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Madonna news - March 2004
← Feb. 2004 | April 2004 →
Madonna defies US warnings, will perform in Israel
Source: Israel News Agency - 31 March 2004Madonna, one of the world's most famous performers, is about to teach the U.S. State Department a lesson in counter-terrorism. Madonna, who will be performing twice at Israel's Tel Aviv Bloomfield Stadium in September, is saying: don't give into terrorism's greatest weapon - fear. "
We are pleased to confirm the rumors. Madonna will be touring during the coming summer and fall," Caresse Henry, the singer's longtime manager, said yesterday. This would be Madonna's second appearance in Israel. Her first was in October 1993.
The Re-Invention Tour is slated to kick off in Los Angeles on May 24 and will include shows in San Francisco, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta and Miami. Madonna will then head to London for an August 18 performance followed by shows in Paris, Israel and Ireland.
Israel is asking the U.S. to remove its travel warning for tourists planning trips to the country, Israel's tourism ministry said on Tuesday. A U.S. travel warning to Israel would have a direct and damaging impact on Israel's economy. Israel is presently hosting two global High Tech events this week in Tel Aviv with many participants coming from Europe.
Many U.S. Hi Tech executives were forced to cancel their plans to the Israeli VC Tech events as they were refused travel insurance - a direct effect of the U.S. State Department travel warnings. But it appears that with or without travel insurance Madonna will be bringing many smiles to her fans in Israel.
"We are quite pleased that Madonna, one of the world's leading entertainers will visit Israel this year," Ronn Torossian, spokesman for Israel's Ministry of Tourism told the Israel News Agency. "We hope and expect that millions of others will follow her lead to visit the religious, spiritual and cultural capital of the world." [...]
The legendary Madonna preferred the grass at the Tel Aviv soccer stadium to that at Hayarkon Park, and has decided to hold her Israeli concerts at the stadium. Guy Ritchie, Madonna's husband and manager, was supposed to land in Israel this week to check out the stadium and confirm it as the location for the concerts.
For personal reasons, Ritchie has delayed his visit until next week. Madonna's Israeli producer, Shuki Weiss, has already hammered out the details with the managers of the Sports Center which manages Bloomfield Stadium. Weiss has already toured the facilities at Bloomfield a number of times and is perfectly satisfied that the stadium fulfills all the necessary requirements.
The huge stage the singer uses in her concerts will be set up between gates 7 and 8. Most of the audience will stand on the grass, but there will be seating up in the balcony. Some 16,000 tickets will be sold for each performance.
The Sports Center management has confirmed that Madonna will perform at Bloomfield Stadium. They say it's a dream come true that Madonna will perform there. Madonna is expected to perform in Israel in August or September as part of her world tour. Shuki Weiss, who will produce Madonna's performances in Israel, said that the exact dates have not yet been determined.
"The artist has promised to perform in Israel and this is certainly going to be a bigger show than she has ever done," Weiss said. "The performance will be set for August or September," Weiss said. Madonna may very well be planning a surprise performance for U.S. troops in Iraq, but her visit to Israel is now certain.
"Madonna will be most welcomed in Israel," said another Israeli official. "Her presence here is a clear statement to every citizen in the free and democratic world not to give into terrorism, to maintain your normal routine and to keep our economies functioning."
Paris sells out
31 March 2004The first concert in Paris Bercy sold out after a mere 45 minutes. Due to the extremely high demand, the website of Ticketnet.fr was offline from the beginning, so tickets could only be obtained by phone or in the stores of Fnac and Virgin Megastore.
UPDATE: Both the first and the second concert (September 1 and 2) are now completely sold out. The third concert will be on September 4th and will go on sale tomorrow April 1st at 10am CET. Details on the fourth concert will follow.
UPDATE: Madonna.com has posted an update on the tour schedule, including a new stop in East Rutherford on July 7th.
The updated tour schedule here.
Report on yesterday's ticket sales
30 March 2004MadonnaTribe reports on yesterday's ticket sales in the US: "The general public sale of tickets for the Los Angeles and New York City shows of the re-Invention Tour captured the attention of Madonna's fans yesterday.
The New York shows are known to be among the most requested of the entire tour, and a total of four shows added to the two originally scheduled certainly confirmed the expectations.
The May 24 Los Angeles one will be the opening show of the tour, and that was enough to make it sell out in fifteen minutes. The additional second show is selling much slower, but with only spare seats available at the moment we have to be prepared for a third one eventually added to the tour schedule.
Boston and Philadelphia were also brilliant co-protagonists. Two more dates have been added to the June 27 show at the Worcester's Centrum Center, together with a second show in Philadelphia.
The re-Invention Tour schedule is then becoming more and more consistent, that also means that the gap available for more shows or even more venues is becoming narrower.
On the other side of the Atlantic, the Israeli press announced two show in Tel Aviv for September 12 and 13. Blumfield Stadium may then be the only open air venue of the tour, even if its seating capacity is even smaller than the one of the bigger arenas of the Tour.
The rumored stop at Slane Castle in Ireland may be a second one, even if it is not clear if the still unconfirmed date will involve the tour itself, or if Madonna will be part of a wider performance act.
Fans from Germany, Italy and Spain are also waiting for a final word about a possible stop of the tour in their countries, which is reported being more in the likes, also thanks to the shorter stop in Middle East.
Fans from France are now worried for the on sale date of the tickets for the Paris stop of the tour, September 1 in Bercy. Previously listed both on madonna.com homepage and on ticketnet.fr, the date of Wednesday, March 31 has now disappeared from both websites.
Madonna taking rifle lessons?
Source: DCI.org - 30 March 2004Current Santa Clara Vanguard tour director and former color guard staff member Allan Dekko is moonlighting with Madonna this spring, teaching the Material Girl and some of her dancers how to spin rifle for their upcoming world tour.
Dekko is currently working with Madonna and her dancers in Los Angeles teaching them the finer points of spinning as well as choreographing sections of the production they wish to use the rifles in.
Dekko has been teaching color guards since 1980. He’s taught numerous high school and winter guards, as well as the Santa Clara Vanguard from 2000 to 2002.
Extra US dates
29 March 2004Tickets for New York, LA, Boston and Philadelphia went on sale today. Extra dates have been added for all 4 cities; for New York even up to six shows! The complete overview here.
There's still no official word on additional European or even Australian dates; but stay tuned!
Four continents?
28 March 2004Interesting detail: the website of Wembley Arena reports the story of Spud Fraser being invited for the tour covering four continents. Is that North America, Europe, Middle East (Israel) and... Australia?! We'll have to wait and see...
"Word on the street is that Madge has approached a Scottish bagpiper to accompany her on the world trip. Calum 'Spud' Fraser, who played at the christening of Madonna and Guy Richie’s son Rocco, is said to have commented that he thought it a joke when he received the call from the pop queen’s agent asking him to join the five-month trip covering four continents.
Although Madonna’s tour management company say plans for the bagpiper have yet to be confirmed, Mr. Fraser apparently says he is preparing to jet off to New York from his home in the Scottish highlands for rehearsals."
Wembley Arena confirmed
Source: Madonnalicious - 28 March 2004The Wembley Arena website has announced that tickets for Madonna's date at Wembley Arena on 22 August go on sale at 09.00am on Friday 02 April. Tickets are priced at £150, £90, £75 - there do not appear to be any £50 tickets at this venue.
