This is Tubular.net, an open website dedicated to Mike Oldfield.
Ingredients: organic fan input, a touch of fresh official news.
Warning: may contain slightly distorted comments.

Getty Images is selling photos of Mike Oldfield in the Bahamas, shot by Mick Hutson.

Merci, Serge Bouvet

Tuesday, 20 July 2010 10 comments

The first 3 minutes of Tubular Bells and Five Miles Out appear on Universal's 4-CD compilation Wondrous Stories: A Complete Introduction To Progressive Rock. You can watch the TV ad and order at Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.

Thanks, Chris Simmons.

Friday, 2 July 2010 22 comments

NME reports that the Manor, a 16th century house converted in a studio by Richard Branson in 1971, is up for sale for £5,750,000 in Oxforshire. Mike Oldfield recorded Tubular Bells there in 1973. Other artists who used The Manor include Gong, Tangerine Dream, Black Sabbath, and Radiohead.

Thanks to HuanCry for pointing us to the original story in The Independent.

Sunday, 6 June 2010 5 comments

♫♩ Happy Birthday, M☂ke! ♬

Friday, 14 May 2010 26 comments

Scottish percussionist and composer Morris Pert has died, aged 62.

Along with contributing drums and percussion to the albums Platinum, QE2, Five Miles Out and The Killing Fields, Morris co-wrote the tracks Family Man and Orabidoo. He was also part of Mike's touring band on the 1981 and 1982 tours.

He passed away on April 27th 2010.

Thanks, Juan-Carlos Martin and Les Wood

Sunday, 9 May 2010 30 comments

The limited edition versions of Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn are now available to pre-order from a new Mike Oldfield official store.

Both include a 3 disc Deluxe Edition, an LP and a signed and numbered framed print of the album artwork. Each set is limited to 250 copies. The price is £74.99 (UKP) or €84.99 (EUR) from the European Store.

Update - April 30th: Some people have noticed the limited editions appearing for sale elsewhere, but we can confirm that the only place to buy these will be on mikeoldfieldofficial.com. There will be no unsigned limited editions available. Each limited edition set will be personally hand-signed by Mike in the Bahamas - he's been busy signing these and the prints are expected back in the UK soon!

Tuesday, 27 April 2010 460 comments

Mercury/Universal has now confirmed the details of the upcoming re-releases of Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn, scheduled for release on June 7th.

Both will be available as single disc, 3 disc (2 CD + DVD) deluxe, vinyl and digital download editions. There will also be limited edition sets of each album, comprising a deluxe edition, an LP and a framed, signed print of the album artwork. Only 250 copies will be produced of each, which will be sold through mikeoldfieldofficial.com.

In addition to new mixes by Mike Oldfield, the deluxe and download editions will also include demo versions of the albums. The Hergest Ridge Deluxe Edition also includes the original 1974 album mix. Both deluxe editions include a DVD with new 5.1 mixes by Mike Oldfield.

In addition, Hergest Ridge will have new artwork, based on Google Earth/Bluesky photographs of the ridge.

Hergest Ridge Deluxe Edition artwork

Ommadawn Deluxe Edition artwork

Full press release, including track listings, in the next post in the forum topic for this news item.

Monday, 26 April 2010 82 comments

Note: This was an April Fools' day item!

In the lead up to the new Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn releases, hergestridge2010.com has been launched.

It includes information on the new releases, as well as details of a launch event and a special promotional offer.

We expect a similar site for Ommadawn to follow soon.

Thursday, 1 April 2010 33 comments

Amazon.co.uk has begun taking pre-orders on Deluxe Editions of Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn.

According to their track lists, Hergest Ridge includes In Dulci Jubilo (For Maureen), Spanish Tune and demos of Part One and Part Two. Ommadawn includes a 'lost version'.

They also have a single disc edition of Ommadawn, which includes In Dulci Jubilo, First Excursion, Argiers and Portsmouth, plus there's a single disc edition of Hergest Ridge which currently has no track listing.

The release date given for all three is May 24th 2010.

Update March 28th: What Records is now taking orders for 180 gram vinyl editions of Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn. Hergest Ridge is listed as being the original 1974 stereo mix.

Update April 17th: Amazon is now showing a release date of June 7th.

Thanks, crises1980, EeToN, spark, Nacho and Tubular World

Friday, 26 March 2010 97 comments

On board the Oldfields' boat Sea Dragon, moored off St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, Fanny Oldfield has been exploring her husband's music and writing a diary about her experiences.

One Track a Day begins with Music of the Spheres and includes many interesting insights into both Mike Oldfield's music (past and future...) and the Oldfields' daily life, plus Fanny's photographs of the sights surrounding them - all right here at tubular.net!

We have a new dedicated forum for comments and discussion. Enjoy!

Monday, 1 March 2010 Post a comment!