David Gilmour: September 2007 Archives

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September 28, 2007

Competition winners

The winners of yesterday's 24-hour contest are as follows:

- Borders exclusive 'Remember That Night' DVD (with Abbey Road mini-poster): Lorraine (for 'Tantastic').

- Best Buy exclusive 'Remember That Night' DVD (with three-track AOL Sessions CD): Pete from Germany (for 'Powerful').

- 'Remember That Night' programme from the UK & Europe premiere, plus a choice of any other listed prize: Tom (for being the only person to opt for 'Sincere', hence the extra prize).

- 'Backstage' pass from UK & Europe premiere: Andrew McHarg (for 'Magical'... and we'll throw in a programme, too, as the pass alone looks a bit rubbish).

- Promo CD, as issued to radio stations: Jessica (for 'Personal').

A bonus prize also goes to Tom B, for introducing us all to the word 'Tantastic'. Thanks for that, Tom.

Congratulations to all six of you. Please let us know where we should send your prizes and they will be winging their way to you next week.

By the way, voting for the BT Digital Music People's Choice Awards ends on Sunday. If you wish to cast a vote for us in the Best Music Blog and/or Best Official Music Site categories, please do.

We know that some of you have been voting religiously since we first told you about the awards, and we greatly appreciate your doing so.

Thank you, all, for your time and support.

That's all for another week. Have a good weekend, everyone.

Yes, that annoying pink button will be gone by Monday...

Posted by Features Editor at 4:30 PM | Comments (99)

September 27, 2007

24-hour contest

We've got some awesome Gilmour-goodies knocking about the management office, looking for a good home, so what better way to dish them out than to run a completely random contest?

We've got a copy of the awesome exclusive DVD package that's currently available in Borders stores (available only in the US, containing a rather nice Abbey Road mini-poster); the US-only DVD exclusive from Best Buy, complete with awesome three-track CD from the AOL Sessions (we'll check that the DVD works first, don't worry); an awesome programme from the UK & Europe premiere - as seen on eBay (this was available in UK cinemas only, it seems); an awesome (well, that's a slight exaggeration) 'backstage' pass from said premiere; and a rare (and truly awesome) promo CD, issued only to radio stations in the run-up to the DVD's release.

Five prizes, five winners, so all we need now are five adjectives, as used by you, to describe the awesome 'Remember That Night' DVD.

As you are likely to come up with the same ones, especially if you cheat and look back over recent posts, names will be pulled out of an imaginary hat. Whoever matches the most adjectives to my list of five will go into this awesome 'hat'.

They can be the most over-used, the most annoying, or the most unusual. You have to guess.

Please get your entries in by 3PM (UK) tomorrow, no excuses. Only one entry per person, as always (that's one list of five adjectives, please). We'll let you know who has won what tomorrow.

Good luck, all.

Quick update on the position of 'Remember That Night' in the Music DVD charts... It's now Number One in Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United States.

Awesome, I'm sure you'll agree.

Posted by Features Editor at 3:00 PM | Comments (221)

September 26, 2007

Australian DVD release

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: ANOTHER DATE (27/09/07)

Sony have decided that 'Remember That Night' will now be in shops in Australia on Saturday 29 September, and not today, as they originally said (well, originally it was supposed to be last Saturday, of course).

Apologies for the obvious disappointment and inconvenience that this confusion has caused.

Third time lucky, as they say?

As promised, here's another of Polly's barn shots, along with a reminder to fans in Australia that 'Remember That Night' is released tomorrow - Thursday 27 September.

Apologies for the delay. We were expecting it to be in the shops on Saturday. We hope you find that it was worth waiting for.

We told you on Monday that 'Remember That Night' is already Number One in Italy and the UK. It's now sitting pretty at the top of the Music DVD charts in Austria and France, as well.

The chatroom is closed today, but will be open tomorrow from 11AM (UK). Everyone's welcome, but please don't come bounding in, hollering about where you can find the extra extras. You'll find yourself swiftly escorted off the premises, with a ban, if you do.

The DVD is still new to many fans, so please respect their wishes to stumble upon any hidden secrets in their own time. Thank you.

Please see the calendar for details of future chat sessions.

Posted by Features Editor at 4:31 PM | Comments (90)

September 25, 2007

Barn photos

Now that the 'Remember That Night' DVD is out in most parts of the world (apologies to fans in Australia for the delay), we thought you might like to see some of Polly's photographs, taken during a few days of random jamming, back in February of this year.

