May 18th, 201018th May 1980/2010
Thirty years ago today, much like I am back doing again today, I was juggling two lives, one is freight forwarding at Heathrow for the money and one involved with music, for the passion. I can recall that it was a Sunday and I was due to leave for an evening band meeting at the NFT with the band that I then managed Repetition. A friend called to me to say that he had heard from Rob Gretton that Ian Curtis had died.
Now at this point one might assume that the sky became dark and there was countrywide grief. Having lived through times, whilst incredibly sad, the importance of the contribution of Ian & Joy Division took longer to sink in to most people (other than those close friends and insightful writers like Paul Morley). It is perhaps only in retrospect that Ian & Joy Division became so important to so many; even important to those who perhaps had never heard of Joy Division prior to Ian’s death.
Ian was born two months after me and whilst I was brought up in the namby pamby South, Ian’s life and subsequent lyrics were inextricably linked to what is now fast becoming my spiritual home, the North West.
Two months after Ian’s demise, I remember sitting in a studio in Saffron Waldon with Rob Gretton as he produced a single for Repetition. Perhaps with some trepidation raising the issue of Ian’s death and in typical Rob fashion he said that Ian was a ‘selfish w*nker, he screwed up all my plans’. But even through Rob’s usual confrontational non nonsense approach, you could tell that he knew that even in those two months, Ian had already become an immovable reference to a generation.
It was my passion for Joy Division that subsequently led me to admire the Factory Records ethos so much, work closely with Annik at Factory Belgium and, many years later, start up a record label which in its own small way tries to adhere to that orginal Factory ethos. It is indeed strange that in 1980, we were then one year into Thatcher’s Britain with all the turmoil that this brought to the poorer parts of our country. Today, 30 years later, we are one week into what could be another austere Tory parliament. I just wonder what a 54 year old Ian would have made of it.
April 11th, 2010Record Store Day
Two weeks of hectic activity at Heist Towers. The Crookes single ‘Bloodshot Days’ was released on 5th April to rapturous acclaim. Get down to your local record store today to pick up a copy, they are almost sold out. Also available via all the world’s finest purveyors of digital music or via the Heist shop.
Being finally released physically in North America on 12th April is the wonderful LoveLikeFire’s Tear Ourselves Away album. This will be available in most US indie record stores across the country.
Even more of a reason for everyone to support Record Store Day on April 17th and pop in and buy some goodies.
March 31st, 2010Huw Stephens’ Label Of The Week
We are excited to announce that we will be Huw Stephen’s DIY label of the week on his Radio One show this evening. You can listen in live from midnight this evening or alternatively the show will be available to stream for the next week or so.
As you all probably know Huw is the best DJ on Radio One and we are always really honoured when he chooses to play any of our records. The man has cracking taste in music and looks like a hotter version of Heist Or Hit’s very own Peter M Jones – what’s not to love?
To celebrate the occasion we have sent over a brand new track from The Answering Machine which is definitely a sign of the amazing things to come from the band in the coming months. They are currently locked away recording drum tracks for their sophmore album. It’s gonna be amazing.
March 23rd, 2010WOXY.COM ceases operation ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WOXY.com
March 11th, 2010Show dates and times for Heist bands playing at SXSW this year
The Crookes
Wed March 17th – Dirty Boots @ Wave Bar Rooftop, 6th St – 1pm.
Thus March 18th – Yorkshire Party – British Music Embassy, Latitude 30, St Jacinto – 1.10pm
Thurs March 18th – Official Showcase – Friends Bar, 6th St – 10.25pm
Fri March 19th – Caffe Medici- Guadalope @ 22nd St (University District) – 3pm
Sat March 20th – PRSF/ British Music Abroad Brunch – British Music Embassy, Latitude 30, St Jacinto- from Midday
LoveLikeFire
Fri March 19th 2:20pm Berklee’s 5th Annual SXSW Day Party, Friends Bar 208 E. 6th Street
Fri March 19th 6:00pm Dominican Joe Party, Dominican Joe 515 South Congress
Sat March 20th 12:15pm Future Sounds Day Party, Shangri-la 1016 East 6th Street
Sat March 20th 10:00pm Official showcase Emo’s Jr. 600 Red River Street
Pomegranates
Tues March 16 – Beauty Bar *617 East 7th Street* (1am)
Thurs March 18 – Maggie Mae’s *323 East 6th Street* (9pm)
Fri March 19 – Distrct 301 *301 West 6th Street* (3pm)
Fri March 19 – Union Park *612 W. 6th Street* (5pm)
Sat March 20 – Home Slice Pizza *1415 Congress Avenue South* (3pm)
Fri March 19 – Distrct 301 *301 West 6th Street* (3pm)
March 7th, 2010US visa update for UK bands travelling to SXSW
—–Original Message—–
From: SXSW Registration [mailto:reg@sxsw.com]
Sent: 06 March 2010 23:10
Subject: 2010 SXSW US Embassy Information
Effective March 1st, 2010, individuals applying for a non-immigrant visa* at the U.S. Embassy will be required to submit a new electronic application form, known as the DS-160 Non-Immigrant Visa Electronic Application.
List of Countries Using the Online DS- 160 Non-Immigrant Visa Electronic Application Form:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_4230.html
Due to unforeseen problems with the new visa application form DS-160, any applicant who has an appointment with a U.S. Embassy the week of March 8 – 12 who is unable to complete this form, may furnish the DS-156. In addition, males aged between 16 and 45 should complete the DS-157 and F and J visa applicants the DS-158. The forms are available on the visa forms page at
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html
Amin Simms
SXSW Registrar
reg@sxsw.com