A limited number of tickets will be available for sale at the Wembley Arena Box Office on Friday morning. The majority of tickets will be on sale from the Madonna Hotline: 0870 160 8989 and on line at www.whatsonwembleyticket.com.
Madonna.com on ticket sales
Source: Madonna.com - 28 March 2004LONDON - EARLS COURT - 1st show sold out / 2nd show added sold out (90 minutes per show)
TORONTO - AIR CANADA CENTER - 3 shows sold out (1hour 20 minutes)
CHICAGO - UNITED CENTER - 3 shows sold out (2 hours)
FT. LAUDERDALE - OFFICE DEPOT CENTER - JULY 28 - SOLD OUT
MIAMI - AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA - AUGUST 1 - SOLD OUT
LAS VEGAS - MAY 29 sold out
The updated tour schedule here.
More info from rehearsals *rumour*
Source: DrownedMadonna - 28 March 2004"Patrick Leonard is on board, he is doing the orchestrations for most of the show.
Part of the show is very electronic, and part of it is very old school feel.
Nothing Really Matters is still in the set list, just like Ray Of Light from the Ray Of Light album.
From Erotica they are rehearsing Deeper and Deeper and Bad Girl. Madonna is rehearsing Nothing Fails too, but she will not use a chorus in it.
Die Another Day is between a female dancer and Madonna. It's a very sexual tango scene. Easy Ride is towards the end of the show. Encore - at this stage - is Vogue and Like a Prayer.
Hair and wigs in charge of Luigi Murenu."
New cities to be added tomorrow? *rumour*
Source: DrownedMadonna - 28 March 2004"A very reliable source has given us the information that Milan (Italy), Barcelona (Spain) and Germany are booked.
Our source have been told that Madonna's managament is going to announced the official dates for Milan, Barcelona and Germany on Monday, March 29.
The official tour annoucement was supposed to be March 29, but because of the leaks they did this way.
Negotiations for Australian venues are pending. Australia might be the last stop, in late September.
We really hope that the information that our source got are right. In the meantime, keep on hoping, but don't forget that we have to wait for an official announcement."
More on tour book *rumour*
Source: MadonnaTribe - 27 March 2004"On Friday March 5 we told you that the tour book was also going to feature among the various themes, an animal theme. Some sources now say that some of these animals are indeed cats, and yes, oh yes, the cats are indeed pink.
Apparently the tour book is a journey through Madonna's state of minds and it features sombre and dark elements that might recall themes from the Bedtime Story video."
Caresse Henry defends ticket prices
Source: Reuters/Billboard - 27 March 2004Producers of Madonna's upcoming tour believe that a focus on her classic material, even if it is "reinvented," should be worth the $300 top-end ticket price to her fans.
The re-Invention tour will consist primarily of North American arena stops. An international leg includes 12 dates in Europe - a concert at Slane Castle in Dublin is one of them - and shows in Tel Aviv, Israel.
The trek begins May 24 at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. There will be no supporting acts, and the set list will tilt toward a career retrospective, according to Arthur Fogel. He is touring division president for worldwide promoter Clear Channel Entertainment and is overseeing the tour.
The ticket price puts Madonna in the upper tier of touring artists, a status her handlers believe she has earned. "I am not expecting sticker shock -- Madonna is one of the few artists who gives a performance worthy of every cent spent," says her manager, Caresse Henry.
"I am basing ticket prices on the going rate and knowing the show she is preparing to give."
Fogel adds, "Madonna is a unique and major-league act. Whenever she works, it's a true event, and I don't see it being any different this time."
Cher has toured extensively during the past two years, Bette Midler has been out, Britney Spears is currently on the road and Janet Jackson has tentative plans to tour this fall. But even if the marketplace is jostling with iconic diva types, Madonna tends to rise above the competition, according to Fogel. "She has a way of captivating the marketplace," Fogel says. "Any time Madonna tours, it has been hugely successful."
In 2001, Madonna grossed $75 million from 47 sellouts on her Drowned World tour, according to Billboard Boxscore. CCE also produced that tour, which focused far more on material from then-current release Music than the artist's hit catalog. Its ticket prices topped out at $250.
This time around, fans apparently can expect a degree of familiarity -- good news when the ticket range is $45-$300.
Some fans complained during the previous tour that Madonna didn't perform enough of her classic hits, a fact not lost on the artist. "That was one of the major complaints, and thus came to the conclusion that it was time to perform more of her entire repertoire," Henry says.
John Page, senior VP for Comcast-Spectacor, operator of the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, does not expect any price resistance to his July 4 Madonna show.
And because the Republican National Convention will be occupying New York arena Madison Square Garden in July, the Philly show's draw should expand into New York and central New Jersey, Page believes.
"Based on the business we did two years ago with Madonna, we anticipate adding a date," Page says. "From what we've seen, people aren't really resistant to as long as there are only a few of them. People like U2, Paul McCartney (news) and the Rolling Stones have shown that it's really about what the market will bear."
VIP packages, offered through a partnership between Music Today and Signatures Network, include exclusive merchandise, laminates and private entrance to venues. They will cost about $700.
Production elements are still being determined. "The show will be filled with many musical surprises in terms of the performances. This show will not be as theatrical as the last tour; I like to refer to it as a brilliant performance show," says Henry. "Extravagant, yes, but more in line with how shows used to be and scaled back but filled with plenty of eye candy."
Possible Wembley and Slane dates *rumour*
27 March 2004The ticket website GetMeTickets.net lists, apart from the two dates at Earl's Court, four dates at Wembley Arena (London, UK), on August 22, 23, 25 and 26, as well as one date at Slane Castle (Dublin, Ireland) on August 28. No confirmation on this however...
Additional US dates
27 March 2004The tickets for many US & Canada dates (Las Vegas, Chicago, Sunrise, Miami, Toronto) are now on sale at Ticketmaster. Additional shows have been announced for Las Vegas (May 30), Chicago (July 12, 14 and 15) and Toronto (July 19 and 21).
Tickets for LA, NYC and Philadelphia will go on sale on monday March 29. Ticket sale for San Jose is set for monday April 12.
The updated tour schedule here.
Earl's Court sold out in 90 minutes
Source: Madonna.com - 27 March 2004Tickets for the London Earl's Court - August 18th performance [yesterday] morning sold out in 90 minutes. Earl's Court then announced a second show in that venue - Thursday, August 19/04- and the second show sold out in another 90 minutes.
We anticipate that tickets for all the North American shows will also quickly sell out so please get tickets as soon as they go on sale.
More show details *rumour*
Source: Madonnalicious - 26 March 2004There are four beautiful and stunning set designs, which fit in with the four sections of the show entitled Dreams, Indulgence, The Fall and Enlightenment.
The sound engineers are using an advanced (and expensive) in-concert surround sound that was developed and made famous by the engineers who produce concerts for bands such as Pink Floyd. So no matter where you're seated for the show, the sound will be crystal clear!
[...] The show is designed to start off dark and heavy, similar to the Drowned World tour and then gets decadent in the middle, like The Girlie Show, and by the end it's just all out fun...
Madonna wakes up from the dream and the show is over, except for the encores.
All the old songs have been tweaked to give a fresh edge... they are not straight-on versions from the albums.
