The German rock group that once recorded and toured with the Berlin Philharmonic lament the death of their manager, Peter Amend.

The collaboration in 2000 was once of the strangest and most desperate in the history of music, and Amend was behind the deal.

Am 1. September 2014 ist unser Freund PETER AMEND von uns gegangen. 
Für uns war PETER AMEND mehr als nur Manager und wirtschaftlicher und juristischer Berater. Er war ein wichtiger Teil der Scorpions, der mit seinem unendlichen Wissen und seiner Sensibilität für die Musik auch ein Impulsgeber der künstlerischen und strategischen Entscheidungen unserer Band wurde.
Nicht zuletzt seinem Einfluss und seinem Rat verdanken wir die großen internationalen Erfolge der letzten Jahre. 
PETER, you will always be in our hearts forever and a day.
R.I.P. Deine Scorpions
Klaus, Rudolf, Matthias, Pawel, James

On September 1st 2014, our dear friend PETER AMEND passed away.
PETER AMEND was more than just a manager and economic and legal consultant for us. He was an important part of the Scorpions and was also a driving force in the artistic and strategic decisions of the Band with his infinite knowledge and his sensitivity to the music. 
Due to his advice and influence we achieved great international success in recent years.
PETER you will always be in our hearts forever and a day.
R.I.P. Yours Scorpions
Klaus, Rudolf, Matthias, Pawel, James

The Times reports today that Alan Davey, chief executive of Arts Council England since 2007, is in the frame to fill the vacancy left by Roger Wright at the head of Radio 3 and the BBC Proms.

Davey’s role at ACE has been to impose rigorous political correctness and cut lots of jobs. Sounds ideal for the BBC.

His job history is interesting, and altogether political.

As a senior civil servant at the Department of Culture Media and Sport, Davey was parachuted into the supposedly independent ACE to bring it in line with government thinking. His Secretary of State at DCMS was James Purnell.

Purnell is now Director of Strategy and Digital at the BBC, right-hand man to the Director General, Tony Hall.

The shadowy head-hunter who has nominated Davey for the Radio 3 vacancy is Nicky Oppenheimer, a Cabinet Office official under Tony Blair.

These old New Labour networks think they are still running the country.

Perhaps they are.

We regret to share news of the death of the Maestro’s elder brother, Mario. The letter below contains an address for those who wish to offer him condolences. Riccardo Muti comes from a tight-knit southern family. His father was a medical doctor and Mario followed the same vocation.

Dear CSO Musicians, Board Members and Members of the Staff:

We learned today of the death of Maestro Muti’s oldest brother. Mario Muti died on Tuesday, September 2, 2014, from brain cancer. He was an eminent doctor who specialized in neuropathology and psychiatry. As many of you know, Maestro Muti is one of five brothers, and they are all very close.  

If you wish to send a note you can do so c/o of Maestro Muti here at Orchestra Hall, 220 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL  60604. Also, if you want to send an email or fax, you can send to Emily Master (MasterE@cso.org or fax to 630-447-0042) and she will forward your message to Maestro Muti. He will arrive here at the end of next week before the start of the season, so we will keep messages of condolence for him to receive when he arrives in Chicago.

I know he will be in our thoughts as he and his family go through this difficult time.

Jay (Henderson)

You can’t fake it. This was Monday  morning…

Potton Hall, the troubled Suffolk recording venue, has a new owner.

Photo (c) Paddy Sutton

The purchaser is a chartered accountant, John Westgarth. We hear he is prepared for recording to continue.