Leicester Square Theatre photo gallery

Many thanks to photographer Stephen Wright for kindly letting use his excellent photos of The Durutti Column live at the Leicester Square Theatre on Sunday 31 January 2010.

The Review Show and other stories

It was a busy weekend for The Durutti Column as it began with Vini and Poppy playing live on The Review Show direct from the BBC's studio in Glasgow. Closing out a show on the theme of personal loss, they played a beautiful Duet With Piano from A Paean To Wilson.

The performance is on the BBC iPlayer until the end of the week and also on YouTube for those locked out of iPlayer delights by geographical restrictions.

Two days later in London Vin and Poppy hooked up with the rest of the band to play a sold-out concert at the Leicester Square Theatre in the heart of London's West End. The core of the performance was yet another reworked version of Paean but this time we were also treated to The Beggar, Sketch For Summer and Jacqueline as an interlude in the middle of the show.

With thanks to Bryn for photography.

A Paean To Wilson Buy It Now with Paypal

A Paean To Wilson live at the Lowry; soundcheck

The new album by The Durutti Column 'A Paean To Wilson' is officially released 24 January 2010 and is available now for 15.00 GBP (including Worldwide P+P) via the Kooky Buy it Now button.

The album is also be on sale via iTunes [UK] and the next opportunity to buy it in person will be at the Leicester Square Theatre in London this Sunday 31 January 2010. Tickets are still available via Ticketline and by calling the Box Office on 0844 847 2475.

Last Sunday's "Movement of the 24th January" gig at the Lowry in Salford was a great success. Stephen Dalton, in The Times, said:

"The late Anthony Wilson, Factory Records founder and notorious Mancunian motormouth, would have turned 60 next month. The virtuoso guitarist Vini Reilly paid understated homage to his old friend, manager and label boss in Salford with a rare live show to launch his latest album, A Paean to Wilson.

A gaunt and sinewy 56-year-old with an unruly orange-tinted mullet hairdo, Reilly could pass for a consumptive cousin of Ronnie Wood. Although portrayed as a fragile and depressive character, he is ironically one of the last original Factory insiders still standing after three decades of untimely deaths and career burn-outs."

Read the full review.

A Paean To Wilson Gig T-Shirts

Tickets are still available for the band's latest gigs at which they will be performing the magnificent work A Paean To Wilson which is released the same day.

The Movement of the 24th January, as it were, takes place at The Lowry in Salford on Sunday 24 January and the following weekend we are back in London at the Leicester Square Theatre on 31 January.

Tickets are still available for both gigs but get in there quick as they are selling fast - see links below.

Brand new "A Paean To Wilson live" t-shirts will be on sale at the gigs courtesy those Kooky Boys. Check out a sample of the imagery to the right - it's based on a painting by Bruce Mitchell's wife Jacqueline and features Tony Wilson and Bruce in silhouette.

Jesca Hoop is now confirmed as support for both gigs.

24 January 2010 - The Lowry, Salford Quays (Box Office: 0870 787 5790) [via Ticketline]

31 January 2010, The Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, London, WC2H 7B (Box Office: 0844 847 2475) [via Ticketline]

[NB the price in London will be £2 more on the door. Both venues sell tickets at their own box offices with no booking fee if paying in person in cash.]

A Paean To Wilson live competition

There was an overwhelming response to the recent competition to win tickets to see The Durutti Column live on Sunday 24 January and at the Leicester Square Theatre the following week on 31 January (with the added bonus of John Cooper Clarke and Frank Sidebottom on Saturday 30 January). Many thanks to everyone who entered. The lucky winners have been notified.

Meanwhile, Jesca Hoop has been confirmed as the support act for The Lowry.

Tickets for both gigs are still available online from Ticketline or by calling their 0161 832 1111 (24hr credit card hotline).

NB the price in London will be £2 more on the door. Both venues sell tickets at their own box offices with no booking fee if paying in person in cash.

24 January 2010 - The Lowry, Salford Quays (Box Office: 0870 787 5790) [via Ticketline]

31 January 2010, The Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, London, WC2H 7B (Box Office: 0844 847 2475) [via Ticketline]

Win tickets to see The Durutti Column live

A very Happy New Year to followers of The Durutti Column worldwide!