If you've seen 'Island Jam 2007' amongst the DVD extras, you'll be familiar with the setting for many a band jam. This is where the new 'Island Jam' recording stems from: messing about with musical instruments in the Gilmour family home (or barn, to be more precise).

Starting today, there will be a series of shots from these sessions showing David, Richard, Phil, Stevie and Guy.

Simply click on the image to see a larger version.

Please note that these photos are not even the slightest bit suggestive of a new album or tour. They were taken in February, the result was the version of 'Island Jam' that's found on the DVD, and that's about it.

We hope you like them, anyway.

Posted by Features Editor at 3:48 PM | Comments (82)

September 24, 2007

DVD charts

David's new live DVD, 'Remember That Night', is rocketing up the European DVD charts. It's already at Number One in Italy and the UK, Number Two in Belgium, and Number Three in Holland and Ireland.

Well done, David!

We hope fans in Australia have had a chance to see at least some of the DVD, which was released on Saturday. We look forward to hearing your thoughts. The same goes for fans in New Zealand and South Africa, where 'Remember That Night' was released today.

Our chatroom will be open on Thursday and Friday this week. Please see the calendar for details.

Posted by Features Editor at 3:28 PM | Comments (132)

September 20, 2007

Carbon neutral DVD

David's live DVD, 'Remember That Night', released this week (on Saturday in Australia; New Zealand and South Africa on Monday), is carbon neutral. That is to say, carbon neutral from the production process, right down to how it is distributed.

This means that attempts will have been made to restore the natural carbon dioxide balance in the atmosphere by using environmentally-friendly manufacturing, minimising carbon emissions and offsetting any 'unavoidable' residue.

As many of you will have seen by now, the DVD is packaged in card, with only one plastic tray used to carry the discs.

In our attempts to cut back on the use of plastics, we have broken with industry tradition with both the Blu-ray and the HD-DVD packaging, by being the first not to use the standard, all-plastic Amaray box. Card and paper versions have been used instead.

In conjunction with Future Forests, the founding agency behind CarbonNeutral, and now The Carbon Neutral Company, this is an ecological initiative designed to combat global warming.

They measure and reduce excessive carbon dioxide in the environment, compensating for the amount of CO2 produced through 'unavoidable emissions', such as driving, flying, manufacture and electrical production. They are also involved through forestry sponsorship and 'technology switch' projects.

In short, the amount of carbon dioxide produced in the manufacture of the DVD is neutralised through re-forestation and the implementation of energy saving technologies.

All the carbon dioxide created from producing, and distributing, the DVD will be replaced by oxygen from newly-planted trees.

'On An Island' was also carbon neutral - the first CD released by Columbia Records to be manufactured under environmentally-responsible CarbonNeutral guidelines, in fact.

David was also insistent that 'Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd' be carbon neutral, helping to create new forests in India, Mexico, Scotland and the USA.

Just as it's very easy - if not somewhat fashionable right now - to be blasé about the issue of global warming, it would be just as easy to overlook how crucial it is that musicians, such as David, consider more sensible, ecologically-sound ways of presenting and distributing their art.

A standard CD's jewel case contains an awful lot of plastic, hence the album's cardboard case and lack of the traditional spindle hub to engage the disc. Environmentally-friendly inks were also used throughout, and the package was finished with a water-based lacquer.

Cardboard also weighs a lot less than plastic: a typical plastic case, with insert, weighs about 80g without the CD, whereas a typical cardboard wallet weighs just 25g (minus disc).

Cynics may scoff that this will not change the world overnight and, indeed, it is very difficult to offset the plastic used in the manufacturing of CDs and DVDs, hence the additional financial donations made by David and his record companies to help offset their emissions.

However, with current levels of greenhouse gases higher than at any time in the past 650,000 years, and eminent scientists agreeing that something clearly has to be done to try and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that we are all putting into the atmosphere, this is certainly something.

Just thought you might like to know, as we certainly consider it amongst The Important Stuff.

Posted by Features Editor at 9:57 AM | Comments (146)

September 18, 2007

Your DVD views

David's new double-DVD, 'Remember That Night', is released in Canada and the United States today, meaning that it is now available all over Europe (except for Finland and Sweden, where it is released tomorrow) and North America.

What do you think of it? We want to know your thoughts on everything from the packaging to the concert, the documentaries to the... other things.

It is released in Australia on Saturday and New Zealand and South Africa on Monday.

Fans in Brazil, Mexico and Japan will have to wait a little longer for it, sadly. Please see our calendar for all release dates.

