Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 02:39:27 -0400 From: Jeff Keibel Subject: Portishead PORTISHEAD "Portishead" Go!Beat/London Records Released September 23rd Portishead are: Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow, Adrian Utley, Dave McDonald Selections: Cowboys, All Mine, Undenied, Half Day, Closing, Over, Humming, Mourning Air, Seven Months, Only You, Elysium & Western Eyes On Thursday July 24, Portishead launched their much-anticipated, self titled album at The Roseland Theatre in New York City. Alongside a 30 piece orchestra, the band played tracks from their new record, the follow-up to Dummy, released in 1994. They sold out the show in less than half an hour. Fans could also access the Portishead website, offering exclusive access to rehearsals as well as "virtual" access to the international press conference that followed the next day, with over 300 journalists from around the world present. Dummy went platinum+ in this country, making Canada the second most important market, behind the UK (Double-Platinum), for Portishead. "Sour Times" went top twenty at Canadian hit radio, and the video went top 5 at MuchMusic. They have sold over 2 million copies worldwide, won the Mercury Music Prize in 1995, and were nominated at the Brits for Best Newcomer and 4 NME/Brat Awards that year. Dummy showed up on practically every critic's year-end picks & their shows sold out everywhere they played. Portishead will be launched with a one hour long special on Toronto's new rock station 102.1 Edge wk of Sept 22. The New York Roseland performance is currently being placed for Canadian television (to be determined), also to broadcast prior to the album's release. "Portishead" 3145391894 / 3145391892 Also available: "Dummy" 4228285534 / 4228285532 "Glorytimes" 4228501672 Thanks to Go!Beat/London for the dirt... JEFF KEIBEL SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO CANADA E MAIL: redshift@interlog.com