We kick off 2010 with a pair of competitions to win tickets for the upcoming Paean To Wilson gigs at The Lowry in Salford on 24 January and the Leicester Square Theatre in London's West End on Sunday 31 January.

As an added bonus in London we are also throwing in a pair of tickets to see John Cooper Clarke and Frank Sidebottom, at the Bloomsbury Theatre, on Saturday 30 January (i.e. the night before Durutti play - NOTE this is not at the Leicester Square Theatre as previously announced here).

Tickets for both gigs are available online from Ticketline or by calling their 0161 832 1111 (24hr credit card hotline)

NB the price in London will be £2 more on the door. both venues sell tickets at their own box offices with no booking fee if paying in person in cash.

24 January 2010 - The Lowry, Salford Quays (Box Office: 0870 787 5790) [via Ticketline on sale Monday 16 November 2009]

31 January 2010, The Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, London, WC2H 7B (Box Office: 0844 847 2475) [via Ticketline on sale Monday 16 November 2009]

All you need to do in order to enter is to send an email to me, John here at thedurutticolumn.com.

Please state in your email whether you wish to be entered into the draw for The Lowry in Salford on 24 January or The Leicester Square Theatre (John Cooper Clarke/Frank Sidebottom on 30 January and The Durutti Column on 31 January). Only one entry per person please. Competition closes at 22:00 GMT on Sunday 17 January 2010. The lucky winners will be chosen at random soon after and announced on Monday 18 January.

Good luck!

The Movement of 24th January

New Paean To Wilson gigs in Salford and London in January 2010.

Phil Jones and The Movement of 24th January presents
The Durutti Column

24 January 2010 - The Lowry, Salford Quays (Box Office: 0870 787 5790) [via Ticketline on sale Monday 16 November 2009]

31 January 2010, The Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, London, WC2H 7B (Box Office: 0844 847 2475) [via Ticketline on sale Monday 16 November 2009]

Tickets for both gigs available online from Ticketline or by calling their 0161 832 1111 (24hr credit card hotline)

NB the price in London will be £2 more on the door. both venues sell tickets at their own box offices with no booking fee if paying in person in cash.

Mail Order Latest News

A mail order update from Kooky Records:

Four Factory Records

The initial run has been sold. Unfortunately we have a few less than anticipated.

More copies will be available in the next ten days and we will start posting these the end of week commencing 19/10/09.

If you are one of the handful that has not been posted you will receive and email from me directly.

These will be identical in every way to the first run, i.e. six discs, art and inserts etc, but the envelope will not be hand numbered. I trust this is acceptable but should you have any queries relating to this or any other matter please contact me by email at philcleaver@btinternet.com

A Paean To Wilson

Many many thanks to all those people who bought a copy of this release on pre-sale at the Durutti show in London 09/10/09. Special thanks from Vini to those who travelled some considerable distance - Melbourne, Dunedin, Cape Town, Detroit, France, Spain, Leyton, Chiswick and Cheslyn Hay amongst others to be there!

We will be releasing this album at the end of January or early February 2010 through all good online and traditional stores. In the meantime I will be selling these on the Kooky site only early November. Please watch the website for more information as it is available.

Beyond The Durutti Column

A reminder that The Durutti Column play this Friday 9 October @ 9pm as part of Beyond the Loop, a season of modern contemporary and classical music curated by John Metcalfe, at Kings Place in London. This gig is now sold out.

However, it's still not to late to buy tickets for other Beyond The Loop concerts with this special ticket offer for Durutti Column ticket holders.

The John Metcalfe Band, featuring Andy Gangadeen on drums and the Sonic Science of Simon Richmond play on Thursday 8 October @ 7.30pm.

The Duke Quartet (featuring John Metcalfe on viola) play on Friday 9 October @ 7.30pm before The Durutti Column (@ 9pm). This concert sees them perform music from two of the pre-eminent composers of our time, John Cage and Kevins Volans. Why not double-up and go see the Dukes before the Duruttis?

Tickets for either The John Metcalfe Band or The Duke Quartet are available for just £6.50 each. To book simply visit www.kingsplace.co.uk, register or login and enter the promotional code "loop"* in the box provided.

* Note the promotional code must be entered at the login or registration stage to claim your discount.

