WEA London artist Seal embarked on a short run of live appearances in September to launch his new album Seal IV. Kicking off with a London showcase at the Linbury Studio Theatre in The Royal Opera House, Seal and his new band played a mixture of new material and classics to an invited audience.

John Henry’s provided full production for both this event, along with a monitor board and control for a Radio 2 session at BBC Maida Vale and a duplicate backline for his Top of the Pops appearance. The week culminated in another live show for an enthusiastic audience of EMAP competition winners and invited guests in the Corn Exchange in Leeds, where we shoe-horned the production into this distinctive and acoustically challenging venue.

To obtain the necessary audience coverage we were fortunate in being able to try out the new EAW KF730 compact line array speaker system, courtesy of Bruno Wayte at Mackie UK. We gained excellent results with four mid-high and three sub-bass cabinets per side projecting to the ground floor and balcony along with two KF300i cabinets acting as in-fills for the audience at the front of the stage.
Click here for bigger pictures.

Beyonce is in town this week for an intensive promotional tour for her new solo album "Dangerously in Love" out on Columbia Records and straight to number one in the Billboard Top 200 album chart. JHL are supplying full support which includes Rehearsals, Audio & Engineers, Backline & Technicians, Transport & Crewing. The busy schedule includes appearances on Top of the Pops, Popworld, Radio 1 session, V Graham Norton, T4, CDUK and Headliners. To complete her week she is appearing at “Party in the Park” in Hyde Park and a quick trip to Holland for two TV shows before flying back to the USA to begin her world tour.

Some of the equipment that JHL supplied included Yamaha Motif 7 & 8, Clavia Nord Lead 11, Korg Triton Pro keyboards, DW drums and Akai MPC4000 sampler, Line 6 Variax Virtual Modeling guitar, Soundcraft SM20 and Yamaha 03D consoles, Avalon VP737 SP tube pre amp compressors, Aphex 622 expander/gates, Radian RMW 1122 monitors to name but some.

Half way through already, the 21st series of "Later with Jools Holland" (BBC 2 Friday nights 11:35pm) is fantastic viewing with brilliant line up’s including, Lou Reed, Goldfrapp, Kings of Leon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Vines, McKay, The Pretenders, Skin, Tarak de Haidouks, Cat Power, Robert Palmer, Electric Six, Stereophonics, Vivian Green, Blind Boys of Alabama, Dandy Warhols…..to name but some. See the "Later" web site at www.bbc.co.uk/later and keep up with all the news and coming shows.

JHL have again supplied full floor and monitoring sound systems for the complete series (see previous news) and JHL’s Robert Harding and his team of the very best monitoring engineers available today, continues with the exacting demands which can include replicating and supplying 4 or 5 full touring monitor specifications for each show with usually a few days notice....Later.

For a few lucky fans, 500 to be exact, Metallica played a short set from thier new album "St. Anger" on Mercury Records (due to be released on the 5th June 2003) along with some old favorites for the TV program called "Headliners" produced by Blaze Television for Channel 4.

The recording was done at Riverside Studios and JHL supplied the floor sound and on stage monitoring which included, Midas XL3 console, DBX 480 drive racks and control, EAW JH-15 floor monitors with QSC amp racks and XTA DS800 active splitter system, as well as full technician, crewing and transportation.

The original band members, James, Lars and Kirk where joined by their new bass player Robert Trujillo, formerly with Suicidal Tendencies, Ozzy Osbourne’s band and Infectious Grooves gave a stunning performance. See the guy's at www.metallica.com

Goth Rock God "Marilyn Manson" arrived in town for a promo for his new album "The Golden Age of Grotesque" on the Interscope/Polydor label and JHL were contracted to supply the production services.

JHL’s Robert Harding, roberth@johnhenrys.com handled the project which was held at the "Rouge Club" in London and supplied a full compliment of Audio which included, Yamaha 03D Digital console, EAW KF300 cabs, QSC amps and control, Shure UHF Handheld radios and In-Ear systems. Lighting included, Wholehog console, Thomas Supertruss, PAR64’s, ETC profiles, Megastar Strobes & Studio Colours, Staging Extensions, Drapes and full technical crew and transport for the one off show. Robert said that the "Pole Dancers were quite good too!".

JHL supplied a full range of services for "Madonna" during her promo tour for her latest album "American Life" on the Maverick/Warner Bros label at Top of the Pops, CD-UK, Jonathan Ross and HMV Record Store.

Backline including Clavia Nord Lead Mk11 and 111 keyboards, D-Drum 4 and DW drums, Line 6 Flextone Mk11 combos, also a full compliment of Audio equipment was supplied for the "Jonathan Ross" show including two Midas Heritage consoles, Klark Technik DN800 and QSC amps, Radian 1122 monitors, Shure PSM600 In-Ear systems, HK Audio HL118 drum monitors, Roland SDE3000’s, Empirical Laboratories Distressor Compressors, TC Electronics TCD2 DDL, Eventide DSP4500 FX units and full technical crew and transport.

