CHIC: RARITIES, ODDITIES AND EXCLUSIVES
AVAILABLE NOW DIGITALLY

New CHIC Digital Collection Brings Together 17 Rare Mixes 
And Hard-To-Find Tracks 

 “Nile Rodgers’ Signature Edition Remasters” Of CHIC’s First Three 
Studio Albums Set For Release On 180-Gram Vinyl On June 21

Nile Rodgers & CHIC Will Be On Tour with CHER this Spring And Fall, 
And Headline The Hollywood Bowl With The Los Angeles Philharmonic On July 2-4

Nile Rodgers Will Be Guest Curator Of The Meltdown Festival 
In London On August 3-11

LONDON, ENGLAND – A year after CHIC celebrated the 40th anniversary of its smash “Le Freak” and released their first new album in 26 years, It’s About Time, the band returns to the spotlight this year with new iconic and timeless reissues. At the same time, the legendary Nile Rodgers & CHIC are back on the road as part of Cher’s Here We Go Again tour in North America this spring and fall, and also headlining at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for three nights on July 2-4. Nile Rodgers & CHIC will headline two shows at Hampton Court Palace in the UK on June 14 and 15. Rodgers will also serve as the guest curator of the Meltdown festival in London. The festival, which runs from August 3 to 11, is the longest running artist-curated festival in the world. 

The first new CHIC release is available now to download or stream. RARITIES, ODDITIES AND EXCLUSIVES picks up where last year’s The Chic Organization 1977-1979 boxed set left off with rare mixes and versions released over the years. It includes a 12” remix of “Chic Mystique,” a #1 hit for the band in 1982; “Tavern On The Green” from the Soup For One Original Soundtrack, plus four remixes of “Le Freak” from 2014 by Chic & Aristofreeks.

On June 21, CHIC’s first three albums will be released individually on 180-gram vinyl. These versions of Chic, C’est Chic and Risqué feature the Nile Rodgers’ Signature Edition Remasters, which debuted last year as part of The Chic Organization 1977-1979 boxed set. Each album was remastered from the original Atlantic stereo tapes by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios. Rodgers served as executive producer and supervised the remastering with the approval of Bernard Edwards’ estate. To ensure exceptional sound quality, the albums were mastered at half-speed and pressed on 180-gram vinyl. 

Rodgers and Edwards famously formed CHIC in 1976 after Rodgers was inspired by seeing Roxy Music play live in London. A year later, the band signed with Atlantic Records where they helped define the pop and disco genres with unstoppable hits like: “Le Freak,” Atlantic Records’ biggest selling 7” single of all time; “Good Times,” US Billboard Hot 100 #1, and Billboard magazine’s #1 soul single of 1979; “I Want Your Love,” “Everybody Dance,” “My Feet Keep Dancing” and “My Forbidden Lover.” 

After CHIC’s initial success, Rodgers and Edwards began making music for other artists as The CHIC Organization. One of their biggest successes was Sister Sledge’s third record, We Are Family. Released in 1978, it remains a classic album thanks to hits like “He’s The Greatest Dancer,” “Lost In Music,” “Thinking Of You” and the title track. Rodgers believes this is arguably the finest album he and Edwards wrote, produced and performed.

Rodgers’ work in the CHIC Organization and his productions for artists like David Bowie, Diana Ross, and Madonna have sold over 500 million albums and 75 million singles worldwide while his innovative, trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk, Avicii, Sigala, Disclosure, and Sam Smith reflect the vanguard of contemporary music. 

