Mansun Heaven
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This news page expired 26/7/98. Goto the latest news page, updated at least weekly.

Latest News 26/7/98

1 Track list for the next single announced
I can exclusively be the first web-site to tell you the listing for Mansun's next single, to be released in 2-4 weeks time. The title track is Being A Girl (Part One) , the first half of the final track on their new album, Six, to be released in September. B-sides include Railings, a track held back from the Legacy EP for possible inclusion on the new album. The track was co-written by 'Howard Deveto' from 'Magazine', Paul Draper's favourite seventies band.

Latest News 24/7/98

1 Radio 1 plays Mansun
On 20 July, Mansun's the title track from Mansun next single, Being A Girl (Part One), was played on radio for the first time. It was played by Steve Lamacq, who also announced that Mansun would be doing an exclusive live set including tracks from the next album, Six, on 27 July at 10.00 pm.
2 Dates for August tour announced
The organisation of the August warm-up tour (for Mansun's appearance at the Reading festival) is now nearing completion, and dates have been announced. To keep the tour 'fans-only', the details will only be divulged on the band's ansaphone (the phone number is on the back of all Mansun's CDs). The tour covers the whole of the UK in a short time period, and August is sure to be a busy time for the band, with their next single release coinciding with the tour.

Latest News 16/7/98

1 Paul Draper and Dominic Chad answer fans questions via the net.
On the 3rd of July, Paul and Chad from Mansun took over the NME chat page to answer fan's questions for a couple of hours. During the crowded session (with at it's peak more than 100 messages a minute) the band released that the next single, to be released in the middle of August will either be Being A Girl or Negative. He also answered my own query of the track list for the new album, Six, which can be found in the Mansun Heaven Discography.

Although I didn't manage to get a full transcript (due to the heavy traffic), a summary of some of what else the band said is below:

2 Limited Edition 7" released
Mansun (or their record company) released a special red 7" vinyl on July 6th in answer to fans requests for continued use of the format, despite Chad denying it's existence in their recent online chat.  It contains three tracks: Legacy on the A-side, and GSOH & Face In The Crowd on the B-side. As the single released the week before had already used up the maximum unmber of formats eligible for chart inclusion (three), this vinyl is likely to become a collectors item, as record shops are largely unaware of it's existence, and most can only get it in on request.

For those interested, the colour of the vinyl is the same as that used for the She Makes My Nose Bleed vinyl, and continues Mansun's tradition of releasing oddly coloured records.

3 Second 'secret' tour of 1998 announced
After NME announced the previous 'secret' tour to its entire readership, you would think Mansun would be sceptical of trying to do the same again. Obviously not so, as the band will be touring again in the August this time as a warm-up for the Reading festival (as opposed to the June tour - a warm-up for Glastonbury). Again the tour is likely to be timed to coincide with the release of the band's next single, and to include small venues after the success of the June tour - see below.

The band, although yet to announce the actual dates, have revealed the mini-tour will include venues in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

4 June tour has mixed success, and Legacy charts at number 7
The recent group of live performances by the band have received mixed reviews from fans, ranging apparently from the sub-standard Stoke to the brilliant Bedford. I personally attended their Bury St. Edmunds appearance (as it's my home town), and found them very very energetic and entertaining. The set list varied from day-to-day, luckily for me the band playing two tracks from Six at Bury. A full review of this and the other dates will soon be coming to the Gigs page.

As well as the tour of small venues, over the last month Mansun have also appeared twice on television. The first was as part of BBC2s coverage of the Glastonbury festival, and in my point of view was disppointing, drab, and frankly un-Mansun-like. This could have been down to them being on a massive stage in bright sunshine miles from the fans after spending a week of doing the complete opposite. Secondly the band played Legacy on Top Of The Pops as it reached number 7 in the singles chart (Mansun's highest ever), as I correctly predicted it would in last months news :-). Pictures from both these appearances will very soon (check now) be appearing in the Mansun Heaven gallery.

Latest News 2/7/98

1 Legacy EP released
On 29th June Mansun's new single Legacy EP, was unleashed on unsuspecting British public, for entry into the charts 5th July. It is arguably there strongest release yet with a total of ten tracks, including 5 new tracks, a re-mix and acoustic tracks. All related areas of the site have been updated, so try these links:
 
Legacy EP lyrics 
(in Lyrics)		 Review of Legacy EP 
(in Discography)		 Online sample of Legacy 
(in Downloads)
If you are reading this on/after 5th July, go to the Dotmusic site to get the latest single chart, and find out how it does - my hot prediction is number seven first week! That would make it the highest entry for Mansun (excluding AOTGL). Finally, Legacy is very likely to also be available limited edition (non chart eligible) on vinyl.

