BBC broadcast journalist Daniel Garrett has informed us that BBC Radio Wiltshire has posted a 9 minute audio interview of Mike about his early success with Tubular Bells and the pressure from Richard Branson, inspiration, Music of the Spheres, spirituality, working with other people and then alone putting parts together, and lastly about taking a few years of rest and perhaps retiring.

Thursday, 15 May 2008 5 comments

While we're sure that all of Mike's fans will remember what's special about today, we want to keep in mind how Mike likes to use this site to remember what's going on in his life. So Mike, in case you're wondering what that big cake is for: it's your birthday today!

Many happy returns, Mike!

Wednesday, 14 May 2008 31 comments

Tony Palmer's All You Need Is Love documentary covering the history of popular music has been released as a DVD box set. Episode 17 tells the story of Ommadawn. Buy it at Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, or Amazon.ca! In its review, The Guardian says that "the series ends with a century of music flashing before our eyes to the soundtrack of Mike Oldfield's Ommadawn".

Thanks, Chris Simmons.

Thursday, 8 May 2008 3 comments

The double album of Music of the Spheres, which contains the live recording from Bilbao, is now downloadable through iTunes-USA.

Thank you, Chris Hopkins and Bruce Bell, for the update!

Thursday, 17 April 2008 10 comments

April Fool's Special We're thrilled to announce that Universal has confirmed the release of Music of the Cubes on April 16 as an electronic download and a physical USB flash drive designed by Hans Claesson in the shape of a cube, sold for a limited time exclusively on Tubular.net!

Mike said that "Music of the Cubes is like the Spheres single to the power 3, it's how Music of the Spheres initially took shape, before Karl [Jenkins] smoothed down the rough edges". We'll randomly sell 100 copies of the USB drive containing an exclusive wallpaper signed and numbered by Hans Claesson, each slightly different.

Mike also said he might "do a rock version, something between Cubes and Spheres, before some fool who doesn't understand the deep deep meaning of the spheres ruins it" and would love to make "a round of concerts in a few famous squares in Europe".



Tuesday, 1 April 2008 34 comments

Dith Pran, the Cambodian-born journalist for the New York Times who was the subject of Roland Joffe's movie 'The Killing Fields', has died of cancer.

The story of his struggle under the Khmer Rouge touched millions through the articles of fellow New York Times journalist Sydney H. Schanberg, and of course through Joffe's film, which featured Mike Oldfield's first and only feature film soundtrack.

Sunday, 30 March 2008 2 comments

It's official - Music of the Spheres has entered at number 1 in the UK classical charts, as published by Music Week!

It also entered the general album chart at a very respectable number 9.

Update March 26: the album entered the Spanish charts at number 7.

Thanks, Dave L of the Hayley Westenra International forum, simmo2005 and David of mikeoldfieldblog.com

Sunday, 23 March 2008 89 comments

Universal Music Classics & Jazz has posted a video of the first part of the Music of the Spheres premiere in Bilbao on their KlassikAkzente.de site.

Wednesday, 19 March 2008 19 comments

A box set of DVDs of Tony Palmer's documentary series on the history of popular music, All You Need Is Love, is now available to buy from allyouneedislovedvd.com.

Episode 17 will be of particular interest to fans of Mike Oldfield, as it contains the well known 'making of Ommadawn' feature.

Dank je wel, Blue Dolphin

Wednesday, 19 March 2008 5 comments

The science fiction writer and technological visionary Arthur C. Clarke has died at his home in Sri Lanka, aged 90.

The influence of his legendary novels and short stories can be seen in many of Mike Oldfield's works, not least 1994's The Songs of Distant Earth, inspired by Clarke's novel of the same name.

His death comes as a sad loss to the worlds of literature, science and technology, but his legacy will live on through his work for many years to come.

Tuesday, 18 March 2008 17 comments

After a long wait, Music of the Spheres finally hits shops across Europe today. If it's not in a store near you, you can order it on amazon.co.uk or you can try your luck and order from play.com and see if yours will be one of the 200 signed copies!

The iTunes version, including the Live at Bilbao recording is also available on all European iTunes stores right now!

We wish the best of success to Mike and to our friends at Universal Classics and Jazz.

Sunday, 16 March 2008 119 comments

Universal is set to release a special download package of Music of the Spheres on iTunes on March 18th.

The release includes the studio recording, modified artwork, a video interview with Mike Oldfield and Karl Jenkins, the live recording of the premiere concert in Bilbao and a PDF booklet.

Wednesday, 12 March 2008 84 comments

elpais.com, elmundo.es, and etb2 Spanish news have posted short videos of the premiere of Music of the Spheres in the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao.

Saturday, 8 March 2008 8 comments

We'd like to say a big thank you to all the fans who were involved with the Music of the Spheres premiere event in Bilbao last night. It was brilliant how everyone - both from this site and from all the other fan groups involved - came together to make the whole thing possible. Thanks of course also have to go to everyone who's made this possible by simply supporting this site and making it one which gets taken seriously!

It was really fun to spend time with the 'Tubular Ten' and with new and old friends from all the other sites and we look forward to doing it again in the future!

Saturday, 8 March 2008 60 comments

eitb24.com has posted a video of the rehearsals for the premiere of Music of the Spheres.

Update March 6: eitb has posted an exclusive interview.

Tuesday, 4 March 2008 26 comments