NEWS

“End Titles”
Written and produced by Robert Del Naja and Neil Davidge
Lead Vocals by Robert Del Naja
Backing Vocals and Guitars by Neil Davidge
Mixed by Lee Shephard
Robert Del Naja appears courtesy of Virgin Records Limited
Published by BMG Music Publishing Limited
(thanks to Richard-PC)

26th January 2005

Tsunami Benefit: Second date confirmed
If you were one of the people disappointed that you couldn't get your hands on the Tsumani gig at the Academy, then don't despair. There will be a second night with the same band line-up, on the day after the first gig. Organiser Adrian Utley told BBC Radio Bristol's Keith Warmington programme that the response left them little choice but to plan for the second date.
"I kinda thought we'd do okay - we thought we'd sell out, but it has been ridiculous. It's brilliant, in the same way that everyone has got involved and helped us out has been amazing. There's been a deluge of willing people."
He added that there may also be some surprises in store for fans who make it to the second date.
"We are going to do a second night of playing at the Academy, with the same line-up. There will be a few tiny changes. We are trying to raise £100,000, but I think we are going to go over that because now we are doing two nights."
Adrian added that the webcast, which will be available for a month after on-demand, will also be important.
"The most important thing we're doing is the live webcast, which for £4.50 you can watch live. I think we could make a lot of money because that's worldwide, and we're getting our record companies in America to do as much promotion on that as we can."
The gig will also feature t-shirts for sale designed by Bristolian artist Banksy.
Sale details for the tickets have yet to be announced - watch this space for more information.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2005/01/26/tsunami_seconddate_feature.shtml

19th January 2005

Robert Del Naja has revealed the forthcoming collaboration gig with Portishead to raise money for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami was the result of friends acting together. The collaboration in aid of tsunami victims will not be a one-off show. Massive Attack and Portishead will be performing together on stage for the first time in a charity show set to take place at the Carling Academy next month. Speaking about how it came about Robert Del Naja, also known as 3D, said: "John Stapleton was talking to Oxfam about fund-raising and he mentioned something to Geoff Barrow of Portishead, and Geoff called me. We are doing this by our own choice, on our own initiative. We got together as friends and decided to do this together. It has been a matter of pulling people in from all directions to help out with things like sound, lighting, production, promotion and organisation. We have been working on it for a few weeks and already the response we have had is great. Before the tsunami happened, we were looking closely at supporting work in Africa with all the political instability and humanitarian issues involved there. It is just so distressing to see what happens in impoverished countries when natural or political disasters strike. The region hit by the tsunami is the area which needs a lot of attention at the moment, which is why we have chosen to support it."
The musician also says the unique concert will be one of several events that the friends are hoping to organise during the year to raise money. He said: "A webcast is also due to go out on the night, which people will pay to view and get access to coverage of events beyond the night, and we are hoping that will raise a lot of revenue. A lot of special guests do not want it to be announced because they want it to be a surprise on the night. We are aiming to be working with Oxfam throughout this year and are thinking about a second show, particularly towards the end of the year, as a follow-up to this one. We have done this sort of thing in the past with Red Cross and Greenpeace and if you do just one event the cause fades in people's minds. So rather than making it a one-off show, we are going to do, different things throughout the year to keep it going. With the DJ event, webcast, auction and merchandise we are hoping to raise about £100,000 by the end of the year. That amount would be really great."
Other artists who could be playing alongside the two bands are Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant, The Coral and other special guests. All proceeds from the tickets, which will cost £30 each, are going directly to Oxfam which is providing essential water and sanitation relief to the region affected by the disaster. The Academy is donating the venue free of charge and the door staff and club workers are also forfeiting their wages for the night. All sound and electrical equipment will also be loaned for free.
Talking about the night, Robert said: "It won't be the same sort of production that any of us have done during the last few years. It will be a semi-unplugged session with a mix and match of musicians. It will be experimental, fairly ramshackle and rough-and-ready."
The performance will take place on February 19. Tickets go on general sale next Monday and will cost £30 each. They can be purchased by calling the Bristol Ticket Shop on 0870 4444400. Alternatively, visit www.ticketshop.co.uk.

16th January 2005

Massive Attack and Portishead In Concert for Tsunami Crisis
On Saturday February 19th a fund-raising concert in support of Oxfam’s work to help people affected by the Tsunami Crisis in Asia featuring Massive Attack and Portishead will take place at the Bristol Academy.
This unplugged concert will be unique, not only because it is the first time that Massive Attack and Portishead have ever shared a stage, but many of the artists, which include Robert Plant and The Coral, will perform together. More special guests will be added to the line up in the coming days.
All proceeds from this event will go to support Oxfam’s life-saving humanitarian response in Asia. Tickets are priced at £30 and will be available through the Bristol Ticket Shop on 0870 4444 400 or www.bristolticketshop.co.uk from Monday January 24th. The event will be web-cast live and can be viewed, along with more information on the whole event at www.crisisinasia.com
The gig is part of a series of events starting on Saturday February 12th with a DJ night at the Bristol Academy featuring Aspects (live), Babyhead (live) Boca 45 (Grand Central) Daddy G (Massive Attack), Geoff Barrow (Portishead) John Stapleton (BlowPop) Stereo 8 (Fingerlickin’)
On Saturday February 19th there will also be other fundraising events across Bristol including an alternative live concert at The Thekla featuring local bands The Blue Aeroplanes, The Heads and Gonga as well as an acoustic night at The Louisiana with acts to be confirmed shortly.
Oxfam is helping to reach more than 600,000 people affected by the tsunami crisis with water, sanitation, food, shelter and other essential relief items. The £30 ticket price could buy an emergency shelter for people who have lost their homes or 5 hygiene kits which will help prevent the spread of disease.
The concert will also support the Make Poverty History campaign, which calls for action by world leaders on the wider issues of poverty, highlighted by the tsunami. Poor people are often the most vulnerable in this kind of catastrophe. And while the tsunami came without warning, we already know that 30,000 people will continue to die every day from the effects of poverty unless we take action now

15th January 2005

MASSIVE ATTACK and PORTISHEAD are teaming up for a charity gig in BRISTOL.
The two bands will appear live at the Bristol Academy (February 19) at a fund raising concert in aid of the Tsunami crisis.
Organisers say that the concert will be a "unique performance", and will feature collaborations on the night. This is also the first time the two bands have shared a stage, and a very rare performance from Portishead, who haven’t released a studio album since 1997.
More very special guests are to be announced shortly.
All proceeds from will go to Oxfam, who are organising water and sanitation relief in the crisis area.
Ticket details will be announced next week, although NME.COM understands discussions are underway to webcast the gig. A website has been set up at crisisinasia.com

14th January 2005

I must recommend The String Quartet Tribute to Massive Attack, which intensely portrays their existential vitality demonstrated in a trancelike, harmonious sound. The cinematic flavorings of the violin, viola and cello constructs powerful and hypnotic versions of such stand-out classics “Teardrop”, “Karmacoma”, and “Protection” and more.I was surprised - there are some interesting interpretations here - hooked on classics this ain't!
massiveattack.thetributeto.com