Saver Seats for both gigs may also be bought at £6.50. The only difference is that your exact seat is not confirmed until the evening of the concert.

Beyond The Loop

There are still a few tickets available for The Durutti Column at King's Place on Friday 9 October 2009 as part of the Beyond The Loop season curated by John Metcalfe.

--

Beyond The Loop
October 7-10

"British mould-breakers blurring the edges of electronic and contemporary music"

Featuring: The Durutti Column | The Bays | Simon Hale | The Heritage Orchestra | The Duke Quartet | Plaid | Red Snapper | Ensemble Bash | Jon Hopkins feat. Davide Rossi | The John Metcalfe Band

Tickets from £6.50

King's Place

A Paean To Wilson: The Album

The Durutti Column - A Paean to Wilson; Tony Wilson and Vini Reilly

From kookydisc.co.uk:

Kooky Records is proud to announce the next album release by The Durutti Column will be the studio version of A Paean To Wilson which was premiered live at the Manchester International Festival in July 2009. This stunning instrumental suite was specially commissioned for the MIF and represents Vini Reilly's special personal tribute to Tony Wilson who died in August 2007.

As with the live line-up featured during those shows, The Durutti Column is again augmented by John Metcalfe and Tim Kellett on this full-length studio album.

This CD-only release will first go on sale at the King's Place concert on 9 October 2009 at which the band will again be playing A Paean To Wilson live. A general release will follow but the date for this has not yet been confirmed. Watch this space for more information. Tickets are still available for this gig via kingsplace.co.uk (including Saver Seats for a bargain £9.50).

The album package will include a bonus disc featuring the Heaven Sent (It Was Called Digital. It Was Heaven Sent) mini-album previously available as a digital download via Tony Wilson's F4 Records.

The Culture Show

If you missed it tonight on BBC2, you can catch up with The Culture Show featuring The Durutti Column via the BBC iPlayer. The programme is also repeated on BBC2 at 00:00 on 26 July.

The programme itself featured new interview footage with Vini Reilly, Keir Stewart and Bruce Mitchell, brief rehearsal footage which also featured Poppy Morgan and, interspersed amongst all that, short clips recorded on Wednesday 15 July at the first night of the recent 'A Paean To Wilson' concerts.

Beyond The Loop

The Durutti Column play King's Place (Hall One) in London on Friday 9 October with support from the John Metcalfe Band.

Tickets are available now priced 17.50, 14.50 11.50 and 6.50 (Saver Seat) [all in GBP].

The gig is but one highlight of the week long concert series 'Beyond The Loop' curated by one-time Durutti man John Metcalfe.

As well as masterminding everything and playing with his own band, John will make appearances with The Duke Quartet and with the The Bays, Simon Hale and The Heritage Orchestra to close proceedings on Saturday 10 October.

Live at The Town Mill, Mansfield, Fri 20 Mar 2009

The Durutti Column live at The Town Mill, Mansfield, Fri 20 Mar 2009; flyer


The Durutti Column live at The Town Mill, Mansfield, Fri 20 Mar 2009; flyer

The UK Winter Tour 2009 concluded last night at The Town Mill in Mansfield. A rather strange one this by all accounts.

The setlist was:

Wild Beast Tamed (with Poppy Morgan on piano)
Rainbows (with Poppy Morgan on piano)
Otis
Sea Lion Woman
Jacqueline
MIssing Boy
The Beggar
Requiem

Venue details

The Town Mill
Bridge Street
Mansfield NG181AN

Manchester International Festival 2009

The Durutti Column - A Paean to Wilson; Tony Wilson and Vini Reilly

UPDATED 20:00 - The Durutti Column will play this year's Manchester International Festival on three successive nights from Wednesday 15 to Friday 17 July 2009. The band will be playing a brand new, specially commissioned instrumental piece entitled A Paean to Wilson as a special tribute to Tony Wilson who died in August 2007. The performances will take place in the Pavilion Theatre tent in Albert Square in the city centre of Manchester.

The Durutti Column comprised of Vini Reilly, Bruce Mitchell, Keir Stewart and Poppy Morgan will be joined by special guest John Metcalfe.

Manchester International Festival is the world's first festival of original, new work and special events and takes place biennially, in Manchester, UK. The Festival launched in 2007 as an artist-led, commissioning festival presenting new works from across the spectrum of performing arts, music, visual arts and popular culture.

