April 26, 2009

Bruno Adams RIP

Nikki's friend Bruno Adams, who had organised Nikki's Memorial Concert in Berlin and also a member of Fatal Shore (with Phil Shoenfelt) passed away last Saturday (18/4/09).

His funeral took place yesterday at Alter Luisenstadt Kirchhof in Berlin.

The following was takenfrom Phil Shoenfelt's website:

For those of you who don't already know, Fatal Shore singer and frontman Bruno Adams died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Saturday morning, 18/4/2009.

Bruno had been battling cancer for five years with all the strength and courage he could muster. But in the end time ran out, and he passed away at home in Berlin, surrounded by his family and close friends. Although in great physical pain, Bruno never once gave in to self-pity or despair. He loved his wife Katka and his three children with a depth of passion that never faltered, and in spite of his rapidly deteriorating condition, he managed to remain lucid and aware right up until the end. Bruno loved life and he loved people, and for him to be taken from us at such a young age is a tragedy that we will all suffer to come to terms with. The wonderful music he made will continue to inspire, and everyone whose life he touched (and there are many), will remember this unique and beautiful character with the deep love and respect that were the hallmark of Bruno's own attitude to life.

Bruno Adams: Born 02/09/1963, Bacchus Marsh, Australia. Died 18/04/2009 R.I.P. Berlin, Germany.

Phil Shoenfelt, Prague, 18/04/2009

Our condolences and sweetets thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Rest In Peace Bruno.


April 18, 2009

Nikki Sudden & Phil Shoenfelt: Golden Vanity

Golden Vanity, the lost album that Nikki Sudden recorded together with Phil Shoenfelt back in 1998, finally sees the light of day by Easy Action Records ten years after its original recording took place.

Nikki Sudden & Phil Shoenfelt: Golden Vanity

1. Hanoi Jane
2. Cloak of Virtue
3. Jack Ketch
4. Portcullis
5. Love makes her shine
6. Bang a gong
7. Waiting for you
8. Jamboree Bag
9. Golden Door
10. Teenage Sheets
11. Wage a Crown
12. Hangman's Daughter
13. Angel Wings
14. Cullisport
15. Master Sampson

Recorded at Interzone Studios Berlin 1998
Nikki Sudden: Guitars/ Keyboards/ vox
Phil Shoenfelt: Guitars/vox
Carl Picot: Bass
Robbie Schmidt: Drums
Mark Mullholland: Mandola / Backing Vox
Joe Armstrong: Backing Vox

The official release date of Golden Vanity for Europe is May 25th and it is available for pre-order and delivery during April 2009. The release date for the US remains to be confirmed.

For more information please visit:

Phil Shoenfelt:
www.myspace.com/philshoenfeltsoutherncross
www.philshoenfelt.de

Easy Action Records:
www.easyaction.co.uk


Bucketfull of Brains #72 Spring 2009: Golden Vanity Review

Very much a case of 'that which was lost ...' this little piece of legend was recorded in Berlin in early 1998. Both Nikki and Phil had mentioned it me on more than one occasion, adamant as to its quality, but no one seemed to be able to turn up the complete recordings, and with Nikki's death, it seemed they were likely gone for good. Over its absence settled a patina of romance, and as with so much of Nikki it seemed fleeting, evanescent, now forever beyond grasp.

Sometime last year Phil told me all the tapes had turned up and I guess I hoped to get a burn of it at some point, and then would arise the question of how the reality would match the myth. Well better than that it's got itself a proper release, through Troubadour, and, bless them both, they were right about it because it's a magnificent meeting of talents.

There are tales of the pair writing together at the kitchen table, throwing lines at each other, challenging the other to match it. Here in songs like 'Hangman's Daughter' and 'Angel Wings' is the fruit of that. They'd been touring together for a few weeks prior to the recording sessions and you feel the empathy. It's a settled band, Carl Picot on bass and Robbie Schmidt on drums, along with Mark Mulholland and Joe Armstrong helping out.

A pretty long album, comprising eleven full-length tracks and four interludes of varying brevity; it never stutters, and always invigorates. Right from the get-go, which is 'Hanoi Jane', Bolan channelled through Sudden majestically, and a precursor to 'Bang A Gong', Nikki's unashamed tribute to Marc ("I first saw you in '72 / Top Of The Pops and Metal Guru"), and a soulmate for the later 'Green Shield Stamps'.

