Ex-Bodyguard Steve Sanchez Has Passed Away

We’re sorry to report we’ve received the very sad news that Tori’s bodyguard of many years, Steve Sanchez, passed away on August 7th.

Many of you remember Steve from the tours in the late ’90s and early ’00s. Constantly by Tori’s side, always vigilant, he kept our girl safe across the globe for many years.

We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to all of Steve’s family and friends. What a terrible and tragic loss.

Unmasked At The British Library

Earlier this month, on May 16th to be precise, Neil Gaiman appeared at The British Library as part of their Comics Unmasked exhibition to talk about his work, influences, and passions. Tori joined in the conversation, which was moderated by the guest curators of the exhibition, John Harris Dunning and Paul Gravett.

Fan video of the conversation has been spotted in the wild but The British Library has now posted their professional film of the event on Youtube. Check it out below!

Flavor Remixer Peter Rauhofer Has Passed Away

Peter Rauhofer, the Grammy-winning DJ and producer who did the “Flavor” remixes for Tori, died today at 48 of brain cancer. Tragically, the cancer was only discovered a few weeks ago when Peter had a seizure and was rushed to the hospital. A large brain tumor was discovered and by that point the cancer was too far advanced.

Earlier today, Tori posted the following message on Facebook:

Today I learned of the very sad news that Peter Rauhofer has passed away suddenly. I will always hold a very special place in my heart for Peter and his re mixes of Flavor. He truly captured the spirit of the song and helped create a #1 Dance Club Record. I am sending send my love and thoughts to his family and friends at this very sad time.

hugs t

Our deepest condolences go out to Peter’s family and friends.

Coraline Turns Ten; Tash Helps Neil Celebrate

Neil Gaiman, who should need no introduction to fans of Tori Amos and readers of this site, is celebrating the tenth anniversary of his book Coraline by getting together with some of his friends and reading it to you.

Naturally, Neil himself kicks it off with the first chapter and fellow author Lemony Snicket handles the second but of particular interest to Toriphiles is the reader of the third chapter — none other than Natashya Hawley, Tori’s daughter.

They’re through the seventh chapter now and have six more to go — naturally, Coraline has thirteen chapters. And while most may be inclined to think having a spooky story read to you makes a great nightcap to end a day, I have to say it’s been quite nice listening to a chapter each morning to start mine. Either way though, most enjoyable!

Thanks to Ryan and Richard for letting us know!

Through The Flint Glass: The Apollon Musagete Quartett, post-tour

Tori Amos surprised everyone by announced that she would record and tour Night of Hunters with the Apollon Musagète Quartett, a foursome of young Polish musicians who have iconoclastic reputations within the classical-music scene. But hearing Tori perform live with the quartet, whom she came to call the “Fab Four,” it suddenly made complete sense, from the more obvious string-backed pieces from Tori’s ouvre, such as “Girl Disappearing” or “Cloud on My Tongue” to the thrilling re-framing of songs such as “Suede” and “Precious Things.”

We know many of you are going through severe Night of Hunters tour withdrawals (and may be thumbing through the yellow pages for treatment as we speak!). Apollon Musagète Quartett’s first violinist, Pawel Zalejski, generously agreed to talk with us again at the end of the tour to share his thoughts on traveling the world with everyone’s favorite red-haired pianist — and meeting her notorious fans. (For our pre-tour interview, go here.) Here’s what he had to say.

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Your Chance To Catch The "Fab Four"

In case you didn’t get enough of the Apollon Musagète Quartett — Tori’s “Fab Four” — on the Night of Hunters tour, you’re in luck: They’re touring parts of Europe this spring, and will even hit some spots in the UK and Ireland. New Yorkers are in luck: they’ll be at Carnegie Hall in November. For more information, click the link above to their Web site, or follow them on Facebook. Click through the jump to see their upcoming tour dates!

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John Philip Shenale: The Glide Magazine Interview

As a producer, I understand that things are changing every album. And my relationship with Tori, from my historical point of view, is that she represents, for me, a complex, multi-faceted musical talent that always surprises me. And as a result, I love that situation because it’s always challenging and a new approach. It’s a constant question of how to handle the emotional fabric of the songs but still move forward. It’s always something new. And watching her create and invent really inspires me to do the same, so that’s where a lot of the impetus comes from. It’s always a psychological and metaphysical experience with her. She’s one of the deepest artists I’ve ever worked with.

We don’t get many chances to hear from John Philip Shenale, the composer and arranger behind so many of Tori’s orchestra-infused songs — and a major force involved in the creation of Night of Hunters. Glide magazine recently sat down with him for an extensive interview, which they published in two parts just as Sin Palabras was released last month. Click through the jump to check out the whole thing!

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Q&A: Did Tori write the music for the other instruments on Night Of Hunters?

Question: Other than loving it, I have no knowledge of music. I’ve been listening to a lot of the Night of Hunters original inspiration pieces, and I’ve noticed how much feeling the non-piano instrumentals — particularly the strings, as on “Shattering Sea” — have imbued into the Tori Amos versions. Did she write the music for the other instruments, or “just” the piano and vocals (which alone is a tremendous accomplishment)? I know Shenale arranged the compositions, but I don’t know if that means he wrote the parts for the other instruments or set the tempo or…? I’m very curious! — dmc

Answer: We’ll let John Philip Shenale answer this one for you:

As an arranger and orchestrator, that is what I must do: write what the octet+ plays. The emotion, the dynamics, style — these things and more are my responsibility. And they must be notated, then played by this fantastic group of musicians. The scores that are offered through iTunes are my production scores. My map. As I have from the very beginning of my working with T, we listen, we talk. I send her a mock-up of what I think it would be, make any changes, and I finish the score and parts for the instruments. Piano and vocals were brilliantly composed and performed by T. She provides the tempo, the unity, the center, harmonic base, raison d’être. I hope that’s clear.

Very. Thanks, John!

Through The Flint Glass: The Apollon Musagete Quartett

The Apollon Musagète Quartett, the award-winning collective of young musicians from Poland, trained in Vienna and wowed the world with its ability to make well-known classical works fresh and new, for its support of lesser-known Polish composers, for playing pieces for string quartet with orchestra, and for composing its own modern classical works — something a quartet has never done before. In the five short years since its birth, the Apollon Musagète Quartett has not only shaken the classical world, but earned the attention of Tori Amos, who recorded Night of Hunters with the group and is bringing them with her on a world tour in support of the new album, due out September 20 in the United States and September 26 in the UK.

This is the first time Tori has brought string musicians on tour with her, and it’s the first time the Apollon Musagète Quartett has toured with a pop musician. Together they will perform works from Night of Hunters as well as songs from Tori’s catalogue, freshly re-arranged by John Philip Shenale. The quartet is also developing a brand-new piece, inspired by Tori, that it will perform.

We recently traded emails with Apollon Musagète Quartett violinist Pawel Zalejski, who shared stories about recording with Tori, walking the Cornish seaside, and the prospect of meetings Tori’s world-famous fans. (Since English isn’t Pawel’s first language, he kindly gave us permission to “smooth out” some of his responses.) Click through to see our Q&A with Pawel.

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Happy Birthday Tash!

11 years ago today, Natashya Lórien Hawley was welcomed into the world by parents Tori Amos and Mark Hawley, so with out further ado, we’d like to wish her a very happy birthday!