Reggae film "Rockers" comes to Blu-ray

June 16, 2009 Through MVD Visual

MVD Visual and Blue Sun Film Company are pleased to announce the home viewing release of ROCKERS for worldwide distribution on Blu-ray. Theatrically released in June of 1980, this classic reggae film has been transferred to HD from original 35mm negative and lovingly cleaned & restored.

“Reggae’s raw, righteous cinematic masterpiece…”
- Peter Relic, ROLLING STONE

“Rockers is a Jamaican movie with the sparkle of The Harder They Come…in many respects the better of the two…funny off-beat players and a sinuous Reggae score.”
- Janet Maslin, NEW YORK TIMES

"... one of the most enjoyable musical movies of all time, with a point to make and the sound to drive it home..."
- Jo-Ann Greene, GOLDMINE

"... ranks alongside The Harder They Come as the greatest film of reggae's golden age..."
- Nigel Williamson, UNCUT

"Arguably the greatest reggae movie ever made, better and much more varied than its well-known predecessor The Harder They Come."
- Tyson Schuetze, RELIX

"... radiates energy, but what really makes it great are the performances..."
- Tom Bryant, MOJO

ROCKERS is a Reggae triumph. By all critical standards ROCKERS is one of the greatest Reggae films ever. Starring Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace and Richard "Dirty Harry" Hall, it’s a Robin Hood style story of oppressed Jamaican musicians getting even with the "mafia types" in the business.

But it’s the all-star musical performances, appearances, and soundtrack that sets ROCKERS apart, featuring acting roles and music by Burning Spear, Bunny Wailer, Third World, Peter Tosh, Jacob Miller, Gregory Isaacs, Kiddus I, Junior Murvin, Inner Circle, the Heptones, & Abyssinians.

Original Trailer

Hi Res Cover Art

Sales Sheet

Bonus Features - Subtitled in French, Spanish, Japanese and Jamaican Patois

Coming to DVD: Depeche Mode "The Dark Progression"

Brand new documentary film traces the almost surreal development of the band

Available on DVD
June 16, 2009

Sexy Intellectual is pleased to announce the home viewing release of Depeche Mode The Dark Progression for North American distribution on DVD.

Thirty years into a quite extraordinary career, Depeche Mode remain the most successful electronic band ever, having to date sold over 100 million records worldwide. And as they continue to release new and challenging material on a regular basis and perform in front of crowds that can exceed 80,000 in a single night, the enormous popularity of these former Essex Boys illustrates how their resolute determination to stick with their original vision has repaid them handsomely in the long term.

This brand new documentary film traces the almost surreal development of Depeche Mode from their flirtations with New Romanticism at the dawn of their career, through the urban industrial landscapes envisaged on Construction Time Again and Some Great Reward into the dark hollow of albums such as Black Celebration, Music For The Masses and Violator to conclude with the departure of Alan Wilder in 1995 – a point in their career at which they had achieved enormous commercial success but were now facing huge personal challenges.

Featuring interviews with all the band members, contributions from friends, colleagues and contemporaries such as; Gary Numan, Thomas Dolby, OMD’s Andy McCluskey, Daniel Miller, band biographer Jonathan Miller, Depeche producers Gareth Jones, Dave Bascombe, Phil Legg and Steve Lyon, and electronic music experts Mark Pendergast and David Stubbs. Also includes; rare performances by Depeche Mode from across their career, archive footage, video clips, location shoots, news reports and much more.

Includes tracks such as; Just Can’t Get Enough, People Are People, Stripped, Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Personal Jesus, Enjoy The Silence, Walking In My Shoes, I Feel You and many others.

EXTRAS include:
Extended interviews
Digital Contributor Biographies
and more!

Hi Res Cover Art and Sales Sheet

EARTH DAY SPECIAL: Mimoco Announces USB Recycling Program and Video Contest

Mimoco Highlights GURP GreenBot USB Recycling Program with User-Submitted Video Contest from Earth Day through Mother’s Day


Mimoco, the company known for their character-based MIMOBOT® designer USB flash drives, announced a three week long video contest kicking off today to celebrate Earth Day. The GURP for Mother Earth (GURP4ME) contest, ending on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10th, promotes recycling via Mimoco’s MIMOBOT GreenBot USB flash drive Recycling Program, or GURP for short.

GURP encourages earthlings to recycle old, worn out, or otherwise unwanted USB flash drives that can be traded in for gift certificates good towards MIMOBOT designer USB flash drives. The GURP4ME contest challenges participants to submit a short, less than one minute, video entry that answers a simple question: Show Mimoco how GURP recycles your flash drives.

