Archive for the ‘Music’ Category

When Ley Wrangler met Ken Ley

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

To me the virtual of Second Life (SL) really melted together with Real Life (RL) sunday 22nd of June 2008.

I have earlier written about the still growing crowd of Duranies (fans of the british rock/pop band Duran Duran) gathering in SL – mainly in the Club Interference, run by german Chrissy Welinder.

Being nothing but a kiddo-hang-around I suddenly found myself being invited to join the cheering choir of people singing “Reach out for the Sunrise”, when the Birmingham-band was to play in KB Hallen in Denmark.

I shall spare you for alot of deepfelt envy (if you are a fan too). But I had one of the coolest concert days of my life. Being a VIP at a Duran-gig is as ride. Even if you don’t get to meet the band (they where there though, I swear) you get to meet the stunningly happy Duranies. THEY are worth the trip even if the band doesn’t play :-D

The concert was a blast. In my danish blog, I reviewed it as a 4 of 6 stars gig. Apparently the more professional reviews were even better (the otherwise tough danish tabloids gave it 5 of 6 stars and some VERY nice words alongside).

John Taylor and Dominic Brown @ KB Hallen 2008
One of 25 pics I shot during the concert with my Nokia N95

The RL-connection where made. Ley Wrangler met Ken Ley… And some other until recently only virtual beings. Second Life became gateway to a bunch of really cool new friends. Now next goal for me is to meet Simon, John, Nick and Roger in SL and RL too :-)

Thanks to all you superior guys from: Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, France, UK, Slovenia and Germany.

Extended thanks beyond the horizon to Chrissy Welinder for making this experience possible and for getting hold of the crowds – in both RL and SL ;-)

The set list of Copenhagen 2008 (as I remember it):

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Pet Shop Boys to perform at SL-festival

Saturday, June 23rd, 2007

It now appears to be confirmed, that the british pop legends Pet Shop Boys will play at the 2nd Festival in Second Life by the end of the month (june 2007).

Official schedules is online by both The Guardian and on MySpace.

Mark the dates June 29th to July 1st 2007 :-)

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Duranies celebrate John Taylors 47th birthday

Thursday, June 21st, 2007

One of the businesses that really seem to have overcome scepticism towards Second Life is that of music. Several bands and musicians such as U2, Peter Gabriel and danish comet Carpark North have already performed and played in the linden hemisphere.

And the fans have followed. A handful of various fanclubs for the british superband Duran Duran roams the realms, and thursday 20th of june 2007 a bunch of both young and old fans met in the Club INTERFERENCE to pay tribute and to celebrate the birthday of bassplayer John Taylor.

Ley Wrangler and Foxee Camilo at INTERFERENCE Club
Me and fan Foxee Camilo takes a swing.

From the loudspeakers came nothing but tunes by the veteran but still vibrant ensemble from Birmingham. Including some unplugged live performances at least I hadn’t heard before. A two guitar acustic version of Rio actually made me wonder, why this major hit was not recorded that way in the first place.

On the far brink of the dancefloor I met Chrissy Welinder (RL Chrissy too). She is owner of the club and creator of the fangroup Duran Duran Delight that counts more than 160 memberavatars. She has been af dedicated fan of the ‘New Romantic’ band since 1981 – she was only 11 years old then. From the schoolyard in Frankfurt she and her friends were fascinated by the band, that in many ways revolutionized music videos.

“I think they were different in many ways and always ahead of time”, Chrissy tells me. “Like the videos they did in the 80’s – they were the first with these fashionable full story videos”.

“And then again in the 90’s they did the for download only release of Electric Barbarella”.

Chrissy Welinder - owner of INTERFERENCE
Club INTERFERENCE owner Chrissy Welinder also celebrated John Taylor’s birthday.

Chrissy ignited her interest for SL after listening to her alltime idol – keyboard player Nick Rhodes – expressing his positive view on SL and the oppotunities in virtual worlds. That got her started, and less than a year after, she has her own castle full of Duran-photos and other arts.

She now has good time to prepare the next birthday party – That of lead singer Simon le Bon on the 27th of October. Duran Duran as a band never really split up and will therefore pass their 30th year in 2008.

(Check also the pictures from Nick Rhodes’ birthday party at INTERFERENCE).

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