Jamie King, Madonna, and her team have late night meetings to review videotape of the days rehearsals, then they brainstorm new ideas and changes for the following day.
The set-list is still changing, as they replaced Burning Up with Borderline yesterday, and have added a reprise of Bedtime Story towards the end of the show as a bookend. The creative team are just working on different ideas and working out if songs fit.
They have not had a dress rehearsal yet as costumes for the dancers are still be fitted.
Venues for the Israel and Ireland show are still being considered. Madonna would rather play enclosed venues, rather than open-air stadium type venues.
Possible additional US and Canada dates *rumour*
Source: MadonnaTribe - 26 March 2004Additional shows for Madonna's Re-Invention Tour are likely to be announced as soon as the first dates are sold out, but nothing has been officialy announced yet.
Today, the second rumored date for Earls Court has been available only a few minutes after ticketmaster.co.uk announced the sold-out for the 18 August one.
Several sources indicate the following as possible dates for additional shows in the United States and Canada. Please keep in mind that only the ones listed on madonna.com and ticketmaster.com have been officially announced:
- Los Angeles: May 24 (announced), May 26 and 27 (unconfirmed)
- Las Vegas: May 29 (announced), May 30 (unconfirmed)
- San Jose: June 8 (announced), no further dates rumored at the moment
- Washington DC: June 13 (announced), no further dates rumored at the moment
- New York City: June 16 and 17 (announced), 20, 21, 23 and 24 (unconfirmed)
- Boston (Worcester): June 27 (announced), June 28 and 30, July 1st (unconfirmed)
- Philadelphia: July 4 (announced), July 5, 7 and 8 (unconfirmed)
- Chicago: July 11 (announced), 12, 14 and 15 (unconfirmed)
- Toronto: July 18 (announced), 19 and 21 (unconfirmed)
- Atlanta: July 24 (announced),
- Ft. Lauderdale (Sunrise): July 28 (announced), July 29 (unconfirmed)
- Miami: August 1st (announced), August 2 (unconfirmed)
26 March 2004 Madonna, come to Barcelona!
We reported earlier that there have possibly been problems with the scheduling of concerts in Germany, Italy and Spain. While it's said that more concerts are still to be announced, there's still no official word on this. Meanwhile, Spanish fanclub DivinaMadonnahas started a petition to get madonna to perform in Barcelona with her Re-Invention Tour. Show your support and sign the petition here.London concerts sold out
26 March 2004The London tickets went on sale this morning, jamming the Ticketmaster.co.uk and other ticket sites for hours.
After the August 18 date was sold out, a second date August 19 was announced, which sold out as well. Tickets ranged between £ 50 and £ 150. Ticket brokers are already selling at double price.
The announced US dates will go on sale tomorrow (NYC and LA on monday); good luck to all US fans!
Tour collaborators *rumour*
26 March 2004According to fansite MadonnaTribe, Madonna will be joined on tour by guitarist Monte Pittman (also on Drowned World Tour) and Keyboard player/programmer Michael McKnight (also on Drowned World Tour, Girlie Show and Blond Ambition Tour).
Meanwhile, the webmaster Niki Haris' official site claims that Niki hasn't been invited to the tour. Donna DeLory however would be there. This seems quite bizarre, since Madonna has always asked both of them on tour. Nothing has been confirmed about this though.
Something that has been confirmed are the tour designers. In an interview with the New York Daily News, Liz Rosenberg revealed that the clothes in the show will be provided by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, and Christian LaCroix. No mention of Jean-Paul Gaultier and Louis Verdad, who were rumoured earlier.
Service announcement
26 March 2004We apologize for the downtime this site has experienced in the past 2 days. The site has been moved to a different server yesterday and was still a bit shaky today with the high visitors rate. But now it seems to be running smoothly; let's hope it stays that way! :) Thanks for your patience!
Ticket sales info
24 March 2004US tickets: available at Ticketmaster.com and cc.com. By phone: (212) 307-7171, (201) 507-8900, (609) 520-8383, (631) 888-9000, (845) 454-3388, (212) 307-7200. Ticket prices are $ 304.50, $ 154.50, $ 94.50 and $ 49.50. On sale: March 27 and 29 (LA & NYC).
Toronto tickets: available at Ticketmaster.ca and cc.com. By phone: (416) 870-8000. Ticket prices are $ 300.00, $ 150.50, $ 90.00, $ 49.50. On sale: March 27.
London tickets: available at Ticketmaster.co.uk and Seetickets.com. By phone: 0870 9039033. Ticket prices are £150, £90, £75, and £50 plus booking fee. On sale: March 26.
Paris tickets: available at Ticketnet.fr. By phone: 0892 390 100. On sale: March 31.
Ticket presale success
Source: Madonna.com - 24 March 2004Response to the ICON ticket presale has been unbelieveable. Thousands of tickets sold in minutes and the presales sold out quickly after going live to the Icon members.
If you missed out on the ticket presale, don't forget that many of the public onsales begin this weekend.
Also, Platinum ticket packages for each show of the 2004 Re-Invention tour will be available soon.
Expect additional tour dates
Sources: MadonnaTribe, Madonna Electronica - 23 March 2004
Some information for those who are unfamiliar with the ticket procedures: it's normal that only one date for each tour stop has been announced. On the day of the ticket sales, they will wait till this first date has been sold out (which in Madonna's case will be a case of an hour or less) before announcing a second date. For major tour stops there'll be even more than two dates.
Please also bare in mind that there will be other cities added to the schedule. The official tour announcement spoke about San Francisco, while this city hasn't been mentioned yet. The details for Ireland and Israel should be announced shortly. According to rumours, possibilities for Ireland are Belfast's Odyssey Arena or Dublin's Point Arena on August 13, 14, and 15.
For certain European countries, like Spain, Italy and Germany, there seem to be some scheduling problems. Until further notice, no dates are set for these countries. However, reliable sources claim that the Cologne Arena (Cologne, Germany) has been reserved for Madonna between 5 and 10 September.
Hopefully more info on all this soon!
Stop the high prices of ticket brokers!
23 March 2004Now that the ticket frenzy has started, it's time for us, the fans, to take some action. Many concert tickets will be bought by ticket brokers who will then sell them for a much higher price. Caroline, a Madonnafan and friend of mine, came up with a good idea to put a hold to this.
If every fan that can get hold of a ticket, buys at least ONE extra ticket and sells it for the same price to a fellow fan, we ourselves can control the ticket prices (which are already high enough!).
So make a deal with your fellow Madonnafans on online forums and make sure everyone can get a decently priced ticket. Remember, music makes the people come together!
Press articles on tour announcement
23 March 2004Naturally the press has jumped on the tour announcement. Since most of them don't feature any new information for us, I will just post a link to the original articles, in case you want to read them. E! Online - Indian Express - This Is London - Undercover Chart Attack - Business Wire - Billboard - AP - AFP - Canadian Press - news.com.au.
Interesting fact: the Billboard article talks about a total of 12 European shows. Canadian press is happy with the Toronto tour date, while Australian press criticizes Madonna for once again skipping their country.
