Pikes Hotel founder Tony Pike dies. Talk Talk singer Mark Hollis passes away. Steyoyoke turns seven in Berlin. Warner sues Spotify.
RIP Tony Pike. Ibiza lost a larger-than-life figure last weekend with the passing of Tony Pike. The British-born Australian was the beloved founder of Ibiza’s Pikes Hotel, which he built by hand in the ‘70s. Pikes was hedonistic haunt for celebrities and musicians alike, including Jon Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin, Kylie Minogue, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Grace Jones, and Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, whose 1987 birthday celebration at Pikes is part of party history. Ibiza Rocks eventually bought Pikes, and in his later years, Tony Pike could regularly be seen at his former hotel smiling and talking to guests. He lost his battle with prostate and skin cancer at the age of 85. Read his story here.
Rip Mark Hollis. Talk Talk singer Mark Hollis died at the age of 64 last weekend. Hollis formed formed the band in 1981 with Lee Harris and Paul Webb, and was widely known as the band leader. Together, they released synth pop hits like 1984’s “It’s My Life” and art rock albums like 1988’s Spirit Of Eden and 1991’s Laughing Stock. The band split in 1992, and Hollis withdrew from the spotlight, only resurfacing to release a self-titled solo album in 1998 and to contribute to UNKLE’s Psyence Fiction LP, released the same year. Read the Twitter statement here.
Steyoyoke’s 7th anniversary. Steyoyoke Recordings is celebrating its seventh birthday next week at Ritter Butzke in Berlin. Taking place March 8th at midnight across two dance floors, the all-Steyoyoke lineup includes Soul Button, Nick Devon, JOBE, Dahu, MPathy, Strinner, and Darko Milosevic, and everyone who comes through the doors gets a present to mark the occasion, with something “extra special” for women, as the party falls on Women’s Day. Steyoyoke is also releasing its Annual Anniversary vinyl to coincide with the birthday, and discounted vinyl will be on sale at the event. Learn more here.
Sonnox in the Cloud. For the first time, Sonnox is allowing users to access its Oxford plugins without a physical iLok USB device with iLock Cloud Support. Plugins available include the Oxford Elite range (EQ, dynamics, inflator, limiter, reverb, TransMod, SuprEsser and SuprEsser DS) the Oxford Dynamic EQ, Oxford Envolution and the Toolbox VoxDoubler. iLock Cloud is available as a free update for existing Generation 5 license owners, and current Oxford plugin owners who download the Cloud will receive a second license for each product, allowing for Cloud access on one system and physical access on a second. For more information and to download the Cloud, head here.
Farbfernseher closes. Well-loved Berlin club Farbfernseher is closing this May. The club, located on Skalitzerstrasse in a former TV shop, was a smaller space, holding only a few hundred people, but was known for inviting rising local talents and smaller international acts. In a post on Facebook, the club hinted at rising rents as the reason for shutting its doors. The final party will take place in late May. The club will be missed. Read its statement here.
Tidal gives back. Streaming service Tidal is giving deserving emerging artists $1 million in grant money with Tidal Unplugged. It begins in Detroit on March 1st when local artists can submit an acoustic performance to be considered. Those accepted can use the money toward studio equipment, monthly stipend and other necessities, and Tidal will promote and distribute four songs by some of the Tidal Unplug finalists. Learn more here.
Sound system anthology. Veteran music journalist Joe Muggs has authored a new book with photographer Brian David on the history of UK sound system culture called Bass, Mids, Tops: An Oral History of Sound System Culture. According to FACT, the book features conversations with Dennis Bovell, Adrian Sherwood, Norman Jay, Youth, Tony Thorpe, Smith & Mighty, George Evelyn, Nicolette, Jumping Jack Frost, Dego, DJ Storm, Noodles, Zed Bias, Sarah Lockhart, Terror Danjah, Kromestar, Skream, Mala, T Williams, Cooly G, Toddla T, Samrai, Barely Legal, and Shy One, and has a forward written by Steel Pulse singer Mykaell Riley. The book will be available early this summer via Strange Attractor Press.
Daft Punk go high art. Both Daft Punk and Kraftwerk are taking part in the Paris electronic music exhibition this April. While Kraftwerk will play three shows (with another five booked for July 11th, 12th and 13th), Daft Punk have an installation based on their 2005 track “Technologic.” The exhibition, which is subtitled From Kraftwerk To Daft Punk, will feature many such installations, including rare synthesisers lent from Jean Michel Jarre’s personal collection, and feature a soundtrack with music chosen by Laurent Garnier. The exhibition will run from Tuesday, April 9th to Sunday, August 11th. Head here for more info.
Warner sues Spotify. In a Mumbai court, Warner Music Group, one of the three largest music companies in the world, is suing Spotify — the world’s largest streaming service — for copyright infringement. After a mysteriously failed January launch in India, Spotify went live there this week. But the reasons for the initial misfire seem to do with a licensing disagreement between the streaming giant and Warner, which Warner hopes to rectify in court. Though in a statement provided to Music Business Weekly, Warner said, “We hope this is just a speed bump in the expansion of our long and successful global partnership.” It seems unlikely Spotify will continue in India without Warner artists, and Warner has likewise seen a massive boost in profits via Spotify. For a more detailed analysis of the situation, head to MBW here.