RARITIES, ODDITIES AND EXCLUSIVES 
Track Listing

1. “Hangin’” – Single Edit
2.  “Stage Fright” – Single Edit
3. “Everybody Dance” – MOTIVA RPL MIX
4.  “Good Times” – A Touch Of Jazz Mix
5.  “Everybody Dance” – Edit
6.  “I Want Your Love” – Stonebridge Mix
7.  “Jack Le Freak”
8. “Megachic” (Medley: Le Freak-Everybody Dance-Good Times-Le Freak-I Want Your Love-Le Freak) – International Mix
9. “Chic Mystique” – 12" Remix Extended Version
10. “Le Freak” – Aristo Classic Disco Mix
11. “Le Freak” – Aristo Filtered Disco Club Mix
12. “Le Freak” – Aristo Filtered Mainroom Mix
13. “Le Freak” – Aristo Mainroom Mix
14. “Back In The Old School”
15. “Back In The Old School” – Instrumental

Nile Rodgers’ Signature Edition Remasters
180-Gram Vinyl 

Chic (1977)
A1.    “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)”
A2.    “São Paulo”
A3.    “You Can Get By”
B1.    “Everybody Dance”
B2.    “Est-ce Que C’est Chic?”
B3.    “Falling in Love with You”
B4.    “Strike Up the Band”

C’est Chic (1978)
A1.    “Chic Cheer”
A2.    “Le Freak”
A3.    “Savoir Faire”
A4.    “Happy Man”
B1.    “I Want Your Love”
B2.    “At Last I Am Free”
B3.    “Sometimes You Win”
B4.    “(Funny) Bone”

Risqué (1978)
A1.    “Good Times”
A2.    “A Warm Summer Night”
A3.    “My Feet Keep Dancing”
B1.    “My Forbidden Lover”
B2.    “Can’t Stand to Love You”
B3.    “Will You Cry (When You Hear This Song)”
B4.    “What About Me?”

# # #
 

GRATEFUL DEAD PARTNERS WITH Z2 COMICS TO RELEASE
GRATEFUL DEAD ORIGINS IN 2020

Deluxe Edition To Contain Previously Unreleased Grateful Dead Music 
Available For Pre-Order At www.z2comics.com/shop/grateful-dead

Artist Noah Van Sciver Illustrates An Original History On 
Grateful Dead Created By Writer Chris Miskiewicz

With the recent success of partnerships with BabyMetal, Andy Black and Skillet, Z2 Comics continues to solidify their place as the premier creator of music-affiliated graphic novels. The company has entered in to their largest partnership to date creating a graphic novel for the iconic Grateful Dead. Grateful Dead Origins takes an in depth and personal look at the formation of one of the most important American rock bands of all time, exploring the early days of Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Pigpen, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart. The story of the band's transformation from a bar band performing as the Warlocks to becoming the creators of their own sound and forefathers for the jamband culture is depicted in the original story written by Chris Miskiewicz and illustrated by Noah Van Sciver. The graphic novel will be scheduled for release in early 2020. 

Grateful Dead Origins will be available in a standard edition and a limited run collectors deluxe edition. The standard edition will come in a softcover version that will feature an exclusive download of Grateful Dead music from their early years to serve as a companion to the graphic novel. The limited run collector's deluxe edition will come in a hardcover, oversized, individually-numbered coffee table edition featuring prints and autographed by the comic creators. It will also come with a selection of unreleased Grateful Dead music from the era on vinyl. The deluxe edition will be available for pre-order at www.z2comics.com/shop/grateful-dead . Pre-orders are now available for all configurations of Grateful Dead Origins. 

"We've seen many archival releases that offer magnificent audio representations of the Grateful Dead's history, and several filmed interpretations of the Dead's story. To these, we're thrilled to add to the Dead's narrative canon this beautiful portrayal of the Dead's origin story in the form of this wonderful new comic," says Grateful Dead audiovisual archivist and legacy manager David Lemieux. "Chris and Noah have captured the Dead's sensibility in their words and images that bring to life on the page the earliest days of the Grateful Dead, from the band's founding in 1965 through to Woodstock. We couldn't be happier to be partnering with such talented artists who have delved so deeply into the Dead's history and origin."