North American tour dates *official*
Source: Madonna.com - 23 March 2004The current schedule with additional shows announced at a later date:
5/24 Los Angeles: Forum (on sale: March 29)
5/29 Las Vegas: MGM Grand Garden Arena (on sale: March 27)
6/8 San Jose: HP Pavilion
6/13 Washington, DC: MCI Center
6/16 New York City: Madison Sq. Garden (on sale: March 29)
6/17 New York City: Madison Sq. Garden (on sale: March 29)
6/27 Boston: Worcester Centrum
7/4 Philadelphia: Wachovia Center
7/11 Chicago: United Center (on sale: March 27)
7/18 Toronto: Air Canada Centre (on sale: March 27)
7/24 Atlanta: Philips Arena
7/28 Fort Lauderdale: Office Depot Center (on sale: March 27)
8/1 Miami: American Airlines Arena (on sale: March 27)
8/18 London: Earls Court (on sale: March 26)
9/1 Paris: Bercy (on sale: March 31)
London and Paris ticket sale
22 March 2004The tickets for August 18th at London's Earls Court will go on sale next Friday March 26th at 9am GMT (10am CET) through Ticketmaster.
Tickets are priced £150, £90, £75, and £50 plus booking fee. The tickets for September 1st at Paris' Palais Omnisports de Bercy will go on sale on Wednesday, March 31st. Good luck!
Caresse Henry confirms The Re-Invention Tour *official*
Source: Madonna.com - 22 March 2004"I'm happy to confirm the rumors. Madonna will be going out on tour this spring and summer," announced the star's long time manager, Caresse Henry. Clear Channel Entertainment is the promoter of Madonna's worldwide tour, which begins in Los Angeles on May 24th. T
he tour will sweep across major markets in the US including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta and Miami and then continue with stops in London, Paris and proposed visits to Israel and Ireland.
According to Ms. Henry, "Madonna has already started rehearsals for 'The Re-Invention Tour' and she can't wait to get back on stage to recreate her songs from the earliest days of her career up until the present.
There is no doubt that this tour will be the pinnacle of her long standing and well deserved reputation as one of the most exciting live performers of our time. And as a special treat to her fans, existing Icon fan club members will have access to tickets prior to the on-sale dates in local markets."
The Material Girl, a Warner Bros./Maverick recording artist, represented by Creative Artists Agency, is a five-time Grammy® winner, a multi MTV Award winner and has sold over 250 million albums during the span of her extraordinary two decade career.
In addition, she has had more Top Ten singles than any female artist in history and second only to Elvis Presley.
The current shows in London and Paris were announced this morning:
August 18: London - Earls Court
September 1: Paris - Bercy
North American Tour Dates to Be Announced
~ Below you'll find the first picture from the tour book (thanx to Robster)
Tour interlude videos *rumour*
Source: Madonnalicious - 21 March 2004Madonna has filmed two video interludes for the show, to be played while Madonna rests and changes costumes during her performance. Similar to the way Paradise (Not For Me) was used in the Drowned World Tour.
The songs featured in these videos are I'm So Stupid and Like A Virgin. DrownedMadonnahad previously reported that one of these videos was directed by Guy Ritchie.
Tour title revealed *rumour*
Source: Haaretz Daily, thanx to MadGuy - 21 March 2004Madonna is expected to perform in Israel in August or September when her world tour hits Israel. "We are pleased to confirm the rumours. Madonna will be touring during the coming summer and fall," Caresse Henry, the singer's longtime manager, said on Sunday.
This would be Madonna's second appearance in Israel. Her first was in October 1993. "The Re-Invention Tour" is slated to kick off in Los Angeles on May 24 and will include shows in San Francisco, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta and Miami.
Madonna will then head to London for an August 18 performance followed by shows in Paris, Israel and Ireland. Shuki Weiss, who will produce Madonna's performances in Israel, said the number of shows, their dates and their locations have not yet been determined.
"The artist has promised to perform in Israel and this is certainly going to be a bigger show than she has ever done," Weiss said. "The performance will be set for August or September, but details have not yet been finalized. A number of ideas regarding the location of the show as well as Madonna's other activities in Israel have been put on the table," Weiss said.
Another update on tour setlist *rumour*
21 March 2004Stereomover from PeterRauhofer's message board writes: "The opening songs for La M's show are Bedtime Story followed by Nobody Knows Me. Skin is being rehearsed, but probably won't be kept... not sure. [...]
I can tell you that we are getting the rock version of Love Profusion, The rock version of American Life mixed with the album version, along with a guitar-heavy Justify My Love. Like A Virgin is sneaked into the show. And no, this will not be her last tour, contrary to what people might be saying. At least, it is not planned as such.
The concept of the show is still "a baby", so things may change. But Madonna is not being as self-indulgent as she was the last time.
The American Life Club mixes will happen. Be patient.
There are talks of a Live album after... something Madonna has wanted to do for a while now. But that is still up in the air. It's a journey through time...like if she was telling a story and we see the characters evolve. It will be a helluva show!!! [...]
The promo posters are now being printed. The dates will be announced by the end of the month. The tickets (GET YO' MONEY READY!!) go on sale in April. Toronto, Israel, Paris, London, New York, San Fran, Chicago, Montreal, Berlin... CONFIRMED.
Massive media blitz coming. Listen to radio early in the week for details. Watch Entertainment tonight! And check Madonna.com for details. The site will be updated shortly with art from the tour concept.
And I don't know where these people get this, but she is not doing Material Girl. A couple of songs are instrumental... Die Another Day might end up that way with a focus on the string section of the song. The rehearsals are being done to the instrumental and it might be kept as such."
More on Easy Ride single *rumour*
21 March 2004Stereomover from PeterRauhofer's message board writes: "The video [for Easy Ride] will be shot in June... for obvious reasons (LIVE version...). And, it has to be a decent take. It sees a release in Early July. That is all i know for now. Mixes have been commissioned. Akufen is the only completed one. But, i hear deep, progressive echoes of a Digweed mix. No answer yet, though."
Love Profusion is 33rd #1 dance hit
Source: Madonna.com - 20 March 2004Love Profusion is Madonna's 33rd Hot Dance/Club Play No. 1 and the fourth No. 1 Club Play hit from American Life.
Latest on tour setlist *rumour*
Source: DrownedMadonna, thanx to MIR #1111 - 20 March 2004Hollywood and Material Girl are mixed together for the 20's section of the show. The 80's section is OUT OF THIS WORLD... Madonna goes full on! Borderline is still in the set list.
Madonna is using Peter Rauhofer's Perfect Private Life Mix of Nobody Knows Me for the show. The Bedtime Story/Skin mix is still on for the Opening.
Here are the songs from American Life album which haven't been mentioned at all, not even rehearsed, up to now: Mother And Father and Intervention.
~ The rumoured tour dates and songs so far: click here.
Madonna on Parkinson show
20 March 2004Sky TV are reporting that Madonna is to appear on the BBC 1 Parkinson show. It was a choice between him and Graham Norton and she chose the BBC. She is apparently using the show to promote the upcoming tour.
Then on Capital Radio this morning they said to tune in Monday morning to the breakfast show for details on how to see Madonna live this summer. Source: MIR #1111)
Belfast's Odyssey Arena considered as venue
Source: icNorthernIreland - 19 March 2004It may seem like one of the most unlikely gigs of all time, but it seems that Madonna is considering a spectacular concert in Belfast as part of a new world tour.
Madge has been meeting with agents in London to discuss venues and dates for the upcoming tour and the Odyssey Arena is said to have been earmarked as a possible stop off.