Don't forget that David will be on Steve Wright's BBC Radio 2 show today. David will be chatting to Steve at about 4.25PM (UK), and you can all listen online. Please see yesterday's entry for a how-to.

Posted by Features Editor at 2:16 PM | Comments (215)

September 17, 2007

DG on BBC and ITV

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: RADIO 2 TOMORROW

We've just heard that David will now be on Radio 2 tomorrow, not today. So, that's Steve Wright's show, tomorrow, from 2PM (UK).

We've really enjoyed your musings on Saturday's North American premiere. If you were involved, we want to hear from you.

We've two things for you all to enjoy today:

1. David on Steve Wright's BBC Radio 2 show from 2PM (UK).
2. David on ITV's London Tonight from 6PM (UK).

It doesn't matter where in the world you are, as everyone can enjoy these online.

If you are in the UK, then you can find Radio 2 at 88-91 FM. If that's too old-fashioned for your liking, then you could listen via DAB digital radio, digital satellite (Sky, channel 0102), digital cable (Virgin, channel 860 or 902, depending on whether you are an ex-NTL or ex-Telewest customer) or even Freeview (channel 702).

If you're listening online, you can listen live by clicking Listen in the top-right corner or by clicking the more forthright LISTEN in the suitably coloured 'On An Island' blue box to the right of the page. That opens up the BBC Radio Player, which gives you the option to listen with Real Player or Windows Media Player, if you prefer.

If you can't listen live, there is always the handy 'Listen Again' feature, which allows you to replay the programme as many times as you like for a period of seven days following the original broadcast. This can be activated by opening the BBC Radio Player, as directed above, and choosing your desired show from a considerably long list.

A quick note to fans in the USA about tomorrow's DVD release...

DVDs from Best Buy and Borders stores contain extra goodies.

Select DVDs from Best Buy will include a three-track audio CD of the AOL Sessions. The songs are 'On An Island', 'Take A Breath' and 'High Hopes'. The CD comes in a cardboard sleeve which is inside the DVD's shrink-wrapped packaging.

The Borders DVD package includes a mini-poster. This shows David at Abbey Road, with the band onstage behind him and green lasers. The poster's size is approximately four-times the size of the DVD booklet. This can be found inside the (shrink-wrapped) DVD case.

Look out for stickers announcing the exclusive extras on the front of the DVD cover before you buy.

These are available in the US only.

'Remember That Night' is released across Europe today (except for Finland and Sweden, where it is released on Wednesday).

Posted by Features Editor at 12:17 PM | Comments (99)

September 16, 2007

Enjoy, North America?

How did yesterday's North American premiere of 'Remember That Night' go? Do tell.

We'd love to know where you saw it and what you thought of it - and everything in between, of course.

We'd also be very interested to hear from the fans that we invited to The Ritzy. We hope you had a good time.

Again, please post lengthy comments in bite-size pieces. There is a character limit in place and we would hate for your messages to be missing a proper ending.

The 'Remember That Night' DVD will be in shops across Europe (except for Finland and Sweden) tomorrow.

Posted by Features Editor at 11:23 AM | Comments (182)

September 14, 2007

Ritzy round-up

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: GETTING TO BRIXTON

For fans making their way to Brixton tomorrow, please note that there are engineering works on the Victoria line this weekend, so there are no trains south-bound between Victoria and Brixton.

North-bound services will be in operation.

There is a replacement bus service. However, please add at least half an hour to your journey time.

Alternatively, the nearest tube station is Stockwell on the Northern line. There are buses from Stockwell to Brixton. If you'd prefer to walk, it takes about 20 minutes.

For further information, please visit www.tfl.gov.uk or telephone 020 7222 1234 (24 hours).

It's the North American premiere of 'Remember That Night: David Gilmour Live At The Royal Albert Hall' next.

Whether you'll be at Brixton's Ritzy on Saturday, or watching from one of 166 cinemas across Canada and the United States, we look forward to hearing all about it.

We will be filming the event and it will be available, here at davidgilmour.com, next week.

The event will be hosted by Phil Manzanera.

There are still some tickets available for both Canada and the US, so, if you'd like to attend, details of participating cinemas and online bookings can be found at Cineplex (Canada) and Fathom Events (US).

We hope you all enjoy the event and have a good weekend.

We leave you with a round-up of goodies that are coming up this weekend, as well as others which you may not have seen, heard, or read yet. More to come on Monday.

