The albums at numbers 4 and 6 in the charts this week were first released on vinyl, in the days when albums were called LP’s. When CD’s were invented these same records entered the charts again as everyone renewed their record collections to catch up with the new technology. Now they have been re-launched for a third time as “digitally remastered” packages. While these two albums (which are the Beatle’s “Red” and “Blue” collections) mop up sales, several other artists whose careers began in vinyl days are also in the top twenty- Bob Dylan, Cliff Richard and Phil Collins among them. This sorry state of affairs has come about because all that records companies do nowadays is flog their back catalogue.
In June this year a band from hereabouts called The Lottery Winners beat 15,000 other aspiring bands, including the Heroes of She, to win the Live and Unsigned competition at the 02 arena. Six months on, they are still unsigned, simply because the record companies aren’t taking any risks with new talent any more. Fewer new bands have been signed this year than in any other year in the history of pop music.
In a chart which includes albums by Cliff Richard (aged 70), Bob Dylan (69), Rod Stewart (65) David Gilmour (64) Chris de Burgh (62) Robert Plant (62) Phil Collins (59), there are new entries for Bryan Ferry (65) and Elvis Costello (56). At least the average age has fallen since last year, when Alma Cogan (92) topped the chart (see my posting of October 28th 2009). But that will be scant consolation for The Lottery Winners.

The official video of the Heroes of She performing at the 02 is now up on the Muzu TV website- here’s the link- http://www.muzu.tv/liveandunsigned/heroes-of-she-heroes-of_she_o2_1-music-video/712137
Muzu TV have also compiled a chart of the best 5 acts in the Live and Unsigned Final- and the Heroes of She come in at No 3! This is what Muzu have to say:
“We feel that these bands have the chance to go the distance- so check them out!”
The video is good, but it doesn’t begin to capture the excitement, the energy and the amazing sound of the live performance. There’s only one thing for it- they’ll have to get another gig there.

Muzu TV have produced an extraordinarily good video of the Heroes of She performing Bohemian Like You and Out of My Way, the performance which got them through to the final of the “Live and Unsigned” competition at the 02 Arena on July 10th.  In fact Muzu TV think so highly of the Heroes’ performance that they’ve given the video pride of place on their blog. Here’s the link-
http://www.muzu.tv/blog/2010/05/19/live-and-unsigned-5-top-alternative-bands-from-the-competition/

Things are different now. Change is in the air.
It wasn’t a foregone conclusion; in fact I was mentally prepared for defeat. True, The Heroes of She had put on an amazing performance, probably their best ever. True, their army of supporters, seated just below the judges, were particularly rampant in their enthusiam. True, the rest of the packed crowd loved them as well. But there were other brilliant acts, of widely differing genres, from hip-hop to heavy rock and who was to know what were the personal tastes of the judges.
These were the area finals of the “Live and Unsigned” competition. The winners will represent the North of England in the national final at the 02 stadium on July …The 02 stadium! The very idea was unreal.
Three bands got through. The Heroes of She were the second act to be named as winners. The applause was deafening. Well done guys. You really deserve it.

http://www.muzu.tv/liveandunsigned/heroes-of-she-my-sharona-burning-in-flames-music-video/615122?country=gb

This is a link to a professional recording of the Heroes of She’s epic performance at the finals of the Live and Unsigned competition.  My God, they are brilliant.  This video is such a contrast to the Flip video which I took on the night, which had a lot of atmosphere but absolutely no sound quality (see my posting of
March 7th).
Now the band are busy rehearsing their act for the Regional Finals, at the Willow Club in Manchester on May 9th.  Could they possibly improve on their ‘My Sharona/Burning In Flames’ performance?  The word on the streets is Yes.  In which case they are a certainty for the prize of a gig at the 02 stadium.  I can’t wait.

This was the Heroes of She’s most important gig since the final of BT’s ‘Battle of the Bands’ at the Post Office Tower. The venue – the Willow Club in Manchester; The event– the regional final of the ‘Live and Unsigned’ competition; The crowd- 500 very enthusiastic fans; The prize- a chance to play at the O2 stadium. 19 finalists took part and each had to play a 3 and half minute set comprising of part cover/part original competition. The result was decided by a panel of 5 music industry judges who took into account the votes and the enthusiasm of the audience. The Heroes of She played a blinding set starting with ‘My Sharona’ followed by a cut down version of their second single, ‘Delusional’. It was trilling to hear them singled out for praise by two of the judges. Then came the finale when the winners were announced, in no particular order. There was an agonising wait as the names of the winning bands were read out. Finally, at the last gasp, the compare read out the name of the Heroes of She to enormous cheering and to my enormous relief.