stating that “I want to work with Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West and Eminem and just see what happens. It may be a disaster, it could be fantastic, but you don’t know until you try.” In any event, his show at Live At The Marquee is unlikely to be anything other than a cracker.
Did you know?

• In 1976, Elton fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming chairman and director of his beloved Watford Football Club.
• A long-time tennis enthusiast, John wrote the song ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ in tribute to his friend Billie Jean King.
• He is the godfather of David and Victoria Beckham’s son Brooklyn.
• The Le Dome restaurant on Sunset Strip in Hollywood is co-owned by the singer.
• Elton has collaborated with artists as diverse as Leonard Cohen, George Michael, John Lennon, Paul Young and David Gilmour.

Essential Album: Honky Chateau (1972)

LIONEL RICHIE - Wednesday July 11
A veritable soul and pop legend, Lionel Richie shot to fame in the ‘70s when his band The Commadores scored huge worldwide smashes with the likes of ‘Machine Gun’, ‘Easy’, ‘Three Times A Lady’, ‘Sail’ and ‘Lady (You Bring Me Up)’.
Opting to go solo in 1981, he was soon repeating the trick with the eponymous Lionel Richie and Can’t Slow Down albums, which between them sold over 12 million copies.
His Live At The Marquee show will feature all of the American’s classics, plus new songs from 2006’s Coming Home album, which marked a return to his funk roots.
Did you know?

• Lionel wrote ‘Ballerina Girl’ for his adoptive daughter Nicole Richie.
• He’s a top 5 act in Iraq.
• In 1983, the governor of Alabama declared October 29 ‘Lionel Richie Day’.
• The fictional metal band Deathtongue have a song called ‘Let’s Run Over Lionel Richie With A Tank’.
• He test-drove a Suzuki Liana on BBC Two’s Top Gear programme.

Essential Album: Can’t Slow Down (1983)
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