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News From 2002

Dec 28, 2002
Bill to Tour with Will Kimbrough

Late January through February, look for selected dates with Bill Mallonee and Will Kimbrough (www.willkimbrough.com). Look for more information about the tour coming very soon on this site! Will has been the frontman for Will and the Bushmen as well as a session player in Nashville playing for folks such as Tommy Womack, Amy Rigby, Billy Joe Shaver, Steve Forbert, Kim Richey and Matthew Ryan, among others.

Dec 1, 2002
Locket Full of Moonlight is Here!

As if you didn't notice... the new indie Bill album is here - Locket Full of Moonlight. And it's great, and it's dark, and it's available at www.pastemusic.com. Order your copy and a copy for a friend today! Right in time for Christmas!

Oct 31, 2002
Bill to Play with Over The Rhine in December

Bill will be playing solo, opening for Over The Rhine in December. Shows include Cincinnati, Chicago, Columbus or Cleveland, Boston, Northampton, New York and Philadelphia. For more information, check the concerts page or go to: overtherhine.com for more information.

Oct 15, 2002
Tons of Tour Dates for Fall

Check out the new fall tour dates including a great stretch in the UK in November. We're planning some surprises for you fans, so get ready to get stuffed for the holidays.

Aug 14, 2002
Climbing the MP3 Charts

"Solar System" reached a high point at number five on the alternative country charts on mp3.com!

Aug 8, 2002
Bill Writes Lyrics for Buddy Miller Song, VoL on DCN, New UK Tour Dates

Great time for news! Yes, Bill did actually write lyrics for Buddy Miller on an upcoming project. He sang the lyrics from the phone to Buddy's answering machine - modern technology never ceases to amaze! Check out the DCN network's live show of Bill & the Trophy Wives from Schuba's in July. Go to the DCN site. And lastly, check on the new UK dates at the end of August that Bill will be playing solo. Have a great rest of the summer, and check out Bill on MP3.com. Tell your friends and neighbors to get into some fresh music!

Aug 3, 2002
Bill and Buddy Collaborate

Bill Mallonee has co-written a song with Buddy Miller called "Water When the Well Runs Dry" for Buddy's upcoming release. And though it sounds like Bill on harmonica, it's not (although even Bill admits it sounds like him). Buddy produced VoL's Audible Sigh and his wife, Julie, sang backup on a few of the songs on the album.

Jul 19, 2002
Bill is Recording in August; Playing UK

Bill will be returning from the July tour and back into the studio for a couple of weeks of recording time in Athens. The first two weeks in August will be spent recording new songs for his solo career. In the latter part of the month, Bill will be playing over in the UK again, doing various solo dates including the Greenbelt Fest and the Americana-UK fest. See concerts page for more details to come!

Jul 16, 2002
Bill on Exhibit at Georgia Music Hall of Fame

It's called "Party Out Of Bounds: 25 Years of Athens Music" and you can find it on display at the George Music Hall of Fame. Included in this exhibit are many Vigilantes of Love posters, photos and CDs, among other items. Under glass you will even find the Bill Mallonee Blister Soul boots! The Vigilantes of Love will remain on permanent display after the Athens tribute. A blurb from the Athens Flagpole...

"Around 50 Athenians traveled to Macon Friday evening, June 28, by bus, car and perhaps bicycle (Paul Buchart was there). The occasion was the opening of the exhibit "Party Out Of Bounds: 25 Years of Athens Music" at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. The exhibit, a year in preparation, is installed in one wing of the Hall of Fame, and it is an eye-popping collection of Athens music memorabilia. Posters, signs, costumes, instruments, newspaper clippings, Flagpole covers, photographs, timelines and earphones for listening to the actual music: all are displayed in an entertaining array that takes hours to absorb.

"The exhibit is well worth the jaunt to Macon, because in addition to showing the tangible evidence of the rich music scene's history over 25 years, it is a celebration of the Athens that harbored and inspired all these musicians and other characters who made this scene. If you go see it, you'll come away with renewed appreciation for Athens as a place to enjoy and celebrate, to affirm for its style, grace and beauty. Anybody who could view this show and then come back home and demolish a historic building should be stripped of his citizenship."

