SIMPLY RED

Plus ANASTACIA

Wednesday 20 July

Venue:
LUCCA SUMMER FESTIVAL
H.:
21,00
Tickets:
times:

Square cleared: h. 18,30
Doors: h. 19,30
Anastacia: h. 21
Simply Red: h. 22,15

NOTE

SIMPLY RED

Thirty years after introducing a generation to the joys of soul music through their irrepressible, irresistible rendition of the Valentine Brothers’ recession-themed classic Money’s Too Tight To Mention, Simply Red are back with a World Tour and a brand new album ‘Big Love’“I like an anniversary, and this is a big one,” says Mick Hucknall. “30 years! It's incredible. What a great thing to celebrate.”Simply Red finished its initial, unbroken 25-year run with a farewell concert at London’s O2 in 2010, and now, buoyed by the excellence of a new album ‘Big Love’ which was released in June 2015, Simply Red will hit the road again in high spirits, playing all the classic hits. With the singer joined by long-serving bandmates Ian Kirkham (sax), Steve Lewinson (bass), Kenji Suzuki (guitar), Kevin Robinson (trumpet and flute) and Dave Clayton (keyboards) plus new drummer Roman Roth, their reputation as one of the great British groups is set for some timely enhancement. There was no major bust-up for Simply Red in 2010, simply a decision by Hucknall to pull away from the limelight in order to look after his daughter. “I was brought up by my dad, and I wanted to be as good a parent to my daughter as my father was to me. Now she’s seven, it’s easier for her to go on the road with what she calls the ‘rock’n’roll band’.”
It’s the right time for Simply Red to return. A new generation is discovering the tender power of Holding Back The Years, which Hucknall wrote aged 17 as a reflection on the upheaval his mother caused when she walked out on the family when he was three years old. Then there is 1991’s For Your Babies, one of the most innocently romantic love songs ever written, and featuring a melody to melt the heart.
“It goes like that,” says Hucknall, on the current reappraisal of Simply Red as one of the great British bands. “Kids instinctively skip a decade or so and discover the good stuff from the past. Around the time Simply Red came together in the early 80s I was listening almost exclusively to 60s Motown and the Beatles. The great thing is that associations fall by the wayside and all you are left with is the music.”Hucknall was a Manchester art student when he saw the Sex Pistols at the city’s Free Trade Hall in 1976, one of the few people who can legitimately claim to have been at the concert that gave birth to the Manchester punk rock scene. It was Hucknall’s own punk band, the Frantic Elevators, that recorded the original version of Holding Back The Years, but Hucknall was too much of a melody-loving soul to be a three-chord wonder for long, and in 1985 Simply Red were born.
“For me, music has to be instinctive,” says Hucknall, on the soulful direction his band took. “It’s why I rejected the academia of being an art student: I knew that I had to make something that gets to people without their knowing why.

Above all I have an obsession with melody, which I inherited through my love of the Beatles. All I’ve ever really wanted to do is to create melodies that are simple but refined. I’m evangelical about it: music takes you to a place that nothing else can take you to and it’s my job to contribute to that.”
It’s the reason why Simply Red, despite their longevity, despite a following that has seen them sell 60 million albums, have never fitted in or been defined by a trend or movement. It has helped give the music a timeless quality that has seen the band have top ten hits through the 80s, 90s and 2000s. “We’ve never been part of a scene,” Hucknall confirms. “It’s a reason why we’ve been criticized: for being too successful. One in five homes in Britain have a Simply Red album. That’s not going to endear you to the average Radiohead fan.”The success of Simply Red lies in their soaking up the music closest to their heart — soul, funk and reggae — and making it sound like Simply Red. The band’s 1985 debut album Picture Book headed into a 60s R&B groove, 1987’s million-selling Men and Women went towards funk, and the vastly successful albums A New Flame (1989) and Stars (1991) found the balance between pop and soul, but they all shared the same spirit. When Simply Red veered into modern dance music with the number one hit Fairground and the 1995 album Life, they imbued it with their own, unique sound. Simply Red can even do a Bob Dylan cover — listen to their version of Positively Fourth Street, from 2003’s Home — and make it their own. “You can shut your eyes and listen to any of our recordings and you know who it is instantly,” says Hucknall. “That’s an aspect of our career I’m proud of.”The tour comes at a time when Hucknall finds himself at peace with his legacy, and with his place in the story of British music. “The nicest thing about getting older, getting married, becoming a father and changing your lifestyle is that you no longer think it’s all about you. That has a profound impact,” he says. “I’ve stopped caring about criticism; it doesn’t bother me anymore and I feel more comfortable about what I do than I ever have.”As Hucknall prepares to set off on one of the biggest tours of Simply Red’s career, as the band enters its fourth decade, his sense of purpose is clearer than ever. “We’re called Simply Red for a reason,” says the man with one of the greatest voices in soul music. “I want to keep it simple. Our fans know who we are. They have been loyal to us. Now I’m ready to go out there and give them what they want.”

