May 13^th

Stef has announced the departure of Benjamin Boutreur post-Sunrise. Benjamin has not enjoyed touring (especially in England) and wants to study at art school. He is replaced by young Bjorn Eriksson. There is talk that a female singer might join the band. The show in Sainte-Croix-Vallee-Francaise-Les Gévennes on June 13 should reflect the new line up

April 25^th

'Music inspired by Sunrise, a film by FW Murnau - Sunrise, a 1996 score' has finally been released. A tour will ensue over the next few weeks in Belgium, France and Holland

The second single from the album will be 'Giving up the Hero'

April

The first single from the Sunrise album 'Couldn't She Get Drowned' is released this month.

Stef has been composing music for the VPRO film 'L'Amant de Maman' (directed by Patrice Toye). In the menatime, Tom and Tomas have been working on theatre productions. New Zita Swoon material can be expected this autumn.

March

New York composer, Moondog-Louis Hardin has made a complaint about Moondog Jr's use of his name. This has been accepted and Moondog Jr are now Zita Swoon. There is very little chance that any other musicians use this name! Stef chose the name 'Zita' which is ancient Greek for 'intense'. 'Swoon' is slang for 'desire'. This name change does not affect their release schedule

More about "Moondog": he was an American classical composer named Louis Hardin whose music displays jazz influences. He was known for his eccentric ways and wandered the streets in animal hides. Blind from his birth in Kansas in 1916 but lived in Germany for over 20 years. Alan Freed, the first disc jockey to coin the phrase "rock and roll show," also used the name Moondog until he was forced to change it by Hardin.

More Sunrise performances are expected this month, as well as a secret gig in Antwerp

A new album will be released of the Sunrise score. Three previous scores (including the original) have been composed, they have all been classical. A single will be released soon, possibly this month