Tickets priced GBP 16.50 (9.00 concs) are on sale from Thursday 19 March at 15:00 GMT from mif.co.uk or by telephoning 0844 815 4960. No per ticket booking fee (transaction fee applies).

Live at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, Sun 8 Mar 2009

The Durutti Column live at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, Sun 8 Mar 2009; flyer

The Durutti Column continued their UK tour with a hometown gig on Sunday 8 March at The Deaf Institute in Manchester which is part of the Trof empire.

Support was from Gnod and their seven synths.

Re-live the gig via Twitter and Twitpic.

Setlist highlights: Vini & Poppy 1, More Rainbows, Otis, Sealine Woman, Gun, The Missing Boy, The Beggar, Requiem for my Mother, Untitled for You (1st encore), Albatross (2nd encore, Vini and Keir on drums, introduced as "my tribute to Peter Green, Pigeon")

Review at An Ideal for Living.

Live at Firestation Arts Centre, Windsor, Fri 27 Feb 2009

Live at Firestation Arts Centre, Windsor, Fri 27 Feb 2009; Vini Reilly

Full story of this excellent gig coming soon but meanwhile here's the setlist and you can relive the gig as it happened via my Twitter.

Wild Beast Tamed
More Rainbows
Otis
Woman
Jacqueline
"Vini solo" (guitar, sitting on stage)
The Missing Boy
The Beggar
Requiem for my Mother
--
Sketch for Summer
Untitled for You

Photos on Cerysmatic / Twitpic.

Live at Thekla, Bristol, Thu 26 Feb 2009

The Thekla is a ship which was converted into a live venue by Viv Stanshall back in the Sixties. It was the venue for the second of three nights in a row by The Durutti Column. More details to come but here's the setlist:

Wild Beast Tamed
More Rainbows
Otis
Woman
Jacqueline
The Missing Boy
The Beggar
Requiem for my Mother
--
Untitled for You

Live at Komedia, Brighton, Wed 25 Feb 2009

The Durutti Column Live at Komedia, Brighton, Wed 25 Feb 2009; Bruce Mitchell on drums

The Durutti Column began the most intensive part of the current tour (3 gigs in 3 nights - I realise this is nothing by usual touring standards but for The Durutti Column it going all out!) at Komedia in Brighton last night. A regimented approach saw them pretty much adhering to timetable all night from the unload right through to the close of play. Komedia's stage was deceptively roomy and with full backstage facilities quite palatial when compared to the spartan Baby Blue in Liverpool. The low entrance to the dressing room nearly took off your correspondent's head on more than one occasion though.

A quick but thorough soundcheck saw Vini indulge us with Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones riffs before a duet or two with Poppy Morgan. The full band ran through soundcheck staples Otis, Woman and Mother. After calling it quits Vini stuck around for a bit of ragtime jazz on piano. Everyone decamped upstairs for a bite to eat ahead of a 9pm stage time. Meanwhile a healthy crowd of punters assembled in the tables and chairs layout of the club.

As the clock turned nine, Vini and Poppy took the stage together (for a change). Vini made his introductions which were a variation on his usual theme of starting quiet and finishing very loud. "Thank you for coming out on a Wednesday to listen to our dodgy music". He also warned those in the front row of tables of the impending loudness. Talking about the songs Vini quipped "These are by... who are you again!?" to Poppy.

The full annotated setlist (notwithstanding a slight confusion over a possible extra track I missed between Otis and Woman) was:

Wild Beast Tamed (Vini and Poppy)
More Rainbows (Vini and Poppy)
Otis (Vini introduces Keir on bass & sampler and Bruce Mitchell "the only drummer even worth thinking about these days")
Woman (Long version with guitar and piano 'solos')
Gun (The story of Vini's life, according to Bruce)
The Missing Boy (a wag shouts "Come on!" and Keir responds "That's 'Come On', from our new album 'Get Out'")
The Beggar
Jacqueline (radically different sounding version, amazing)
Requiem for my Mother
--
Albatross (with Keir on drums)
Untitled for You

Hi to Bryn & co. Bryn's excellent photos are on his Twitpic and more will appear via my Cerysmatic Twitpic and the Official MySpace soon.

