MERCURY REV - UK Update 1999
August 1999
"Goddess on A Hiway" hit a disappointing 26 (equalling Delta Sun's chart placing) on the Top 40 on its first week then faded from the charts. No Top Of The Pops performance. The T in the Park set, (or at least most of it) was broadcast on Lamacq live. I have a tape if anyone's interested in a copy ...
Broadcast set: -
1. The Funny Bird 2. Tonite It Shows 3. Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp 4. Isolation 5. Holes 6. Goddess On A Hiway 7. Opus 40 8. Cortez The Killer
'Frittering' and 'Syringe Mouth' were missed out of the broadcast.
July 1999
Following the band's appearance at T In The Park (reviewed here), "Goddess On A Hiway" was shown on a highlights show broadcast on 16th July (the first of 6 such shows). The song was followed by a short interview with Jonathan and Justin. The Rev were scheduled for next Friday's (23rd July) show as well, but weren't on. I missed one show and the only thing I saw broadcast was "Goddess" which at least featured on the final Best Of show, which was great because due to a Videoplus taping error, my first copy was obliterated, as sadly was the classic interview.
May 1999
The success of and buzz surrounding 'Deserter's Songs' has meant that Mercury Rev have been spending a lot of time in the UK since late 1998.
TV SHOWS!!! To coincide with the release of 'Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp', the band appeared on TFI Friday on 15th January playing the single live in the studio. A gig at the Astoria in London at one of the NME's Premier live shows was also filmed. Four 30 minute programmes were broadcast featuring one song from bands who played at the Premier shows and the Rev appeared on 3 programmes, featuring "Tonite It Shows", "Endlessly" and "Opus 40".
CHART SUCCESS!!! "Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp" reached the UK Top Forty on Sunday 31st January, charting for 1 week at number 26. Sadly we didn't get a Rev Top of the Pops appearance (despite the fact that Sebadoh had appeared the previous week with a lower chart placing) The following week "Deserter's Songs' finally made it into the Top 40 UK albums, although the LP had been selling steadily since release.
The new single "Opus 40" has debuted in the UK Top 40 at number 31 on Sunday 16th May.
NEW SINGLE/UK TOUR!!! At present I believe that 'Opus 40' is slated for a single release in early May to coincide with more UK dates, commencing in Aberdeen. The single may well chart, but would a re-release of "Goddess" not have been a more high profile release - after all very few people bought the single originally? After the tour the band seem to be heading back to the States, before returning to Europe, certainly to play Scottish festival T In The Park. Unfortunately Mercury Rev won't be supporting REM the following week in Stirling!
MORE TV SHOWS!!! To coincide with the May UK Tour and the release of "Opus 40", Mercury Rev appeared on "Later with Jools Holland" on 30th April. The Rev played "Goddess On A Hiway" and "Holes" live in the studio.
On 13th May, a 10 minute show entitled "Mercury Rev" was broadcast as part of Channel 4's "4 Music". The show comprised an interview with the band (principally Jonathan and Grasshopper) and a full showing of the "Opus 40" video.
Apparently the Rev also appeared on Top of the Pops to play "Opus 40" but I missed it!