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'd like to wish Mike all the best on his 60th birthday.

Have a good one, Mike!

Wednesday, 15 May 2013 17 comments

Please send us your music about Tubular Bells, artwork, stories, photos, videos, short message, long message, etc. and we'll try to present them here on Tubular.net on a special section to celebrate the Tubular Bells 40th Anniversary!

Update May 16: we're not getting much at all, so this might not happen (probably makes sense: most people have already shown what they did over the years and may not be that thrilled to be part of some sort of compilation).

Tuesday, 7 May 2013 2 comments

The folks at mikeoldfield.org are holding a Mike Oldfield fan convention in Reading (UK) on July 6th this year, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Tubular Bells.

The event will include performances by Terry Oldfield and Tubular Bells for Two, plus a merchandise sale, record and memorabilia fair and a Q&A with Terry.

Tickets are £40 GBP - a link to order them, plus more information, can be found on the event's web page.

Thursday, 4 April 2013 29 comments

Mike has posted a screenshot of the Pro Tools session for the Crises remix on Facebook. He says:

Hi Everyone,

Here is a screenshot of my studio Mac with "Crises" long instrumental all labelled and ready to mix.
I have started putting some automation down and it's so great to work in 5.1 as there is so much more room for all the sounds in that lovely big space. I was working on Moonlight Shadow 5.1 last night and that's easy to mix and everything is sounding amazing. The folks at the archiving company are having a bit of trouble finding the old masters of Taurus 3 and Foreign Affair but they have 2 mysterious big reels of Ampex tape in the oven so hopefully those tracks will be found.
Shadow on the Wall will be the long version.
Will keep you up to date and all the best.
Love Mike

Thursday, 28 March 2013 29 comments

Mike has posted a new Facebook message about Sarah Brightman arranging themes from Tubular Bells in the Closer track of her new Dreamchaser album:

Hi everyone,
Sarah Brightman has made a wonderful new piece of music incorporating themes from Tubular Bells.
It is a complex and emotional arrangement with superb vocals from Sarah.
I had the pleasure of Skyping with her a few days ago and we talked about the new piece, our experiences at Olympics opening ceremonies and of course Sarah's future trip to the International Space Station.
At last a musician in space!
Catch up with Sarah's new album and the new arrangement called " Closer ' today at : http://www.youtube.com/sarahbrightmanmusic
Lots of love
Mike

Monday, 18 March 2013 5 comments

Mike's new Facebook message Re: 5.1 Files Miles Out remix:

Hi everyone,

Just finishing up the 5.1 Five Miles Out remix right now.
I am mixing the actual song and it really sounds wonderful.
There are so many ways to mix it and every one sounds just great.

The Crises multi tracks have arrived and I have checked them, just missing In High Places, Foreign Affair and Taurus 3.

Have had a quick look at Moonlight Shadow and it's magic you just push the faders up and it sounds fantastic. Found an extra Maggie Reilly vocal take so will have a good look at that.

Steve Lipson and I have been listening to young newcomer vocalists for the rock album and we are very impressed with one male and one female singer so far.
How much new talent there must be out there!

So will keep you up to date on how things are going.

All the best ,

Love Mike

Monday, 11 March 2013 7 comments

Kevin Ayers has died at his home in France, aged 68.

Kevin was an influential figure in Mike's early career, when Mike played bass in his band The Whole World. He later guested on Flying Start from 1987's Islands.

Many media outlets have published full obituaries, including The Guardian.

Thanks, Lars Tängmark

Wednesday, 20 February 2013 12 comments

Mike says:

Hello everyone.
I've just finished the Taurus 2 mix in 5.1 and sent it off to London. Very pleased with it and I had forgotten what a powerful complex piece this was. Morris Pert's drumming is amazing and of course Paddy Molony's pipes. Just getting organised on Protools for Family Man.
Love Mike

Monday, 18 February 2013 11 comments

Mike has posted on Facebook about beginning work on the Five Miles Out remix:

Hello Everyone!
Well I finally started work on the 5.1 Taurus 2. My studio is at the bottom of the garden here in the Bahamas although all the equipment is in my office back up at the house. I have been trying to work out why I was not getting any digital signal down there for the audio. I finally found out my two dogs ( They are Potcakes and brothers ) have chewed the cables !!!
So anyway it is all fixed now and I am back to work. It really sounds fantastic and does not need much mixing, as I think by the time I recorded these track I was a pretty good sound engineer and used to record every effect as well.

Oh you should check out my son Luke's site as he is working now in the same studio where I recorded these albums www.tilehousestudios.com

Mike x

Thanks, Caroline Monk

Tuesday, 5 February 2013 8 comments

From Mike Oldfield Personal Facebook group:

It is winter here in Bahamas ( well it doesn't go much lower then 70 F. ) and I have a few weeks before getting stuck into the Rock project, so I have asked my wonderful record company for the multitracks of Five Miles Out and Crises to be transferred from analog tape to digital ( I hope they don't have to bake them like they did with T.Bells ! ) Looking forward V much to listening to these albums and seeing what I can do maybe in 5.1 surround.
Love Mike

Update Jan 30:
Well the FMO and Crises Ampex tapes are all there but they have to be baked and also some of the edits have come apart so the audio archiving technicians are busy working and they say I will get the first batch of digital files by the end of the week so thumbs are a twiddling here.

Update Feb 1:
Just got some of the multi tracks and spent the morning listening in rough 5.1. They sound perfect ! Just as good as they ever were and some tracks like Family Man really ROCK in 5.1. There is an old version of the song Five Mile Out on this master wich is great but is not the one that got used. They tell me there are some more Multi Masters in the oven over the weekend so I'm hopeful the actual Master will be on those reels.

Quite overcome listening to them as they have Pierre Moerlin and Morris Pert on drums.

Lots of work to do !

Monday, 28 January 2013 31 comments