The video for Legacy does not feature the band, because of both their dislike of doing music videos, and the little time the band have had to do one (with there being so many tracks on the EP). Instead the video features 'dolls' showing the demise of a boy band - look out for it on MTV!

2 New CIN rules spike anger
Mansun are among the bands who have reacted angrily to the CIN's decision to change the rules governing eligibility for the UK singles chart. Due to (the Chart Information Network claim) artist's being worked too hard, last year they introduced a limit of twenty minutes per format, and three formats. This will be strengthened on July 6th by limiting singles to three tracks per format, meaning Mansun will never again release a four-track EP.

In NME, Paul Draper said, "The British music industry is shooting itself in the foot, ruining the tradition of the four-track EP which dates back to before the Beatles. These rules don't help anyone. In Mansun's case we are in a position where to be eligible for the chart, we can't issue our standard four-track EPs. However we will give the same amount of music but spread it across three formats."

This however means that fan's have to shell more money to complete their collections, and as Embrace feels, this pushes the band even more preferentially towards boy-bands, as their singles are only bought for the A-side. I personally agree; why ban more than three tracks when there is no reason why anyone has to release the full quota?

3 More details of 'Six' emerge
Mansun have officially finished recording in the studio for Six, their second album for release in September. Full track details change almost daily, and the latest addition is apparently Special Blown It. In a frank interview in NME, Paul Draper said the band have taken a new direction with the new album: "After the last album the natural thing would have been for us to go even bigger - even bigger orchestra, more synths or whatever, but we've actually brought it right back down to the four of us. It is just do challenging to get four guys with guitars and create the sounds, the lyrics and structures we have. I'm fucking board stiff with 'verse, chorus, verse, chorus...'"

Apparently instead of the mystical characters of Attack Of The Gray Lantern, Six deals with Draper's own experiences, and is rawer and guitar-based. However in an attempt to stand out from 'plod rock bands strumming guitars' the band have used numerous effects pedals, bought from old junk shops.

The interview predictably dragged up Chad's drinking problem again, though worryingly now it seems he's found a worse toy: Paul suggested he's now into drugs. The band also made their most startling fashion revelation yet: no more costume changes! As Paul finely puts it, "I've run out of hairstyles - time to change the music!"

This last quote incidentally is from a new unofficial fan book, Taxloss Lovers From Chester, available from large music stores, or under ISBN 0 233 99350 9.

4 Small tour having mixed success
I'll write a proper report by mid-July, but for now, the latest news for the June tour is surprising. The tour began with Stoke, and poorly, with a very short set not even featuring Legacy. By Bedford (3 days later) however, the band were in their roadies eye, doing their best gig ever! It got so mad that the security had to create a human-shield around the band to stop the fans (heckled on by Paul) invading the stage. They quickly rushed off afterwards so as to be on the main stage at Glastonbury on the 27th, where two of their songs were televised as part of BBC2 coverage of the event. In my opinion the band looked drained, and didn't seem to be enjoying themselves - though it could have been the weather (awful as always).

On the last day of the June tour (July 3rd), Paul Draper will be chatting live on the internet around lunchtime. Access will be available only via the official Mansun site and the NME site.

Latest News 19/6/98

1 Mansun set up the M.I.S.
In response to the large amount of mail, gifts, and ansaphone messages Mansun have received, the band (and someone closely related, going under the alias of Dark Mavis) have set up the Mansun Information Service (M.I.S.). Basically this is a group of people (who increase in size everytime a new fan pesters Mansun) with aided communication with the band.

The free service insures that all letters, requests and questions sent to the Liverpool address reach the band, and also that the fans on the 'Dark Database' (who receive the M.I.S.!) are kept informed of all the latest information. The band also are aiming to do some special things for the fans mad enough to get on this database: 'We are aiming to organise aftershow parties for the October tour and organise a free show for fans at the end of the year!' - the first M.I.S. letter.