"Jerry Garcia was an avid comic book enthusiast so it is incredibly fitting to have the Grateful Dead's origin story told in graphic novel form," says Mark Pinkus, President of Rhino Entertainment. "Z2's passion for the band's music and mythology make them the perfect partner to bring the story to life. This will undoubtedly be a 'must have' item for Grateful Dead and graphic novel fans alike."
 

About Grateful Dead: 
Grateful Dead is a social and musical phenomenon that grew into a genuine American treasure. In 1965, an entire generation was linked together by common ideals, gathering by the hundreds and thousands. This movement created a seamless connection between the band and its fans. As the band toured, Dead Heads would follow. Not because it was a part of popular culture, but because it is a true counterculture that exists to this very day-one that earnestly believes in the value of its beliefs. By 1995, Grateful Dead had attracted the most concert goers in the history of the music business, and today remain one of the all-time leaders in concert ticket sales. Eventually, the caravan evolved into a community with various artists, craftsmen and entrepreneurs supplying a growing demand for merchandise that connected them to the music. Today, the connection is as strong as ever. The band was inducted in to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994 and received a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. Their final tally of 2,318 total concerts remains a world record.

About Z2 Comics: 
Z2 Comics have made a name for themselves releasing quality graphic novels in to the marketplace since 2012. In 2016, Z2 began collaborating with musicians to create graphic novels centered on unique stories and exclusive music. That ideal led them to work with the likes of Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), DJ Paul Oakenfold, jazz trumpeter Dave Chisholm and others. 2018 marked another landmark year as Z2 partnered with Japanese metal band BABYMETAL on Apocrypha: The Legend Of BabyMetal, which is one of the biggest selling graphic novels Z2 has released. With the upcoming release of Andy Biersack's The Ghost Of Ohio in 2019 and other soon-to-be-named partnerships, Z2 Comics continues to push the envelope with their music and comics integrations. 
 
# # #

HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH 
CRACKED REAR VIEW 
SET FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY REISSUES

Multi-Platinum, Grammy-Winning Band's Debut Will Be Newly Remastered 
With Rare And Previously Unreleased Studio And Live Recordings 

3-CD/DVD And 2-CD Versions Will Be Available From Rhino On May 31

Band To Embark On Group Therapy Tour Later This Year

LOS ANGELES - Hootie & the Blowfish are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the band's debut album, Cracked Rear View, this year. The monumental record is currently the tenth best-selling album of all time in the U.S., certified 21x Platinum by the RIAA since its 1994 debut, as well as the best-selling debut album of all time. To commemorate the anniversary, the band will release two new versions of the monumental album with remastered, rare, and unreleased audio on May 31 in conjunction with the launch of their extensive North American Group Therapy Tour on May 30.

CRACKED REAR VIEW: 25th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION will be available from Rhino as a 3-CD/DVD Deluxe Edition set ($39.98) on May 31. A 2-CD Expanded Edition ($24.98), digital download, and streaming versions will also be available on the same day. 

The 3-CD/DVD Deluxe Edition includes a newly remastered version of the original album, rare and unreleased studio and live recordings, plus a DVD with surround sound mixes, the original music videos from the album and more. The set also comes with extensive liner notes written by Tim Sommer, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1993.  

The band - Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, Darius Rucker and Jim "Soni" Sonefeld - recorded Cracked Rear View at NRG Studios in Los Angeles with producer Don Gehman. Released on July 5, 1994, the album became a musical phenomenon, topping the album charts in Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S., where it reached #1 five different times during 1995. 

The album generated four massive singles: "Hold My Hand," "Only Wanna Be With You," "Time," and "Let Her Cry," which earned Hootie & the Blowfish a Grammy® Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group and also saw them recognized as Best New Pop Group by the Grammy® Awards.

