Dec 01 2003
We're back. Really back. It's been two years since we Smalltalked like this and that's far too long. And we've got plenty to bend your ear about too, so let's get down to business. The simple fact is that in and around d:world we've had personal highs and lows, moments of certainty and plenty of waiting for whatever's next on the menu. And here it is: the real deal right now is the album, the band's follow-up to 2000's 'Touch'/'Audiolessonover?'. Having spent most of the year so far in the studio, the band are getting ready for an almighty round of show and tell. Read carefully and you finish this Smalltalk with all the vitals you need to make sure that you're first in line with the knowledge about this fantastic new recording.
Hot Seat
Over the last 12 months the band played 35 gigs. Not their highest number - for that stat you've got to go back to the summers of 2000 thr ough 2001 when they notched up a whopping 110 live shows. These days the band get to be a little mor e 'ef ficient' by playing bigger gigs, and this last year's total cr owd was an impr essive 300,000. However , when we nailed the lads down and asked them to say which was their favourite, it seems that size isn't always everything…
Jon: The Camden Underworld. 28th January 2003, This gig was soaked in excitement from the minute it was announced. After many lengthy conversations with a major record label it was time for a 'show case'. The idea was to convert the label to the sounds of D: and consummate the relationship with a record deal. Eleven months on we are left scratching our heads to what really happened with the label but what we are sure of is that the small, dark, hip, beer soaked, London club had never experienced anything like the night of the 28th before. At the end of the night the
venue manger was heard saying the words, 'It was like having Wembley stadium in my club!'
Stew: The Camden Underworld. 28th January 2003. Big isn't always beautiful.... London's Camden Underworld was by far my best gig of the year, not the largest, in fact the smallest show that we have done in a few years but one that was super charged with excitement and passion. 10/10 for sweat and commitment.
Stu G: South Africa tour (and another one) I'm sorry but I need to mention two gigs. The first being on our tour in South Africa - I think it was the Durban show that sticks out for me. We'd never been to South Africa as a band and it was great to experience a new culture and make some new friends. The thing I remember most is how great the audience was! It was also brilliant to visit the Hope HIV work in Soweto. The other gig I enjoyed most of all was the "Underworld" showcase in Camden. It reminded me of my first gigs in the 80's - small but really vibey . I can't
wait to go back later this year!
Tim: I've never been one to put all my eggs in one basket and having to pick one gig above all the rest I find an impossible task. However, a few highlights for me this past year included the Hillsong conference in Australia this July, where the corporate participation from over 20,000 people was dramatically moving, then there was a brief visit to Sweden in June, where I remembered being welcomed with hospitality fit for a king, followed by a night heavy with the Almighty's presence. Lastly, I can't sign off without mentioning the night at the Underworld in Camden. The best things often come in small packages and being face to face with so many friends was truly one of this years great memories.
Martin: One of my best gig moments this year was playing at the Hillsong conference in Sydney, Australia.
There were 20,000 people rammed into the Olympic super dome and the atmosphere was electric. I remember standing there looking out seeing so many nations represented and realising these people were singing our songs at the top of their voices as though their life depended on it. It was exhilarating, humbling and reverent all at the same time, something I will be grateful for for ever and can imagine telling my future grand children about!
Newsround
One of the highlights of the year has to be the filming and airing of the 30 minute documentary on the band. Filmed throughout the early part of the year , the film covered the band in plenty of detail: from recording in the studio to gigging in America, from hanging ar ound in the office to, um, hanging around in various airports. Aired in March to viewers throughout the UK's south coast, 'The Frame' showed the band as relaxed, confident and content. It was all good.
Christmas Gigs
Well, you know that seeing the boys live is often a bit of a treat, and bearing in mind how well the last gig at the Camden Underworld went down we thought we’d pack up the Christmas sledge to the max this year . So we did, booking out the 500 capacity north London venue for four consecutive nights in December. Within days the 2000 tickets had gone, but the Christmas cheer is still tanked up: the band have announced that they’ll be playing a unique matinee performance at the Camden Underworld on Saturday 20th December . In true seasonal style this one is open to all the family, but just don’t ask which one of the band gets to be Widow Twanky .
For more information, as ever, go to tour dates or call 01243 558444
d:news
MP3 Free Downloads. The Autumn kicked off with a couple of heavyweights breaking out of the studio gym and using their skills of persuasion on an unsuspecting world audience. Taken from the latest album, ‘World Service’, these two puppies known as ‘Majesty (Here I Am)’ and ‘Rain Down’ went free to all on www.mp3.com on October 1st and November 1st respectively. Thousands of downloads were logged, sending both into the worldwide top 40, with ‘Majesty’ peaking at 15 and Rain Down kicking off at 28. Both tracks took up squatters’ rights as they dominated the top positions of the Guitar Rock charts for weeks. Want to know what others think of it? We stalked Soul Survivor's Tim Hughes and got his take on 'Majesty'. Here goes...