 

ANASTACIA

There are singers all round the globe that unleash a worthy listen, an enjoyable song and a memorable sound. There are very few singers in the universe who embed that utterly unique tone you instantly, undoubtedly recognise. That captivating, spine tingling, soulful, big voice that warrants a superstar status. 
Anastacia is just this. A superstar. 
‘Resurrection’. A strong and interesting word. It is the translation of her name in Greek. It is description of something that is re-born. ‘Resurrection’ is fittingly the title of her last album. Anastacia has been on a long journey both in life and with her career in music. Sometimes you have to lose your way to find yourself again, overcome challenges, experiment, but if you’re focused enough you’ll find your way back. You’ll resurrect everything that went off track. If anyone knows how to find their inner strength, focus and not give up, it’s Anastacia. 
For anyone who doesn’t know the challenges Anastacia has faced, there have been a few. It was just recently in April 2013, she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the 2nd time in her life 10 years after her first battle. Some would have crumbled, fallen at this hurdle but Anastacia refused to let it get the better of her. 
“The Big ‘C’ has a dark cloud, people automatically think death. l didn’t.” 
In the back of her mind she knew this day might come, so as much as one can never really prepare themselves for such news, she researched her options and was certain of her plan. Not a light decision to say the least, but she was to undergo a double mastectomy and rid her breast cancer once and for all. This process would be intense and require ‘time out’ for recovery, but until the day of the operation she found solace in writing a journal of songs. A cathartic approach, something to focus on. She was ready to find herself again, speak out to the world through her music, her resurrection. 
Her personal changes and challenges went hand in hand with the hurdles occurring in the music industry. A world that has taken a beating but fought back. No one can live without music. No one can live without the fight to survive. Everyone faces challenges and writing this album was Anastacia’s opportunity to share her experiences and turn them into words of encouragement.  
“Sometimes I wonder if my purpose on this earth is to be a role model. Look at my challenges as a gift, and my voice as tool”.
The day Anastacia found out she had cancer again she had just arrived at the studio with writer/ producer Jamie Hartman. The phone rang, she simply listened, solemnly nodding and absorbing the shattering news. Not an easy thing to hear. Jamie, shocked of course instantly instructed her to go home. You can imagine the baffled look of disbelief across his face when Anastacia broke her silence and looked up at him:
 “Are you kidding me? No way am l going home, lets write a damn song!”
…and so they did! 
“l wasn’t planning on going anywhere. Not from that session and certainly not from life” 
That was the day the song ‘Stay’ was born. The first chapter of her road to recovery. 
Wow. What a song. A pure transition from the up-tempo tracks you’ll have been bobbing your head to, a fine example of how this album taps into every emotion with the perfect balance. 
“The music industry has changed immensely since l started out and l’m only just now really learning how to change with it.” 
In 2000 Anastacia had her first hit with ‘l’m Outta Love’ which became the biggest selling single of the year from her first studio album ‘Not That Kind’. She went on to thrive success with a further 6 studio albums that threw her into that very superstar status we talk of, having sold over 30 million records to date.
15 years after her breakout hit, Anastacia will release her ‘Ultimate Collection’ on November 6th. The ‘Collection’ sees the superstar return to her native label home of Sony Music, the label that were instrumental in catapulting Anastacia to global stardom, where she debuted and released her breakout smash hits including ‘I’m Outta Love’, ‘Left Outide Alone’ and ‘Paid My Dues’. The album also includes her new single ‘Take This Chance’. 
On reuniting with Sony and her ‘Ultimate Collection’, Anastacia says, “I feel so blessed and humbled to be experiencing this exciting next chapter of my life. The idea for my 'Ultimate Collection' is to include something for everyone. I'm eternally grateful to be reunited with Sony, the record label that made all of this possible from day one. 15 years later I'm back, I'm home and I couldn't be happier”.
From then till now, she has lived, learnt and reflected. 
And found her again you most certainly did. 
Anastacia, welcome back!

  • Foto Francesco Prandoni
    Foto Francesco Prandoni
  • Foto Francesco Prandoni
    Foto Francesco Prandoni
  • Foto Francesco Prandoni
    Foto Francesco Prandoni
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    Foto Francesco Prandoni
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    Foto Francesco Prandoni
  • Foto Francesco Prandoni
    Foto Francesco Prandoni
  • Foto Francesco Prandoni
    Foto Francesco Prandoni
  • Foto Francesco Prandoni
    Foto Francesco Prandoni
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    Foto Francesco Prandoni
  • Foto Francesco Prandoni
    Foto Francesco Prandoni
  • Foto Francesco Prandoni
    Foto Francesco Prandoni
  • Foto Francesco Prandoni
    Foto Francesco Prandoni
  • Foto Francesco Prandoni
    Foto Francesco Prandoni
  • Foto Francesco Prandoni
    Foto Francesco Prandoni

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