Both new versions of CRACKED REAR VIEW are packed with rare recordings. Among the highlights are early versions of many of their biggest hits recorded in 1990 and 1991 and only available previously on cassettes sold at their live shows; the band's five-song 1992 Kootchypop EP; and other unreleased and rare studio tracks.

The Deluxe Edition of CRACKED REAR VIEW also boasts a live recording of the band's February 3, 1995 concert at Nick's Fat City in Pittsburgh, PA. Recorded just a few weeks after Cracked Rear View was certified Gold, most of the concert has never been released, including performances of "I Go Blind," "Hold My Hand" and a cover of "Love The One You're With." 

In the liner notes, Sommer writes: "On stage, Hootie & the Blowfish really sought to combine the intimacy, sensitivity, and whirling dervish qualities of 1980s R.E.M. with the muscular he-man-ism of Springsteen and the E Street Band ... The Pittsburgh set captures all this rather wonderfully." 

The Deluxe Edition DVD includes a 5.1 Surround Sound mix of the original album and 24/96 stereo mixes of five bonus tracks. It also features music videos for "Time," "Let Her Cry" and three more songs.

CRACKED REAR VIEW: 25TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION
3-CD/DVD Track Listing:

Disc One: Original Album Remastered

1. "Hannah Jane"
2. "Hold My Hand"
3. "Let Her Cry"
4. "Only Wanna Be With You"
5. "Running From An Angel"
6."I'm Goin' Home"
7. "Drowning"
8."Time"
9."Look Away"
10."Not Even The Trees"
11. "Goodbye"

Disc Two: B-sides, Outtakes, Pre-LP Independent Recording

1."All That I Believe" *
2."I Go Blind"
3."Almost Home"
4."Fine Line"
5."Where Were You"
6. "Hey, Hey What Can I Do"
7."The Old Man And Me" - Kootchypop Version
8."Hold My Hand" - Kootchypop Version
9."If You're Going My Way" - Kootchypop Version
10."Sorry's Not Enough" - Kootchypop Version
11."Only Wanna Be With You" - Kootchypop Version
12."Running From An Angel" - 1991 Version
13."Time" - 1991 Version
14."Let Her Cry" - 1991 Version
15."Drowning" - 1991 Version
16. "I Don't Understand"
17. "Little Girl"
18."Look Away" - 1990 Version
19."Let My People Go"
20."Hold My Hand" - 1990 Version

Disc Three: Live at Nick's Fat City, Pittsburgh, PA, February 3, 1995

1."Hannah Jane"
2."I Go Blind" *
3."Not Even The Trees" *
4."If You're Going My Way" *
5."Look Away" *
6."Fine Line" *
7."Let Her Cry" *
8."Motherless Child" *
9."I'm Goin' Home" *
10."Use Me"
11."Running From An Angel" *
12."Sorry's Not Enough" *
13."Drowning" *
14."The Old Man and Me" *
15."Only Wanna Be With You" *
16."Time" *
17."Goodbye" *
18."The Ballad of John and Yoko"
19."Hold My Hand" *
20."Love The One You're With" *

DVD
5.1 Surround Sound Mix Of The Original Album

Hi-Res 24/96 Bonus Tracks 

1."All That I Believe"
2."I Go Blind"
3."Almost Home"
4."Fine Line"
5."Where Were You"
The Videos
6."Hold My Hand"
7."Let Her Cry"
8."Only Wanna Be With You"
9."Time"
10."Drowning" - Live

   *previously unreleased
 

Group Therapy Tour Upcoming Dates

May        
30    Virginia Beach, VA            Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
31    Raleigh, NC                      Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