2 Eight EP track listing finalised
A few changes to the exclusively announced line-up last week (see Latest News 6/6/98), as I now know that I'm Facing The Crowd was in fact Face In The Crowd and the cassete listing has been decided upon:
 
Cassette
Legacy 
Wide Open Space (Perfecto Mix) 
The Acoustic Collapse Of It All 
Ski Jump Nose (Acoustic)
Strangely this sees the recall of the track The Impending Collapse Of It All from Six EP, a track recently argued about on the Internet as having the most difficult to decode lyrics, especially in the chorus. It officially goes: 'Born without feeling, Growing from reading,
Parents for breeding, Inherited feeling (repeat n times), The Impending Collapse Of It All', though perhaps I will better accept this when the new version comes out (check out my version of the lyrics!)
3 Paul Draper to chat on the internet
Details coming VERY soon - check back soon, or e-mail me for details.

Latest News 6/6/98

1 Eight EP and Remix CD to combine
The two Mansun June releases, 'Eight EP' (lead track Legacy) and 'The Re-mixes' (lead track WOS Perfecto Re-mix) have been combined, and the new 'Eight EP' to be released on June 29th is thus:
 
CD1
CD2
Cassette
Legacy (Extended Version) 
Can't Afford To Die 
Spasm of Identity 
Check Under The Bed		 Legacy 
Wide Open Space (Perfecto Re-mix) 
GSOH 
I'm Facing The Crowd		 Legacy 
+ 
2 exclusive acoustic 
tracks TBA!
This means only one re-mix is currently to be released, and the several track titles rumoured for inclusion have gone astray - see 'Eight EP's entry in the Discography for more information.
2 Mansun in the Press
Paul Draper told Melody Maker this week that the first gig he ever went to was Gary Numan, and that from age 13-18 yrs he had been a big fan! In the same short article he revealed that his inspiration was 'The Clash'.

The press has been critisised by Mansun fans after  the 'secret' June tour dates were published across Europe in the newspaper 'New Musical Express', without permission from the band. The tour, which only features a select group of very small venues is now going to be more difficult to get tickets for - Paul Draper of Mansun's only comment is that "there is nothing they can do about it now".

3 Other News
It has been rumoured that the new EP will not be called 'EIGHT EP' as expected, but 'The Legacy EP'. Also, the release date for the new album is different depending on who you talk to. The second support act for the October tour has still not been announced, and the dates have changed slightly - so do not take my dates on the gigs page as gospel.

Latest News 25/5/98

Mansun have announced that the support slot for the October tour will be open to unsigned bands, and anyone interested should send them a sample. The following extract is from page 2 of the 23/5/98 NME:
 
MANSUN, who release their new EP 'Legacy' on June 29, are asking NME to help find support acts for their biggest UK tour yet, which kicks of this October. 
    Lead singer Paul Draper rang NME last week to ask any readers in bands who would like to open for Mansun to send him their tapes. 
    The band will listen to all entries and choose the best support band local to each venue on their 25-date tour, which follows the release of their second LP, 'Six', in September. 
    Paul explained: "Over the past year, I've had so many people giving me tapes and asking if they can support us. So we thought if everyone sends all their tapes in now, we can pick out the ones we really like for each town. Then we can satisfy as many peaople as we can at once." 
    "I mean when we first started out we couldn't 		 get a gig anywhere, not even in (the band's hometown) Chester! We ended up having to bring out a seven-inch and had to have that played by John Peel and Steve Lamacq before we played anywhere. The music business is too concentrated on London and there's so many great bands who might get spotted if they support us." 
    Paul promised the band would listen to every tape submitted and, as a result, asked bands to just include one or two songs, preferrably recorded live. 
    All entries should be sent to the group at: Mansun support, PO Box 72, Liverpool L69 1YG. 
    As well as the local band, Mansun will have a second support from special guests who have yet to be announced.
 

Latest News 20/5/98

1 Tour of small venues in June confirmed
Mansun have confirmed that they will be doing a warm-up tour for Glastonbury, from June 23rd to July 3rd. It will, as rumoured feature very small venues, including intriguingly the Colchester Artc Centre - an abandoned church of capacity 140! Full details can be seen on the Gigs page, and tickets are rumoured to go on sale Wednesday 20th May, although this seems very unlikely.
2 First broadcast of new material
Mansun have allowed Radio 1 over the last two weeks to play the Paul Oakenfield remix of WOS which will be released at the same time as 'The Legacy EP' (working title) but as a seperate release will hold a different chart position. Many fans have been impressed with it, and have suggested it to be the best Mansun remix ever!

Secondly on Monday 18th May the first radio preview of Legacy occured on the Jo Whiley lunchtime show, and was dedicated to 'Hannah, Lindy and Sarah' - anyone know them? It was an impressive track, similar in verses to Stripper Vicar and with a storming chorus. A short preview of Legacy is now available in the Downloads section, and lyrics are coming soon!

