July 2011
10 posts
“Albarn and the director Rufus Norris have created something thrilling and...”
– Paul Vallely from The Independent reviews Dr Dee
"What’s a rock songwriter — Damon Albarn, of Blur... →
Jon Pareles reviews Damon Albarn’s Dr Dee for the New York Times
"The pairing seems irresistible: an inscrutable... →
Alfred Hickling, Guardian review (read in full)
“#DrDee beautifully directed (seriously amazing effects +...”
– Collette Walsh (@ColletteWalsh) after yesterdays premier
“Saw Dr Dee last night - Damon Albarn + Rufus Norris + Frantic Assembly = very...”
– @mrmattwardle via twitter
Dr Dee takes to the stage - check out this BBC... →
June 2011
43 posts
Hear Damon Albarn perform 'The Reigning Queen' →
"Damon Albarn to perform from 'the gods' in Doctor... →
“…promises to be one of the showpieces of this year’s Manchester...”
– Matthew Cain from Channel 4 sits in on a Dr Dee rehearsal.
“It’s played out on three levels – the orchestra pit representing the...”
– Sarah Walters interviews Damon Albarn as rehearsals begin in The Palace Theatre, Manchester
“The music is elegant and full of a sense of warmth and intimacy.”
– The Guardian’s John Harris gets closer to Dr Dee here
"I think it might be more of a Requimedy" →
Damon Albarn took a few minutes out from rehearsals to answer some Gorillaz fans’ questions about Dr Dee - check out his answers…
Watch Damon Albarn perform 'Apple Carts' from Dr... →
“One song (about Silbury Hill and apples, apparently) is one of the most...”
– @JohnWilson14 Twitter
“Dr Dee Fact of the Day
By coining the notion of a British Empire, Dr Dee...”
“Dr Dee Fact of the Day
Chances are Dr Dee seems like a familiar figure - that...”
“Dr Dee. Damon and band in rehearsal with us now. What could be a car crash of...”
– @franticassembly Twitter
View from the rehearsal room #2
Of all the stories of all the renaissance-era luminaries of note, what was it about John Dee that brought Rufus and Damon together? “My father was a historian,” says Rufus, “and he would have known more about John Dee than I did – at least going into this. Damon has always had very strong feelings about the English and our spiritual wellbeing – and that has poured through him throughout his life...
“Dr Dee Fact of the Day
Dr Dee was a scholar of the sciences as well as the...”
It's an english opera... →
More from Damon and Rufus’s interview with Radio 4’s Front Row … (and the origins of the infamous 007)
“Dr Dee Fact of the Day
Dee lived at his mother’s house in Mortlake,...”
View from the rehearsal room #1
You’ve never seen a drumkit like the one being played by Tony Allen. The reason for that is simple enough. It didn’t exist before Tony – Afrobeat icon, perhaps best known for his work with Fela Kuti – had it specially made in Ghana. Each drum is carved from the same tree. Allen’s name is sculpted on the toms. It looks like an ancient Africa forbear to a Western drummer’s kit. “Have you seen the...
“Dr Dee Fact of the Day
As a renowned astrologer, Dr Dee was invited to read...”
Win tickets to see Dr Dee: An English Opera →
The Guardian have 20 pairs of tickets to Dr Dee at the MIF to giveaway, just give them your email address for a chance to win.
“Dr Dee Fact of the Day
Whilst at university in 1546 Dr Dee turned his hand to...”
"Damon Albarn, Pop conjuror" →
John Wilson interview Damon and Rufus for the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, then he wrote a blog about it - read it here.