Jul 7, 2002
One Final VoL Release?

Bill has related his hopes of creating and releasing the much anticipated VoL/R.I.P/Swan Song album. Tentative plans are to include all the tunes from Room Despair (the second CD of the Audible Sigh double disc release) and Electromeo. In addition, Bill hope to get himself, Jake, Kevin and Billy in the studio to record a few popular VoL tunes which have yet to be released, including: "Devil Left to Pay," "Tapping Out The Signal," "Breathe," "Get In Get Out," "Northern Soul" and "Summershine."

Jun 21, 2002
July Tour Dates are Set

Check it out - some great dates and places. Make sure you see VoL in all their glory. Bill is back with Billy Holmes, Kevin Heuer and Jake Bradley (certain shows), and the band is excited about kicking bums and taking names on the road! Don't let the dog days of July take away your Summershine! Get in the listed venues and fests and take in songs from the extensive VoL catalog as well as the new songs from Bill's new solo record, Fetal Position. Bring your friend, bring non-friends, bring your lover(s), bring your enemies, but don't miss this Summershine tour!

Jun 6, 2002
Smallville Rerun

The Smallville episode (entitled "Shimmer") featuring two songs from the Vigilantes of Love will be rebroadcast on the WB on June 9, 2002.

Jun 6, 2002
Vigilantes of Love DVD Released in UK

Announcing the first Vigilantes of Love DVD. The project, entitled Resplendent - Audibly Live, is a UK release (but universally encoded). Containing 18 songs, the band consisted of Bill, Kenny, Jake and Kevin, and was recorded at the Axiom Arts Center in Cheltenham, England soon after the recording of Audible Sigh. Along with the concert, the DVD includes extra songs, interviews, lyrics and other DVD goodies. This is an energetic VoL with the garage-y, Ragged Glory feel of Neil Young, playing all the Audible Sigh greats, plus a couple classics.

In addition, Bill brought back a very limited number of UK import CDs containing 14 of the 18 songs found on the DVD. A hidden track containing the "big and noisy" version of "Solar System" is also included. With great packaging, great music, great recording and limited numbers, be sure you get to the nearest Bill Mallonee concert to pick up this gem.

Jun 5, 2002
"Under the Radar" Tour Commences

Bill's back from the UK all refreshed and ready to take on the Middle West part of the country. Lots of cool gigs starting on June 5th. Come out and show your support of the new music and help celebrate the Summer of 2002! Check the concerts page for more information on each show.

May 31, 2002
Vigilantes of Love DVD Released in UK

Announcing the first Vigilantes of Love DVD. The project, entitled Resplendent - Audibly Live, is a UK release (but universally encoded). Containing 18 songs, the band consisted of Bill, Kenny, Jake and Kevin, and was recorded at the Axiom Arts Center in Cheltenham, England soon after the recording of Audible Sigh. Along with the concert, the DVD includes extra songs, interviews, lyrics and other DVD goodies. This is an energetic VoL with the garage-y, Ragged Glory feel of Neil Young, playing all the Audible Sigh greats, plus a couple classics.

In addition, Bill brought back a very limited number of UK import CDs containing 14 of the 18 songs found on the DVD. A hidden track containing the "big and noisy" version of "Solar System" is also included. With great packaging, great music, great recording and limited numbers, be sure you get to the nearest Bill Mallonee concert to pick up this gem.

May 15, 2002
Two of Bill's UK Stops to be Available Online

Bill's May 22 concert at the 12 Bar Club in London is expected to be available as a web cast from www.12barclub.com. Bill is scheduled to go on at 9:15 pm UK time.

In addition, Bill will be having an email chat on the Bob Harris show BBC Radio2 on Saturady night, May 18th from 10 pm to 1 am UK time. You can listen to the show at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2. Also present will be Dolly Varden.