I've been first to reveal big stars like Justin Timberlake, Pink, Britney Spears and Elton John were heading to the Laganside venue - and my sources for this are top notch too.
The superstar has never performed frustrated fans here over the years by missing us out on her huge world tours.
But my spy says that's all about to change because Madonna is looking to perform at indoor venues - like Belfast's Odyssey Arena. "It has been short listed as a possible choice," said my spy. "She is seriously considering it." "She's been told of all the big stars who have performed there over the last three years and is very interested".
"This tour is going to be in arenas around the world rather than big stadiums and the Odyssey is among the best of them". "The tour is scheduled to kick off later in the year and Madonna wants to make it her best ever."
But fans attending such a show will have to pay an arm and a leg for a ticket. Madonna is among the most expensive stars on the planet to book for a show and charges £1m for one performance. "That money would have to be made from ticket sales," added the source.
"It's maybe going to be one of the most expensive shows ever staged in Northern Ireland. "But the fact is that the fans would pay it to see her. Madonna in Belfast would be the biggest show ever staged here."
Tour announcement due on monday
18 March 2004Rumour has it that an official announcement regarding the tour will be made on Monday, March 22nd.
Possible London tour dates *rumour*
Source: ITV - 18 March 2004Madonna is set to get into the groove in the UK, with reports saying she will playing Earls Court on August 18-19 as part of her Whore of Babylon world tour.
They will be Madonna's first London gigs since the sell-out Drowned World shows of 2001.
She is likely to be joined on stage by scots piper Spud Fraser. Madonna invited him to take part in her world tour after he played at her wedding in the Highlands.
Interview with Nothing Fails co-writer Jem Griffiths
Source: MTV - 18 March 2004Mention the name Jem to music fans in their 20s and images of glam-rock cartoon heroes Jem and the Holograms instantly come to mind. Well, Welsh singer Jemma "Jem" Griffiths is out to claim the name as her own, and she's just as truly, truly, truly outrageous.
Jem wrote her first song when she was 13, and although it's taken 15 years and the assistance of a few superstars, her debut full-length album finally arrives Tuesday. "I knew then one day I'd be doing this, but I didn't ever want to be a star," Jem said while taking a break from apartment hunting on a recent sunlit afternoon. "So I just went on with my life. I went to college. Actually, I did a law degree, which is really funny."
While at Sussex University, sort of — "I hardly went, to be honest," she admitted — Jem started DJing and promoting clubs and turntablists, including Fatboy Slim. She eventually launched the breakbeat label Marine Parade with DJ Adam Freeland.
After graduating, however, she decided to shine the spotlight on her own singing career. "All my friends were like, 'What?,' " Jem recalled. "I knew it'd be fine, but a lot of people were quite concerned, 'cause it's not normal to suddenly run off and be a singer.
But then I did this demo around that time and I played it to them and they were like, 'Sh--, this actually might work,' which is quite funny because they were like, 'We were really worried it was going to be rubbish.' "
That demo landed a recording session with longtime Björk producer Guy Sigsworth. On their second day together, she finished a song he had been writing, which the producer later submitted to another artist. Titled Nothing Fails, it became the third single on Madonna's American Life.
"When I actually heard it I was so shocked, 'cause it was the first time I believed it was actually going to happen," Jem said. "And to hear Madonna singing it was like, oh my gosh, so bizarre. My mom keeps calling me whenever it's on. She'll go to shops in the U.K. and hold the phone up to the thing and I'm like, 'They're going to arrest you.' "
Rumours on tour setlist and collaborators *rumour*
Source: Madonnalicious - 17 March 2004Great fansite Madonnalicious has provided a lot of tour rumours. Though still nothing has been confirmed, this is quite interesting information, so let's hope it's true.
» Donna and Niki have supposedly been confirmed to be on the tour. How could Madonna do a tour without them anyway!
» The rumours about a collaboration with Cirque du Soleil and the use of circus animals would be false.
» The rumours about a tour documentary would also be false. One concert will be broadcasted and later released on DVD.
» Madonna had to fight to get Jamie King to be creative director of this tour, some people around Madonna were initially unhappy with her choice as they wanted her to go in a completely different creative direction.
» In an attempt to play the older hits, Madonna and her musical director are giving the old songs a face lift, with new arrangements, some are getting the electronica treatment, while others are going slightly acoustic. They're trying to mix it up and give a fresh edge to old songs. Madonna simply does not want to perform them as they were originally recorded.
» Unlike what we have heard previously, Madonna's new tour is not a straightforward journey through time BUT a journey through her life and her spiritual and personal growth through Kabbalah. Bedtime Story begins the show in a dark-broody atmosphere, portraying Madonna caught up in a decadent dream world.... the superstar trying to discover who she really is. As the songs progress, Madonna is coming out of this crazy dream world, back to reality.
» A lot of song medleys are being tested, this will provide Madonna with a way to present many older songs. Like A Prayer and Vogue are definitely on the set-list for the tour. The opening number at the present time is Bedtime Story.
Inside sources at yesterday's tour rehearsals claim that these songs were rehearsed: Bedtime Story, Skin, Justify My Love, Hollywood, Live to Tell, Nothing Really Matters, Borderline, Vogue and Take A Bow - though not all of these songs may make the final set-list. A lot of song medleys are being tested, this will provide Madonna with a way to present many older songs.
~ For a collection of tour rumours, click here.
Circus animals? *rumour*
Source: E Online, thanx to MIR #1108 - 17 March 2004Also wafting in from the bonfire that is Madonna's next gig is some possibly burning biz. A source from the photo shoot for Ms. M.'s 2004 tour just couldn't wait to tell me she's up to her old politically incorrect tricks. I'm too happy to hear that. Aren't you, my lip-synching lovelies?
"It's all about circus animals," relayed the shutterbug loose-lipper. "Good ol' daring Madonna stuff. Let's just say she's doing things with those animals I don't think many people could get away with!" Or maybe not. Just give PETA a chance. Oh, who cares about those critters, really? I'm sure M. treated them just as well as that other beautiful creature she tamed. Name's Guy Ritchie, I believe.
Billboard on Madonna remixes and remix album
Source: Billboard Magazine - March issue, thanx a lot to Frank for the scan - 16 March 2004For its record release party for the remixes of Madonna's Love Profusion, Maverick/Warner Bros. brought in DJs Peter Rauhofer, Ralphi Rosario and Los Angeles-based duo Blow-Up to provide de eclectic soundtrack. The twosome did not disappoint.
In addition to playing its gloriously trippy remix of Love Profusion, complete with rockabilly guitars, Blow-Up debuted its just-completed restructuring of Blondie's 'Good Boys'. Sanctuary should seriously consider releasing this version now.
Blow-Up's funky, dark remix of Madonna's Hollywood, which the duo also spotlighted, will likely see the light of day in the coming months (as part of a larger Madonna remix package, which could very well be beat-mixed by Rauhofer).
Madonna not in Amsterdam
16 March 2004Several reports are claiming that Madonna wasn't in Amsterdam the past weekend. Supposedly it was a lookalike attending the fashion show, as part of a joke to fool with the designer Paul Schulten.