June
1      Atlanta, GA                         Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
6      Orange Beach, AL             The Amphitheater at the Wharf
8      West Palm Beach, FL        Coral Sky Amphitheatre
9      Tampa, FL                          MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
13     Austin, TX                          Austin360 Amphitheater
14     The Woodlands, TX          Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
15     Dallas, TX                         Dos Equis Pavilion
19     Phoenix, AZ                      Ak-Chin Pavilion
21     Chula Vista, CA                 North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
22     Las Vegas, NV                  T-Mobile Arena
23     Irvine, CA                          FivePoint Amphitheatre presented by Mercury Insurance
25     Los Angeles, CA               Hollywood Bowl
28     Wheatland, CA                 Toyota Amphitheatre
29     Mountain View, CA           Shoreline Amphitheatre

July
11     Englewood, CO                 Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
13     Maryland Heights, MO      Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
14     Rogers, AR                       Walmart AMP
19     Monticello, IA                    Great Jones County Fair
20     Cincinnati, OH                  Riverbend Music Center
21     Burgettstown, PA              KeyBank Pavilion
26     Cuyahoga Falls, OH         Blossom Music Center
27     Bristow, VA                       Jiffy Lube Live
28     Camden, NJ                     BB&T Pavilion

August 
2     Gilford, NH                         Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
3     Mansfield, MA                    Xfinity Center
4     Saratoga Springs, NY        Saratoga Performing Arts Center
8     Columbia, MD                    Merriweather Post Pavilion
9     Canandaigua, NY              Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center 
10   New York, NY                    Madison Square Garden
11   New York, NY                    Madison Square Garden
16   Clarkston, MI                     DTE Energy Music Theatre
17   Noblesville, IN                   Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
18   Des Moines, IA                  Iowa State Fair
22   St. Paul, MN                      Minnesota State Fair
23   East Troy, WI                     Alpine Valley Music Theatre
24   Tinley Park, IL                   Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
29   Toronto, ON, Canada        Budweiser Stage
30   Hershey, PA                      Hersheypark Stadium
31   Hartford, CT                      Xfinity Theatre

September 
5      Charlotte, NC                   PNC Music Pavilion
6      Pelham, AL                      Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
7      Nashville, TN                   Bridgestone Arena
11    Columbia, SC                  Colonial Life Arena
12    Columbia, SC                  Colonial Life Arena
13    Columbia, SC                  Colonial Life Arena
 

RUSH: LIVE IN CLEVELAND

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer’s Live Album Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland Is Now On Vinyl For The First Time In Its Entirety

Available From Rhino On June 7

LOS ANGELES - In 2010, Rush took a break from recording what would become the band's final studio album - Clockwork Angels - to launch its Time Machine Tour. During that tour, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's recorded their April 15, 2011 performance in Cleveland. It was a fitting tribute to the city, which was the first to play Rush's music on the radio. 

That epic concert was released on CD in 2011, but the full show has never come out on vinyl until now. TIME MACHINE 2011: LIVE IN CLEVELAND will be available on June 7 as a four-LP set for $79.98. 

The Time Machine Tour was a fan favorite thanks in part to the tour's incredible set list, which encompassed songs from the group's entire career. Another reason is that Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart did something during these shows that they'd never done before, which was to play their quadruple-platinum album Moving Pictures (1981) in its entirety. 

It remains the band's best-selling record in the United States where it reached #3 on the album chart. In the band's native Canada, it hit #1. In addition to the singles, "Limelight," "Tom Sawyer," and "Vital Signs," Moving Pictures also earned the band a Grammy® nomination for the instrumental track, "YYZ." Named for the airport code in Toronto, the song's rhythm is based on the letters Y-Y-Z played in Morse code. 

TIME MACHINE 2011: LIVE IN CLEVELAND covers a lot of musical ground over 26 tracks. Rush's early days are represented by songs like "Working Man" from the trio's 1974 self-titled debut, "2112 Overture" from the 1976 classic 2112, and "Closer To The Heart" from A Farewell To Kings (1977). The group's fantastic output from the 1980's gets its due with performances of "Subdivisions" (Signals, 1982), "Marathon" (Power Windows, 1985), "Time Stand Still" (Hold Your Fire , 1987) and the title track from 1989's Presto.