Also, check out Rob Orchard's Flickr Photostream.

You can also relive the gig via Twitter.com/cerysmatic and don't forget that I'll be covering more gigs.

The tour continues tonight at Thekla in Bristol and then tomorrow at the Firestation Arts Centre in Windsor (which is where I shall next be reporting from).

Live at The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, Sat 21 Feb 2009

The Durutti Column live at Brudenell Social Club 21 February 2009; flyer

And so they stumbled on into Leeds...

Yes, The Durutti Column played the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds on Saturday.

According to Alken on the Durutti Yahoo List, the gig followed the pattern of recent ones in London, Liverpool and Newcastle and was rather good. Support came from Pudsey's The Declining Winter. I have cribbed the setlist from his excellent review.

Gun (Vini solo)
Wild Beast Tamed (with Poppy Morgan)
More Rainbows (with Poppy Morgan)
Otis
Woman
Jacqueline
Sketch for Summer
The Missing Boy
The Beggar
Requiem for my Mother
--
"Albatross" - Vini solo
Untitled for You

Phil Kooky, writing on the Durutti Yahoo List, who attended the gig under yet another feeble ruse for selling his Kooky wares, said "Vini said to me a couple of years ago how he wanted and enjoyed playing as a band. Keir by his own admission feels far more comfortable nowadays playing bass, and I just think that the band is very relaxed at the moment... Vini also is totally amazed that people turn up at all!"

Check out Simon Webbon's photos at simonwebbon.com. Prints are available for sale.

Don't forget that I'll be reporting live via Twitter and Twitpic on tomorrow's gig from Komedia in Brighton.

Live at The Cluny, Newcastle, Thu 19 Feb 2009

The Durutti Column live at The Cluny, Newcastle, 19 February 2009

The Durutti Column tour machine rolled on into Newcastle-upon-Tyne last Thursday. Your correspondent could not be there but piecing together the reports on the Cerysmatic Factory Message Board and the Durutti Yahoo List it would seem to have gone down very well with those in attendance.

No complete setlist yet but there was an encore with a solo Vini followed by the return of the full band.

Check out David Wala's Flickr photostream for some excellent shots of the night's goings on. Great one of Vini rocking out at the end.

Live at Baby Blue, Liverpool, Monday 16 Feb 2009

The Durutti Column live at Baby Blue, Liverpool, Mon 16 Feb 2009 [photo: © Simon Whitehouse 2009]

The Durutti Column hit the road again on Monday at the Live Lounge @ Baby Blue in Liverpool's Albert Dock. Arriving slightly late due to a small confusion the band set up and soundchecked in double quick time. Nevertheless, the doors opened a full 45 mins late at 20:15. Solo guitarist Neil Campbell played a stunning instrumental support slot.

The Durutti Column set followed a similar pattern to the one aired last time out at Bury, the highlight being 'Sketch for Summer'.

Many thanks to Simon Whitehouse for the photo. For more photos and full on-the-spot coverage at Twitter / cerysmatic and Twitpic.

Stand by for more Durutti Tweeting next week from Brighton and Windsor.

Setlist

More Rainbows (Vini solo)
Gun (Vini solo)
Wild Beast Tamed (Vini and Poppy Morgan)
Between the Blade and Me (Vini and Poppy Morgan)
Otis
Sketch for Summer
Sea Line Woman
Jacqueline
Missing Boy
The Beggar
Requiem for Mother

Bruce Mitchell on drums

Check out this short YouTube clip which shows the full glory of the legend that is Bruce Mitchell on drums. The compilation clip was filmed by a member of the audience at the recent Bury Met gig.

2009 UK Tour Dates & Tickets Update

The Durutti Column live at Brudenell Social Club 21 February 2009; flyer

The Durutti Column UK Winter is off and running again a week today in Liverpool and following that in Leeds on Saturday 21 February. Thanks to the guys at the Brudenell for the great flyer which is displayed to the right.

I'll be going to several of the upcoming gigs on the tour and will be reporting live and direct via twitter.com/cerysmatic and via Twitpic (and this site too). First up: Liverpool.

