Latest news with #MarkRonson
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Band started falling apart,' admits The Zutons star after Amy Winehouse cover
EXCLUSIVE: The Zutons had already been long established before Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson covered their hit Valerie, but lead singer Dave McCabe admits this was the start of their downfall The Zutons frontman, Dave McCabe has revealed the band started "falling apart" after Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson's cover of their hit, Valerie. The Liverpool-based band formed in 2002 and went on to achieve chart success following their debut album, Who Killed... The Zutons in 2004. But their second record, Tired of Hanging Around, spawned hits including Why Won't You Give Me Your Love? and the classic track, Valerie, which saw them land two spots inside the official UK Top Ten. But just one year after the release of Valerie, the course of The Zutons changed forever. Legendary DJ, producer and songwriter Mark Ronson teamed up with his pal Amy Winehouse, who was a fan of the track, to re-record a cover version of the song. However, the record almost never took off as Mark was initially hesitant as to whether it would work for Amy. "I loved it," he said. The cover went on to chart at Number Two and spent 19 weeks in the Top 20. Now, in an exclusive interview with the Mirror, Dave has opened up about his reaction to the cover. "It was really good, but I didn't realise at the time, you don't sit there and think 'This is going to be huge', at the time, we'd already had a huge hit with it, we'd sold over 200,000 singles which is a lot. "But when that [cover] started getting traction and going big, the band kind of started falling apart – and it wasn't because of that. You'd look at that and be like 'God, you've got to write another one of these,' you can't force anything like that. I think it all happened at a cushy moment because we were falling out as a group, and then that went big and it kind of buried us. "I think being on a major label, the pressure does get to you, you don't realise it." Reflecting on the cover, he said it was "good" but had no idea it would take off so quickly. "I didn't realise, no one did, that she was going to die. When she did, it was kind of immortalised even more. "I don't even see it, is it our song anymore? It's this other thing now." Amy tragically died just four years after the release of Valerie, aged 27. It was confirmed that the singer who was found unresponsive at her home in Camden, north London, died from alcohol poisoning. Dave recalled walking past pubs and hearing women singing the track on karaoke. "It makes me feel warm and smile, because I wrote that," he proudly explained. He added: "It's just taken a life of it's own and I'm forever grateful. It's an honour that someone discovered it and did a really good job on it. Our version is pretty f***ing good but the fact she took it even further speaks volumes about her talent." Last year, the band released their first studio album, The Big Decider, in 16 years. "We had to do a lot more work," he said of the record, having released it independently away from a major label. He also revealed that the release was very different to previous records as artists now tour the record before its release. "It felt rushed out," he said but adding: "When I look at everyone else in a band doing that, you gig to promote your album, sell it on the spot when the tour finishes and maybe later on in the year, you go on tour. The tours and gigs later on in the year were a bit more rewarding in terms of new music." Despite this, he admits releasing the record and hitting the road was "fun". "It's not just plugging in, playing songs, you have to become this persona or sell yourself, and I find that difficult," he commented. But he admits the release was "stressful" at some points, as those around the band had to work harder. "It's nice to have the power to do what you want," he said of releasing music independently. However, while it was "nice" to have a major label plugging cash into previous albums and marketing campaigns, which he missed, working independently showed a more "realistic ballpark" for the band. The record was produced by none other than Nile Rodgers, Liam Broudie and former drummer Sean Payne and landed at Number Seven on the Official UK Charts, and topped the UK Independent Albums Chart. "There were lots of ups to all of it," Dave said, adding: "I'm glad it happened and I'm glad we're back out there. "I find it's a lot faster now. If you put a song out that isn't the next Valerie, I think it's ok. People listen to your songs as they are. The pressure is off in that sense. The people who come to your gigs are loyal fans because we didn't put anything out for 15 years. I feel lucky and grateful that we get to do these types of things, and we're still functioning as a band." This weekend, the band will perform alongside Richard Ashcroft, who has also released his first single since 2018, Lover, at SMR 25 at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage. "I'm excited to be playing with Richard Ashcroft," Dave gushed. He added: "You just forget how many tunes he's got. The first band I ever went to see was the Smashing Pumpkins in 1993, I went with my mates, I was 11. The first band I saw were The Verve supporting them. "It's taken me 32 years to finally get on the same stage but here I am and it's exciting. They came out in glittery tops with long hair – A Storm in Heaven, that's the album they were playing. I've got fond memories. When he played all his songs at his show, you don't realise, they're all solid. There's a massive nostalgia thing going on." The band haven't performed together for some time and Dave admits he hopes there's nerves amongst them. "It's very rare that there isn't nerves, excitement is good," he said, adding: "Even anxiety can be good before you go on. It's a release when you go on because you're finally doing it. "I think when you're going on and you're yawning, it's never a good sign. Naturally, that's what can happen but it hasn't happened to me for quite a long time. We always come off stage and think, 'Why were we yawning before that?' Nerves are essentially, I think, you've got to use them to your advantage." Dave revealed that nerves provide a different energy for a show. But he admits that artists can find themselves being "selfish" due to crowds watching them rather than heading to the bar. Joining the line-up are the likes of Sigala, Bob Vylan and The Futureheads. SMR 25 kicks off today at The Lamex Stadium, Stevenage at 3pm and continues through til Sunday. Tickets are available on Eventbrite and See Tickets.