'The song has a chorus that is great to sing. At times you want to scream it out, at times you want to quietly reflect on it. The thing that I love most are the lyrics. "Empty handed but alive in your hands." It captures so much on such an important theme - grace. The King of Majesty welcomes us in and pours his love upon us. We don't deserve it but He delights in doing it. The church needs more songs that respond to this truth.'
Discography 2002/3
At the time of writing the whole crew at Furious are taking it a little easy. Slackers? No way, in fact this brief pause exists in order to allow the people to catch their breath after what has been a kind of crazy year. Here's a break down of all the releases that Furious have punted out since the summer of 2002:
'Touch' - North American and Canadian version of 'Audiolessonover?'
'Libertad' - Spanish language re-working of classic early gems.
'Access:d' - the ultimate live recording. One tin, two cds.
'Archive:d' - the indispensable guide to all things visual: the only DVD you'll ever need.
Merch
Those design boys have a tough life. When they're not flicking through endless piles of magazines searching for 'inspiration' they're thinking about t shirts and stuff. Still, it all seems to be working as this year's new range of ts, sweats and hoodies is fresh back from the manufacturer. Believe me, this stuff is looking seriously fine and after a huge crush at the Furious stalls over the summer festivals we've got fresh stock available on the web site. Have a look for yourself… d:store
The naming of things.
The boys’ latest album finally got dubbed ‘World Service’, but it took a while. There were lots of alternatives placed on the table over the months of recording, and all but one got swept off in time. Rumour has it that somewhere there’s a list of alternatives with slightly less than constructive criticisms added on by Mssrs Burton (live sound) and Hutch (visuals).
Still, settling on 'World Service' made perfect sense. As you know, the band are all about spreading the loud message and painting the big picture, and 'World Service' ties in nicely with the way things are right now… global, determined, intent on listening to God and happy to take their place, wherever that may be.
D:competition
Remember the Take Me Away video? Surely the wildest the band have ever looked, yes? Well, if 'wild' is the word, then surely the double chocolate chip of the whole feast has to be Stew's ‘Over The Top’ glasses. Made by Oakley and costing quite a few earth pounds, these puppies were the key players in Stew's wardrobe of the time. And now he's lost them. Well, kind of lost them - you see, we've nicked them from him and have decided that it's time for Christmas to come early. So we're giving them away to one of you lot. But how to decide? Simple: the person who sends in the best limerick gets the shades.
Email your ditties to: info@furiousrecords.co.uk - subject headed ‘d:limerick’ by 31st December and we'll publish the winning entry on the web site within a month.
Majesty
We have, shall we say, ‘borrowed’ Stu G’s note book from a corner of the studio and uncovered what can only be described as the original roughs for the new song Majesty. This is what we found...
Feature
It's been almost a year since we started writing the songs for 'World Service'. Of course we didn't have a clue that it would be named that but were simply intent on writing a collection of words and melodies that went deeper than we'd ever gone before. The studio sessions were intense but exhilarating as we sensed early on that this wasn't going to be just 'another album'. The life of Delirious? has definitely had its twists and turns of late but we have been graced again with music that you can feel God smiling at. It is going to be a labour of love to tour the world with these songs and to be a part of Gods 'World Service' See you on the terraces.
tour dates
The boys are just itching to get out and play all this new material to you, so as well as the Christmas gigs in London there will be exclusive Delirious? appearances in:
UK - Camden Underworld, 5 shows 17-20th December 03
UK - Cambridge Junction 22nd January 04
UK - Bristol Academy 23rd January 04
UK - Northampton Roadmender 24th January 04
UK - Birmingham Academy 29th January 04
UK - Dunfirmline - The Vine 30th January 04
UK - Liverpool Cathederal 31st January 04
Pre-order
Because we're nice we're giving you an exclusive opportunity to get your hands on your copy of ‘World Service’ at the earliest possible opportunity. If you're living outside of the USA the album's out on December 15th. Pre order it today and you not only get it first, but you also get it cheaper... Here's the deal: Buy the regular jewel case (that's the standard plastic case that your regular cds come in and that break so nicely) for £10 saving yourself £2. If you're feeling flush, why not splash out and get hold of the limited edition special packaging version - a weird and wonderful product of the design boys' geometric side. Featuring intricate leaves that open up to form the definitive ‘World Service’ satellite, this is more than a thing of beauty…it’s another great bargain. You can get it for the discounted price of £12 - saving £3 on the regular price. Isn't that festive?
