Classic Pop April 2019

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© Nick Wilson

Janet unveils Vegas residency

J

anet Jackson is the latest superstar to announce a Las Vegas residency.

The youngest Jackson sibling will bring a brand new show titled

Metamorphosis to the Park Theater at the legendary strip’s MGM resort

from 17 May, playing for an initial 15 shows. Focusing on themes of

“self-love, empowerment, motherhood and activism”, producers claim the

show “peels back the layers of the immensely private life of Janet Jackson, sharing

her transformation from a young girl with issues of self-esteem to global icon.”

Janet herself called the show, “A celebration of my journey and the 30th

anniversary of Rhythm Nation. I’ll be at the Park MGM in May, July and August.”

In the meantime, Janet is also working on a new studio album.

Sin City has become something of a mecca for pop fans in recent times with Lady

Gaga, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey and Robbie Williams all appearing on

the strip in 2019.

TORSTEN – THE COMEBACK

Andy Bell returns as alter-ego Torsten for his latest solo

album. Torsten In Queereteria is the third in a series of

projects by the Erasure frontman, revolving around the

life and times of his semi-immortal polysexual character.

Arriving on 12 April, the new collection reunites him with

poet/playwright Barney Ashton-Bullock and musician

Christopher Frost, and is structured around four separate

themed theatrical acts. A strictly limited edition 48-page

hardback book edition of the new LP will also be

available featuring lyrics, photographs, poetry and an

unreleased Bronski Beat remix of I Don’t Like.

Torsten will also be brought to life in musical comedy,

Queereteria TV at the Above The Stag Theatre in London

from 10-28 April.

L O S T

&FOUND

No.

THE KANE GANG

THE BAD AND LOWDOWN

WORLD OF THE KANE GANG

What was bad and lowdown
about the Kane Gang’s world
in the mid-80s is unclear; it
certainly wasn’t their music.
This exquisite debut album,
on venerated Geordie label
Kitchenware, boasts a strong
message alongside sophisticated
production values and, as a
rare extra in pop, the standout
contrast of two very different
lead vocalists.
The menace of Martin
Brammer is evident from their
version of Respect Yourself, a Top
30 hit, while Paul Woods has a
more assuaging tone, making
the big single Closest Thing
To Heaven a most beautiful,
satisfying listen.
Woods again provides
antidote on the jazzy We’ll Take
This Train after Gun Law, the
opener, aims a huge swipe at
the era’s politics via Brammer’s
abrasiveness, while the soulful,
downtempo Crease In His Hat
showcases the singers’ capacity
to harmonise.
Brilliant debut single
Smalltown Creed has an
endearing, scatterbrained vocal;
the title is mentioned again in
Losersville, paced at a gentle
canter but with a sting in the
tail. Printer’s Devil and How
Much Longer? emphasise as
much as any the imaginative
songcraft of third member, multi-
instrumentalist Dave Brewis.
The album peaked at No.
in 1985. One more followed
before the trio became a duo in
the early 90s, prior to splitting.
Matthew Rudd

Torsten In

Queereteria

is

reviewed

on page 83

Pneumonia battle

for Paul Young

Paul Young feared his tour would

be postponed after being struck

down by pneumonia. The soulful

singer has struggled with everyday

activities since leaving hospital.

He revealed: “It’s been tough,

the pneumonia took it out of me.

I had to admit myself to hospital

in the end. It started off as a cold

and then it just got worse. I am

still recovering from it and fi nding

it hard doing stuff like walking

up stairs. The tour starts in a few

weeks so I will be fi t by then.”

Paul managed to perform a gig

in January but told The Mirror he

“felt like I’d been punched in the

kidneys” afterwards.

Young’s No Parlez 35th

anniversary tour kicks off on

26 April at De La Warr Pavilion,

Bexhill-On-Sea.