Thursday 6th of January

Using QuarkXPress, put into three collums, and put in the titles and the main titles. Ready to insert the Coverlines into the seperate, features, regulars.

Starting to add coverlines.

Article-

Ian Prowse, a Liverpool Legend stands out from the crowd of Liverpool stars. Over the past Two decades, Ian has peaked in not one but two bands (Amsterdam and Pele). From being played on Radio one too playing along side living legends such as Elvis Costello. Ian Prowse is an inspiration.  Here I am with the legend himself, in an ironically themed cafe, ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ in the heart of the Liverpool Music Scene, Carvern Walks.

Although now Amsterdam performs both Pele and Amsterdam songs, Ian’s“impulse of first doing Amsterdam was to do something different to Pele”.  Amsterdam at the moment has seven members, “there’s seven people in the band, so alota musicians, we just make a great big racket”. The band itself was influenced via alot of new wave bands such as, ‘The Clash and The Wranglers’ and “there was always abit of Spingsteen in there too”.  Whereas, Pele was more influenced by ‘The Waterboys’. However during the first five years of Amsterdam, they were a “very guitar based pop band”. Not the band has many Celtic influences via fiddles etc...

Ian Prowse himself comes across as a very well rounded guy, with a good insight to the music world and business.  His main influence being Bruce Springsteen describing him as “the guiding light” and his “hero”.  His admiration for Springsteen comes from the heart due too, him not just admiring him as a musician but as a man due his more ‘adult songs’ and problem tackling via music.  In describing Springsteen’s influence on his music, he was inspired, “to always be honest when writing ‘his’ music”.

Prowse has played alongside many very famous stars such as The Pouges, Del Amitri and Elvis Costello. He describes the day that Elvis Costello “phoned” him up and asked Amsterdam to play alongside him on, ‘Jonathon Ross Show’ as a day he “will never forget”.  “He’s been brilliant for us”. Ian Prowse believes he has learnt a lot via performing with other artists. Prowse rarely gets star struck via the professionalism of playing alongside famous stars. However he describes his meeting with Clash singer, Joe Strummer, due to him describing the Clash as a “profoundly influential band of my time”.  “Me bottle went”. He was that ‘profoundly influential’ that it lead to Prowse being inspired to write a song named, ‘Joes Kiss’.

Being influenced in his song writing via rock and roll and pop, Amsterdam’s musical sounds comes across as very celtic sound.  He does what he loves, Amsterdam bring the classic to the classic “Three minute song”.

Prowse describes his greatest success with Amsterdam as playing Glastonbury 2008, “the most fun I’ve ever had”.  He feels in musical success, ‘Does this Train stop in Merseyside’ was his greatest musical success with the band due that song being the song he and Amsterdam are most associated with. Although his first band Pele were also a very successful band, gaining a number one in South Africa and Radio One play. Yet Prowse describes his greatest success with the band as the amount of shows, “One hundred and One gigs” and followers gained, “those fans are still with me today”. Yet his highlight of Pele was playing the Liverpool Royal Court and headlining, “I’d always wanted to play there as a kid”.  Ian comes across as if he takes nothing for granted.

Prowse reflects modesty in being played on Radio stations such as Radio One regardless to X factor and American Idol winners becoming much more relevant on the Radio.  “Its changed alot, but it was very difficult in Pele days but I mean they played us but our music is poppy very accessible, the songs that I write, Thankfully the radio picked up omit”. However he reflects on the difficulty of gaining a record deal with Amsterdam due to when Amsterdam formed it being the beginning of the talent show phenomenon. “The music industry decided for about four years if you were over twenty five you were too old to be in the industry”. Yet “all these avenues for serious music came along” in his description of what these avenues are, he names Radio Two, Jools Holland etc... The difference between the two sets of music choice are much defined.

Recently Amsterdam have been featured on the EMI album of Liverpool alongside some amazing acts, such as Paul McCartney, he describes the feeling as “amazing”.

Ian Prowse clearly takes nothing for granted. He obviously understands the music industry. Overall he came across as a very down to earth guy who treasures his Liverpool background and enjoys being a part of the Liverpool world.

