Members and friends of BNLX, Polara, 27 Various and Kraig Johnson and the Program perform the songs of Ed Ackerson on his birthday 7/18 @ the Hook and Ladder. Come hang, come hug. Get your tickets now! ❤️
We’d been keeping this quiet, but since Pete Townshend hinted at it at The Who show last week, it seems like a good time to talk.
One year ago, I got some very unexpected news: I have stage four pancreatic cancer. Working with a team of top people from Mayo Clinic, I’ve been fighting it super hard. This news has been kept to an extremely small group of people so far, but my condition has recently become more challenging, and it seems like a good time to tell everyone. One of the reasons I’ve kept it quiet is because I want to keep my focus on the positive energy of rock and roll, and my family and friends, rather than dwelling on the illness and attempting to answer unanswerable questions. Despite it all, I’ve been in an amazingly creative period musically, with a couple of brand new sonic collaborations in the works. I can’t wait to share some of these new sounds soon.
In the meanwhile, my family and I would appreciate your support as we make the best of a very serious situation. We will keep you posted on my progress, future events and things we may need assistance with. Also, please understand that I will not be able to reply to messages and other communications in order to stay focused on my family, health and music. Peace love and happiness – Ed
Massive Attack were fantastic at the Palace in St. Paul tonight. The whole audio/visual presentation was next level, a remarkable combination of poignant, powerful messaging with unrelentingly inventive (and wildly psychedelic) sound and light textures. Few bands attempt, let alone pull off, this sort of thing. It was also great to reconnect with their ace drummer Damon Reece (and, not pictured, guitarist Sean Cook), both of whom I first met touring with Spiritualized many many years ago. I get a lot of inspiration from my friends who are still out there creating awesome art and pushing the culture forward. It’s good to keep in touch with rock comrades, especially when the music they’re making is as good or better than ever.
Super good times in St. Paul tonight seeing my favorite band, the mighty Who. Thanks so much to @yaggerdang for the very kind shout-out from stage! Totally blew my mind in the best way. It was also cool to see an Epiphone Coronet up there for a song!
I’ve mentioned it before, but this debut LP from L’Épée is an extraordinarily rad thing. Almost certainly my favorite record of the year. It’s finally coming out this Friday, so go grab it!
This new Vox Continental 61 organ is pretty much my favorite thing right now. Like the Mellotron 4000d, the Continental is a thoroughly modern take on a classic instrument that’s truly inspiring to play, instantly evoking an atmosphere and changing the way you play in the way a great instrument often does. It’s a ton of fun! I have a room full of the original vintage keyboards this models, and I have to say that it stacks up sonically very well indeed against the originals. Plus...it’s Flowers Orange colored!
Tomorrow (Sunday 25 Aug) I’m guesting on Anton Newcombe’s We Are the Radio show on Soho Radio in London. Anton spins for the first half hour or so, then I join in for the rest of it. The broadcast is between 1600-1800 GMT (1000-noon Minneapolis time). Expect lots of groovy sounds and fun/addled chatter between the two of us! Go to /player/music and check it out! An absolute blast to hang with Anton as always. It’s also super fun to be on Soho Radio, which features some of the most consistently badass programming anywhere from some of my favorite selectahs including @heavenlyrecordings , @jamesendeacott , @simonemarie.4 , and @johnrtcoxon just to name a few.
Ashley and I had a great time at the event at Abbey Road tonight. We got to meet and chat at length with Kevin Ryan and Brian Kehew, authors of the definitive tome Recording the Beatles, both of whom are wizard-level experts but still unassuming and super nice. Plus we got to see a lot of crazy gear and instruments, and even went into the famous Studio 2 echo chamber which has been off-limits to visitors in the past. What a fascinating and fun evening at a truly unique place.
Happy Birthday to the center of my world, Ashley Ackerson. I’m unbelievably lucky to have her in all facets of my life, from rock and roll to raising our little girl to traveling the planet together. Every moment big and small is better with her. And what a beautiful Minneapolis day to celebrate on!
