Revolver Interview (October 2008)

Dennis reports on an interview that appeared in the October issue of the Dutch magazine Revolver. The article, titled TORI AMOS: Schizofreen? Wij? (TORI AMOS: Schizophrenic? We?), is mentioned on the magazine’s website but, unfortunately, the text of the article has not been posted.

Since we don’t have a scan or translation of the article, we can’t be sure of the exact details but Dennis tells us that Tori discusses the Live at Montreux release, says that Pip’s performance of “Me And A Gun” from The Vic in Chicago last year will be on the American Doll Posse tour DVD, indicates that the tour DVD will be released next year and describes a project she is planning on doing that will be called The Road Chronicles.

This project is supposed to address how the members of the Doll Posse changed as the tour progressed and what happened afterwards. Dennis points out that Tori does not say what form this project will take but it sure does sound like what Tori said the American Doll Posse DVD has turned into in an interview with Spinner earlier this year so perhaps The Road Chronicles is the title for the long-awaited tour DVD?

If anyone can send us a copy and/or translation of the article, that would be greatly appreciated!

Comic Book Tattoo Special Edition Published...We Hope

After some confusion about the actual publication date of the Comic Book Tattoo Special Edition, we’re told that copies should have reached stores during this past week. Diamond Comics confirms that the book should have shipped during the week of November 26th. Still, if you’re looking for some assurance that the bleeding thing actually exists, editor Rantz Hoseley has posted a couple photos of it on Flickr, reproduced here for your viewing pleasure:

However, Amazon still has some issues with regards to the special edition. Amazon.com lists it as not yet released and has sent out delivery delay notices as recently as last week. Amazon.ca shows it as released but with a 1-2 month estimated delivery date. Meanwhile, Amazon.co.uk is slightly more optimistic, indicating that orders will be shipped within 1-3 week.

Given the listing on Diamond though, one hopes Amazon will get this straightened out and start shipping copies this week.

Update: DavidMackGuide.com has some handy links to comics stores where you can order the Special Edition from as well.

Live at Montreux Odds and Sods

Several items of interest about Live at Montreux have popped up in the past few weeks.

First, courtesy of a licensing agreement between Eagle Rock Entertainment and FreemantleMedia Enterprises, all of Eagle Rock’s new music DVD offerings will now be available in Australia and New Zealand and the second release to be born from this deal is Tori’s Live at Montreux. According to Shock Entertainment, the company handling sales and distribution for these licensed releases, it was released on November 15th. Dylo and Benjamin have pointed out JB Hi-Fi’s listing for the DVD but it does not appear to be in stock there currently. No doubt, other stores should be carrying the title as well.

Second, several reviews of the Blu-ray edition of Live at Montreux have been posted in various Blu-ray/High-Definition websites. Blu-ray.com, High-Def Digest and DVD Talk have all weighed in. If you’ve been considering the Blu-ray edition, they address much of the technical aspects of the release which may (or may not) tip the balance for you. Thanks to Chris Johnson, Jack, and Jimmy for the links!

Finally, CrystallineColey let us know that some of Live at Montreux can be found on Comcast’s On Demand channel, available to Comcast’s digital cable subscribers. The program is in the Music section and is listed simply as “Tori Amos.” The program description pumps Comic Book Tattoo but the video is actually the first seven songs from the 1992 Montreux concert. The program does not appear to be listed on the On Demand website any longer, but we’re not sure if that means it’s no longer available for viewing or not.

These Kids Have Sung, Have Sung 1,000 Oceans

Last year, Mr. B and the PS22 Choir hit the big-time when they wowed Tori and got to sing “Father’s Son” with her. Well, the 2009 edition of the chorus has proved itself a force to be reckoned with as well with their rendition of "1,000 Oceans". They posted the video on YouTube earlier this month and, with Perez Hilton’s help, it’s already garnered over 150,000 views! Congratulations to Mr. B and the choir!

Thanks to Joshua W, Devin and Natasha for letting us know!

Here A Tori, There A Tori - Comic Book Tattoo Edition (November 2, 2008)

It’s been a while since we mentioned Comic Book Tattoo and there have been a few newsy items of interest since we last did.