- Discover 'Remember That Night' with (French language) Belgian radio station Classic 21 all day today. You can even win a copy here.

- MOJO Radio are having a Pink Floyd & David Gilmour weekend, starting today. Don't miss an interview with David on Sunday. As well as being able to listen online, you can also listen through your TV in the UK: Sky channel 0182, Freeview channel 721.

- VH1 Classic in the US will be showcasing 60-minutes of 'Remember That Night' on Saturday. That starts at 7PM (EST).

- Guy Pratt interviewed David for Planet Rock in the build-up to Thursday's Leicester Square premiere. You'll find the option to listen to old shows by clicking LISTEN LIVE at the top (then you want the third link beneath Nicky Horne's show). Don't forget to watch the videos, too.

- There's an interview with David in the latest edition of Word magazine, which you can find in our Press section. Alternatively, you can order a copy through this link and have it delivered to any part of the world.

- There are brief interviews with David regarding the North American event in our Press section. More are being added just as soon as we get them in (more later today), so please keep an eye on it.

- If you had trouble with the AOL videos, we'll have 'The Blue', 'Coming Back To Life', 'Fat Old Sun', 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' and 'Take A Breath' in our DVD section later today. Don't miss those.

'Remember That Night' is released today in Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland. If you've got your copy, we hope you like it. Let us know.

If your country is not covered above, please see our calendar for worldwide release dates (apologies now to Brazil, Mexico and Japan).

Posted by Features Editor at 10:00 AM | Comments (95)

September 12, 2007

David at AOL

We thought you might like to know about AOL's video exclusives. They have 'The Blue', 'Coming Back To Life', 'Fat Old Sun', 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' and 'Take A Breath' available here for your viewing pleasure.

Also, be sure to check out their video archive for more goodies.

Two other points of interest:

First, David will be on Steve Wright's BBC Radio 2 show on Monday between 2PM and 5PM (UK time).

If you're in the UK, you can tune in at 88-91 FM, listen via DAB digital radio, digital satellite (Sky, channel 0102), digital cable (Virgin, channel 860 or 902, depending on whether you are an ex-NTL or ex-Telewest customer) and even Freeview (channel 702).

Everyone can listen online.

If you can't listen live, then there is always the handy 'Listen Again' feature, which allows you to play the programme back as many times as you like for a period of seven days following the original broadcast.

David will also being doing an interview on ITV's London Tonight on Monday, which starts at 6PM (UK).

Of course, we'll remind you of these programmes on Monday.

We've also some news about the varying European release dates for David's 'Remember That Night' DVD on our Latest News page. Dates are also noted on our calendar for ease of reference.

Posted by Features Editor at 6:31 PM | Comments (94)

September 11, 2007

Ritzy meet-up

Thank you all for your comments about Thursday's UK & Europe premiere of 'Remember That Night: David Gilmour Live At The Royal Albert Hall'. Whether you were with David at the Odeon in London's Leicester Square, or at any of the other cinemas across Europe, we've thoroughly enjoyed hearing about your night.

Particularly for those for whom English is a second language, you might like to read a transcript from the Odeon Q&A session here. Video is to follow shortly, so keep your eyes peeled for Latest News.

We thought you might like a dedicated space to arrange another pre-show get-together in advance of Saturday's North American premiere - yes, that's this Saturday: Saturday 15 September - which is to be broadcast live to 166 cinemas across Canada and the US, from The Ritzy in Brixton, London.

Everyone is welcome to join the party, so don't be shy. There is a bar on the premises. However, if you know of a better place to meet for a drink and a chin-wag before the show starts, do send us your suggestions.

There are still tickets available at some cinemas. For full details, please see previous entries concerning Canada and the US.

If you can make it to The Ritzy at short notice and would like to be on our back-up list, please send in your full name and address. However, please understand that there can be no guarantee that you will be contacted with the offer of tickets.

Please also note that this is a private event and you will only get in if your name is on our list. We would strongly discourage anyone from turning up on the night, fancying their chances of blagging their way in.

The film starts at 8PM (UK), but part of the 'Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine' documentary will be shown from 7.30PM (UK).

Posted by Features Editor at 11:56 AM | Comments (153)

September 9, 2007

Did you enjoy, Europe?

Well, what did you think of that, then?

We'd love to know how you enjoyed Thursday's premiere of 'Remember That Night', shown at cinemas across Europe.

