Of course Janet Jackson's moment of glory may have dominated the news agenda for a week or so (conveniently just a month before her new album was released), but her column inch count in 2004 was nothing compared to brother Michael. Actually, not a lot really happened regarding those child abuse allegations against Michael Jackson - with the arrest coming at the end of 2003 and the actual court case not due until the start of 2005. But rarely did a week go by without some new story relating to the case - all the more odd given that the court's restriction on media coverage of the trial meant neither prosecution nor defence could ever say a great deal. One of those weird Grand Jury things the Americans like said there was a sufficient case against Jacko for the trial to continue, while Jackson's defence team (which changed half way through the year) continued to look for technicalities to get the whole case thrown out of court. As it currently stands this story should secure even more column inches when it all finally goes to court proper next month.
Keeping the pop courts almost as busy in 2004 was Courtney Love, whose legal team had to cope with a plethora of drugs and assault charges and a very unreliable client who would frequently miss court appearances and, on the occasions she did show up, do her best to piss off her judge. Still, she managed to avoid jail (although she did spend a few weeks essentially sectioned) and as each court case went through the motions kept us all decently entertained.
Also vying for media space this year were Madonna with her new found commitment to the trendy Kaballah faith (by coincidence she had a tour to promote), Elton John with his bitching sessions against fellow performers (by coincidence he had an album to promote), former Westlife boy Brian McFadden with his drink problem (who also had an album to sell), Eminem who did his best to wind up everyone, well, mainly Michael Jackson (and, you guessed it, he had a record to sell) and Marc Almond who nearly got killed in a motorbike crash (and who, to be fair, wasn't trying to sell anything).
Hundreds of American artists encouraged their fellow countryman to oust that mad man Bush from the White House in the American elections. They failed of course, but good for them for trying. Elsewhere in pop politics, several dancehall artists - most prominently Beenie Man - faced the full wrath of the gay rights lobby for their seemingly homophobic lyrics. Gigs were cancelled, airplay was denied and awards were withdrawn as the gay campaigners got increasingly vocal - although the artists involved, as yet, maintain their right to free speech (even if that does involved suggesting gay people should be set on fire). U2's Bono maintained his commitment to embarrassing world leaders into helping the developing world, while others across the pop spectrum continued to campaign in both the political and charitable senses of the word to help those in need - most prominently, of course, with the artistically poor but nevertheless very worthy Band Aid 20 project.
In the news for leaving us behind and making their way to the studio in the sky this year were, among others, Ray Charles, Johnny Ramone, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Byrds producer Terry Melcher, Deacon Blue guitarist Graeme Kelling, The Zombies guitarist Paul Atkinson, New York Dolls bassist Arthur Kane, Les Gray from Mud, Damageplan's Dimebag Darrell Abbot, singer Laura Branigan and of course the late, very very great, Mr John Peel.
But when it comes to the amount of space filled in the CMU Daily, we haven't actually counted it, but surely the column inch award of 2004 belongs to the aforementioned Pete Doherty - the junkie who the NME reckon is the coolest man in Britain. There were the run-ins with band-mates and the law, the frequent web-logged attempts at rehab, the legendary erratic behaviour, and the live shows that could be genius, shambolic or non-existent depending on Doherty's mood (and presumably on what substances were in his blood system at the time). For what its worth we're big fans of Doherty's work here at CMU (his collaboration with Wolfman was one of my favourite tracks of the year), so we wish him well in 2005 - let's hope he can kick his dangerous drug addiction without losing his creative buzz and slightly dopey charm.