First, several collectible items, including Rantz Hoseley’s personal copy of the Comic Book Tattoo Limited Edition (#4 of 1000), are being auctioned off to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The other items include an Under The Pink tour program, a Boys For Pele tour program, a BEA CBT print and a San Diego Comic-con CBT print, all signed by Tori. The auctions run for another week.

Second, Globecat interviewed Rantz, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Tom Williams and Ming Doyle about Comic Book Tattoo. It’s good readin’! Check it out!

Third, in what hopefully will not become a repeat of the Limited Edition Amazon stress-fest, at least one person has reported receiving a delay notice for the special edition CBT hardcover. We suspect this could be related to an misunderstanding about the publication date — Amazon shows a publication date of October 29th but the actual date, according to the information we were given, is November 19th — but we don’t know for sure. If anyone has troubles with the special edition from any retailer, please let us know.

Finally, Rantz signed several paperback and hardcover copies of Comic Book Tattoo and left them for sale at the Image Comics booth at the Alternative Press Expo at the Concourse Exhibition Center in San Francisco. APE’s ends at 6:00 PM PST today so this is probably too late notice for most people, but if you’re in the area and you need a copy, that’s one place to pick ‘em up. Thanks to Michele for that tip!

RAINN Over Houston

RAINN Over Houston is a concert benefiting RAINN that will be held in Houston in June 2009. The ambitious event, with a goal of raising $100,000 for RAINN, is being organized by local singer/songwriter Jennifer Grassman and her efforts so far have earned her a commendation from Tori. Congratulations to her!

Undented wishes Jennifer the best of luck in making this event a success and encourages anyone who can to help her out! Make a donation, join their E-Team, or just offer support by staying informed on their website or on Myspace.

And if you’re organizing a RAINN benefit and need help spreading the word, we’re more than happy to give you a plug here — just let us know.

Thanks to Agatha and Xavier for bringing this to our attention!

Live at Montreux on Blu-Ray

Back at the end of September, we mentioned that Amazon.co.uk had a listing for a Region 2 Blu-ray edition of Live at Montreux. It now appears that there will be a Region 1 Blu-ray release for North America as well. Roger noticed that Eagle Rock Entertainment had added a Blu-ray DVD to their catalog, with a release date of December 9, 2008 — one week after the European Blu-ray release, at least according to Amazon.co.uk. There’s no mention of the Region 2 Blu-ray DVD on the UK Eagle Rock site but then, according to them, Live at Montreux doesn’t exist at all so they might not be the most reliable place to look for confirmation….

Brian Nash Takes On "Choirgirl"

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of From the Choirgirl Hotel, NYC performer Brian Nash will stage the album in its entirety Nov. 25 at the Zipper Factory. Some of you probably caught Brian’s 2006 performances of Boys for Pele. To find out more about him, check out our exclusive 2007 interview.

I Really Can't Do Anything Besides Music (Observer, October 12, 2008)

I once saw Jimi Hendrix on a television show and remembered my father, a minister, referring to that kind of music as “devil music”. I thought, right then, 20 years from now some minister is going to look at me playing the piano and say: “She plays like she’s got the devil in her.” I thought that was a good goal.

We were so dumbfounded by the factual errors in that recent Independent article that we completely missed another article that appeared in the October 12th edition of The Observer. This piece, written by Tori herself, is one of the inspirational articles in the second part of The Observer’s Guide To The Piano & Keyboard.

Thanks to Joe for passing the link along!

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The Independent Interview (October 13, 2008)

The National Theatre has been more open-minded than anyone I could have worked with on Broadway, but everything has to be approved by committee, and I have to tell you that not everyone is aboard my Bösendorfer rocket-ship.

So says Tori in an interview with James McNair published in today’s issue of The Independent. While the intended subject of their conversation was the new Live at Montreux release, Tori let slide — between all the factual errors in the article (The Beekeeper came out in 1991? The Epic deal was made in 1999?) — a number of details about her next album, “The Light Princess” musical, having gone independent, Natashya’s politics, and her parents’ latest antics.

Thanks to Lanna for the heads-up!

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