Second track, 'Cloak Of Virtue', is the first example of them swapping verses and it's splendid how well these two unique voices complement each other. There's altogether a unity of purpose that stays strong even when Nikki's doing his Rowland Howard co-write 'Jack Ketch' (a very Nikki-subject) and 'Golden Door', an early version of Red Brocade's 'Broken Door', or Phil his two solo compositions. That pair of songs - 'Love Makes Her Shine', riding on a cushion of Tucker-like drumming, and the aching, nostalgic 'Waiting For You' with gentle lilting organ accompaniment - seem especially bejewelled moments.

As does 'Jamboree Bag', a ten minute-plus proggy, Krautrock extravaganza that sits at the album's centre; a surprise but not an indulgence. And I guess that's the final judgement on the totality of Golden Vanity as it carries us through joy and sorrow, loss and nostalgia, to an over-arching sense of grateful celebration." (Nick West - Bucketfull Of Brains)

The Jacobites: Howling Good Times (The Complete Regency Sound Recordings)

The 1994 album Howling Good Times signalled the re-union of the Jacobites which was followed by a series of excellent albums such as Old Scarlett and God Save Us Poor Sinners. Long out of pring since 1998, Howling Good Times is re-released and remastered by the good folk over at Easy Action Records together with bonus tracks, a full extra CD of the Trident Sessions and a bonus DVD film of the making of the album with some candid and often quite funny film of the late Nikki Sudden, Dave Kusworth and the rest of the band at work and at play. This film has been completely undiscovered until now!!!

The Jacobites: Howling Good Times (The Complete Regency Sound Recordings)

Disc One: Howling Good Times (Remastered Recorded Summer 1993)

1. Don't you ever leave me
2. Can't you see
3. 100 miles from here
4. Howling good times
5. Some people
6. Ambulance
7. Chelsea Springtime
8. Older Women
9. Margaritta
10. Flying
11. Never more than blind *
12. Travelling European Blues *
13. Cant you see (single mix) *
14. Don't you ever leave me (reprise) *
15. All my Life ( Flying ) *

* Bonus Tracks

Disc Two: The Trident Sessions (Remastered)

New Versions recorded 21st October 1994

1. Too many girls
2. She belongs to you
3. Heart of Hearts
4. Tell Me
5. Silver coin

New Session Recorded 15th May 1995

6. Liquor, guns & ammo
7. The Rolling of the hearse
8. That girl
9. Puppeteers son
10. Penicillin
11. Loves cascade

Woodbine Street Sessions June 1993

12. 100 miles from here (guide vocals early mix )
13. Older women (guide vocals fast version )
14. Some People (guide vocals early mix)
15. Chelsea springtime ( guide vocals early mix )

Disc Three: DVD: The making of Howling Good Times

A film by Stephen Griddley

Film shot during the recording of the album "Howling Good Times" at Woodbine St studios. Shows the band hard at work and at play
and enjoying the summer of 1993 in middle England during downtime. It's funny and sad at the same time as Nikki Sudden is no longer with us and there is so little footage of him.

For more information please visit:

Easy Action Records:
www.easyaction.co.uk


February 11, 2009

Nikki Sudden article by Dave Kusworth on Magnet Magazine

On February 2007, Dave Kusworth wrote a lovely article about his long time friend for Magnet Magazine. The article has recently went online and you can read it here.

The Big Store is open again!

The Big Store is open again! Sorry for any incovience these two months of inactivity has caused!

January 14, 2009

Golden Vanity: The lost Nikki Sudden & Phil Shoenfelt album

Golden Vanity, the album that Nikki recorded together wth Phil Shoenfelt at Interzone Studios in Berlin, back in 1998, will finally be released in February by Easy Action which is also planning to release a remastered edition of the Jacobites c;assic Howling Good Times plus a Nikki Sudden Box Set.

The album was concerned "lost" until recently Phil found the original mixes and went into a Prague studio to master them.

