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Ian Brown Ian Brown
Unfinished Monkey Business is all Ian wanted it to be, and more, collaborating with the likes of Aziz Ibrahim, Mani, Reni, Nigel Ippinson, Robbie Maddix and Denise Johnson, Ian Brown bounces back with serious style, UMB reeking of the now unmistakable Brown swagger. In January of 1998, Ian's first, and much anticipated debut solo single - "My Star," reaches No. 5 on the UK charts. Two more singles are released from Unfinished Monkey Business - "Corpses" and "Can't See Me," both attaining similar success. UMB, Ian Brown's first solo album goes gold. But somewhere in-between these second and third singles, Ian launches his first solo tour of the UK and Europe. This continues, taking in such events as the Glastonbury Festival, T In The Park, Fuji Rock Festival and Virgin's V98. The back end of 1998 sees Ian add vocals to U.N.K.L.E's Unreal - later released as a single under the title :Be There". Ian consistently tours through almost all of 1999. Including five gigs in one day, stretching from Wales to Scotland (proceeds from the doors was donated to local youth clubs) right up to appearing in his home town of Manchester, England to an elated crowd for a free gig on New Year? Eve - yet somehow manages to make another album, Golden Greats, in the middle of it all. In October of 1999 the first single from Golden Greats," Love Like A Fountain" is released. A funky, hyped up mix of techno-trance, a haunting retro synth with more than a nod to Stevie Wonders' Superstition, and a highly effected overdub of vocals, makes for a blistering track, a firm live favorite still today. With the help of established programmer Dave McCracken, LLAF permanently marks Ian Brown's status on the map. November '99 sees the release of the album Golden Greats to massive critical acclaim and a further two singles in 2000, "Dolphins Were Monkeys" and "Golden Gaze." Golden Greats is a change in direction for Ian and his band. More guitar orientated, and yet more dancefloor, GG remains to many as one of Ian's greatest moments. Again, right up to New Year's Eve '00 in London, Ian performs live in the UK, Europe, America and Japan all through the year. A well-earned break at the beginning of 2001, and Ian gets busy in the studio with his third album Music Of The Spheres. Taking new songs on tour in the summer, and releasing the first single from the album," F.E.A.R." in September '01, just ahead of Music Of The Spheres. The video for FEAR brings Ian's first outing as a director. MOTS is a different turn yet again, this time more laid back, more subtle. A documentary made with Ian's long time friend, TV presenter and founder of Factory Records, Tony Wilson is aired across the North West. Ian now comfortably working with the same artists both live and in the studio, easily does what he does best. A constant battle for airplay and recognition has little effect on sales, showing Ian's fans to be among the most hardcore and loyal in the business. The two singles from MOTS, - F.E.A.R. and Whispers are a phenomenal success. Whispers contains the first Ian Brown DVD content, in clips from the Tony Wilson Documentary, The Works. 2001 also sees Ian put together a 2 CD album of his favourite tracks for the Planet Groove compliation series. 2002 takes Ian on his busiest live schedule since 1999, performing through most of the year. Too busy to hit the studio, Ian grabs the opportunity to have MOTS remixed into the album Remixes Of The Spheres by the likes of long time friend and collaborator James Lavelle (U.N.K.L.E), and Warp Records stalwarts, Nightmares On Wax. Ian auctions online an autographed concrete slate of his handprint, and charges £15 a question from journalists - the proceeds of which go to the charity SightSavers (£15 being the cost for a cataract operation in the Third World). At the latter end of 2002, Ian receives the prestigious Muso Award for best single (F.E.A.R.) and joins The Manic Street Preachers as very special guest on their Greatest Hits tour. 2003, and Ian collaborates once again with U.N.K.L.E on the track "R.E.I.G.N," from their album Never Never Land, and tries his hand at a bit of wizardry alongside Harry Potter as he plays a cameo role in "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban." Ian creates the second in the series of the Under The Influence compilation albums, and is approached by erstwhile Icelandic techno funksters Gus Gus to remix their single, "Desire" - which he duly does to an astounding degree. 2004 and Ian Brown's back on the front cover of NME magazine. He makes history by resurrecting the songs of The Stone Roses for one lazy, hazy day in an amphitheatre by a lake in Surrey at sundown. Headlining and selling out a capacity venue gig in aid of The National Trust at the stunning Claremont Landscape Gardens, the Legendary Ian Brown and his now new band finally give the kids what they've been waiting for for so long with an almost full set of classic Roses tunes - then in true Brown style turns it all on it's head and announces the release of his finest solo album yet, Solarized. Already soaring in high esteem by the music press, Solarized is without doubt his strongest album to date. Never has Ian produced a record of such musical variation. His music has no regard for personal space, invading the mind and soul and getting deep under the skin. Opening track "Longsight M13" is classic Brown, with the title a reference to the location of the legendary Free Ian Brown graffiti that still exists. "Time Is My Everything" is soaked in good Mexican vibes as Ian uses Mariachi style brass (provided by Tim Hutton of Groove Armada) on a song for the first time. Title track "Solarized" is deep, throbbing and massive, with a hint of the east about it. First single, the anthemic "Keep What Ya Got" occupies the magical number 7 in the running order and is also the first single, out September 20th. On it Ian is joined by another Manchester legend, Noel Gallagher, who supplies guitar and backing vocals. A match made in heaven indeed. Upside Down touches upon Global topical issues, whilst The Sweet Fantastic is an uplifting triumphant love song which pulls you in and sweeps you off your feet before you realise it. One Way Ticket To Paradise is the sound of a huge white stallion gate-crashing a wedding at an Arabian palace. Filled with swirling strings and Moorish guitars it takes Ian to new heights. And never one to bow down to authority, Kiss Ya Lips (No I.D.) is a full on house based stance against the proposed compulsory I.D cards our caring government seem intent to impose on us. The artwork for the album is courtesy of Japanese artist Kazuki, who also designs clothes for the uber-cool Japanese label Bathing Ape. Ian Brown - Superstar. The hardest working man in the music business.
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For more info contact: Sioux Zimmerman © 2006 Magnum PR & Management
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