May 10, 2002
June Tour to Hit the Mid-West

Following the UK tour and the recording of his solo debut, Fetal Position, Bill Mallonee and BAND (yes) - with surprises, will be out and about in middle earth (aka the Midwest/Central USA) in the first half of June. Keep your eye on the concerts page as dates will soon be confirmed and announced. Hear all the new stuff from Fetal Postion and then some.

Apr 26, 2002
My Year In Review Now Available on CD

Bill has found the master to the 1995 fan album, My Year In Review, which was available only on cassette and only to VoL fan club members. The original 12 songs include three that have never been released on CD before ("My Year in Review," "Berlin in '53" and "Postscript"), early versions of several others, and two songs only available on compilations. We've also added previously unreleased live versions of "Vet," "Earth Has No Sorrow" and "Driving the Nails" from 1995 and another previously unreleased song, "All We Left Unsaid."

Your pre-order will help this project exist, and you won't get charged until the CD ships. There will be a limited number of both this CD and Bill's solo CD, Fetal Position, available exclusively through PasteMusic.com, so order now.

Apr 25, 2002
Update on Bill Mallonee Solo CD, Fetal Position

Bill Mallonee's debut solo CD, Fetal Position, is being released exclusively through PasteMusic.com and is now available for pre-order. This is the record fans have been asking for. Twelve brand new songs that will borrow your soul, shake it, reshape it, and hand it back to you with a wry smile. And yes, those 12 include fan favorite "You Give It All Your Heart." The CD will ship in early June. (If you've already sent Bill a check, you'll receive your CD. If you've just emailed Bill saying, "I want to order it," you still need to visit PasteMusic.com and submit your order.

Apr 20, 2002
John Mellencamp Rumors

So am I the only one hearing all these rumors about the Vigilantes and John Mellencamp? John Cougar may or may not have said in either Rolling Stone, the Atlanta Journal or both, that the Vigilantes of Love are one of the best bands no one has heard of and/or that it's too bad not many people have heard the Vigilantes' Welcome To Struggleville. In addition, efforts may or may not have been made to get Bill to open for John Mellencamp's 2002 summer tour.

Apr 5, 2002
Bill to Play Solo Gigs in UK This May

Bill is traveling over to the beloved UK again this May opening for Chicago based Dolly Varden and preceding that with some soon to be announced solo dates as well. There are more plans to go back this summer with some nice little surprises mixed in the bag. Go to the concerts area for more information!

Apr 3, 2002
First Solo Project Available for Preorder

Bill Mallonee, singer/songwriter guy, formerly of Vigilantes of Love, announced plans for the first release of four solo/home/demo projects today. "Most folks know I write to stay sane and recently I've written a lot to do just that... about 25 songs since December after the band went away. They just kept coming! I really loved what I was getting at with these and so I passed the first results of these demos on a few friends. They were pretty ecstatic about them and suggested that I make then avaliable, kind of like we did with Electromeo. Sonically they're quite nice; very organic and personal songs... somewhat somber and moody, I suppose... call it darkly beautiful. This project gives me a way to get new stuff into folks' hands quickly... and it gives me an outlet for tunes that would normally get passed over and forgotten. So the plan is to keep writing, keep recording and keep releasing these demos and such to those who really have gotten inside what my work has been about. I'm very excited about these songs. I think you'll really like the results so far!"

The first record is to be called Fetal Position. Says Mallonee, "This whole solo thing is uncharted water for me really... a bit scary and new... I was trying to think of something that felt like a response to all that's befallen us as of late... and that image/title showed up... pretty stunning."

Mallonee says the plans are to press these in limited quanities, of only about 1,000 for each of the four planned records. Each CD will have about 12 songs. Releases will take place about every 3-4 months.

Fetal Position will only be sold by pre-ordering it (see below) and on the road during Mallonee's tours while supply lasts. This first recording will be avaliable in early July of this year, 2002, perhaps sooner.