Pictured from left to right: Steve Winwood, Don Airey, Barry Freeman (Hammond UK)

Hammond-Suzuki in conjunction with John Henry's Ltd. recently held the UK launch night for the new Hammond B-3.

It took place in Studio 5 of the John Henry's Complex, the new B-3 was demoed for most of the afternoon to Hammond enthusiasts from Gospel Church players to Pro-Musicians.

Following the afternoon demonstrations came the Hammond "Jam Session" which featured many well known musicians, many thanks go to everyone that took part including Steve Winwood, Don Airey, Pete Spencer, Denny Ball, Andrew Obal, plus John Henry's own Phil Burns, Jamie Pentlow, Nigel Dudley, Matt Russell, Tark Bates, Alex Barclay, Pepin Clout and Debra Lee.

During the evening participating players brought some classic songs to the fore including; "Green Onions", "Smoke On The Water" & "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone".

Hammond have exactly replicated the original B-3 Design specification. The unique B-3 sound is reproduced by a revolutionary new sound generator system which recreates all of the idiosyncrasies of the tone wheel generator. For more info see this product at www.hammondsuzuki.com

John Henry, Johnny Henry, Bazz Ward & Phil Burns kicked off the New Year by visiting the Namm 2003 Convention, Anaheim, California.

The convention which is the showcase for virtually every manufacturer & distributor of musical equipment was visited by thousands of buyers & representatives from all over the world.
During the show John Henry's saw an exciting range of new products due to be released in UK in the coming months.

These included the outstanding Crate 300W Guitar Amplifier, Line 6 Variax Guitar & the new Hammond B3.

This year "The Attic" will be revamped to accommodate these exciting new products & will be re-named "The Pro Shop".

The change comes after the relocation of the original "Pro Shop" to the top floor which sees all John Henry's Sales services incorporated on the impressive top floor of the John Henry's complex.

JHL Clients last month included:

BBC: "Parkinson" (Weekly) - Floor Sound & Backline Supplied by JHL
BBC: "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross" (Weekly) - Floor Sound & Backline Supplied by JHL
BBC: "Later… with Jools Holland" (Weekly) - Floor Sound & Backline Supplied by JHL (10th Year/20th Series!)
BBC: "Children In Need" - House/Floor Sound, Backline & Crew Supplied by JHL
Channel 4: "Rise" - (Daily) - Backline Supplied by JHL
Channel 4: "V Graham Norton" - Backline Supplied by JHL
Channel 4: Popworld/T4 - Backline Supplied by JHL
ITV: "GMTV" - Backline Supplied by JHL
ITV: "An Audience with… Donny Osmond" - Rehearsals & Backline Supplied by JHL
ITV: "Smash Hit's 2002" at London Arena - Backline Supplied by JHL
ITV: "CD:UK" (Weekly) - Backline Supplied by JHL
ITV: "Des & Mel" (Daily) - Backline Supplied by JHL
MTV: "EMA's 2002 Barcelona" - Official Backline Contractor ~ JHL
"Alison Moyet" Video Shoot - Backline Supplied by JHL
"London Jazz Festival" - Backline Supplied by JHL
"Andreas Bocelli" - Backline, Music Stands & Chairs Supplied by JHL
"Avril Lavigne" ~ Radio One - Sound & Backline Supplied by JHL
"Billy Bragg" Tour - Backline Supplied by JHL
"Bryan Adams" at The Royal Opera House - Backline Supplied by JHL
"Children with Leukaemia : Night of the Stars Ball" - Full Production, Sound, Lights, Backline etc..
"Junior Reid" - Backline Supplied by JHL
"National Music Awards" - Backline Supplied by JHL
"Pink" Tour - Backline Supplied by JHL
"Royal Variety Show" - Backline Supplied by JHL
"Usher" in Cape Town - Keyboards Supplied by JHL
"Youssou N' Dour" Tour - Backline Supplied by JHL

Pro Shop Clients last month included:

Alabama 3, Beverly Knight, Blur, Bryan Ferry, Coldplay, Feeder, Gary Moore, Gomez, Groove Armada, Incognito, Iron Maiden, Lost Prophets, Ms. Dynamite, Motorhead, Ozric Tentacles, Reef, Richard Ashcroft, Sir Cliff Richard, Sugababes, The Cure, The Cranberries & Toploader to name but a few!!

Special Projects Manager - Pepin Clout of John Henry's recently produced the showcase for Warner UK's first company wide conference for 6 years. The conference took place at the prestigious Landmark Hotel, London.

David Gray's new single "Meet Me On The Other Side" and Madonna's James Bond theme were unveiled for the first time, also featured in the showcase were performances by Blazin' Squad, Holly Valance and Jools Holland.

Other major release's included in the show were Phil Collins and Leann Rimes new albums.

JHL supplied a full compliment of equipment including, Audio, Lighting, Stage & Ground Support, Audio Visual, Backline, Technicians, Crew and Transport.