The official Radio City FOTR site has just been updated with the full (as far as I know) schedule of events. You know the link; don't forget to clear your cache if the old page comes up!

Be sure to pay special attention to the Orensanz presentations, where it looks like the majority of my heavy lifting will take place.

I'm off to NY this Thursday morning. Met with Kurt Loder this afternoon... very astute guy!

Will try to address as many emails as I can between now and fly time. I'm generally gathering info only moments before you are, however, so please forgive if I'm not able to give you as much insight as you may want.

Back soon!

-Doug

Incidentally, the Paley planners chose their Fellowship movie clips yesterday so that our motley crew will actually have something to discuss!

The Huffington Post also did a very nice piece today. That's available here.

I think the press will keep rolling right up until Radio City, so I'll try to keep everyone informed. Busy times!

The recent rumblings are true. The book will not be available for purchase at Radio City Music Hall. Our legal delays were simply too much for us to overcome. I will still be there, and Howard and I will be previewing both the book an the Rarities, but these will not yet be for sale.

I bring you this news with a very heavy heart. Please know that we did absolutely everything within our power to have this ready for this event. I hate nothing more than disappointing friends, and I feel just awful knowing that I've done exactly this. The concerts will be as stupendous as ever. Our presentations will be every bit as engaging, and our material just as revealing. We simply won't be selling anything at this point.

The whole legal affair has tossed us about relentlessly. As I've said before, the book is now safe... as is the potential follow-up volume on The Hobbit. After tremendous effort, the legal confusion is ALL resolved. All the material is safe as well... from John Howe's art to Fran Walsh's writings to Howard Shore's documents to my original material. Likewise the Rarities disc is safe, set, and ready to go. The book that you'll soon be reading will have everything we had before... and then some. I'll explain that in the coming weeks, but now is not the time.

Do we have a release date set? We have a target, yes. We'll be meeting in New York next week to discuss this. I will announce as soon as I can. Will this be another lengthy delay. No, it shouldn't be. Again, all will make sense soon.

I know I'm apt to suffer some slings and arrows over this. I understand. Believe me, your frustration is shared. I think you all so much for standing by me. The thoughtful posts and emails over the past month or so carried my spirits more than I can say. We were in real danger of losing the entire book, but I knew I could keep at it because I knew you were all behind me. I also need to thank those that came to the book's aid. The project managers, lawyers, assistants, a certain unreasonably talented composer... and of course my family and loved ones. It is because of their diligent efforts that you'll soon be featuring this beautiful book on your coffee table.

Our journey's going to last a little longer, I guess. I promise to return soon to explain how the next few months will proceed.

The next few weeks, however, will be brimming with Radio City excitement. Please don't let this dim that weekend for you! This will still be an absolutely unparalleled series of events, and I'm absolutely excited beyond words to meet (or re-meet) some of you! Our fellowship may be tested, but it will never break!

As I told Howard and we neared our resolution, "Maybe this has all been a terrible road to a lovely destination. This is really going to have a huge impact on how we can present the book." He agreed, "Some things are just meant to be."

If interested, you can also submit questions through the Paley Center's website, though there's no guarantee that we'll be able to address them.

If you'd told me back in 2001 that I someday be making public appearances with Howard Shore, Billy Boyd and Kurt Loder, I'd have laughed myself silly. Actually, I'd have responded pretty much the same had you told me this last week. It will be interesting to see how the conversation proceeds... and if I have anything to contribute other than "yeah" and a nervous cackle or two.

Now here's a discussion style I'm more familiar with! Although, I saw a proposed poster for the event yesterday with a big picture of my head and got a little short of breath. As one publicist commented to me, "Well, you look... trustworthy..."

We'll be rolling out HOWE Records new Collector's Edition Vol. 1 CD on October 3 at the big downtown Barnes & Noble. Those of you clamoring for the physical CD (rather than MP3s) will be able to get it here before anywhere else, so that's a pretty cool exclusive!

And of course, we'll focus a good deal of our discussion on The Lord of the Rings and the forthcoming book. The talk, which is scheduled to last around 30 minutes or so, will be followed by a signing session, though only Howard Shore CD's can be signed. (Store rules.) We're also expecting the store to have an extra shipment of LOTR: CR sets on hand, so if anyone's still holding out, here's your shot.

These will not be the only NY events at which Howard Shore and I will be appearing, so please keep watching for additional announcements!

The Amazon MP3 album is up an available here. Those of us holding out for the physical CD can still hear previews at the MP3 link. And yes, our friend Alex's post in the comments is absolutely correct -- some of this material comes from Shore's unreleased score to Scorsese's After Hours. I have to think that film's sleep-deprived characters would have appreciated the coffee theme!