Latest News 9/5/98

1 8EP officially announced
Stove took time out from mixing Mansun's latest EP to leave a long and informative message on the ansaphone (+44 (0) 124 467 5442). He confirmed that the title track will be Legacy, and b-sides will include Railings, Check Under the Bed, Can't Afford to Die, GSOH, I've Been Here Before, & I'm Facing The Crowd.

Also CD2 will include a special extended version of Legacy, not to be available on any other format, and also the Perfecto remix of WOS featuring Paul Oakenfield is to be released at the same time. This totals nine different tracks, more than the band have ever before released for one single EP!

2 Tickets available soon
Tickets for the upcoming June tour (no dates yet announced) and the October tour will be availbale soon.  The June tour will probably include six very small venues, and the October tour twenty-five medium sized ones, and both will only include England.  Mansun fans on the Internet are considering meeting up at the Chester gig, and considering it is the band's origin, the 30th of October is sure to be a big night for the band, with a sell-out almost inevitable.

Latest News 2/5/98

1 More 8EP details announced
The much anticipated next EP to be released by Mansun will be released on Monday 29th of June. The lead track will be Legacy, and will also include b-sides Can't afford to die, Check under the bed, and Railings. Railings was co-written by Howard Deveto from Magazine.  Apparently it's release will be preceded by a small tour of very small capacity venues in the UK, but further details are yet to emerge.
2 Remix CD coming soon!
A remix CD is soon to be released, maybe as CD2 of 8EP. The lead track will be Wide Open Space by Paul Oakenfield, the guy who brought the remix industry to the UK after visiting Ibiza in the early eighties. Other possible tracks for inclusion are Skip Up Pin Up by 808 State,  either of the Taxloss remixes that were only available on 12" or any other of the many WOS remixes. These have been undertaken by Trouser Enthusiasts, Forthright and John 'OO' Flemming.

Latest News 18/4/98

1 Stove reveals Legacy was never played on the CFB tour!
Contrary to popular belief, Stove revealed in a phone call to Kate Catcheside (a friend of mine), that Legacy was not played on the March tour. Many believed that it was tagged on to the end of the song, Six, but Stove revealed that although planned to be played before the Taxloss encore, the track was dropped from all set lists!  This still leaves the question, what was tagged on to the end of Six?

Kate has given me permission to show the transcript, so this will be coming to Interview's section in the Members pages shortly.

Latest News 11/4/98

1 Stove Exclusively does Interview for Teenage Heaven!
Stove phoned me up, and answered some questions for the site! We spoke for about half an hour, and during the talk he revealed the festivals they will be doing, his favourites bands of today and times gone past, his favourite Bond and more!
 
Read the full transcript - NOW!
2 New EP announced
Stove revealed that the new EP will almost definately be Legacy and that the line up for the album has changed, as the four song they recorded last week at Olympic Studios were too good to be b-sides! Currently, though, these tracks have no name, an idea Stove seemed to like.

Latest News 4/4/98

1 The Ansaphone
+44 (0) 124 467 5442 is the number to phone if you want to know the latest goings on behind the scenes at Mansun, and leave them a message. And lately people have been getting phoned back! Yeah that's right!  Recently Stove was on there, telling all that cares to listen about the new planned releases.  They also say Six will soon be played on the Evening session, and that tickets for the next set of gigs go on sale in May.

So far Stove has phoned back at least three people known to the Mansun mailing list, and has spoken to them each for over half an hour!  Skijumpnos@aol.com said Stove reckoned his favourite Mansun song is Chad Who Loved Me, of course, and that he's a fan of Nirvana and SoundGarden!

Even more recently, Chad left a  l o n g message on the ansaphone detailing the latest October tour dates.

2 Planned touring
Mansun will be touring in October! The venues will include Glasgow Barrowlands, Brixton Academy, Chester Northgate Arena & Middlesborough Town Hall, and Derby.  Theres more - they will definitely be going to the Reading festival on Sunday 30th August. They will be third from last before Supergrass and The Beastie Boys (headlining).
3 New material
Song titles for new songs have been released.  On the new album there will be Anti Everything, Blown It, Cancer, Legacy, Negative, Serotonin, Shotgun, Six, Railings & Witness to Murder.  Also planned for release (maybe as b-sides) are Inverse Midas and Prisoner.  Mansun previewed four of the new songs on their most recent tour.