Metropolis Japan
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metropolis Japan
Brave Space: Immersive Circus Experience Lands in Tokyo
Featured photo credit: Jona Harnischmacher A tent rises from the floor. The audience builds it. The show begins—and suddenly, you're not just watching a circus, you're part of it. From July 28–31, Brave Space takes over the Setagaya Public Theatre with a visceral, one-hour performance that blends aerial acrobatics, juggling, and raw human trust. Performed in a cozy, fabric-draped dome with no stage and no seats, this immersive experience places 100 audience members right in the center of the action. You might be asked to help hold up a pole. Lie back and gaze up at a soaring aerialist. Or simply sit on the floor and let the performers move around you, close enough to feel their breath. Created during the isolating days of the pandemic, Brave Space is more than just spectacle—it's a celebration of community and vulnerability. With no barrier between artist and audience, the performance invites every person present to co-create a fleeting world of wonder and connection. This is the Japan debut of Aloft Circus Arts , a Chicago-based company known for blending fearless athleticism with emotional intimacy. But more than who they are, it's what they do that matters—and you have to be there to feel it. Dates: July 28–31, 2025 Venue: Setagaya Public Theatre (Stage on Stage format) Tickets: General ¥3,500 | Ages 4–18 ¥1,000 | Pair (Adult + Youth) ¥4,000 (advance only) Some performances are open to children under 4 with a guardian. Dress comfortably—there's no seating, and you may be asked to move or participate. For tickets and details, visit Touring to Fukushima, Nagano, Kyoto, and Fukuoka. Credit: Mark Ronson
Bloomberg
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Bloomberg
The Rise and Fall of the Stock Market's Music King
If you find corporate financial filings to be less than scintillating, you might try thumbing through Hipgnosis Songs Fund Ltd.'s 2021 annual report, which at times resembles an issue of Rolling Stone. There you'll encounter glamorous, full-page portraits and interviews with artist-producer Mark Ronson, his face tilted in semi-profile like a Hollywood star; former Fleetwood Mac member Lindsey Buckingham, guitar in his hands; Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart, tipping his fedora; and Latin music superstar Shakira, her golden tresses swaying in the breeze or, more likely, animated by an in-studio fan.
Express Tribune
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Mark Ronson suffers stage injury during DJ set, recovery could delay career and memoir promotion
Award-winning music producer and DJ Mark Ronson may be off the decks for a while after suffering a significant on-stage injury. The 49-year-old was hospitalized after tearing both bicep tendons while attempting to move a heavy stage monitor during a live set. Ronson, who is married to actress Grace Gummer, shared the update from his hospital bed on Wednesday, posting a selfie with a thumbs-up and an honest caption. 'That time the house PA was so bad that I tried to one-hand turn the stage monitor towards the crowd mid-mix,' he wrote. 'Turns out they weigh more than I thought… Two popped bicep tendons and one finished gig later, here we are, baby!' He closed the post with the hashtag '#tornthisway,' a playful nod to Lady Gaga's hit 'Born This Way,' which he co-wrote. The announcement quickly drew attention online, with fans and fellow musicians flooding the comments with well-wishes and jokes. A source told RadarOnline the injury is 'serious' and that recovery could take months, potentially putting his DJ career on hold for the foreseeable future. The injury comes just months ahead of the September release of his memoir, Night People: How To Be A DJ in '90s NYC, which he describes as a love letter to the early days of his career and New York's nightlife scene. 'This book is my love letter to a vanished era that shaped not just my career but my identity,' he said in a preview. Ronson, one of the industry's most prolific producers, has worked with artists like Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Bruno Mars. He and Gummer, who announced they were expecting their second child in December 2024, shared the news during a holiday party in New York hosted by Justin Theroux.
CNN
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Mark Ronson recovering from stage injury
A Mark Ronson performance didn't go so well for him. The award-winning producer and artist shared on social media that he hurt himself during a recent DJ set. The 'Uptown Funk' star posted a photo of himself apparently in a hospital bed with a caption that explained what happened. 'That time the house PA was so bad that I tried to one-hand turn the stage monitor towards the crowd mid-mix to give them some extra juice,' he wrote. 'Turns out they weigh more than I thought…Two popped bicep tendons and one finished gig later, here we are, baby! #tornthisway' It resulted in some good nature ribbing from fellow producer/DJ Diplo, who wrote in the comments, 'looks like you just gave birth 🫃.' Had it happened earlier, the incident may have made his recently announced book. Ronson announced last week that his upcoming memoir, 'Night People: How To Be A DJ in '90s NYC,' will release in September.' 'It chronicles three of my great loves: the art of DJing with all its emotional highs and lows, the electric energy of New York after dark, and the wild, wonderful clubland characters who became my second family,' he posted. 'This book is my love letter to a vanished era that shaped not just my career but my identity—a time when finding my craft put me on the path to finding myself.' The book is currently available for pre-order.