4th January-

This is my first front cover, without changes made to it. I have attempted to stick to the codes and conventions of a music magazine front cover. For example I have kept a colour scheme, and made sure that the main story stands out against the rest of the coverlines.

Pictures on Matthews Street.

Double Page Spread Ideas.

Ideas-

• For the actual picture itself, my interview is taking place on Carvern Walks in the Lucy in Sky cafe. Around that area reflects the history of Liverpool Music. I can also use this area as a picture for my Contents Page as one of my coverlines is The history of Indie and Liverpool being where the Beatles are from would be a good setting. Also the fact Ian Prowse has been around for two decades of music, therfore would make him a legend.

Planning Production Plan.

Front Cover Image- 
Idea One;
A medium shot, teenage girl, dressed in a indie way. head alittle bit infront of the title.
Idea Two;
Full frontal image of a girl/boy fully indie dressed, picture takes up the whole page- background like full picture. Mersey and Liverpool behind.


Coverlines for front Cover-

• Ian Prowse, giving it one more chance.
• The history of indie
• Win tickets to an exclusive Artic Monkeys gig.
• Top Ten Indie Icons.
• Glastonberry line up Rumours.
• Masie Shore (image on front cover)

Coverlines for Contents Page

• Ian Prowse, giving it one more chance.
• The history of indie
• Win tickets to an exclusive Artic Monkeys gig.
• Top Ten Indie Icons.
• Glastonberry line up Rumours.
• Masie Shore (image on front cover)
• Tips on Upcoming gigs
• Alex Turner weekly column
• Editors Letter
• How do artists Handle it?
• Article focussing on a particular venue.
• Live the Indie Star lifestyle.
• Build up for the Comeback of The Fall.
• Backstage Access.
• Who to go see and who not to go see.

Pictures for front cover-

• Main image- 'Masey' on bars with Liverpool skyline in the back or alley way in background
• Small picture of a band made up. - For the Competition
• Picture of girl in Glastoberry field

Pictures for Contents-

• 'Masey' doing what looks like busking on the prom
• Field with made writing saying 'festival'
• Picture of the Liverpool skyline with a boy in a suit looking over.

Double Page Spread

• Picture of Ian Prowse- Carvern Walks- reflects Liverpool music scene. 

The article will be portrayed as biographical rather than an interview. It will have quotes from Ian Prowse and people whom actually like his bands, Pele and Amsterdam. 

Band Research

Amsterdam and Pele

  

Ian Prowse- whom the interview is with( member of both Pele and Amsterdam)

• Singer/Song writer.
• Member of both Pele and Amsterdam.
• Formed Amsterdam in 1999.
• Pele formed in 1990.
• John Peel was a massive support for Amsterdam
• In 1999 with Amsterdam won 'best new band' competition in NME.
• Love phenomenon released on tiny little indie label Weena which secures the band there first ever live performance on Janice Long’s BBC Radio 2 show. The band go down a storm, in 2001.
• Amsterdam have appeared with Elvis Costello on the BBC1′s Jonathon Ross television show in 2002.
• In 2003, Legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel begins playing Does this train stop on Merseyside?.
• In 2004, Sign record deal with Beat Crazy/Pinnacle.
• In 2005, Band embark upon 14-date UK tour with labelmates Ricky. The journey single is released and hits the UK charts at number 32.
• June 2008, Amsterdam play Glastonberry.
• Pele were signed to brand new label M&G records in 1991.
• Raid The Palace was the first single. Everybody was stunned as BBC Radio 1 put the single on it's playlist for six weeks, especially as the songs lyrics suggested people should scratch the cars of the rich and then shoot them!
• In February 1992 second single Megalomania was released. Again BBC Radio 1 playlisted the single and the band nearly died of surprise when the song went to number one in South Africa (with Pele).

Line up

Ian Prowse vocals and guitar
Johnny Barlow guitar
Anna Jenkins violin
Deian Elfryn drums
Tony Kiley guru

All Pele's line ups

Ian Prowse - guitar and vocals

Andrew Roberts (Robbo) - hammond and piano
Andrea Nicholson (Nico) - violin
P Dallison (Dally) - drums
James McAllister - bass
Wayne Morgan - bass
Tony Kiley - drums