“Ever since launching GURP last year we’ve received hundreds of unwanted flash drives,” says Evan Blaustein, Mimoco’s CEO. “This Earth Day, we wanted to play off the ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ theme by giving our community creative freedom to riff on the concept of what “recycling” flash drives means to them. In the process we get to have a little fun, spread news of GURP that much farther, and pitch in to help save the planet.”

For every video entry received, Mimoco will contribute to save 1,000 square feet of rain forest through the Arbor Day Foundation’s Rain Forest Rescue program.

Mimoco, and their media partner judges at Cool Hunting, NOTCOT, and Inhabitat, will choose up to 100 entrants to receive limited edition, organic cotton MIMOBOT GURP t-shirts. The grand prize winner will receive two 8GB MIMOBOT flash drives of their choice. An Audience Choice winner, chosen by the Mimoco community, will win an 8GB drive of their choice, and four runner ups will each receive 4GB MIMOBOT drives.

Click to learn more about GURP and the GURP for Mother Earth contest.

Since 2005, Mimoco has fused the art of contemporary characters with the functionality of personal data storage devices making its name known in both the pop-culture driven Art Toy underground and the savvy high-tech gadget world. With a mission to bring style and soul to consumer electronics, Mimoco is renowned for their flagship collection of MIMOBOT designer USB flash drives - the first portable memory devices to successfully blend the worlds of electronics, designer toys, and pop culture.

Coming To DVD: Classic Punk and Reggae Films From Director Wolfgang Buld

Punk in London (1977)
Punk in England (1978)
Reggae in a Babylon (1978)

German film maker Wolfgang Buld is known for his early work covering the Sex Pistols, Stranglers, the Clash, X-Ray Spex, Boomtown Rats, Adverts, Rough Trade, Killjoys, Jolt, Jam, Lurkers, Anonymous Chaos, Electric Chairs, Subway Sect, and more. On June 16, MVD Visual will release three of his early classics on DVD.


Punk in London (1977)
This acclaimed feature length music documentary comes to special edition DVD featuring incredible live performances from: The Clash, X-Ray Spex, The Jam, Boomtown Rats, The Adverts, The Lurkers and many more! Digitally remastered to the highest standard from the original 1978 negatives by BBC Post Production, this access-all-areas documentary really captures the punk phenomenon in all its raw power and energy. Featuring early live material from The Clash, X-Ray Spex, The Jam, The Adverts and interviews with those who strived for anarchy in the UK, Punk in London is a unique and powerful record of punk life as it really happened in the late ‘70s. Filled with stunning live performance and insightful interviews, this remastered DVD-9 release features incredible picture and sound clarity along with previously unseen bonus footage of The Clash in Munich. Also included is with a retrospective interview with director, Wolfgang Buld and trailers for other Odeon documentaries.
Hi Res Cover Art

Punk in England (1978)
This brand new remastered and extended edition DVD includes live performances and interviews with The Jam, Ian Dury, The Adverts, Madness, The Clash, Secret Affair, The Specials and many more... Following up the award winning Punk in London comes the post-punk apocalypse that is Punk in England. The second part of Wolfgang Buld's trilogy records the punk phenomena moving from London to the suburbs as the creative energy of punk inspired kids to experiment with new-wave, ska, mod and the rude boy music. This incredible documentary captures the punk and post-punk phenomena in all its raw power and creativity.
Bonus Materials:
Women in rock documentary featuring live performances and interviews with Siouxsie, The Slits, Girlschool and many others.
New and unseen six track set from The Adverts filmed live in 1978
Trailers for Punk in London and Reggae in a Babylon.
Hi Res Cover Art


Reggae in a Babylon (1978)
Reggae in a Babylon is the acclaimed documentary by Wolfgang Buld that captured the birth of the British Reggae. This DVD includes several sensational songs. In the late 1970's the young, gifted and black generation of Thatcher's Britain fused the Revolutionary zeal of Punk with their Rastafarian roots to create a new sound system that defined their struggle. Reggae was the savior in their modern 'Babylon' and this acclaimed film charts the birth of urban British Reggae.
Hi Res Cover Art

Tesco Vee + The Meatmen Announce Tour Dates, Covers CD, and Collectible Figure

The Band That Made You In To A Monster Comes to Your City
With A New CD Of Other Band’s Classics and a Tesco Effigy


From humble punk rock beginnings in East Lansing, MI circa ‘79, The Meatmen rose to heavy-duty heights in the 80s and 90s before putting the brakes on in ‘96. Their legacy is rich in punk history and they’ve played shows with many of punk’s essential bands, including Misfits, Minor Threat, Fear, Dead Kennedys, The Fix, Necros, Negative Approach, and more.