Hot Seat
Over the last 12 months the band played 35 gigs. Not their highest number - for that stat you've got to go back to the summers of 2000 thr ough 2001 when they notched up a whopping 110 live shows. These days the band get to be a little mor e 'ef ficient' by playing bigger gigs, and this last year's total cr owd was an impr essive 300,000. However , when we nailed the lads down and asked them to say which was their favourite, it seems that size isn't always everything…
Jon: The Camden Underworld. 28th January 2003, This gig was soaked in excitement from the minute it was announced. After many lengthy conversations with a major record label it was time for a 'show case'. The idea was to convert the label to the sounds of D: and consummate the relationship with a record deal. Eleven months on we are left scratching our heads to what really happened with the label but what we are sure of is that the small, dark, hip, beer soaked, London club had never experienced anything like the night of the 28th before. At the end of the night the
venue manger was heard saying the words, 'It was like having Wembley stadium in my club!'
Stew: The Camden Underworld. 28th January 2003. Big isn't always beautiful.... London's Camden Underworld was by far my best gig of the year, not the largest, in fact the smallest show that we have done in a few years but one that was super charged with excitement and passion. 10/10 for sweat and commitment.
Stu G: South Africa tour (and another one) I'm sorry but I need to mention two gigs. The first being on our tour in South Africa - I think it was the Durban show that sticks out for me. We'd never been to South Africa as a band and it was great to experience a new culture and make some new friends. The thing I remember most is how great the audience was! It was also brilliant to visit the Hope HIV work in Soweto. The other gig I enjoyed most of all was the "Underworld" showcase in Camden. It reminded me of my first gigs in the 80's - small but really vibey . I can't
wait to go back later this year!
Tim: I've never been one to put all my eggs in one basket and having to pick one gig above all the rest I find an impossible task. However, a few highlights for me this past year included the Hillsong conference in Australia this July, where the corporate participation from over 20,000 people was dramatically moving, then there was a brief visit to Sweden in June, where I remembered being welcomed with hospitality fit for a king, followed by a night heavy with the Almighty's presence. Lastly, I can't sign off without mentioning the night at the Underworld in Camden. The best things often come in small packages and being face to face with so many friends was truly one of this years great memories.
Martin: One of my best gig moments this year was playing at the Hillsong conference in Sydney, Australia.
There were 20,000 people rammed into the Olympic super dome and the atmosphere was electric. I remember standing there looking out seeing so many nations represented and realising these people were singing our songs at the top of their voices as though their life depended on it. It was exhilarating, humbling and reverent all at the same time, something I will be grateful for for ever and can imagine telling my future grand children about!
Newsround
One of the highlights of the year has to be the filming and airing of the 30 minute documentary on the band. Filmed throughout the early part of the year , the film covered the band in plenty of detail: from recording in the studio to gigging in America, from hanging ar ound in the office to, um, hanging around in various airports. Aired in March to viewers throughout the UK's south coast, 'The Frame' showed the band as relaxed, confident and content. It was all good.
Christmas Gigs
Well, you know that seeing the boys live is often a bit of a treat, and bearing in mind how well the last gig at the Camden Underworld went down we thought we’d pack up the Christmas sledge to the max this year . So we did, booking out the 500 capacity north London venue for four consecutive nights in December. Within days the 2000 tickets had gone, but the Christmas cheer is still tanked up: the band have announced that they’ll be playing a unique matinee performance at the Camden Underworld on Saturday 20th December . In true seasonal style this one is open to all the family, but just don’t ask which one of the band gets to be Widow Twanky .
For more information, as ever, go to tour dates or call 01243 558444
d:news
MP3 Free Downloads. The Autumn kicked off with a couple of heavyweights breaking out of the studio gym and using their skills of persuasion on an unsuspecting world audience. Taken from the latest album, ‘World Service’, these two puppies known as ‘Majesty (Here I Am)’ and ‘Rain Down’ went free to all on www.mp3.com on October 1st and November 1st respectively. Thousands of downloads were logged, sending both into the worldwide top 40, with ‘Majesty’ peaking at 15 and Rain Down kicking off at 28. Both tracks took up squatters’ rights as they dominated the top positions of the Guitar Rock charts for weeks. Want to know what others think of it? We stalked Soul Survivor's Tim Hughes and got his take on 'Majesty'. Here goes...