During the concert, Rush also showcased its most recent work - 2007's Snakes & Arrows - by playing three songs from that album: "Far Cry," "Workin' Them Angels," and "Faithless." The band also took the opportunity to treat fans to a preview of "Caravan" and "BU2B," two songs that would eventually appear on Clockwork Angels (2012), the band's nineteenth, and final, studio album.

TIME MACHINE 2011: LIVE IN CLEVELAND
LP Track Listing:

Side A
1. "The Spirit of Radio"
2. "Time Stand Still"
3. "Presto"
4. "Stick It Out"

Side B
1. "Workin' Them Angels"
2. "Leave That Thing Alone"
3. "Faithless"
4. "BU2B"

Side C
1. "Freewill"
2. "Marathon"
3. "Subdivisions"

Side D
1. "Tom Sawyer"
2. "Red Barchetta"
3. "YYZ"
4. "Limelight"

Side E
1. "The Camera Eye"
2. "Witch Hunt"
3. "Vital Signs"

Side F
1. "Caravan"
2. "Moto Perpetuo" - featuring "Love For Sale"

Side G
1. "O'Malley's Break"
2. "Closer to the Heart"
3. "2112 Overture/The Temples of Syrinx"
4. "Far Cry"
 

Side H
1. "La Villa Strangiato"
2. "Working Man"

# # #
 

"THE RHINO PODCAST" LAUNCHES ARETHA FRANKLIN SERIES

Three Episode Mini-Series Will Focus On Multiple Aspects Of The Queen Of Soul's Unprecedented
Career With Insight From Soul Historian And Franklin Authority David Nathan

"The Rhino Podcast" Surpasses One Million Downloads

One Year Following Launch

LOS ANGELES - Just over a year ago, Rhino Records, the catalog division of Warner Music Group, launched "The Rhino Podcast," a bi-weekly series offering a deep dive into classic artists and albums with music, interviews with your favorite musicians, and a wealth of behind-the-scenes stories. A year later, "The Rhino Podcast" has just passed the "one million download" mark and is now launching its first mini-series, diving into the career of the legendary Aretha Franklin.
 

The Aretha Franklin mini-series on "The Rhino Podcast" will take a thorough look at The Queen Of Soul's career in a three episode arc. The first episode, available now, focuses on her iconic Amazing Grace album, in conjunction with the long awaited documentary on the making of the album hitting theaters. For the mini-series, the hosts of "The Rhino Podcast," Dennis Scheyer and Rich Mahan, are joined by soul historian and Franklin authority David Nathan. 
 
Listen to the first episode of the Aretha Franklin mini-series now, as well as all previous episodes of "The Rhino Podcast," at www.rhino.com/podcasts. 

In the first year since its launch, "The Rhino Podcast" has featured interviews with some of the most legendary figures in music, including Linda Ronstadt, Graham Nash, Gene Simmons, Nick Mason, Ric Ocasek, and Nile Rodgers. Other episodes have been dedicated to such iconic figures like the Ramones, David Bowie, The Doors, and Otis Redding. Upcoming episodes will include interviews with more rock royalty such as David Coverdale, Sam Moore, and Steve Howe.  

"The first year success of 'The Rhino Podcast' is a tremendous accomplishment. Rhino has always been a leader and innovator in music curation and I'm proud to watch us apply that expertise to this podcast," says Rhino President Mark Pinkus. "The 24 episodes that are available now represent a true cross-section of the eclectic artists in Warner Music's vast catalog and there is something revelatory to be found for every variety of music fan. Just wait and see what surprises are in store for the second year."

All episodes of "The Rhino Podcast" are also available via iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, Pocket Casts, Overcast and the Rhino channels on YouTube and SoundCloud.

TEC Direct Media has an exclusive partnership with Rhino for all official advertising in "The Rhino Podcast." Advertisers wishing to be involved in the podcast are encouraged to visit their website for more details.

# # #