The talented Jeffrey Kotthoff, who ran the VoL's old web site, will direct the artwork. The CDs will come in the digipak CD cases with lyrics, photography and art work. "Jeffery and I want them to have a bit of an elegance about them; they should be something special because they are limited quanities... and they should be something you consider beautiful and unique. Fans for years have been asking me what happens to the songs that don't get recorded... sadly, really they go into a nether world more or less and are forgotten... this new way of doing things gives me a chance to open the window a bit on the creative process, the mood and the fruits of what I do."

How to order: Fetal Position is available only through the Paste Music web site.

A heartfelt "Thank You!" to one and all for being involved!

Mar 22, 2002
Bruce Cockburn is a Fan

At a concert in Seattle, Washington, here is what Bruce Cockburn had to say about VoL and their cover of "Wondering Where the Lions Are."

"How many of you find petroglyph to be a strange word? I don't know, I mean, I didn't go to any special trouble to learn the word petroglyph in my life but it just sort of came, you know, like other words like don't and okay and frankincense and you know, whatever. Victorian, novella. Petroglyph. Petroglyph is a rock painting, for those who haven't run across the word, and in the context of the song in which that word appears, which I'm about to do it makes sense, to me at least.

"A couple of people have done different versions of this song—once in a while somebody other than me records one of my songs—and in both cases that I'm aware of, they were not aware of the meaning of petroglyph, apparently. Back in the early '80s Leo Sayer—remember Leo Sayer? [(falsetto)] 'You make me feel like dancing'—he did a version of this song and when he came to the word petroglyph he substituted dinosaur. He was being more candid than we thought, maybe, I suppose, but I thought it was really strange, though, and when you hear the verse it appears in it's going to seem even stranger, like WHY? Why if he's going to substitute anything is he going to substitute dinosaur? I think it's 'cause it started with P and had a few syllables and looked kind of Greek-like and so petroglyph, pterodactyl, you know it's all the same shit.

"And then not too long ago, a couple years ago, a younger band, who I admire very much actually, a band called Vigilantes of Love did a version of the song for a compilation record and they changed the words too. They changed it to something about a big bird flying around. Which at least didn't conflict as much with the rest of the verse as dinosaur, but it didn't suggest to me that, even though I came by the word petroglyph without going to any special effort, other people perhaps had not run across it. You can judge for yourself whether it makes sense or not, I guess."

Mar 21, 2002
VOL on Felicity

The Vigilantes made their return to the WB tonight with the inclusion of "You Know That" (the opening track off of Summershine) in an episode of Felicity.

Feb 16, 2002
Bill Holmes to Tour with Bill

In Kenny's place there is a good possibility that old VoL-er, Billy Holmes, will be the new hired gun. Billy is a stellar sideman and can play anything (guitar, mandolin, keyboards, bass, fiddle, and sing)... and so, Bill is very excited to be working again with the other fella who helped create the Killing Floor record and sound.

Feb 15, 2002
Kenny Takes a Break

Bill has reported that the show in Athens on 2/21/02 may be one of the last shows Kenny Hutson does with Bill for a spell. Ken has job commitments to a local electrician that may prevent his work on extended tours at the moment.

Feb 2, 2002
Rumors and Rumblings

Bill has been making references to new music being release in the very near future. And indeed, there are a few possibilities. Bill has said there WILL be new Vigilantes of Love recording available soon. This may be a second greatest hits package, or the much-anticipated collection of unreleased, long-time live staples, or perhaps some new tunes. There is also the possibility of a second release of Summershine for the upcoming summer. Plus we can probably expect Bill's first solo effort this year.

Jan 30, 2002
New Official URL for Bill

The official site for Bill Mallonee and the former Vigilantes of Love is now located at www.billmallonee.net. The new address was announced after the previous official address, www.billandvol.com, suffered a hostile takeover with no easy way to regain control. The old address now takes you to a site called Netster. Don't go there.

Jan 29, 2002
Summershine Big on the WB

Tonight two songs from Summershine ("S.O.S." and "Galaxy") appeared in an episode of WB's Smallville. Check out the Smallville music site. In addition, rumor has it there is a good possibility that "You Know That" will be in a future episode of Felicity.