*****

I'm posting this remotely, so I don't think I can create an active link. But if you'll copy-and-paste the URL below, you'll learn about HOWE Records' latest endeavor -- the Collector's Edition CDs

http://www.howerecords.com/albums/cev1.php

There's some exciting material due for release in this series. Love the coffee theme on this one!

You'll actually be reading more about this project when the Radio City schedule is released to the press... which I'm still told should happen soon.

Many announcements coming soon -- including the Radio City schedule of events. Check back often.

I'll try to return as soon as possible with a lengthier update.

See you soon!

Attention Radio City revelers: Billy Boyd--Pippin, himself--and Beecacke will be appearing at Joe's Pub in NY on October 8 and 10 (immediately following the Radio City show)! Details below. I think I'll be in attendance at least one of the nights. Hope to see you there!

Actor and musician, Billy Boyd, who starred in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy as Peregrin “Pippin” Took and contributed to the soundtrack with his original song “Steward of Gondor”, will embark on a tour of the U.S. East Coast with his band Beecake October 6-11 in support of their new album “Soul Swimming”

The tour will coincide with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Howard Shore’s score performed live to film at Radio City Music Hall on October 9 and 10 at which Boyd will make an appearance.

Beecake will be appearing at Iota Café in Arlington, VA on October 6, Tin Angel in Philadelphia, PA on October 7, Joe’s Pub in New York, NY on October 8 and 10 and Passim Center in Cambridge, MA on October 11.

Billy Boyd says: "I can’t tell you how excited we all are to be playing our first East Coast gigs, especially since we've just finished our debut album”. “This will be our first time playing the album live and we can think of no better place to do that. A lot of our friends tell us how great an East Coast tour is and in particular the venues we are lucky enough to be playing. All of us in Beecake can’t wait to get to the venues, meet the people and play our music.”

Based in Glasgow, Scotland, Beecake is Billy Boyd (vocals/guitar), John Crawford (drums/vocals), Billy Johnston (guitar/piano/vocals) and Rick Martin (bass/vocals). Formed in late September 2006, Beecake sold out their first gig at Barfly, Glasgow in January 2007 and after having fans travel to see them from as far afield as Japan, Germany, Italy and the U.S., the band decided to record five tracks to be released on their EP “Just B.” Beecake gathered a very dedicated live audience and in the fall of 2008 won the Tartan Clef Best Live Band award at the Nordoff Robbins Music Awards. Beecake has played lived with such artists as The Fratelli’s, Sharleen Spiteri, Sandi Thom, The Attic Lights, Big Country, BMX Bandits, Amy MacDonald and Eddie Reader. In the summer of 2008, Beecake entered the studio again to start work on their full-length debut album, “Soul Swimming” For more on Beecake and to hear songs from “Soul Swimming” visit www.myspace.com/beecakeband

Billy Boyd attained worldwide fame and acclaim with his portrayal of Peregrin “Pippin” Took in Peter Jackson’s epic film trilogy adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Billy appeared in two of the Academy Award Nominees for Best Picture in the same year (2004): The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (which won 11 Academy Awards, including the Best Picture prize) and Peter Weir’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (which won 2 Academy Awards). His other film credits include Stone of Destiny, On a Clear Day, Flying Scotsman, the voice of Glen/Glenda in Seed of Chucky, An Urban Ghost Story , The Soldier’s Leap, Save Angel Hope and an animated A Midsummer Dream (the voice of Puck). In post production at the moment are Glenn, Jusqu’a Toi (Every Jack has a Jill), Carmel and PIMP. Billy co-starred with Gregor Fisher in the BBC2 series EMPTY and will be seen later in the year in Jack Osborne’s ADRENALINE JUNKIE. A native of Glasgow, Billy is a graduate and Fellow of the RSAMD and has performed in numerous theatre productions in Scotland and the UK.

Billy Boyd with BEECAKE play five performances only:

OCTOBER 6 at 7PM, Iota Café, Arlington, VA. For tickets, visit www.iotaclubandcafe.com or call (703) 522-8340.

OCTOBER 7 at 8:30PM, Tin Angel, Philadelphia, PA. For tickets, visit www.tinangel.com or call (215) 928-0770.

OCTOBER 8 & 10 at 10:30PM, Joe’s Pub, New York, NY. For tickets, visit www.joespub.com or call (212) 967-7555.

OCTOBER 11 at 9PM, Passim Center, Cambridge, MA. For tickets, visit www.clubpassim.org or call (617) 492-5300.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING - Howard Shore’s Complete Score Live to Film - with special appearance by Billy Boyd - plays at Radio City Music Hall on October 9 and 10 at 7:30PM. For tickets, visit www.radiocity.com/events/lord-of-the-rings-1009.html or call Ticketmaster at (212) 307-4111 or (800) 745-3000.

Another stumbling block cleared!

Ongoing discussion update coming soon.