'The song has a chorus that is great to sing. At times you want to scream it out, at times you want to quietly reflect on it. The thing that I love most are the lyrics. "Empty handed but alive in your hands." It captures so much on such an important theme - grace. The King of Majesty welcomes us in and pours his love upon us. We don't deserve it but He delights in doing it. The church needs more songs that respond to this truth.'
Discography 2002/3
At the time of writing the whole crew at Furious are taking it a little easy. Slackers? No way, in fact this brief pause exists in order to allow the people to catch their breath after what has been a kind of crazy year. Here's a break down of all the releases that Furious have punted out since the summer of 2002:
'Touch' - North American and Canadian version of 'Audiolessonover?'
'Libertad' - Spanish language re-working of classic early gems.
'Access:d' - the ultimate live recording. One tin, two cds.
'Archive:d' - the indispensable guide to all things visual: the only DVD you'll ever need.
Merch
Those design boys have a tough life. When they're not flicking through endless piles of magazines searching for 'inspiration' they're thinking about t shirts and stuff. Still, it all seems to be working as this year's new range of ts, sweats and hoodies is fresh back from the manufacturer. Believe me, this stuff is looking seriously fine and after a huge crush at the Furious stalls over the summer festivals we've got fresh stock available on the web site. Have a look for yourself… d:store
The naming of things.
The boys’ latest album finally got dubbed ‘World Service’, but it took a while. There were lots of alternatives placed on the table over the months of recording, and all but one got swept off in time. Rumour has it that somewhere there’s a list of alternatives with slightly less than constructive criticisms added on by Mssrs Burton (live sound) and Hutch (visuals).
Still, settling on 'World Service' made perfect sense. As you know, the band are all about spreading the loud message and painting the big picture, and 'World Service' ties in nicely with the way things are right now… global, determined, intent on listening to God and happy to take their place, wherever that may be.
D:competition
Remember the Take Me Away video? Surely the wildest the band have ever looked, yes? Well, if 'wild' is the word, then surely the double chocolate chip of the whole feast has to be Stew's ‘Over The Top’ glasses. Made by Oakley and costing quite a few earth pounds, these puppies were the key players in Stew's wardrobe of the time. And now he's lost them. Well, kind of lost them - you see, we've nicked them from him and have decided that it's time for Christmas to come early. So we're giving them away to one of you lot. But how to decide? Simple: the person who sends in the best limerick gets the shades.
Email your ditties to: info@furiousrecords.co.uk - subject headed ‘d:limerick’ by 31st December and we'll publish the winning entry on the web site within a month.
Majesty
We have, shall we say, ‘borrowed’ Stu G’s note book from a corner of the studio and uncovered what can only be described as the original roughs for the new song Majesty. This is what we found...
Feature
It's been almost a year since we started writing the songs for 'World Service'. Of course we didn't have a clue that it would be named that but were simply intent on writing a collection of words and melodies that went deeper than we'd ever gone before. The studio sessions were intense but exhilarating as we sensed early on that this wasn't going to be just 'another album'. The life of Delirious? has definitely had its twists and turns of late but we have been graced again with music that you can feel God smiling at. It is going to be a labour of love to tour the world with these songs and to be a part of Gods 'World Service' See you on the terraces.
tour dates
The boys are just itching to get out and play all this new material to you, so as well as the Christmas gigs in London there will be exclusive Delirious? appearances in:
UK - Camden Underworld, 5 shows 17-20th December 03
UK - Cambridge Junction 22nd January 04
UK - Bristol Academy 23rd January 04
UK - Northampton Roadmender 24th January 04
UK - Birmingham Academy 29th January 04
UK - Dunfirmline - The Vine 30th January 04
UK - Liverpool Cathederal 31st January 04
Pre-order
Because we're nice we're giving you an exclusive opportunity to get your hands on your copy of ‘World Service’ at the earliest possible opportunity. If you're living outside of the USA the album's out on December 15th. Pre order it today and you not only get it first, but you also get it cheaper... Here's the deal: Buy the regular jewel case (that's the standard plastic case that your regular cds come in and that break so nicely) for £10 saving yourself £2. If you're feeling flush, why not splash out and get hold of the limited edition special packaging version - a weird and wonderful product of the design boys' geometric side. Featuring intricate leaves that open up to form the definitive ‘World Service’ satellite, this is more than a thing of beauty…it’s another great bargain. You can get it for the discounted price of £12 - saving £3 on the regular price. Isn't that festive?
