December 2008

Attention, all Silverhead-fans:

The Silverhead live album Live at the Rainbow, which was released in Japan in 1975, has now been officially re-issued on CD for the first time. In addition to the 8 tracks that were on the original LP, this new CD re-issue includes 2 bonus tracks; Michael Des Barres' solo songs "Leon" and "New Moon Tonight", which were recorded in the fall of 1974 after Silverhead had spilt up. This is also the first time these songs are available on CD.

The Live at the Rainbow CD was released by the Japanese label Air Mail Recordings on 17 December. New CD re-issues of the two Silverhead studio albums Silverhead and 16 and Savaged were also released on 17 December, but with the same bonus tracks as the previous Repertoire Records CD re-issues. All three CDs have apparently had 24-bit mastering and come in miniature LP style card sleeves.

The CDs can be ordered from Japanese online shops such as Amazon Japan and CD Japan, or directly from Air Mail Recordings.

November 2008

This website now has its own little online shop, where you can buy CDs and DVDs related to Michael Des Barres through Amazon.com.

The Silverhead albums and Michael's solo albums are currently unavailable on CD in the U.S., but CD re-issues of Detective and Chequered Past can be ordered in the shop.

October 2008

Michael will participate in another book reading of the recently re-issued "Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart" with his ex-wife Pamela - this time in Austin, Texas.

Time: Sunday October 12 at 4:00 pm.
Venue: Pink Hair Salon and Gallery, 1204 South Congress.

Info from a MySpace bulletin sent out by Pamela:
"I am in Austin teaching writing classes (Mon-Tues) and am signing/reading my books at Pink Hair Salon on South Congress, Sunday at 4 PM. I have my ex-husband and ex-boyfriend Jimmy Quill reading their parts with me!!! Please come and get some signed books and have a blast!"

September 2008

Michael has recently been working on a new music project called Zodiax.

The first song, called "Circus of Love", is now up on his MySpace page.
This is another song that he has co-written with Holly Knight.

"I'm going to concentrate on Zodiax as a techno project involving new collaborators", Michael says.

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Andy Taylor, Michael's old bandmate in Power Station, has recently published an autobiography called "Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran".

Taylor's book was the subject of Martha Quinn's weekly radio show on the Sirius satellite station Big '80s on Saturday, September 27th. Michael was interviewed and read an excerpt from the book about Power Station's performance at Live Aid in 1985.

Info from Martha Quinn's website:
"A star-studded cast reads excerpts from Andy Taylor's autobiography, Wild Boy: My Life In Duran Duran. Starring, Lead singer for Sparks, Russell Mael. Grammy Award Winner Kenny G. World-reknowned actor and musician, Michael Des Barres. The voice of the Academy Awards and Entertainment Tonight, Randy Thomas. Sirius host and actor who played Greg Brady, Barry Williams."

August 2008

The new and updated edition of Pamela Des Barres' second book "Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart" is now available.

In connection with the release, Pamela and Michael will present the book and sign copies of it at the Book Soup on Sunset Boulevard on Wednesday, September 17th.

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The "Don't Knock The Rock Film And Music Festival" continues throughout August, every Thursday night at The Silent Movie Theatre on North Fairfax Avenue.

Every night is hosted by Michael, and this is his fourth year as Master Of Ceremonies at the festival. Info about the program and tickets is available here.

July 2008

Michael and Holly Knight wrote a lot of songs together in the early 80s, including the mega-hit "Obsession".

In the last few months, they have teamed up again. Back in April he said: "We have set ourselves a demanding schedule to complete as many hits as we can in May".

One of their new songs is called "Don't Desire What You Don't Need", with Michael on vocals. It's now available on Michael's new MySpace-page - here.

There is also a new live-version of "Little Latin Lover" on MySpace.

In other news, Pamela Des Barres' second book "Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart" will be re-issued on September 1st. It's an updated edition, with a new foreword by Michael. The book can be pre-ordered from Amazon.com.

March 2008

Michael spent a week at the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas. He was scheduled to emcee two events for Rajiworld on March 14th and March 15th. And he also presented an award at the Austin Music Awards.

Here are a few more pictures of MDB at the Festival:

• On KGSR Radio live at the Four Seasons (March 10th)
• At a Rajiworld Party at Enchanted Forest (March 15th)

And check out some great new video clips on YouTube:

• Chequered Past performing "Underworld" live ca. 1984 (link)
• "Money Don't Come Easy" music video from 1985 (link)
• Power Station interview from 1985 (link)
• "Get It On" live with Camp Freddy in 2004 (link)
• "Nip/Tuck" guest-appearance from 2007 (link)

February 2008

Michael has been busy lately. While focusing less on the Free Love Foundation, he has formed a new band and is also working on a new musical. Here's the news from the man himself:

"I have put together a new band doing 70's classics for corporate parties. Helluva band: Brian Ray from Paul McCartney's band on guitar, Oliver Leiber from Rod Stewart's band on guitar, Scott Shriner from Weezer on bass and Matt Laug from Slash's band on drums! We are called CRASHBOOMBANG.

I'm also writing a musical with Butch Walker. He wrote and produced Pink, Avril Lavigne. The musical is about a bunch of street dogs who form a rock band. It's been really fun, and I don't have to endure 5 hours of make up."

January 2008

Michael Des Barres celebrated his 60th birthday on January 24th. He can look back on a long and diverse career within the entertainment industry, with hopefully many more productive years to come.

Congratulations!

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Darryl Read has just released a 3-track single called "Stepping Ace Roadhouse", which includes a cover version of Silverhead's "Ace Supreme". The tracks were recorded in Berlin in late November 2007. A 2-minute sample of the song is available here. And the tracks can be bought from CD Baby.

Read was a member of Michael's first band The Orange Illusion, way back in 1967, and has written about their experiences at the Corona Drama School in his autobiography "Stardom Road". He is more recently known for his collaborations with Ray Manzarek from The Doors.