Sargasso Sea video premiere at 19:00 BST via YouTube

The 'Sargasso Sea' video premiere including live chat starts at 19:00 via YouTube. The video features The Durutti Column in the studio with Caoilfhionn Rose.

Sargasso Sea featuring Caoilfhionn Rose - Behind The Scenes

A beautiful YouTube Short featuring Caoilfhionn Rose and Vini Reilly talking about 'Sargasso Sea' in honour of the 31 July 2026 release of the album 'Renascent'. This is one of the outstanding tracks from the album and it is deservedly getting played a lot.

Vini Reilly on Stuart Maconie's Freakzone

Vini Reilly was recently a special guest on Stuart Maconie's Freakzone on BBC 6Music. They chat about Vini's health, showy guitarists and the last album 'Renascent'.

Maconie also plays Echoes in the Memory, Your Shadow at Morning, Vapour on a Matchbox and Sargasso Sea.

The interview starts at about 45 minutes in and is available for 28 days via BBC iPlayer (blackouts may apply in some countries).

Hi-Fi Durutti Column listening sessions in New York City and Los Angeles

There will be two exclusive listening sessions honouring The Durutti Column in some of the best Hi-Fi listening spaces in New York and Los Angeles, in partnership with In Sheep's Clothing. Hosted on 13 August 2026, experience the new album 'Renascent' along with quintessential classics 'The Return of The Durutti Column' (1980) and 'Vini Reilly' (1989), all on vinyl in a Hi-Fi setting.

Participants will receive exclusively 'An introduction to The Durutti Column', a 10-track Durutti Column CD sampler spanning the band’s career (limited quantity per event) and have a chance to buy a unique tote bag – both items were made specifically for these listening events and not be available anywhere else. ‘Renascent’ will also be available for purchase at both locations.

Sign up to access one of these exclusive listening sessions.

'Otis' visualiser out now on YouTube

 

Check out the new visualiser for 'Otis' off the 1989 'Vini Reilly' album which is being reissued on vinyl for Record Store Day 2024 and as a 5-disc box set.

'Vini Reilly' 35th Anniversary Expanded 5-Disc Set

 

A special 35th Anniversary Edition of the classic 1989 Factory Records album 'Vini Reilly' spread over 4 CDs and 1 DVD is released on 19 April 2024 and features: 

• 'Vini Reilly' (1989) & Bonus Tracks 
• The Sporadic Recordings 
• 'Womad Live' & Demos 
• 'Live In Porto' 1988 DVD
• Bonus 3-Inch Mini CD

This special edition is available to pre-order via The Durutti Column Store now.

'Vini Reilly' Record Store Day 2024 exclusive vinyl

 

'Vini Reilly' will be released on remastered black vinyl in a numbered limited edition for Record Store Day 2024. 

This edition features the original 'unused and unseen' sleeve designed by 8vo. 

This album is only available at participating Record Store Day shops from Saturday 20 April 2024.

Vini Reilly double vinyl for Record Store Day 2020

Factory Benelux presents an expanded double vinyl edition of Vini Reilly, the acclaimed seventh studio album originally released by Factory Records in 1989. Just 1000 copies have been pressed for Record Store Day on 18 April 2020.

The sleeve itself famously samples Bob Dylan circa Highway 61 Revisited, showcasing an iconic portrait by Mark Warner. Indeed much about the album flirts with mainstream culture, being a deliberate attempt to position Reilly as a 'pop' artist following his chart-topping collaboration with Morrissey on Viva Hate. This collaboration is further explored on the bonus 7" single (pressed in crystal clear vinyl), which features rare outtake I Know Very Well How I Got My Note Wrong and exquisite homage For Steven Patrick.

Bonus tracks on this 2020 double-disc remaster include several never before issued on vinyl, including William B and Red Square from the extended CD version of Vini Reilly, plus all four tracks from pristine performance CD WOMAD Live. Recorded at the WOMAD Festival in Cornwall in August 1988, the core Durutti duo of Vini Reilly and Bruce Mitchell are here augmented by Andy Connell on keys and Chinese opera singer Liu Sola.

See also: Official Record Store Day [->]

Vini Reilly [Factory Benelux, FBN 244 CD]

Factory Benelux presents an expanded 2CD edition of Vini Reilly, the acclaimed seventh studio album. Originally released by Factory Records in 1989, the album has now been newly remastered with 23 bonus tracks including companion single WOMAD Live.

