Platinum Weird, Dave Stewart - Make Believe

Platinum Weird is the name of Dave Stewart's new rock band. This is no ordinary band, but what it does have is an extraordinary past. Stewart (best known for being half of the Eurythmics) has returned to Platinum Weird 32 years after the band originally split. Don't let Platinum Weird's rich history take away from the band's incredibly moving rock 'n' roll songs. The feature single, "Will You Be Around," could easily be an outtake from Fleetwood Mac's Rumours sessions. The previously unreleased 1974 album, Make Believe, is being released by Interscope Records in North America on October 10, 2006.

In addition to writing hundreds of songs with Annie Lennox via Eurythmics, Stewart has also written songs with Mick Jagger, Bono, Sinead O'Connor, Bryan Ferry, Bob Geldof, Anastacia, Jon Bon Jovi, and has produced everyone from Aretha Franklin to the Ramones. Kara DioGuardi is currently America's most celebrated female songwriter, and has penned songs for Santana, Christina Aguilera, Ashlee Simpson, Hilary Duff, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, and Kylie Minogue.

The history surrounding the original incarnation of Platinum Weird continues to intrigue rock 'n' roll enthusiasts. In 1974 Dave Stewart formed PW in London with female songwriting partner, muse, and soul mate, Erin Grace. Their debut gig was at Mick Jagger's birthday party and they quickly enjoyed a cult-like status and following in London’s rock club scene. Elton John's Rocket label signed the band, putting down an advance to send them into the studio and lay down tracks.

Erin's behavior during the making of the album was unpredictable. Prone to mood swings and emotional insecurity, sometimes she would disappear for several days, reappearing as if nothing was unusual with a smile and ideas for new songs. "She was wispy and elusive," recollects Stevie Nicks. "I wasn't quite sure what she was about, but I kind of copied her look."

With artwork on the album finalised and a confirmed release date, Erin vanished again, leaving Dave nothing but a demo of a song called "Will You Be Around" and a closet of metal hangers where she used to hang her clothes. The intended debut album Make Believe was never released and its name disappeared from public consciousness as quickly as the elusive songstress herself. Dave went into a deep depression, a period he later referred to as his "lost years." Two years later Stewart formed Eurythmics with Annie Lennox and the rest would become part of musical history.

During Stewart's success with Eurythmics, Kara DioGuardi was a young schoolgirl living in the upscale neighborhood of Scarsdale, an hour north of New York City. Her early interest in music was encouraged by an older woman who lived nearby and became her mentor in those formative years. By 2004, having become, as an adult, a successful songwriter, with scores of hit songs to her credit, Kara teamed up with Stewart under the guidance of legendary record producer Jimmy Iovine.

Waiting to rehearse with Kara in his Hollywood home studio, Dave found the old Erin demo of "Will You Be Around." As he was strumming the guitar and singing the song, Kara arrived and immediately chimed in with the chorus. Dave was amazed; he and Erin were the only people who knew that song. Kara explained that she was taught it by her mentor all those years ago in Scarsdale. It could only mean one thing--that woman and Erin were the same person.

Somehow the gods of rock 'n' roll had decreed that Kara and Dave, inhabiting their separate universes and separated by time and place, were destined to meet. The magical synchronicity enabled Platinum Weird to restore its musical legacy and reach out to a new generation.

Sparked on by his current collaboration with Kara, Stewart rediscovered his early recordings of Platinum Weird featuring Erin Grace. It's a miracle those vintage '74 recordings are finally being compiled and mastered for a release 32 years after it was originally intended to be released. The October 2006 release of Make Believe will be followed by the release of Stewart and DioGuardi's forthcoming self-titled album, Platinum Weird, in early 2007. Album Description

Doubleplusungood.

Dave Stewart is back as Platinum Weird and a batch of unremarkable songs. I have all of Stewart's solo albums and all of the Eurythmics' albums, but this really was a dud. Not one great song. It was absolutely painful to sit through. I can't figure how Stewart let the music become so bland and meaningless when everything else he's done has be good to great. I feel I wasted my money on this one. If you think you will be getting the Eurythmics or solo Stewart, think again, listen to the sound samples first. December 4, 2006

***GET A BONUS CD AT BESTBUY***

this album is very good i like the bonus cd you get at best buy a little better. But the "1974" (not really from 1974 just kara makeng her voice sound diffrent) is well worth the money laone but why pass up the opertunity to get both at bestbuy the only thing i wasnt crazy was the big hoax about the "lost band" platinum weird from 1974 with "erin grace" (the 1974 songs are kara diogardi changing her voice there was never any erin grace she is complete fiction) i dont know what they thought it would help woth the band is great withought a big scandal but if you can look past that then you will be getting a nice 70's feeling album & if you happen to get the other bonus disk then you will get 2 for the price of one the bonus disk has 12 songs that feel way more modern like the style of music Kara writes but with more substance then some other artists! November 15, 2006

