JAMES - NEWS UPDATES - MAY 2002
Update 31.5.02
Confirmation of the article in the Portuguese magazine Blitz that Saul, Dave and Mark have formed a new band can be found in the (rough) translation of the article below :
After the end of a career spanning 20 years, the various elements of James are now working on different projects. Now living in Portugal, violinist Saul Davies spoke to Blitz about the last days of his old band and his new band, still in its infancy, with other ex-members of James.
The authors of Sometimes, James finished its activities in December last year with a concert at Wembley Arena, where Brian Eno, producer of many James albums, was present on stage. "He hadn't been on stage with a band since 1979 Someone said "he dances like your Dad". That was the end of James as an identifiable entity. There was very much good about the band, but also things that were wrong and that's what motivated the end."
That doesn't exclude, admits Saul, some kind of future version of James. "Bassist Jim Glennie, who formed the group 20 years ago, decided to try and continue James in some form, but that doesn't interest me." Saul Davies joined James in 1989 and was part of the band that produced Gold Mother, the album that launched James internationally with Sit Down.
Still without a name, Saul's new project includes Mark Hunter on keyboards and Dave Baynton-Power on drums. They've done half an album so far and plan to complete it soon for a late 2002 or early 2003 release. "I love what I'm doing, it's going to be something completely different from James," says Saul. "There are lots of points of contact, as I did co-produce the last two James albums with Eno. But there's a different type of approach, it's much more studio-based." Is there any reference point? "It could be described as similar to the Beta Band. That sort of area"
The recordings so far have been made with Saul and Mark on vocals. Saul recognises that they need a singer for live performances. "We've asked people to come in and sing on one or more songs" Some of these people are Portuguese, reflecting Saul now living permanently in Porto. "Miguel Guedes of Blind Zero, has done some wonderful vocals on one song, in the style of Roy Orbison, it's fantastic. Another one was Orlando Pona, vocalist with Feed. He did sing some songs but the styles didn't really match. It'll be people like that who will be singing at any future concerts in Portugal."
To see the Portuguese version of the interview, click here
It seems clear from Saul's comments that Jim will continue with James with a new line-up. Adrian's comments to a fan in Brighton that he is "getting used to life outside the band" suggest he has left James as well. Rumours that have surfaced in Manchester suggest that he has been writing with Larry again and that Jim's brothers David and Peter Glennie from Exit 52 will join the new line-up. This is, as I said, rumour but the news on Saul's departure (and presumably Dave and Mark's) mean this rumour may not be wide of the mark. The Exit 52 website appears to be out of action at present.
There is as present no official confirmation of any of this.
Update 28.5.02
I've been informed from a source in Portugal that Saul gave an interview to the Portuguese music paper Blitz this week in which he said James was "over" for him and that he had formed a new band with Dave and Mark and they had completed half an album for release late this or early next year. They're still looking for a vocalist, although Saul and Mark had been sharing vocal duties. The music is apparently in the vein of the Beta Band.
Saul has produced the debut album by a Portuguese band called Ezpecial.
I'm trying to get a transcription and a translation of the interview to put up here to confirm this..
Update 27.5.02
Kulas is headlining the final night of the NXNE Festival at Toronto's Rancho Relaxo on June 8th.
Update 8.5.02
The live album Getting Away With It Live has been confirmed for a June 11 release in the US through Sanctuary Records. The album is released in the UK the previous day.