Produced by Vini Reilly and Stephen Street (The Smiths, Morrissey, Blur), the original working title of the Vini Reilly album was The Durutti Column Sampler. "People describe them as found samples and found voices," explained Vini at the time. "I always build up a catalogue of interesting loops and voice samples and stuff. Then I forget where I got them from a lot of the time, which is quite convenient... A lot of the time I manipulate the sample anyway, so it's singing my tune, rather than the original tune."

Stand-out tracks include Otis, Love No More and My Country. "The tune always comes from playing the guitar," added Vini. "As soon as I pick a guitar up I'll come up with a tune. I don't know whether it's good or bad - but there's always a tune there."

The sleeve itself samples Bob Dylan circa Highway 61 Revisited, showcasing an iconic portrait by Mark Warner. Indeed much about the album flirts with mainstream culture, being a deliberate attempt to position Reilly as a 'pop' artist following his chart-topping collaboration with Morrissey on Viva Hate. This collaboration was further celebrated on bonus track 'For Steven Patrick'.

Other bonus tracks on this 2020 double-disc remaster include a multitude of demos and outtakes from the same period (some previously issued on The Sporadic Recordings in 1989), plus all four tracks from pristine performance CD WOMAD Live. Recorded at the WOMAD Festival in Cornwall in August 1988, the core Durutti duo of Vini Reilly and Bruce Mitchell are here augmented by Andy Connell on keys and Chinese opera singer Liu Sola.

A third, optional bonus cd, contains 'I Know Very Well How I Got My Note Wrong', an outtake from the Viva Hate sessions with Morrissey.

Available via Factory Benelux Mailorder.

Vini Reilly interview in Scream City 4

Vini Reilly's 2008 interview with Phil Cleaver which was first published in the fourth issue of Scream City fanzine [->] is now available as part of the digital reissue of said publication. Written around the time of the 'Sunlight to Blue... Blue to Blackness' album it goes into some depth on the Fac 2 A Factory Sample release.

There is also an article by the late Colin Sharp who was member of the very first line-up of The Durutti Column. 'Travel for Pleasure Alone' also includes an extract from Colin's book 'Who Killed Martin Hannett'.

Vini Reilly guests on Holly Johnson's Europa

Vini Reilly makes a special guest appearance on the new album by Holly Johnson which is released this September through the ex-Frankie Goes To Hollywood man's Pleasuredome label reports The Quietus.

Keen Durutti archivists will recall Vini's appearance on Johnson's debut album 'Blast' back when he played guitar on Love Will Come and Got It Made.

Review - Vini Reilly live @ Chorlton Arts

On Wednesday 21 May, Vini Reilly was interviewed on stage by author and DJ Dave Haslam and then made a return to live performance as part of the Chorlton Arts Festival.

For a full review it's over to our Northern Correspondent, Mr Bryan Burford (with many thanks!):

The evening began with a brief intro from Dave Haslam, and then straight into an interview with Vini. Slightly shocking to see Vini obviously frail and having to be helped onto the stage, but although his speech is obviously still affected his humour and character are still there. He spoke of having to change the way he plays since the strokes - he can't finger-pick so has to just strum, and can't feel the frets like he could. He spoke also of the frustration of having tunes in his head, and not being able to get them out as easily.

He talked about the making of Return Of, and how it was Martin Hannett's album - the first he knew of what it sounded like was when Tony and Lindsey Wilson gave him a white label signed by them. He talked about first playing with Bruce, on Alan Erasmus's suggestion, and how the connection was immediate, how Bruce knows what Vini's doing before Vini does (the improvisation and 'I don't know what will happen' was a theme of the night). He said something similar about John Metcalfe.

He then introduced Old House Playground giving them a build-up no-one could really deliver on, but they did seem to have something. Three-piece of drum, guitar and double-bass, with a striking vocal sound. They played two tunes, and then Vini took the stage again.

He played three tunes - first Love & Maths with John Metcalfe. It took a minute or so for them to synchronise, but it became a really nice version. Second was a tune with the OHP vocalist Tryfon contributing vocals from poems written by a young women whose name I didn't catch (who was also present), with Bruce sneaking onto the stage after a little while. Vini did appear genuinely surprised when he noticed (that tune is on YouTube). It was wonderful to see that chemistry at work again.