The result according to Phil "....sounds great! 15 tracks of grungy rock & roll and wistful ballads, plus a full on 10.30 jam session that sounds like Hawkwind meets T Rex meets Can meets Black Sabbath!"

Tha band that recorded Golden Vanity is the touring band Nikki and Phil had in 1997 which also featured Carl Eugene Picot on bass and Robbie Schmidt on drums.

More information on Golden Vanity can be found here.

You can also visit Phil Shoenfelt's official website and/or myspace.

Topplers Records 2009 Compilation

Topplers Records are releasing a free brand new promo compilation which will feature an unreleased track by Nikki Sudden along with other unreleased recordings from other Swell Maps members from 1977-1980.

Topplers Records have also released music from Phones Sportsman, Jowe Head as well as the No Men who have recorded tribute albums for the Swell Maps and Epic Soundtracks.

More information on the upcoming compilation as well as other releases can be found at the Topplers Records website.

Jeremy Gluck - Victim of Dreams

The new album of Jeremy Gluck, the Barracudas frontman with whom Nikki collaborated on the I Knew Buffalo Bill album alongside Epic Soundtracks, Rowland S. Howard and Jeffrey Lee Pierce, entitled Victim Of Dreams can be downloaded for free over at Jeremy's new website http://theyohawks.blogspot.com/ .

You can also visit Jeremy's myspace page.

Dave Kusworth - Tambourine Girl

Sunthunder Records which also released the brilliant Nikki Sudden Tribute album "Suddenly Yours" has also released a new Dave Kusworth album "Tambourine GIrl". A 12-track digipack compilation of rarities, demos and outtakes by the Bounty Hunters and Daves solo career with The Tenderhooks, as collected by Dave himself.

Visit Sunthunder Records official website for more information on Dave's Tambourine Girl, Nikki's Tribute Album and Joey SKidmore's latest album which also features a contribution by Nikki Sudden.

December 1, 2008

Nikkisudden.com is back online

Due to some technical problems nikkisudden.com went offline for a few days, everything is back to normal now!

Stay tuned for some great news for new official releases plus a few rare Nikki Sudden sounds!

The Big Store will be temporarily closed

The Big Store, will remain closed until January 2009. We apologise for any incovenience this might casue!

August 19, 2008

NEW NIKKI SUDDEN SHIRTS AVAILABLE!!!

Nikki Sudden's Treasure Island long sleeve shirts (for both men and women) are now available to order online through the Big Store.
Please look under the Memorabilla section of the Big Store for he T-Shirts.

July 30, 2008

NEW NIKKI SUDDEN RELEASES!!!

Easy Action records is currently working on a few Nikki Sudden relases that will see the light of day very soon:

Nikki Sudden Box Set

In cooperation with the Nikki Sudden Estate, a Nikki Sudden box set will be released early 2009. So far it has been confirmed that the Box Set will feature 5 Discs each focusing in a different era of Nikki Sudden music. The first two discs will feature key moments and singles all the way from the Swell Maps to Treasure Island. Disc 3 will be rarities while Disc 4 will be unreleased material. There may also be a fifth disc which will feature live tracks. More details will follow soon!!

Howling Good Times Reissue
Howling Good times, the excellent Jacobites album will see the light of day as a reissue with a complete overhawl design by Dave Twist and will be a 3-Disc set, 2 audio CD's plus a DVD complete with liner notes from Nikki's diary.

Epic Soundtracks Anthology
In addition an Epic Soundtracks anthology is also scheduled for release later this year. The anthology will be a two disc set. Disc 1 is going to be a best of compilation whereas Disc 2 will feature unreleased tracks. Chris Seventeen is helping with this project.

Dave Kusworth's new album The Brink is also available through Easy Action as a limited edition 2cd set.

For more information you can visit Easy Action's website!!

Nikki Sudden on Joey Skidmore's Ventriloquist Doll

The new album from Joey Skidmore Ventriloquist Doll features Nikki Sudden who collaborates by playing, co-singing and producing some of the tracks. The album has been released by Sunthunder Records, who also released the great Nikki Sudden Tribute album "Suddenly Yours" and is planning on a new Dave Kusworth album too.

For more information on the album or to order you can visit Sunthunder Records or Joeys official website or myspace.




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