Liberation To Release Rowland S. Howard Anthology

Celebrated Aussie guitarist the late Rowland S. Howard will see his life and work celebrated this October when Liberation Music releases Six Strings That Drew Blood, an anthology of Howard’s career that will come in both double CD and, consequently, quadruple vinyl formats.

Liberation will drop the collection on what would have been Howard’s 55th birthday, October 24, and what a fitting gift it is – compiled with the assistance and blessing of These Immortal Souls co-founder Genevieve McGuckin, These Immortal Souls bassist Harry Howard and fellow Bad Seed Mick Harvey (alongside others), the anthology boasts 32 tracks spanning Howard’s illustrious career, including work from his time with The Boys Next Door, The Birthday Party, Crime And The City Solution, These Immortal Souls, a few collabs with the likes of Nikki Sudden, Lydia Lunch and Magic Dirt, and select solo efforts from his albums Teenage Snuff Film (1999) and Pop Crimes (2009).

“Rowland was undoubtedly one of Australia’s most original and innovative musical talents,” McGuckin said in a statement. “His guitar playing influenced, and continues to influence and inspire, a swathe of musicians all around the world.

“It took the untimely death of this uniquely charismatic and eloquent man to spark the wider acclaim and respect now afforded his work. A lot of love and labour has gone into the making of this anthology. I really wanted it to be like Rowland himself, so it had some gigantic shoes to fill. It had to sound brilliant, look gorgeous, be thought-provoking and inspiring... and generally just extraordinary to have around.”

In conjunction with Six Strings That Drew Blood’s release,  Howard fans are set to be treated to a set of special tribute shows centred on his sophomore, final, release, Pop Crimes. The more-than-two-hour-long shows will unite collaborators from throughout Howard’s career such as Mick Harvey, These Immortal Souls, Brian Henry Hooper, J.P Shilo, Adalita, Ed Kuepper, Hugo Race and more, and there are only a handful of dates on offer, so you’ll want to get in quick to avoid disappointment.

The Pop Crimes shows go down on October 23 and 24 at Melbourne’s Foxtel Festival Hub during the Melbourne Festival, October 25 and 26 at Adelaide’s Wheatsheaf Hotel, and November 1 at the Metro Theatre, in Sydney.

For more information about the forthcoming shows, check out the Gig Guide or see The Music App.

Six Strings That Drew Blood will be out via Liberation Music in CD format on October 24; pre-orders for the deluxe vinyl will open the same day.