The tour continues during February and March with tickets available via the usual outlets:

February

Mon 16 - Baby Blue, Liverpool [+ support from Neil Campbell, 12.00 GBP adv / 15.00 GBP door - Buy online]
Thu 19 - The Cluny, Newcastle [+ support from Chippewa Falls; Tickets 10.00 GBP adv, Buy online via from seetickets.com (+ booking fee / handling charge)]
Sat 21 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds [+ support from The Declining Winter, Tickets 10.00 GBP adv]
Wed 25 - Komedia, Brighton [12.00 GBP adv]
Thu 26 - Thekla, Bristol [Doors 7pm Curfew 10pm; Tickets 12.00 GBP adv, Tickets available from seetickets.com (+ booking fee / handling charge)]
Fri 27 - Firestation Arts Centre, Windsor [10.00 GBP adv, 9.00 GBP conc / 8.00 GBP member]

March

Sun 8 - The Deaf Institute, Manchester [10.00 GBP adv, Tickets available from Ticketline]
Fri 20 - The Town Mill, Bridge Street, Mansfield, NG181AN [10.00 GBP adv, Tickets available from TicketWeb]

Live at The Met, Bury - Saturday 31 January 2009

Vini Reilly (during encore 'Tomorrow') [Photo © Copyright David Crausby 2009]


Vini Reilly and Poppy Morgan (and Phil Cleaver in the background with camcorder)


Vini Reilly and Bruce Mitchell


Keir Stewart, Bruce Mitchell and Vini Reilly

The Durutti Column kicked off their Winter UK tour at The Met in Bury on Saturday 31 January.

Vini Reilly did a couple of solo numbers before being joined by Poppy Morgan on piano for a couple of guitar/piano duets before Keir Stewart and Bruce Mitchell joined Vini for the rest of the set which played out as follows:

Gun (Vini solo)
Rainbows (Vini solo)
Wild Beast Tamed (Vini and Poppy MORGAN)
Between the Blade and Me (Vini and Poppy MORGAN)
Otis
Sketch for Summer
Sea Line Woman
Jacqueline
Missing Boy
The Beggar
Requiem for Mother
--
Tomorrow [encore]

Thanks to David Crausby and Steve Aldcroft for the photos. More of David's may be found at his Flickr stream and more of Steves are on cerysmaticfactory.info).

The tour continues during February and March:

February

Mon 16 - Baby Blue, Liverpool [+ support from Neil Campbell, 12.00 GBP adv / 15.00 GBP door - Buy online]
Thu 19 - The Cluny, Newcastle [+ support from Chippewa Falls; Tickets 10.00 GBP adv, Buy online via from seetickets.com (+ booking fee / handling charge)]
Sat 21 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds [+ support from The Declining Winter, Tickets 10.00 GBP adv]
Wed 25 - Komedia, Brighton [12.00 GBP adv]
Thu 26 - Thekla, Bristol [Doors 7pm Curfew 10pm; Tickets 12.00 GBP adv, Tickets available from seetickets.com (+ booking fee / handling charge)]
Fri 27 - Firestation Arts Centre, Windsor [10.00 GBP adv, 9.00 GBP conc / 8.00 GBP member]

March

Sun 8 - The Deaf Institute, Manchester [10.00 GBP adv, Tickets available from Ticketline]
Fri 20 - The Town Mill, Bridge Street, Mansfield, NG181AN [10.00 GBP adv, Tickets available from TicketWeb]

Les Risques du Crépuscule

Some of the interesting things you'll see on a long distance flight; promo booklet front cover


Some of the interesting things you'll see on a long distance flight; photos of selected participating artists including The Durutti Column


Some of the interesting things you'll see on a long distance flight; promo booklet - tour itinerary

The 'Some of the interesting things you'll see on a long distance flight' Tour took place in February 1982 and featured a selection of artists who had recorded on or were connected with the Belgian record label Les Disques du Crépuscule (going under the moniker Les Risques du Crépuscule for this venture) including The Names, Winston Tong, Antena, Richard Jobson, Paul Haig and The Durutti Column. The tour played in Belgium, The Netherlands, France and finished in London at The Venue.

The tour was well documented with an original compilation released at the time on Crépuscule followed by various reissues, most recently on CD on the LTM label.

A souvenir programme was issued for the tour and several extracts are illustrated and transcribed here for your edification.

