Showing posts with label OMD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OMD. Show all posts

Monday, April 10, 2023

Very rare Louise Brooks OMD Pandora's Box t-shirt now for sale on Etsy

UPDATE: The item described below has been removed from Etsy following a complaint from the internet troll who has been harassing me and the Louise Brooks Society. Apparently, this troll thinks he owns the intellectual property rights of the the OMD t-shirt I was hoping to sell. I guess I should inform the band and Virgin records, their label at the time. I have appealed to Etsy, but considering what numskulls they are, I don't expect a favorable response.  Following the Etsy take-down, the Louise Brooks Society Instagram was also suspended (again) following yet another complaint from the same troll. 

UPDATE #2:  I just posted a complaint - my third - on the Etsy Forums. I doubt it will do any good.

UPDATE #: Today, on 4/18/2023, the Louise Brooks Society Etsy account was "permanently suspended" due to the fact that my account received multiple ALLEGATIONS of intellectual property infringement - not actual infringement, just allegations - the most recent example is detailed below. Its ridiculous, I know. But there you go.

When ever I want a pick-me-up, I watch one of the many videos of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) performing their hit song "Pandora's Box (It's a long, long way)". YouTube has a number of similar videos. What I love about this particular video, in which the song is performed live in concert, is that images of Louise Brooks are projected on screen behind the band. The song's introduction is given by OMD singer and big-time Louise Brooks fan Andy McCluskey.

I love that band, and I love that song. I remember how thrilled I was to discover the LP and CD (and also a  limited edition single depicting Louise Brooks which featured a remix of "Pandora's Box") at a record store on Haight Street in San Francisco, where I then lived and worked. I believe it was a branch of Rough Trade records, sometime in the early 1990s. (Another highlight was seeing the Violent Femmes playing for free outside the store. Or was it the Replacements? I must be getting old....)

Well anyways, I have also had great affection for OMD, as discovering that song was intimately tied in to my discovery of Louise Brooks. Sometime around then, in the early to mid-1990s, I was walking around Berkeley, California and went into one of its many record stores - and guess what I found. It was an OMD t-shirt depicting Louise Brooks. SCORE!!!!! 

I now need to raise some money, so I am willing to sell that very collectible shirt. I have put it up for sale on my Louise Brooks Society Etsy account as a fundraiser. In case you are wondering why my Etsy account is no longer named Louise Brooks Society - it is now called lulupandorasbox - that's because Etsy forced me to change it because a certain internet troll complained. What a grumpy pants. Here is the picture of the front and back of the t-shirt. (Don't worry, I have laundered it more than a few times.)


Here is my Etsy product description: "Offered here is a very cool, very rare VINTAGE t-shirt, dating from the early 1990s. It depicts Louise Brooks, the iconic silent film star, on the front. On the back are the words "Pandora's Box" and "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". This t-shirt was issued in the early 1990s as a promotional tie in to the Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) song "Pandora's Box" (subtitled "It's a Long, Long Way" for US release) from the band's 1991 album "Sugar Tax."

This is an official t-shirt, not some counterfeit knock-off. I bought this shirt in a store in Berkeley, California. I have owned this t-shirt for nearly 30 years. It is in good though used condition, and has been worn a number of times. There is one whole on the left sleeve, and another smaller whole below the image of Louise Brooks, pictured from her Denishawn days. (The same image was used on other OMD releases from the time.) There is some yellowing around the collar. The tag is missing. My wife describes it as a "wrinkled old t-shirt," though I think of it as precious. You may too."

* * *

And, here for good measure, is the original 1991 video for the song. Once, when I had the chance to chat with Andy McCluskey online, he mentioned how determined he then was to put out a video for the song which featured imagery of Louise Brooks - despite the fact that they had to pay a good deal to license the material. I love it.

 

THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society  (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2023. Further unauthorized use prohibited.

Sunday, January 31, 2021

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark on Louise Brooks and Pandora's Box

During yesterday's online listening party for the Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album Sugar Tax, I tweeted lead singer Andy McCluskey a question about "Pandora's Box" - and he responded instantly.


"Pandora's Box" -- a tribute to the silent film star Louise Brooks, is the second track on Sugar Tax (1991). It is also a longtime concert favorite. Here is an rather delicious early live version from UK television, from the popular "Wogan" show from 1991. (As well, check out the image of Brooks on the laminated badge hanging on the lanyard of the black keyboard player in this "Top of the Pops" video, also from 1991.)


While "Pandora's Box" was streaming, OMD lead singer Andy McCluskey tweeted out a few more rather interesting comments. 



"Pandora's Box" has remained a fan and concert favorite, as have the song's association with Louise Brooks. Here is concert footage of the band performing live in 2007, with images of the actress featured prominently.


A few more comments regarding "Pandora's Box" followed, including the desire by their American label to NOT feature imagery of Louise Brooks.


Speaking of that original music video, here it is from way back in 1991. It remains, and shall always be, a great song.


Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Must watch: Andy McCluskey introduces Louise Brooks on the big screen at an OMD concert

Here is another must watch video of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) performing their hit song "Pandora's Box (It's a long, long way)" live in concert, with images of Louise Brooks projected on the screen behind the band. YouTube has a number of similar videos.What I love about this particular video is the song's introduction given by OMD singer and big-time Louise Brooks fan Andy McCluskey.


 Yesterday, the Huffington Post ran my article on Louise Brooks and popular music. The article, "Natalie Merchant's 'Lulu' Latest Pop Tribute to Silent Film Icon Louise Brooks," features an OMD concert video, and a slideshow of album covers related to the silent film star. Check it out.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

OMD: "Pandora's Box: It's a Long, Long, Way"

Another musical homage to Louise Brooks. This is "Pandora's Box: It's a Long, Long Way" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. This was the second single by the band. The song and the video date from 1991.


Though its been around for a while, this video is always good to see. I remember buying this song on LP and then on CD (compact discs were just coming in then). I had sought out the limited edition singles in each format which have Louise Brooks on their cover.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

OMD "Pandora's Box" (2010 Video Remix)

OMD "Pandora's Box" (2010 Video Remix)
Powered By Blogger