The third tune was preambled by Vini talking about his guitar teacher, Miriam (Mimi, presumably of the LC track), the only one of her family to survive the holocaust and a "second mother" to Vini. He talked about her telling him (I think) of the responsibility of an artists, of people who have a gift, and of looking at the stars and telling him that the light was from long-dead places, and something about Zeno’s paradox - all blowing the 12 year old Vini's mind. He then took out a copy of Maus he'd received anonymously in the post, a synchronicity with his already thinking about Mimi, and began to introduce the tune with a warning that it would take it out of him and he would be helped from the stage afterwards. He said something about the need to balance terrible evil by seeing the goodness in the world, and began.

From the start he seemed traumatised, pausing between each of the first few chords, but starting something that was in the end extremely powerful, very beautiful, and entirely Vini. Tryfon contributed some more vocals that I thought were very effective - reminded me a little of vocals on Sex & Death, and also (oddly) of Liz Fraser in This Mortal Coil mode. Vini finished in tears, to another standing ovation, and the audience left I think probably slightly stunned, as well as moved (if that’s not a contradiction).

It was very raw, and difficult in places, but compared to Bridgewater Hall in 2011, where Vini's desolation about Poppy was uncomfortable to see, there was something more positive here. From what Vini was saying about Mimi, and all that she'd meant to him and taught him, I got the impression that he was reflecting on his place, and his identity, as an artist, and that despite the setbacks of illness, he still has a gift, and a responsibility, and a desire, to make music, and get those tunes out somewhere.

New photos of Vini Reilly

Check out new photographic portraits of Vini Reilly at northernfacephoto.com.

Vini Reilly @ Chorlton Arts sold out

Vini Reilly's onstage interview with Dave Haslam together with a special live performance at the Chorlton Arts Festival [->] on 21 May 2014 has now sold out. The performance takes place at Wilbraham St Ninian's Church in Chorlton and will be Vini's first performance proper since April 2011.

A Paean To Wilson ltd edition print

A reminder that a limited edition photographic print is available via Stephen Wright of the complete version of the photo used on the cover of A Paean to Wilson by The Durutti Column.

The 12" × 8" image is reproduced on 10" × 14" silver halide photographic paper. The photo is printed in one size only and is a limited edition of 500 priced 125.00 GBP each. Stephen Wright will sign and edition each print.

Stephen will also donate 25.00 GBP to Christies Hospital, Manchester, from the proceeds of each print sold.

The Redemption of Martin Hannett

Check out a new article by Jim McGrath on the forthcoming Martin Hannett documentary and book available by Ozit Morpheus.

See also Paul Pledger's review on the above-mentioned DVD which is titled Martin Hannett: He Wasn't Just The Fifth Member of Joy Division DVD.

He was also The Third Member of The Durutti Column.

Chronicle LX:XL bonus content

As trailed a short while ago, the Chronicle LX:XL album due Record Store Day 2014 (19 April 2014) will be a 2CD album but there will online bonus content available too.

Kooky Records has just fleshed out some more detail on this over and has called for Vini's fans to contribute.

Over to you Phil... [->]

Chronicle LX XL

It's over to Phil Kooky @ Kooky Records for an important announcement about Chronicle LX, the long-awaited new album which will be released on 19 April 2014 (Record Store Day) in a 2CD deluxe package.

Read more:

The Durutti Column - Chronicle LX XL [->]

Meanwhile, check out some photos of packaging material tests via our Durutticolumnist Tumblr.

Vini Reilly onstage interview and live show

It's been rather quiet round here so we're very pleased to be able to announce that Vini Reilly will be appearing onstage in an interview with Dave Haslam and playing live at the Chorlton Arts Festival on Wednesday 21 May 2014.

This will be Vini's first extended public performance for nearly three years following several minor strokes.

The venue is Wilbraham St Ninian's Church in Chorlton, Manchester and tickets are on sale now priced 9.00 GBP (plus booking fee) via WeGotTickets.

Kooky re-releases update

Phil Kooky at Kooky Records has some good news about the forthcoming renewed availability of A Paean To Wilson and Vini Reilly which have been out of print for some.

The albums will be re-released in jewel cases as the original digi-packs have sold out. This will make them a lot cheaper. More news when we have it but these albums will go on sale via the Kooky Shop and also via this site.