Tour itinerary

3.2.82
Brussels, Beursschouwburg
4.2.82
Amsterdam, Melkweg
5.2.82
Nijmegen, Dooruroosje
6.2.82
Antwerpen, Montévidéo
6.2.82
Brussels, Galerie Bilinelli
7.2.82
Brussels, Bloomdido
8.2.82
Leuven, Der Hallen
9.2.82
Paris, Bains-Douches
10.2.82
Paris, Bains-Douches
11.2.82
Lyon, ENTPE
12.2.82
Paris, Bains-Douches
13.2.82
Bordeaux, Alhambra
14.2.82
Poitiers, Amphithéâtre Descartes
16.2.82
London, The Venue

Credits

Illustration "La jeune fille et la mort" de Antoine Wiertz
Photos de Philippe Carly, Marc Portée, cvh et X
Design Claude Stassart et Joêl
Merci à tous ceux qui le méritent et plus particulièrement Michel Lambot, Dirk Vercruysse et Emmanuel de Buretel
Editeur responsible: "Les Risques du Crépuscule" asbl,
29, rue de Métal, 1060 Bruxelles

Description of The Durutti Column

French

Inutile de présenter ce guitariste prodige. Tantôt accompagné par son batteur Bruce Mitchell, tantôt esseulé avec la technologie, il nous jouera "Never Known", "The Missing Boy", "Weakness and Fever" et bien d'autres.

English translation

This guitar prodigy needs no
introduction. Sometimes accompanied by his drummer Bruce Mitchell, sometimes alone with technology. He'll be playing us "Never Known", "The Missing Boy", "Weakness and Fever" and lots of other stuff."

Transcript of poem

One has to move all the time,
shudder, shiver, run in all parts,
all muscles in action.
Some people love to stay quite and look
themselves grow as plants
Then there are plenty
of words and thoughts that come to assault them,
as a shower of boulders.
To stay quite is very dangerous.
You could get caught by the freeze of knowledge,
and from then on,
you could even become intelligent.
A night at dusk...
A belgian affair...
Do not try to foresee it.
It is going to move you without seduction...
Its images and music will pass
through your wintry harshness...
A novel to be watched and listened to...
A day-dream
scrupulously set up by musicians and visual artists

Live at The Venue, London, 6 April 1982

Live at The Venue; ticket [front]


Live at The Venue; ticket [back]

Live At The Venue, London is the legendary unofficial recording of a show back in April 1982 which ended up being released officially on the small VU label (and later reissued on CD by thedurutticolumn.com in association with Kooky).

Many thanks to Andrea Bianco for these scans of an ultra-rare ticket to the gig itself. We can see not only how cheap gigs were in those days but also the exact address of The Venue itself (now an Ask restaurant).

"The Venue

Durutti Column

on Tuesday, 6th April, 1982

Doors open at 7.30 p.m.
Tickets (inc. vat) £2.00

160-162 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5LB
Telephone: 01-828 9441/2/3 and 01-834 5500
Please retain ticket while you are on the premises

No admittance to persons under 18 years of age"

Use Hearing Protection

The Deaf Institute

A Manchester date has just been added to The Durutti Column's UK Tour for Winter. It's at The Deaf Institute on Sunday 8 March 2009. Ticket details are still to be confirmed.

Mansfield in March

The Durutti Column live at The Cluny, Newcastle, 19 February 2009

The Durutti Column have been confirmed to play The Town Mill in Mansfield on Friday 20 March.

Tickets priced 10.00 GBP are available now via TicketWeb.

Full UK tour details:

January

Sat 31 - The Met, Bury [10.00 GBP adv, 12.00 GBP door]

February

Mon 16 - Baby Blue, Liverpool [12.00 GBP adv / 15.00 GBP door - Buy online]
Thu 19 - The Cluny, Newcastle [+ support from Chippewa Falls; Tickets 10.00 GBP adv, Buy online via from seetickets.com (+ booking fee / handling charge)]
Sat 21 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds [+ support from The Declining Winter, Tickets 10.00 GBP adv]
Wed 25 - Komedia, Brighton [12.00 GBP adv]
Thu 26 - Thekla, Bristol [Doors 7pm Curfew 10pm; Tickets 12.00 GBP adv, Tickets available from seetickets.com (+ booking fee / handling charge)]
Fri 27 - Firestation Arts Centre, Windsor [10.00 GBP adv, 9.00 GBP conc / 8.00 GBP member]