Now, after a 12 year lapse, The Meatmen bounce back big with a 24 track ode to the tuneage of yore with Cover The Earth which features all of Tesco's favorite musical blasts of the last 40 years. Some are obvious (Fear, GG Allin, Johnny Thunders) and others are real head scratchers (Jimmy Dean, 10CC, The Temptations). All delivered in reverential but irreverent form by the latest and greatest men of Meat! It features a full-color 12-page booklet and all the between song schtick one comes to expect from a new Meat platter. Also features a return of the legendary Hebrew pitchman Shecky Schpilkis in "Sex Mart 2010."

Tesco Vee is finally a toy! No one in punk rock more deserves to be so offensively animated, than Tesco Vee of the Meatmen. The people of Aggronautix have created a limited-edition figure (1000 numbered units) standing 7 inches tall, and made of a lightweight polyresin. Displayed in a tri-windowed box, here Tesco is accurately sculpted right down to the ABBA pants and clogs.

Check it out here

The Meatmen are coming to a city near you....

(* w/ American Speedway)

4/16/2009 31st St Pub in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

4/17/2009 STERLING HOTEL in Allentown, Pennsylvania

4/18/2009 VALENTINE'S in Albany, New York

4/19/2009 CLUB EUROPA in Brooklyn, New York

4/20/2009 THE BRIGHTON BAR, Long Branch NJ *

4/21/2009 THE RECORD COLLECTOR, Bordentown NJ

4/22/2009 DC9 in THE DISTRICT!, Washington DC *

4/23/2009 GREEN EGGS & HAM in Boone, North Carolina *

4/24/2009 MILESTONE'S in Charlotte, North Carolina *

4/25/2009 BERNIE'S in Columbus, Ohio *

5/14/2009 BURT'S TIKI LOUNGE, SALT LAKE CITY, Utah

5/16/2009 FUN HOUSE, SEATTLE, Washington

5/17/2009 PLAN B, PORTLAND, Oregon

5/19/2009 THEE PARKSIDE, SAN FRANSISCO, California

5/20/2009 VELVET JONES, SANTA BARBARA, California

5/21/2009 ANGELO'S, POMONA, California

5/22/2009 THE RELAX BAR, HOLLYWOOD, California

5/23/2009 DOUBLE DOWN, LAS VEGAS, Nevada

5/25/2009 LAUNCH PAD, ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico

5/27/2009 EMOS, AUSTIN, Texas

Kill The Record Labels: An in-depth documentary exposing the vicious side of the music business

Featuring 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Chamillionaire, Bun B, and many others

Coming to DVD on May 12, 2009

This documentary film directed by Charles Rand & T.Thomas features some of the hottest artists in hip hop expressing their views on the state of the industry. For decades, hip hop was under the control of the record companies and corporations, but eventually artists adapted the labels’ formula and began strategically promoting and marketing their own music. This evolution has created a major conflict.

"Hip Hop music has become the voice of the urban community,” says Rand. “Artists like 50 Cent and Bun B make music about real life situations that happen in their neighborhoods. Generally, artists don't make music about what goes on inside the music business. I made this film to give DJs, artist, and producers a voice. A great documentary is informative and entertaining. I spent alot of time and energy to make sure the audience walks away from this film with a better understanding of issues that affect hip hop culture and music."

This film includes commentary and insight from 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Chamillionaire, Bun B, Maino, DJ Drama, Young Buck, Juelz Santana, Green Lantern, Lil Scrappy, Jim Jones, Red Cafe, Mike Jones, DJ Vlad, Kid Capri, and more.

The record companies, in conjunction with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), have declared war on these artists. Offices have been raided, mom & pop shops have been closed, and many people have been arrested.

“This riveting film shines a bright light on the dark side of Hip Hop.”
—Larry Epstein, Film Look Magazine

Website and Trailer

Additional Info

Hi Res Cover Art


KILL THE RECORD LABELS (OFFICIAL TRAILER) from charles rand on Vimeo.

Disconforme Announces Classic Jazz Releases From Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole Trio, Red Garland, Sonny Rollins, and more

Several DVD and Audio Releases Coming to North America In June

Disconforme, a label based in Barcelona, will be releasing several Jazz titles this June with the help of MVD Entertainment Group, a distributor/label based in the Philadelphia suburbs. According to Disconforme, their goal is to release definitive editions from musical legends produced by venerated artists that are most appreciated by fans and collectors.

Their website states:

"As an alternative to the overproduction that characterizes mind-numbing proliferation of compilations and special collector's remastered editions, and taking the opportunity to bring indispensable collector's recordings at an excellent price, Disconforme Records offers a selected, colourful program of high-quality, anthological re-issues which have been compiled according to strict criteria, making sure that the listener will get: Complete sessions and bonus tracks, 24 BIT digital-remastering, meticulous audio restoration, and original cover art and comprehensive booklets."

