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.

We've been investigating ordering problems reported with signed copies of the Tubular Bells Ultimate Edition.

The main problems appear to be:

• Items still not despatched, despite credit cards having been charged as far back as mid May.
  
• Inadequate packaging leading to damage in transit, despite a premium having been charged for postage and packaging due to the item's value and weight.
  
• Signed copies arriving without signed certificates, possibly linked to...
  
• Signed copies being sold by Amazon, contradicting the claim that they would only be available through the official website.
  
• A general lack of communication from Completely Independent Distribution Ltd, who are running the official online store.
  

We've decided to take this into our own hands, so we'd like to hear from you if you've had any of the problems listed above. Please send an email to contact@tubular.net, giving as much detail of the case as possible, including details of:

• Your name and order number.
  
• The problem(s) you've had (including, if you've not received your copy yet, when your credit card was charged).
  
• The steps you've taken to report the problem and details of communication you've had about it.
  

Your details may be shared with Completely Independent Distribution Ltd and Universal Music Group as part of an effort to get these problems solved. General details of the case may be shared with the press, but your individual details (name, order number, email address) will remain private unless we ask your permission.

Update June 30th: We're now in communication with Completely Independent Distribution and Bravado in an effort to resolve the reported problems

Thursday, 25 June 2009 59 comments

The Tubular Bells Collection has entered the BBC Radio 1's top 40 album chart at no 25. Check it out at BBC Radio 1.

Update 06/21: no. 11

Thanks, Chris Simmons!

Sunday, 14 June 2009 16 comments

The people at UK Hi-Fi store Richer Sounds tell us that by signing up to their 'VIP Club' mailing list in June, you can win one of several Tubular Bells-themed prizes.

Top prize is a £1000 Cambridge Audio/Mordaunt Short hifi system, a signed ultimate edition, a t-shirt and a canvas print. Second prize is a deluxe edition, t-shirt and a print, and there are also 15 Mike Oldfield Collection CDs to be won.

More details on their website.

Saturday, 6 June 2009 19 comments

To celebrate the re-release of Tubular Bells, Mercury Records is holding a special event on June 6th at the British Music Experience at the O2 in London.

The event will feature the 29 piece Handbell Ringers of Great Britain and an Orbular Bells DJ set by The Orb.

There will also be bell ringing workshops, competitions and more!

The event will be from 2 until 6pm and admission is £15 for adults, £12 concessions and children go free (details in the press release).

Update (29th May): Download the press release

Monday, 25 May 2009 104 comments

A new online store has been launched, where you can order the limited edition version of the upcoming Tubular Bells Ultimate Edition, signed by Mike Oldfield.

There's also a selection of  Tubular Bells t-shirts available to buy.

Friday, 15 May 2009 521 comments

Universal has updated mikeoldfield.com / tubularbells2009.com to include a buy link for registering interest in the Tubular Bells Ultimate Edition.

Tuesday, 28 April 2009 54 comments

Spanish music news website Efe Eme has published a picture of the Tubular Bells Ultimate Edition.

Muchas gracias, mikeoldfieldblog.com

Monday, 27 April 2009 26 comments

Mikeoldfield.com has now been updated to redirect to tubularbells2009.com. The site includes some pictures and an area for uploading reminiscences related to tubular bells. It does not yet include anywhere for ordering the upcoming Tubular Bells Ultimate Edition.

Tuesday, 21 April 2009 98 comments

Universal has released details of the new versions of Tubular Bells due for release on June 8th on the Mercury label.

It will be available in four different physical versions and two different digital download versions, including:

A 2 CD compilation, with a new stereo remix of Tubular Bells, plus a hits collection, aimed at introducing new listeners to Mike's music.

A deluxe edition, with 2 CDs and a DVD, featuring the stereo remix, the original mix, a new 5.1 remix and video of the BBC Second House performance of Tubular Bells Part One.

A vinyl release of the original mix.

An ultimate edition, including the new stereo remix, Mike Oldfield's Single, the original mix, the vinyl edition, the 5.1 remix, a 5.1 remix of Mike Oldfield's Single, the video of the Second House performance, the 1971 demos and a never heard before scrapped first mix of Tubular Bells from Spring 1973.
If that wasn't already enough, the ultimate edition will also include a 60 page hardback book, plectrums, a poster, a facsimile of the Manor Studios brochure, a facsimile concert ticket, a postcard and recording information.
This will be a limited edition of 500, each one signed and numbered by Mike Oldfield, available from mikeoldfield.com, which is due to be relaunched next week.

Mercury/Universal will be promoting the release with a special event on June 6th at 6pm, where bells will be rung in locations throughout the world, footage of which will then be available on mikeoldfield.com

The complete press release with all the details can be read on the forum.

Wednesday, 15 April 2009 229 comments

According to an article in UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph, Mike is selling his home in Mallorca in order to move to the Bahamas.

The asking price is a cool 3.95 million euros.

Thanks, Gill Aberdein

Thursday, 26 March 2009 55 comments

It's looking set to be a tubular summer: following the transfer of Mike's Virgin back catalogue to Universal/Mercury as part of Mike's 2005 deal, Mercury is preparing to begin re-releasing Mike's Virgin albums this year, starting with Tubular Bells.

A full press release will be made on April 1st, but as revealed exclusively to tubular.net, they're not fooling around when it comes to content - this looks set to be one serious release. Not content to just release a repackaged version of the existing Tubular Bells CD, they've been digging deep into the archives and, with the help of Mike himself, are working on some very special things. They're making sure there will be something for everyone, from newcomers to Mike's music to the most hardcore of fans.

Release is scheduled for June 8th and Mercury is intent on making this the summer of the bell!

Update April 10th: We expect the press release to be available next week.

Thursday, 19 March 2009 112 comments

Music of the Spheres has been nominated for the Classical BRIT best album of 2009. You can vote here.

Thanks, hairy old hippy.

Wednesday, 11 March 2009 70 comments

Better late than never, we wish you all the best for 2009! It might be the year where some learn to consume more reasonably - not speaking of Mike Oldfield's music

Many thanks again for all the contributions: photos of instruments, tickets, and of course the forums. One could point out that several topics are quite Oldfieldesque, quoting other topics and being repetitive in a non boring way.
Of course, thanks to Mike for Music of the Spheres and to Universal for inviting us to the premiere in Bilbao.

A big technical project for tubular.net, which might se the light in 2009, is to organize all the content in a database, this would mean that we'll be able for example to easily cross link sections, like seeing which album used which guitar, or to let you know which section has been updated since you last visited the site. The other advantage would be to allow the database to be called from something else than the tubular.net website, such as a 'Mike Oldfield Reference' iPhone app for example, a non English website, etc.

Wednesday, 7 January 2009 8 comments

BBC Four will broadcast a 1974 live studio performance of Tubular Bells on Tuesday, 6 January at 20:30-21:00/8:30-9:00 PM (GMT). Click here for further information.

Thanks, Jonathan!

Thursday, 1 January 2009 35 comments

Mike Oldfield is one of the artists contributing to BBC Four Prog Rock Brittania on Jan 2 at 22:00, along with Robert Wyatt, Pete Sinfield, Rick Wakeman, Phil Collins, Arthur Brown, Carl Palmer and Ian Anderson. The documentary explores the life and decline of progressive music, the bands involved, and their musical style.

Monday, 29 December 2008 80 comments