Jan 23, 2002
VoL Ranked Tops in Athens

The Vigilantes of Love, with their most recent release, Summershine, were recently ranked among the top five national acts in Athens, Georgia. The other members of the top five were REM (Reveal), Widespread Panic (Don't Tell the Band), Randall Bramblett (No More Mr. Lucky) and Bubba Sparxxx (Dark Days, Bright Nights).

Jan 9, 2002
Recording and Trading

The ban on recorded live shows has been lifted. If interested in obtaining recordings of past shows, check out the trading list.

Jan 8, 2002
VOL R.I.P.

Bill Mallonee has announced that the Vigilantes of Love are no longer the Vigilantes of Love. Drummer Kevin Heuer, who has been with the band for three years, and Jake Bradley, who has been with the band for over four years (longer than any other non-Bill member), will no longer be touring with Bill. The VoL name will be dropped, and the current tour will include only Bill and Kenny Hutson. Bill has left the door open for a future return of the Vigilantes of Love, but they currently no longer exist. Bill's music, however, will continue with or without the VoL name.

Jan 8, 2002
A Chapter Closes

Bill Mallonee announced the end, at least temporarily, of the seminal folk-rock band, Vigilantes of Love, this afternoon... and the start of his new solo career. In town promoting his new movie, I married a teenage Christian ghost writer, Mallonee waxed enthusiastic: "I am very, very excited about the new songs, the whole acoustic format and of course playing with Kenny Hutson." Fans of the band will remember Mr. Hutson's wonderful contributions to the band's critically acclaimed record, Audible Sigh.

Speaking briefly to reporters at a Hollywood press conference, the accessorized Mr. Mallonee (looking confident and authoritative in an Armani suit) delineated the reasons for "putting the thing to bed." "2001 was the most strained year of VoL's history... It was a strained year all over the world. We're still slightly shell-shocked as to how one can sign a deal, release a record, get great reviews, tour like mad... and go broke in six months. It's very complex and I won't bore you with the lurid details, but suffice it to say that one chapter is over... and another one has begun. I'm very optimistic about the future... it's a bit of a return to form, eh?"

When asked if he thought new changes would bring a new style, Mallonee proffered: "It's always been my band from the beginning," he said while looking wistfully over a dry martini at the Brown Derby Restaurant. "I've always attempted to build the VoL sound of each record around the creative strengths of the current members. This particular line-up has been by far and away the most inspiring and nurturing group I've ever been involved with... but in the end, it's the tunes that I'm about." "The formula has always been very basic from the beginning... so whether you get a folk-rock record like Killing Floor, a noisy one like Slow Dark Train, a shot of country-alt like Audible Sigh or a chaser of pop pleasure like Summershine, it's always been about my songs, a basic acoustic guitar... and a session with my shrink."

In a rambling, often incoherent line of thought, Mallonee said: "We've done about as much as one band can do under these conditions both creatively and economically for the past three years and still live to tell about it. If it weren't for the graciousness of the fans we'd have been history a while back. Four guys in a van, without much superstructure around it and no safety net beneath it, is a formula for demoralization... that's where things were heading," he said.

Gesturing to the masses on Hollywood Blvd. Mallonee said: "Jake Bradley (VoL's bassist and exhibitionist) and Kevin Heuer (VoL's drummer) are heroes for enduring this ritual we embark on every year of making a record, touring till we bleed and then wondering what the heck happened... it can steal your joy. I will miss them and the joy of the friendships I've had with them on the road... musically, I think we made some of the coolest music of the past four years... but they (Jake and Kevin) have looked inside the black bag of reality, so to speak, and can no longer find a reason to keep on killing themselves. If most people knew how little we get by on, they'd never pick up an instrument."

When asked if there was a chance of getting VoL back together Mallonee opined, "I'm not ruling anything out... when it's feasible and reasonable I feel sure that will happen... there was a lot of love in the air when we met this morning to decide these things. But right now it's myself and Kenny doing what we do... and let me tell you, it felt pretty fine at rehearsals today!"

 

 

 

 

 

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