The lineup for June is as follows:


BILLIE HOLIDAY - THE LIFE AND ARTISTRY OF LADY DAY
(Available on DVD - June 16)
The troubled existence of a legendary artist viewed through her best songs, images and films. Arguably the best female vocalist in jazz history, a legendary performer of international reputation, Billie Holiday was known for the emotional intensity she put into the lyrics of her songs. Lady Day (as she was known by fans and musicians alike) lived the words she sang. Including biography, discography, lyrics, own compositions and bibliography. Digitally mastered. Interactive menus.

NAT KING COLE TRIO - THE COMPLETE AFTER MIDNIGHT SESSIONS(Available on CD - June 2)
"After Midnight" is a splendid, primarily instrumental album, which was to be one of his last hits as a pianist (as opposed to a singer and entertainer). This is the classic Nat King Cole Trio plus some of his illustrious friends on drums and horns recorded in 1955-56. This edition contains the complete master takes in their original session order, allowing the listener to enjoy the music just as it was recorded and fully appreciate the collaboration between Cole's magic and the horns. As a bonus, there is a previous session featuring Cole in a quartet format and backed by the same rhythm section. Featuring the solo instruments of Willie Smith, Harry Edison, Stuff Smith & Juan Tizol. Full personnel: Nat King Cole (p, vcl), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b) & Lee Young (d). Plus Guests: Harry Edison (tp on #1-5), Willie Smith (as on #6-9), Juan Tizol (v-tb on #10-13), Stuff Smith (vn on #14-17).

CLIFFORD BROWN/SONNY ROLLINS/MAX ROACH QUINTET - COMPLETE STUDIO RECORDINGS(Available on CD - June 2)
2 albums on 1 CD: Includes the complete albums CLIFFORD BROWN AND MAX ROACH AT BASIN STREET and SONNY ROLLINS PLUS FOUR. Collaborations: SONNY ROLLINS, MAX ROACH, RICHIE POWELL, GEORGE MORROW. This fantastic formation was destined to end in tragedy, for Clifford Brown and pianist Richie Powell died in June 1956 in a car accident. In the short time between Rollins' arrival and Brown's death, the group had the chance to enter the recording studios on three occasions. The results of those sessions - the quintet's only official legacy - originally appeared on the above mentioned albums. All the originally issued master takes from those sessions are compiled on this CD. Clifford Brown (tp), Sonny Rollins (ts), Richie Powell (p), George Morrow (b), Max Roach (d)

RED GARLAND - THE 1956 TRIO (Available on CD - June 2)
This CD reunites all the trio studio recordings made by Red Garland in 1956, featuring Paul Chambers and Art Taylor. It comprises the complete A Garland of Red LP, plus the integral December 14 session (originally divided into two different albums, Groovy and Red Garland's piano), plus a single trio tune ("Ahmad's Blues") recorded during Miles Davis' final marathon sessions for Prestige. In the aforementioned track, Philly Joe Jones plays drums instead of Art Taylor.

ART TATUM/BEN WEBSTER - THE ALBUM (Available on CD - June 2)
Considered a true landmark in recorded jazz history, this CD presents the original Art Tatum - Ben Webster Quartet album in its entirety. It was to be Tatum's last studio session ever, for he died soon after the recording. As a bonus to this outstanding session, we tried to reconstruct the same song order of the Tatum-Webster LP but as a Tatum solo piano album, allowing the listener to compare the pianist's different approach to playing as a soloist and as an accompanist. Includes 16-page booklet. Includes the complete album "Art Tatum / Ben Webster Quartet" (tracks #1-7: Art Tatum (p), Ben Webster (ts), Red Callender (b) & Bill Douglass (d). Recorded in Los Angeles, CA, September 11, 1956 for the Verve label)

SONNY ROLLINS - SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS(Available on CD - June 2)
When Sonny Rollins entered the studio to record "Saxophone Colossus," on June 1956, he had already been a regular member of the celebrated Max Roach - Clifford Brown Quintet. This also explains the presence of Roach. In addition to this classic LP, we added a second quartet album "Work Time," also featuring Max Roach and recorded in the last days of 1955. As Ira Gitler writes in the original liner notes "The dictionary says colossal is gigantic; huge; vast. When applied to Sonny Rollins's talent, it also signifies depth." SONNY ROLLINS, tenor sax on all tracks, plus track 1-5: Tommy Flanagan (p), Doug Watkins (b), Max Roach (d) and track 6-10: Ray Bryant (p), George Morrow (b), Max Roach (d).