Liverpool lands 2008 MTV awards

[Mr. Brian]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7070936.stm

It's not entirely Bunnymen related but I'll put it here anyway. Yeah I know it's MTV and all but it would be great if they could get on this and get some bigger exposure to show off their stuff. With all those current bands dropping the Bunnymen name you'd think there would be a bigger interest in the band.

Liverpool's new Echo Arena will host next year's MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony, organisers have announced.

It will be the third time the annual event has been held in the UK, following shows in London in 1996 and Edinburgh in 2003.

"Not only is it the European Capital of Culture next year but the influence of its rich musical heritage is still felt today," producer Richard Godfrey said.

Munich's Olympiahalle hosts this year's show, which takes place on Thursday.

Mr Godfrey, the event's executive producer and MTV Networks senior vice-president, added that "it was only natural" that Liverpool should host the awards, scheduled for 6 November 2008.

The Liverpool Culture Company, which is co-ordinating next year's European City of Culture celebrations, led the bid to bring the 15th awards ceremony to the city.

As well as being the birthplace of the Beatles, the city has also produced Gerry and the Pacemakers, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, the Christians, Echo and the Bunnymen, Cast, The Boo Radleys and Atomic Kitten, while current stars include Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm, the Zutons and Candie Payne.

'Pop music coming home'

Chairman Bryan Gray said: "It's pop music coming home. There was huge competition to stage these awards, so this is a major coup for Liverpool.

"This event and the plans we have to celebrate them will provide a huge international platform for the city, the arena and the music scene in Liverpool today."

The Echo Arena, on the banks of the Mersey at King's Dock, is due to open in January as part of a £146m development.

It is billed as being one of the most environmentally-friendly venues of its kind in Europe.

Culture Secretary James Purnell said: "Liverpool is a creative force in the world music industry. This will make the European Capital of Culture year even more special."

Liverpool City Council leader Warren Bradley said it was a "watershed in Liverpool's return to the world stage".

"With being European Capital of Culture, the city has rediscovered the confidence and ability to attract the world's best," he added.

[withahip]

I hope it is better than the American version. Well, maybe Brit will perform for you guys, too.

[Mr. Brian]

I guess it's all pretty terrible but sometimes they have one act that's pretty cool. Maybe it will be the Bunnymen this time, but probably not. We can dream.

[moondance]

It sounds like it might be promising for a change but still...MTV sucks!

[withahip]

DEAD KENNEDYS LYRICS

"M.T.V.-Get Off The Air"

Fun Fun Fun in the fluffy chair
Flame up the herb
Woof down the beer
[click!]
Hi
I'm your video DJ
I always talk like I'm wigged out on quaaludes
I wear a satin baseball jacket everywhere I go

My job is to help destroy
What's left of your imagination
By feeding you endless doses
Of sugar-coated mindless garbage

So don't create
Be sedate
Be a vegetable at home
And thwack on that dial
If we have our way even you will believe
This is the future of rock and roll

How far will you go
How low will you stoop
To tranquilize our minds with your sugar-coated swill

You've turned rock and roll rebellion
Into Pat Boone sedation
Making sure nothing's left to the imagination

M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the air
Get off the air

See the latest rejects from the muppet show
Wag their tits and their dicks
As they lip-synch on screen
There's something I don't like
About a band who always smiles
Another tax write-off
For some schmuck who doesn't care

M.T.V. Get off the air
And so it was
Our beloved corporate gods
Claimed they created rock video
Allowing it to sink as low in one year
As commercial TV has in 25
"It's the new frontier," they say
It's wide open, anything can happen
But you've got a lot of nerve
To call yourself a pioneer
When you're too god-damn conservative
To take real chances.

Tin-eared
Graph-paper brained accountants
Instead of music fans
Call all the shots at giant record companies now

The lowest common denominator rules
Forget honesty
Forget creativity
The dumbest buy the mostest
That's the name of the game

But sales are slumping
And no one will say why
Could it be they put out one too many lousy records?!?

M.T.V.-Get off the air!
NOW

[watercolors]

Maybe they need a real cool dude in sunglasses from Liverpool to host the show!!
Maybe NOT. No one would be able to understand him!!