Rehearsing is harder than ever
Source: 7 Online - 16 March 2004Madonna says rehearsing for her upcoming world tour is harder than ever. Madonna has spent the last few weeks recruiting dancers for the musical extravaganza at LA's Culver City studios. That's the easy part. The hard part, she says will be playing guitar and singing acoustically on the song Crazy For You. She says she still can't seem to remember which strings to pluck.
Guy's new film inspired by Kabbalah
Source: MSNBC - 16 March 2004Is Guy Ritchie looking to make his own 'Passion'? Madonna's hubby had been trying to make a film called 'Revolver', but studios have shied away it because the script is filled with references to Kabbalah, the branch of Judaism that Ritchie and Madonna follow that has been called a cult.
Now, a source says, Ritchie has been scouting out historic sites in Israel for a movie he wants to make. "Guy refused to make changes in 'Revolver' because he said it was inspired by God," says the source. "Now he's going ahead with some sort of film about Israel anyway. It's unclear if he wants to make a documentary or a drama filled with religious references or maybe if he wants to film Madonna singing there, but he's very deep into Kabbalah — even more than her at this point — and he is clearly eager to make a religious statement in film."
Madonna raised eyebrows earlier this month when, as reported here, she made plans to give concerts at various sites in Israel, including the historic King Solomon's mine. Spokeswomen for Madonna and Ritchie didn't return calls for comment.
Maverick Films and MTV to produce Twilight
Source: Filmstew - 15 March 2004MTV Films and Maverick Films, the Los Angeles-based production house founded by Madonna and Guy Oseary, will be making beautiful music together after winning a heated bidding war for the film rights to Twilight, a novel set for publication from Little, Brown in September 2005.
The project is described as a "teenage vampire love story." The book was written by Phoenix-based author Stephenie Meyer. It's set in a high school and tells the story of Bella, who falls in love with a vampire, leading a rival vampire clan to pursue the couple and forcing her to decide if she, too, wishes to become one of the undead.
The film will be released through Paramount Pictures, a partner of MTV Films under the Viacom umbrella. The joint venture is a first for the two production companies.
Heather Parry, vice president of MTV Films/News, and Susan Lewis, vice president of development of MTV Films, will oversee the project on behalf of MTV Films. Greg Mooridian, an in-house producer, and president Mark Morgan will oversee on behalf of Maverick Films.
The film rights were brokered by Kassie Evashevski, literary manager at Brillstein-Grey, on behalf of Jodi Reamer of Writers House and Larry Shire and Robert Strent of Grubman Indursky & Schindler, P.C. on behalf of Maverick Films.
More on Madonna playing at Slane *rumour*
Source: Sunday Life - 15 March 2004It's music to the ears of thousands of Ulster fans of the world's biggest female music star - Madonna's long-awaited concert debut in Ireland! For Sunday Life can exclusively reveal that the American megastar is expected to top the bill at the annual Slane extravaganza, on August 28. An estimated 20,000 Ulster fans are due to take a Holiday - to experience the Material Girl, turned maternal megastar - live on the Bank Holiday Weekend.
A spokesman for leading Irish concert promoters, Wonderland/MCD refused to elaborate on the red hot speculation about the peroxide pop star's potential 'blonde date' with 80,000 Irish fans. He said: "We never comment on any artist until the concert is confirmed."
But, according to a reliable music industry source, the deal to bring the woman who has scored 56 UK Top 10 hit singles, including 10 chart toppers, is almost definitely on!
She told Sunday Life: "The reason that the promoters are being so cagey about it is because they have been here before. They nearly had her signed up for Slane, a few years ago. But it fell through, when Madonna got pregnant. "However, this time around, I hear that the contracts are about to be wrapped up."
A tour musician who wished to remain anonymous said: "We have all been told that we will be playing Slane as part of this tour, which is very exciting. 'M' is really looking forwards to playing in Ireland, at long last."
But anyone desperately seeking tickets for the sure-fire sell-out show will have to wait just a little bit longer - as no official confirmation of a 2004 world trek has yet come from the 45-year-old comeback Queen of Pop.
But Sunday Life can reveal that the lavish, theatrical tour could be controversially called Whore Of Babylon - with sets reflecting each decade of the 20th century, from the jazz clubs of the Twenties onwards.
One rumour likely to delight fans is that Madonna is currently rehearsing a show, featuring many of her classic songs, including Into The Groove, Like A Prayer, Music and Lucky Star.
Access Hollywood announces tour documentary *rumour*
15 March 2004Thanx to Mad-Eyes visitor Ed who informs us about an announcement by US entertainment show Access Hollywood that Madonna will be filming a documentary of her upcoming tour (which they reported to be kicking off in June).
This could possibly explain why the dance auditions were filmed as well. In 1990 Madonna also recorded behind the scenes footage of her Blond Ambition Tour, which was later made into the infamous documentary Truth Or Dare/In Bed With Madonna.
Madonna attends fashion show in Amsterdam
Source: Showbizzsite, translation by Mad-Eyes - 15 March 2004A remarkable visit at the fashion show in Hotel Okura in Amsterdam this weekend. Designer Paul Schulten was there to present his spring and summer collection. Everyone was seated, but the show didn't start yet. Soon it became clear why.
A small lady with huge sun glasses, red lips and a little hat entered with four bodyguards. It was noone less than pop star Madonna. After the show she disappeared as quick as she had arrived. Schulten said he was aware of her coming to the show but he had been asked to keep it silent. The pop star was staying in Hotel Okura and had heard about a fashion show, so she decided to take a look.
~ Madonna staying in Amsterdam? Dutch fans can still hope this might mean a tour stop in their capital.
Miscellaneous tour news *rumour*
Source: DrownedMadonna, thanx to Madonnalicious - 14 March 2004Madonna is rehearsing with a guitar the Love Profusion Headcleanr Mix and Justify My Love. So, she's going to play a rock version of these songs in the concert.
It seems that the tour will have more than one costume designer. Jean-Paul Gaultier is confirmed as one of them. Niki Haris and Donna DeLory haven't been involved at all, so we can assume they're not going to be part of the tour.
The tour is going to be officially announced at the end of March with the official logo and the official Madonna's image of the tour. It will be something complete CRAZY: we've never seen Madonna like this!
Possible London tour dates *rumour*
Source: Popbitch, thanx to Madonnalicious - 14 March 2004Ms. Madge will be announcing some London concerts next week. One at Earls Court and initially 2 at Wembley although this will be upped to 4 due to the public demand. It will be a greatest hits tour (well it ain't going to sell on the back of the last album.) Thinking it might be good fun? Get your hands in your pockets for a measly £ 150 a ticket at Wembley, all seats except £ 175 at the front and £ 75 restricted view. Bringing in a cool £2 mil for the gigs. Top prizes for any A-listers on the board who can wangle comps - they are non-existent.
Giovanni Bianco in charge of art work and tour book? *rumour*
13 March 2004According to fansite MadonnaTribe, the artwork, logos and tour book design of Madonna's tour are in charge of Brazilian artist Giovanni Bianco, that now lives between New York, Sao Paulo and Milan has worked on many projects such as books, cds, catalogues and video. He has worked a lot with photographer Steven Klein. His most recent work with Klein is the X-STaTIC Pro=CeS exhibition book. Bianco also worked with Klein on the April 2003 issue of W magazine featuring Madonna and on the latest D Squared and Dolce & Gabbana campaigns.