March

Fri 20 - The Town Mill, Bridge Street, Mansfield, NG181AN [10.00 GBP adv, Tickets available from TicketWeb]

Newcastle date added to UK Tour

A date at the Cluny in Newcastle has been added to The Durutti Column's 2009 UK winter tour. More dates are still to be confirmed. The full latest details (including pricing info for Brighton, Bristol and Windsor) are as follows:

January

Sat 31 - The Met, Bury [10.00 GBP adv, 12.00 GBP door]

February

Mon 16 - Baby Blue, Liverpool [12.00 GBP adv / 15.00 GBP door - Buy online]
Thu 19 - The Cluny, Newcastle [10.00 GBP adv, Buy online via from seetickets.com (+ booking fee / handling charge)]
Sat 21 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds [10.00 GBP adv]
Wed 25 - Komedia, Brighton [12.00 GBP adv]
Thu 26 - Thekla, Bristol [12.00 GBP adv, Tickets available from seetickets.com (+ booking fee / handling charge)]
Fri 27 - Firestation Arts Centre, Windsor [10.00 GBP adv, 9.00 GBP conc / 8.00 GBP member]

2009 UK Tour Update

2009 UK winter tour update with prices

January

Sat 31 - The Met, Bury [10.00 GBP adv, 12.00 GBP door]

February

Mon 16 - Baby Blue, Liverpool [12.00 GBP adv / 15.00 GBP door - Buy online]
Sat 21 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds [10.00 GBP adv]
Wed 25 - Komedia, Brighton
Thu 26 - Thekla, Bristol
Fri 27 - Firestation Arts Centre, Windsor

A Tour for Winter

The first few dates of a 2009 UK winter tour by The Durutti Column have just been confirmed as follows:

January

Sat 31 - The Met, Bury [10.00 GBP adv, 12.00 GBP door]

February

Mon 16 - Baby Blue, Liverpool
Sat 21 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds [10.00 GBP adv]
Wed 25 - Komedia, Brighton
Thu 26 - Thekla, Bristol
Fri 27 - Firestation Arts Centre, Windsor

Full details including ticket prices and timings to follow.

The band is looking to add more dates around the rest of the UK including Manchester and Scotland. The band is looking to add more dates around the rest of the UK including Manchester and Scotland. Interested promoters and/or venue managers should contact Damian @ Brave Music Agency.

Crossing The Border

The Durutti Column live at Queen Elizabeth Hall 23 March 1989

This press advert from the NME (25 February 1989) advertises a gig on 23 March 1989 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank in London as part of The Third Crossing The Border Festival. This was billed as "The only London concert by The Durutti Column (and support act Cowboy Junkies)".

A later NME article (25 March 1989) on the Crossing The Border Festival itself contains an inset feature by Jonathan Romney on The Durutti Column which reads:

"While doggedly carving out his path on the wilder frontiers, Skini Vini Reilly has unexpectedly become hero to a generation of Mobophiles. Lest we forget his own personal crusade, he's spent the last 10 years skilfully crafting a form of ambient music that delivers on Eno's original agenda. On his new Factory opus, 'Vini Reilly', the formula is even more precisely pared down, with sampled opera vocals woven into Reilly's delicate mix.

"Live he can be that self-effacing he's been paired with Cowboy Junkies, the only band capable of making him look like Twisted Sister."

Crossing The Border ran from Thursday 23rd to Monday 27th March 1989 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and also the Town and Country Club. Other acts taking part included Abdel Aziz el Mubarak, Boiled in Lead and Flaco Jimenez.

Live at Two Venues

The band broke a considerable live silence in Manchester in October with a gig at The Ruby Lounge as part of In The City. This was followed up last week with another show, this time with Rodrigo Leão, at The Barbican as part of the Atlantic Waves season.

Vini, Bruce, Keir and Poppy also played a 3-song session comprising a Poppy Morgan / Vini Reilly piano/guitar duet, Woman and Requiem for My Mother, for BBC 6Music.

Meanwhile, Vini has been working on a new album which should see the light of day next year.