2002
A new single released today from Bristol-based band Lupine Howl called Vaporizer contains a new Massive Attack remix known as the 3D mix. Lupine Howl were the band that Massive Attack had jammed with at the Ridge Farm recording sessions back in 2000 that were ultimately abandoned.
I Against I the electro hip-hop collaboration between Massive Attack and Mos Def, recorded last year is released first as a free digital download from the official Massive Attack website. This is the second digital download single released from Massive Attack after Nature Of Threat in 2000.
3D’s compilation mix CD simpy entitled “Nocturne Sessions Disk 3: Mixed By Robert(3D) Del Naja” is given a very limited release on this date. It was given only to the first 200 patrons of Massive Attack’s recently opened nightclub, Nocturne and was thusly named after said nightclub. The mix CD would contain three new Massive Attack songs, two of which were never released on any other record. These songs are I Against I (which would go on commericial release as part of the Blade 2 soundtrack in the next few weeks time), Inflight Data (previously only heard on the porn film’s The Uranus Experiment soundtrack) and an new untitled remix of Risingson probably remixed by the Mad Professor.
The Blade 2 soundtrack is released on this date. It contains the new Massive Attack collaboration with Mos Def called I Against I, for which the song was concieved specfically for.
A former founding member of The Wild Bunch was jailed in connection with an attack on a friend according to a news report from the BBC released on this date. The BBC reported that Claude Williams A.K.A Willy Wee, who was 41 at the time, used a fork and his fists to beat up a former friend, John Hamer, over a debt worth the Canadian equivalent of about $44. Williams was sentenced to 18 months in jail. Williams was a founding member of The Wild Bunch along with other soon to be Massive aAtack members. After appearing onBlue Lines Williams left soon after. He initially worked with the musician Tricky, but has since fallen on hard times. Williams broke into Hamer’s room at the Madeville House bail hostel, where they were both residents and beat him as he slept, leaving bruises and cuts on his face, the report said. Williams wore the fork around his wrist as a bracelet. The BBC said Williams was likely to serve half of his 18 month sentence before being released.
The Edinburgh Film Festival which took place over the weekend starting on this date, is held in Edinburgh, UK. It featured the world premiere of the new U.N.K.L.E promo video for Eye For An Eye, a song that would be not released as a single for another year later. The video is more like a short story of the collapse of utiopia and the horrors of war, than a typical promo video. The video is of relevance to Massive Attack fans as 3D was the artistic director behind it, with many of his designs and figures such as the Eurochild and the Insect President.
The anti-war poster designed and financed by Damon Albarn of Blur and 3D appeared in this week’s NME, amid accusations from 3D that bands are unwilling to speak out on the issue. The double page advert, featured in the centre spread of that week’s paper, was aimed at raising awareness of opposition to any British involvement in a US led attack on Iraq. Albarn and 3D worked with CND and the Stop The War coalition, who are organising a demonstration in London (September 28). The advert quotes former Labour MP Tony Benn and former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark (1967-69), two people 3D said “represent a balanced view of Britain and America”. However, he told NME.COM that he was frustrated with what he saw as a lack of support from his musical peers. Quote - 3D said of the Stop The War demonstration“A lot of people have stated interest but not followed it up, in terms of people getting back to the CND or Stop The War it’s been very apathetic, it’s very disappointing really. Damon and myself don’t feel that’s a problem [on other bands not getting involved]. The reason we want to use the NME is because it’s the only weekly music paper and we’re musicians. It’s the obvious place to for us to present our case and create a forum for debate. We’re not that concerned that we’ve had to stick our necks out for it because we feel totally at ease with our views and opinions. But there has been a surprising amount of apathy from other bands. I’ve got to say it”
A new compilation mixed by former Wild Bunch member DJ Milo is released on this date in the UK that attempts to offer a good picture of the music and culture behind The Wild Bunch, who were one of the most sound system / DJ collectives of their time and from which there would have been no Massive Attack if there had been no Wild Bunch. The compilation album from DJ Milo is formally The Wild Bunch: Story of a Soundsystem
A new DVD chronicling ten years of live performances on the Later With Jools Holland BBC TV show is released in the UK today. Among the 30 or so performances, there is one of Massive Attack recorded back in 1995 playing Karmacoma. They were accompanied by Talvin Singh, a renowned tabla player Indian and dance music fusionist. This live performance on DVD is still the only official live performance of Massive Attack on retail DVD/video, the rest all being taken from bootleg sources.
100thwindow.com, a promotional website for the new Massive Attack album 100th Window. This site was created to offer an up to date list of all 2003 tour dates but more importantly it was the method by which fans could communicate with the 2003 tour by sending messages via this site to show up on the large LED screen, for whichever particular show. This was done through a collaboration between web designers Hi-Res and the company behind the tour visuals UVA.
An exclusive listening party preview for 100th Window is held at Channel Four Soho studios in London, UK. It is attended by music industry professionals only and is the first time the album has been heard by the public.
10th December:
An new official forum goes online today as part of the revamping the official website in time to promote 100th Window. It replaces The Raft forum as the place for Massive Attack discussion on the internet with far better search facilities and a better design and aesthetic look.
The promo video for Special Cases, directed by the French film production duo H5, is filmed on this date at the BT Building in Greenwich Park, Watford in the UK. It would not be seen until early in the following year.
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