Botched concept & Exclusive at BEST BUY

This is, perhaps, the best pop album of 2006 - albeit one that was botched by a convoluted faux concept ala "Chris Gaines" (Garth Brooks alter-ego concept that failed) featuring Stewart's recollection of his 1973 band featuring Erin Grace, the singer who inspired Stevie Nicks (among others). In reality, there is no real Erin Grace, and Stewart was a member of another Rocket Records (Elton John's vanity label that produced hits for Kiki Dee, Cliff Richard, and Neil Sedaka) signed band, the folk-leaning Longdancer (whose excellent debut was co-produced by the legendary singer/songwriter Ian Matthews).

So, as the concept goes, Stewart fell madly in love with Grace during the formation of the band, and Grace's haunting vocals stunned the music world in 1973 that she caused a label frenzy. The band signed to Elton's Rocket Records and Elton personally backed the album and even directed a music video for the band. On the verge of the album's release, Grace ran away with John's boyfriend, never to be seen again. The album then became a thorn in John's side, and, with no lead singer to promote it, the disc remained unreleased. Stewart then had a breakdown and a period of a couple of years of substance abuse before meeting his next muse, Annie Lennox, and forming The Tourists, which the duo later spun-off into the amazingly popular Eurythmics.

So, with this concept in hand, Dave met singer/songwriter Kara DioGuardi while producing Anastasia's 2003 album, and a quick friendship was struck. The two collaborated on a series of songs and decided to put the concept to work, recording versions of the songs as the faux-1973 band and as the modern-day "Platinum Weird." The ideal was to say Dave "re-discovered" his old album and that the songs inspired him to go back into the studio and re-record them in a modern-day setting with DioGuardi. The concept would have worked, if he left it simply at that; however, Stewart & DioGuardi decided to take it one step further and record two versions of several of the songs, with DioGuardi masquerading as Grace on the 70's recordings. They then decided to take the concept to the masses, and the faux-70's version gained more attention than the modern-day recordings. The modern-day album was then shelved, ironically, in favor of the 70's concept, and Stewart & DioGuardi had to return to the studio to finalize the faux-1973 album, which they appropriately titled "Make Believe."

So there you have it, another album shelved that maybe Stewart can look back on in 2040, if he's still alive (Stewart has said that a Stewart/DioGuardi disc will be released in early 2007).

But wait.... You can get BOTH versions! Best Buy has both discs exclusively available in one package. Both discs is definitely the way to go, and it is also amazing to hear DioGuardi in both guises - she literally does sound like two completely different people. It's an amazing performance and one that should not go unnoticed.

And the quality of music on both discs is AMAZING. This is simply one of the best pop albums of 2006. Every song is memorable and instantly recognizable, and Stewart's guitar work is quite masterful. For any fan of Stewart, it's great to see he's found another fine vocalist as a partner (although she does not quite match Lennox's richness as a vocalist, DioGuardi's performance is spellbinding in that she can totally disguise herself into two different styles and do so with amazing success). Despite the botched concept, this album's a keeper, and should propel "Platinum Weird" into the platinum success they deserve.



October 13, 2006

Dave's back!

I've been a fan of Dave Stewart for 15 years and it's really good to see him back in the limelight again (even though he has worked as a producer and a writer for other people recently). Make Believe is a very good album. I really like the acoustic and melodic sound. And I also find this production better sounding than the production on the modern PW-album that is going to be released early next year. The songs on the album are BRILLIANT - 'Lonely eyes', 'Picadilly Lane' (with Dave on vocals), 'Picture Perfect' and 'Happiness' are my favourites. But WHY isn't Dave singing on more tracks; his voice is so unique and it's perfect for this kind of music. October 11, 2006

CONFUSED, YET ENJOYING IT ...

I bought this CD at Best Buy today and am totally confused as to what female singer I am hearing? If Kara is singing on the extra 12 track disk (which I call Platinum Weird 2006)then who is the female singing on the "Make Believe" disk which was hyped to be from 1974 when Erin Grace is ficticious? If both singers are Kara then I'm at a loss for words. The two voices sounds sound so incredibly different, yet both so enjoyable. With 22 songs between the 2 disks I'm really enjoying comparing the two. Dave can definitely craft a catchy tune and apparently Kara has some major talent also. Is this another Eurythmics? No...no comparison. There is and always will only be one Annie. October 11, 2006

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