Where did you see it? What was it like? Who did you meet? How did you enjoy the live performance? What did you think of the questions and answers? Favourite song? Favourite moment? Could you bear to go through it all again on Saturday in Brixton?

We want to know each and every juicy detail, so bring it on.

If you've already written at length in preparation for the blog's re-opening - yes, we know who you are - please could you post it in bite-size pieces? There is a character limit in place and, as well as making it easier for everyone to read if it's not too extensive, we obviously wouldn't want your message to be truncated.

Thank you.

Posted by Features Editor at 7:45 PM | Comments (182)

September 4, 2007

Ritzy winners

If you were one of our lucky Ritzy winners, you will have an e-mail waiting for you right about... now.

Congratulations. You will be attending the private North American premiere of David's forthcoming live DVD, 'Remember That Night', on Saturday 15 September.

This is the last entry for the week, so have a wonderful time if you'll be attending any of the participating venues where the UK & Europe cinematic premiere of 'Remember That Night: David Gilmour Live At The Royal Albert Hall' is being broadcast on Thursday.

Some tickets are still available, so do check the list of European cinemas and contact the venues directly, by telephone or through their websites, if you haven't yet acquired tickets.

Both premieres promise to be a great nights, with a live song, David answering your questions... and maybe even a surprise or two.

Speaking of questions, we have contacted the senders of our favourites. If you didn't get an e-mail on Thursday (UK & Europe) or yesterday (North America), then your question was not selected - sorry.

If you're going to the premiere at London's Leicester Square on Thursday, don't forget that fans are meeting before the show at the Imperial pub on Leicester Street. Everyone is more than welcome to join the party, so feel free to call in from 5PM (UK) for a pre-show tipple. You can get an idea of who will be there over at our 'Leicester Square meet-up' page.

Ritzy winners, if you have any questions, they'll have to wait until Monday. However, all you need to know is contained in your confirmation e-mail. If you received that e-mail, you're on our list and your seat is safe. Please go ahead and make all the necessary travel/accommodation arrangements in complete confidence.

Back on Monday, looking forward to hearing your memories of this unique occasion.

Posted by Features Editor at 10:21 PM

September 3, 2007

Leicester Square tickets

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: CONTEST CANCELLED

Apologies for the disappointment, but it has been decided that any tickets that we are able obtain should be given to those who fell victim to the Odeon's double-booking error, which has left fans without tickets for Thursday's UK & Europe premiere.

Sadly, there is an insufficient supply of spares and no returns in circulation, so we cannot help in the way in which we intervened during the Royal Albert Hall shows last year, for example.

Presently, this contest is only raising people's hopes (especially when some clearly don't read more than a few words beyond tickets and grabs).

So, regrettably, we have no Leicester Square tickets for you. Please don't put your name down for non-existent tickets.

If we can help, we will contact you tomorrow, but we make no guarantees.

There are still tickets available for the North American premiere in Brixton on Saturday 15 September, however. This will be much the same as Leicester Square, with a live performance and Q&A, only in a smaller setting.

If you'd like tickets for The Ritzy, please click here.

~~Following on from last week's Ritzy give-away, we now have some tickets for Leicester Square up for grabs.~~

How many, we don't know.

However, if you were unable to purchase tickets, or if you were one of the unfortunate souls caught up in the Odeon's double-booking error, do let us know and we'll see what we can do to help.

~~As before, all we ask is that you tell us your full name and full address, as well as your guest's.~~

Don't forget that there is a pre-show fan get-together arranged at the Imperial pub on Leicester Street from 5PM (UK) on Thursday. Everyone is welcome, so why not call in for a quick drink?

There are still some tickets left for The Ritzy, too. We'll let you know who gets them just as soon as our allocation has gone.

Last, but certainly not least, we'd like to thank you all for sending in a question for David. There were so many good ones to choose from, it really wasn't easy whittling the list down. However, whittled it, we did, and we have now contacted the senders of our favourite 20 questions: ten for each premiere.

We have also sworn them all to secrecy to keep an element of surprise; although, as we keep stressing, there is no guarantee that all 20 will be used, so we're all in for a surprise.

If you did not receive e-mail notification on Thursday (UK & Europe) or today (North America), then, regrettably, your question was not selected. However, we hope you will enjoy David's answers to the questions that did make it through, and are sure that you'll all enjoy the premieres on Thursday 6 September (Europe) and Saturday 15 September (North America).

There are still some tickets available. For a complete list of European venues, click here. And don't forget Canada and the United States...

Posted by Features Editor at 1:36 PM | Comments (93)