Love Profusion at #3 in dance chart
13 March 2004Love Profusion moves up from #10 to #3 in the Billboard Hot Dance / Club Play (issue date March 27th)! Only Britney's "Toxic" (#1) and Enrique's "Not In Love" (#2) are doing better.
The Nothing Fails remixes drop from #38 to #49.
Scottish piper to perform on tour? *rumour*
Source: Scotland Today - 12 March 2004A Scottish piper who played at Madonna's wedding has been asked to accompany the Queen of pop on her forthcoming tour.
The dulcet drones of Spud Fraser's pipes echoed around Dornoch as Madonna and Guy Ritchie christened their baby son Rocco, and the occasion appears to have made a huge impression on the material girl because now she wants Spud to go on tour with her.
Spud Fraser said: "I just can't believe it. Its something that is just amazing. To watch or rather to stand next to Madonna on stage at a concert in front of thousands of fans in a foreign concern is well I guess nothing will compare to that, that I have ever done."
It is the gig of a lifetime, the call up Spud Fraser could only have dreamed of. The request came in an email from Madonna's management company. Spud has now cleared his diary for the next six months and is already getting into the groove, having composed his own version of Like A Virgin.
Madonna's grueling tour will be no holiday for the Granton man but he's hoping by the end of it bagpiping will be very much in vogue.
Spoiler on tour rehearsal *rumour*
Source: MadonnaVillage - 11 March 2004"Madonna was at Culver City studios today. I was not there, but will stop by on Wednesday. I don't know much of what happened... my friend said some of the songs that she thought were on record seemed to be replaced by a live band..or perhaps a recording of a live band.
She said the new version of Justify My Love rocks!
But here's the real kicker. Madonna was singing an acoustic version of Crazy For You. She sounded beautiful, but kept screwing up her guitar strings and would scream "f**k!" then laugh... so much for her Kabballah thing. My friend said hearing Madonna sing Crazy For You brought tears to her eyes. "
Madonna invites dancer to workshop
Source: Buchan Observer - 10 March 2004Local lass Julie Harley was just pipped to the post in the chance to dance on stage with Madonna on her next tour. Julie has been in New York for more than two years and attends the Marc Cunningham Foundation School of Dance in Manhatten.
The former Peterhead pupil applied for an audition with Madonna and competed against more than 1,000 dancers for a place on the tour. Julie made it through to the last 15 and was delighted with her achievement.
But she was more than pleased when she arrived home to find a message on her answering machine from Madonna inviting her to attend a workshop on Wall Street on a weekly basis to have further training from her personal choreographer.
Julie graduates from the Marc Cunningham studio this March having already attained her degree in theatre and dance from Laban College in London.
Madonna wins Best Chart Act
10 March 2004Though the past year was a disaster for Madonna as far as charts are concerned, she won the award for... Best Chart Act at the 2004 DanceStar USA Awards!
Other nominees were Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Kelis, Sarah McLachlan, OutKast, P. Diddy , Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.
Congratulations Madonna!
Madonna is a tough taskmaster
Source: WebIndia123 - 10 March 2004Madonna, the undisputed queen of pop is all the more finicky when it comes to selecting potential dancers for her upcoming tour. To make sure that only the best dancers join her on stage she is insisting on having the final say over who will make it with her on stage or not.
"She is being very particular about who'll work for her"."She is demanding to know what their favourite colurs are and which star sign they fall into".
Love Profusion in dance chart
10 March 2004Love Profusion is moving up from #21 to #10 in the Billboard Hot Dance / Club Play chart, issued March 20th. On the same chart, Nothing Fails slides back from #31 to #38.
Meanwhile, Warner France announced that the Love Profusion single will be released in France on March 16th, the same day the single will hit the US market. The French single will use the same cover as the US maxi.
Charlotte Church is Desperately Seeking Susan
Source: TeenMusic - 10 March 2004
Teen singing superstar Charlotte Church is reportedly being lined up to star in a remake of Madonna movie Desperately Seeking Susan. According to British newspaper the Daily Star, Hollywood bosses want Welsh soprano Church, 18, to take the Susan role - played by the queen of pop in the 1985 romantic comedy.
A source tells the Star, "This is a great role for Charlotte. "She has been waiting for ages for the right film role to come along and studio bosses are talking about her non-stop at the moment. They predict big things for her."
In the original, Rosanna Arquette plays a bored housewife who pursues the mysterious Susan after spotting messages to her in ads left in a newspaper. Britney Spears and former S Club singer Hannah Spearritt are being read for Arquette's part. The film is due to begin shooting in Vancouver, Canada, later this year.
Photo shoot for tour book finished *rumour*
Source: DrownedMadonna - 9 March 2004"They have finished to take photographs for the tour book. They used various settings with the dancers, one of them had a jungle feel to it, very crazy and with animals feeling. They did "CRAZY poses".
Madonna apparenlty spent another day shooting by herself. Madonna wore very revealing stuff.. tons of sexappel!!!! Very sensual! She wore an outfit from Louis Verdad with some weird jewellery wrapping around her neck, as an extension of the dress.
Louis Verdad dressed Madonna in a black tux for the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. His spring 2004 collection combines the chic looks of 40's and 50's Hollywood glam with a tailored look. Verdad says, "We are trying to make a statement about color." "
Possible tour tracks *rumour*
9 March 2004According to fansite DrownedMadonna: "Lucky Star is indeed in the set-list. In fact, a really cool, electroclash version of Lucky Star might be used for the show.
Moreover, we have been informed about some other Madonna's old songs which have been considered for the set-list: a rock version of Justify My Love and a new exclusive RETRO mix of Deeper And Deeper.
Don't forget there's nothing official yet, and, most of all, the set-list could change during the rehearsals. Not every rehearsed track will be performed."
Madonna to perform on Britney's tour? *rumour*
Source: MIR #1104 - 9 March 2004According to some rumours from the World of Britney message board Madonna will be performing live with Britney Spears revealed that for her stop in Miami, which will air on Showtime, there'll be two special guests "who are going to heighten it and make it a little bit more exciting."
The concert special airs March 28 at 9 p.m., live in the Eastern time zone, but tape delayed elsewhere.The guests are rumoured to be Ying Yang Twins( producers on a Britney's song) and Madonna.
Live Aid to get a (legal) DVD release
Source: ChartAttack.com, thanx to MIR #1104 - 9 March 2004With DVD sales exploding over the past few years, all kinds of weird programming has made it onto disc — no movie or TV show is too obscure to make it onto DVD, complete with commentary and bonus extras.
Still, one of the biggest concert events of the past 25 years, Live Aid, has never been available in any take-home form. Unless you (admittedly, like at least one ChartAttack staffer) were obsessive enough to tape the damn thing when it aired on TV back in 1985, Live Aid came and went without leaving much of a record behind it.
Now, nearly 20 years after the Live Aid concerts (which were held concurrently in London and Philadelphia), the event is finally coming out on DVD. Why have the organizers finally decided to resurrect the concert, which featured acts like Duran Duran, U2, Madonna and Wham? The release of the old concert is in response to a very modern problem: online bootlegging.
According to the BBC, Live Aid mastermind Bob Geldof stumbled over a website last year that was selling unauthorized 10-DVD Live Aid sets for 110 British pounds. Irritated that some anonymous guy was profiting from an event that was meant to raise money for charity, Sir Bob alerted the authorities, who recently tracked the bootlegger down and arrested him.
While the whole incident, in his own words, "sickened" Geldof, it also made the ex-Boomtown Rat/perpetual do-gooder realize that there was a certain demand for a video of the concerts to hit the market.
Today the Live Aid people announced that they will auction off the rights to release the Live Aid DVDs. If all goes well, the DVD set will be in stores by Christmas of this year. Naturally, all proceeds from the auction will go to the Band Aid Trust, which aims to relieve famine and poverty in Ethiopia.
Rumoured tour dates *rumour*
6 March 2004There are many rumours circulating about possible venues for Madonna's upcoming tour. So far, we've collected the follwoing dates. Please remember that there's still no official confirmation for any of this information.
24 May: Los Angeles
29 - 30 May: Las Vegas
26 - 29 July: Boston
3 - 4 September: Germany (Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt and/or Hamburg).
6 - 7 - 9 September: Paris (Palais Omnisports de Bercy)
11 - 12 - 13 September: Milan
Also under consideration: Israel (King Solomon's Mine), Toronto, New York
Tour brings back Madonna classics *rumour*
5 March 2004Stereomover from PeterRauhofer.com writes:
" 'American Life-The club mixes' is in the works. And i think Akufen is the one who did the Easy Ride mix. I heard things of Mother and Father, but nothing was confirmed. The release of this little treasure will coincide with the tour.
Madonna's next tour concept won't be as heavy or as dark as the previous. She's pulling out Lucky Star, Live to Tell, Like a Prayer, and Into the Groove to see how they fit into the show, which is basically a trip through time. Different eras will be visited from the early 20's jazz clubs to the trashed out clubs of the 80's.
Patrick Leonard and Joe Henry are on-board, musically. And the man behind her last tour's choreagraphy, is back also [Jamie King]. Montreal and Toronto are on the itinerary, but deals are still being worked out. She's confirmed for Toronto, San Francisco, Scotland, Israel and Italy. That's all I know."
Madonna to get biblical?
Source: NY Daily News - 5 March 2004Israel's Palestinians and Jews apparently don't have enough to worry about. Now they may have to brace themselves for an invasion by Madonna.
Her Madge-sty is thinking about performing in the war-wracked land this summer as part of her first world tour in four years. The risktaking singer is said to want to mount her show at Solomon's Pillars in the southern Arava desert. Madonna's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, tells us, "Nothing has been confirmed. Not even the tour." But she says a stop in Israel is "definitely under consideration."
The "Swept Away" star last visited Israel in 1993, when she played Tel Aviv. Since then, the Catholic girl has immersed herself in the mystical Jewish teachings of the kabbala. In 2002, she angered some devout Jews with her video for for the Bond film "Die Another Day" - in which she wore sacramental tefillin and had Hebrew symbols tattooed on her arm.
Madonna proves a fitting inspiration
Source: The Herald - 2 March 2004After working for six organisations in 13 years, Amanda Boyle became tired of waiting on other people to make the decisions and struck out on her own. Now managing director and co-founder of Caledonian Contracts, a shop-fitting company that serves High Street chains across the UK, she was last year's businesswoman of the year in Scotland.
"The two people I particularly admire are Madonna and Germaine Greer, both of whom don't find it necessary to follow conventions. That probably inspires me more than anything," she said.
Dundee-born and bred, she went straight to work after leaving school, and had communications management posts in large companies and public sector organisations across the UK. Eventually, however, she went to Dundee University to do an MBA. She and Stuart McNally set up Caledonian six years ago.
"I'm not very good at working for other people or in big companies where things move very slowly," she said. "In my own company we can make decisions much more quickly." Now 39 and divorced, she said: "Women find themselves pulled in all sorts of directions, for example I have a six-year-old son, so ruthless time-management is essential.
"Getting to the top job and getting the highest salary is not what it is all about." The company, which employs 21 people and turns over £4m a year, was started with no money. "We persuaded our clients to pay up front. We have good relationships with our clients, and the company has been self-financing. My advice to other women trying to break through the glass ceiling is not to be put off by setbacks. If you are determined enough, you will overcome them.
"When I started the business I was earning a lot less than I had been paid before, and my earnings have probably not risen as much as they would have if I had stayed in employment. But I am comfortable, and that is enough. "I have bought a cottage with a garden not far from the beach in Broughty Ferry, and I have a horse. That is how I unwind – though some people question if I ever do."
Madonna sets her sights on Israel *rumour*
Source: Israel21c, thanx to MIR - 2 March 2004The world's most famous student of Kabala is planning to head for Israel this summer: Madonna has put Israel on her schedule for an upcoming concert tour. According to the Hebrew daily Yediot Aharonot, the precise dates of the Israeli concerts have yet to be determined.
The 45-year-old pop star has said several times over the past year that she would like to visit Israel, and it had been rumored that she had a desire to film a music video on location. Her last visit took place in 1993, when she held a large concert in Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park.
The planned tour would be Madonna's first in four years, and will reportedly include Europe and wrap up in Israel. The Foreign Ministry told the newspaper that discussions were underway regarding the possibility of welcoming Madonna as an official guest of the ministry, in what would presumably be a solidarity visit as well as an opportunity to perform.
The newspaper said that there was a possibility that Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom would discuss the visit with Madonna in a meeting during Shalom's upcoming visit to Los Angeles. On that trip, Shalom will reportedly meet with newly elected California governor Arnold Schwartznegger, and prominent figures in the entertainment industry.
~ More Israel rumours reported by MadonnaTribe:
According to World Entertainment News Network, Madonna is set to perform a sensational one-off concert in Israel's historical King Solomon's Mine which will be specially filmed for a DVD. The singer is currently planning a world tour and has scheduled a special concert in the archaeological remains of Timna National Park, north of Eilat, in the Red Sea Desert.
The historic area, which is the world's oldest copper mine, has witnessed mining since the ancient Egyptians owned Israel 6,000 years ago. The site is believed to have been the site where Israel's wise and legendary monarch King Solomon, who died in 926 BC, mined copper nearly 3000 years ago.
Her unusual decision to perform in the country is said to have been inspired by Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie's devotion to the Kabbalah, a mystical branch of Judaism. The singer has been studying the religion since 1997 and credited it with helping her make her 1998 album Ray of Light. The "Material Girl" last toured in 2001 with her Drowned World tour.
After her 2003 album American Life was received poorly in terms of critics and album sales, Madonna is ready to perform again. Madonna will be the first big name to sing in the park. Relative-unknown French singer Daniel Levi performed there in August last year. Madonna's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, adds the concert is still in the initial planning stages: "Nothing's definite right now".
Billboard reviews Love Profusion
Source: Billboard - 1 March 2004Can the fourth time be a charm for Madonna? Love Profusion is the latest radio single from the artist's American Life album, and undoubtedly the prospects are probably rather low for this track. After all, the previous three singles all performed poorly on mainstream radio.
That said, Love Profusion is a sparse number, full of strummy acoustic guitars; it's a good fit for AC outlets. However, the Headcleanr remix is a blast of fresh air and an essential listening experience. It revamps the track into a new wave-styled garage-rock tune.
Also providing restructurings are Ralphi Rosario, the Passengerz, Blow Up and Craig J., who each take the track down various rhythmic roads. The label will issue the remixes March 16 on CD and 12-inch vinyl.
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