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NEW MUSIC VIDEO PLATFORM BETA LAUNCHES
An exciting new online video service called MUZU TV will officially announce its beta launch today. Purpose built for artists and music fans, both will be able to build their own web TV channels via the site.
Artists will be able to communicate and network with fans, and offer video content, via one rather lovely integrated interface, while fans will be able to upload their own home-made content via the 'Fan TV' section of an artist's channel. In addition to all that, music-based video programming will be available, including classic artist interviews from the ITN archives and TV shows like 'The Tube'.
From September you will also be able to access the CMU-Tube, the much previously reported new web-TV service from us here at CMU, which will be available as a MUZU TV channel, and will boast interviews at launch from the likes of The Futureheads, The Go! Team, Daedelus, A.Human, Vessels, Maths Class, The Whip, Peggy Sue & The Pirates plus Big Dada's Jamie Collinson and Nettwerk chief Terry McBride.
The MUZU TV platform is also available to other labels and music media looking for a free way to provide video content - and more than that even, because the service offers said companies, and bands (including unsigned bands), the option to earn a split of ad-revenues.
The first major to sign up is SonyBMG, who have already created MUZU TV channels for many of their artists. Confirming their involvement, SonyBMG's Alex Vlassopulos told CMU: "MUZU TV provides yet another route to market for our artists and a new revenue stream for our music. MUZU TV's artist-led approach and strong focus on music makes it stand out in the market. We look forward to a long relationship with MUZU TV".
Confirming the beta launch of the site, co-founder and Business Development Director Ciaran Bollard told CMU: "We're extremely excited about the launch of MUZU TV which gives fans free access to thousands of hours of music videos, concerts, documentaries, tutorials, and rare classic music TV shows like 'The Tube' streamed in high quality".
In addition to the CMU-Tube channel, Team CMU will also be putting together a network of college correspondents to utilise the potential of MUZU TV in the college music community. Look out for more details of how to get involved in this in the next couple of weeks here in the CMU Daily.
See more at www.MUZU.tv.
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ITUNES UK PRICEPOINT TO STAY SAME BECAUSE OF EXCHANGE RATE
Don't go expecting any price-drop over there at iTunes, ladies and gentlemen, though if you're looking for someone to blame you're going to have to take it up with Mr Exchange Rate. Plans to cut the per-download rate on the Apple download service by a few pennies have been shelved because the pound is performing so poorly against the Euro just now.
As previously reported, consumer rights groups used to express concerns that iTunes downloads in the UK were more expensive than elsewhere in the Europe. The unit price at other European iTunes Music Stores is 99 euro-cents, while here in the UK, of course, it's 79 pence. Ever since the launch of iTunes Europe in 2004 that meant that British music fans were spending several pennies more per track than their counterparts in Mainland Europe.
The consumer rights groups' case was stronger because - as a result of copyright restrictions - UK consumers were not able to buy music from, say, the iTunes Music Stores in France and Germany. According to the principles of the European Economic Community if something is available cheaper in France, British consumers should be able to buy it there, should they wish to.
With that in mind the European Commission got involved. Apple blamed the record companies - obviously - claiming that it was their restrictive licences (which stopped music licenced in France or Germany being sold elsewhere in Europe) that caused the problem. Nevertheless, at the start of the year the computer firm agreed to bring the UK iTunes price inline with that in Mainland Europe. At the time that would have seen the cost per download fall to 74p.
Except that as the date for making the switch approaches, changes in the exchange rate mean that 99 euro-cents are now worth about, yes, you guessed it, 79p. So there'll be no change, and all that bothering about the whole thing was a bit of a waste of time.
An Apple spokesman told reporters yesterday: "The announcement was that we would match the UK price to that of other lower priced European countries. This is no longer necessary as exchange rates have effectively done it for us". The firm does though, in theory, remain committed to linking the sterling download price to the euro download price, so presumably the price could go down, or possibly up, at some point in the future.
It's a shame there's no body to force Apple to link their UK download prices to their US service, which also charges 99 cents per track. Given the US dollar's all round weakness just now, that would make each track about 49p.
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BARENAKED LADY CHARGED WITH POSSESSION
Barenaked Ladies man Steven Page has been charged with possession of cocaine in New York State. The seemingly clean cut singer was arrested on Friday after both cocaine and marijuana were found in an apartment in the Fayetteville area of Manlius, and subsequently released after paying $10,000 bail.
Police Captain Bill Bleyle confirmed that the arrest occurred after patrolling police found a car with a door left open, and on investigations found Page and a woman in a nearby apartment with a white capsule in front of them. Two women were also charged with criminal possession, Stephanie Ford and Christine Benedicto. Bleyle is quoted as saying: "In the process of making the arrest, the girl he was with identified him as the lead singer for the group. He subsequently said, 'Yes, I play the guitar and sing"'.
Page's manager told reporters: "We cannot comment because the matter is before the courts but we are confident that our client Steven will be completely exonerated. Until that time it's business as usual for the Barenaked Ladies".
Page is due in court in Fayetteville tomorrow.
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FIDDY CAN KEEP HIS LAWYER
A judge in New York has ruled that 50 Cent can continue to use his lawyer Brett Kimmel on that previously reported legal dispute with his ex-girlfriend, despite the fact that she claims Kimmel has a conflict of interests because she approached him about hiring his services herself back in 2005.
Shaniqua Tompkins claimed she spoke to the lawyer about child support, palimony and her financial interest in 50 Cent's movie, 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' three years ago, and so argued that Kimmel has a conflict of interest in the current case.
But Kimmel denies having an attorney-client relationship with her and argues that it's irrelevant, and the judge, Carol Edmead, agreed, saying Tompkins conversations with Kimmel back in 2005 have nothing to do with the current case, which is over whether to freeze insurance money from Fiddy's house in Dix Hills, where Tomkins was living, and which was burned out in a previously reported fire back in May.
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WOOD'S WIFE WALKS
Ronnie Wood's wife Jo has reportedly left the Rolling Stones guitarist following his apparent affair with an eighteen year old Russian waitress and rumours of spiralling alcoholism. A source told The Sun: "It has sunk in he has had an affair and she feels betrayed. They had such a strong marriage. He's thrown it all away with his stupid behaviour. Jo has been through the mill. She thought he was only drinking buddies with the girl and she was hanging around him for free drinks. Now everything has surfaced about how they met and Jo has hit rock bottom".
Last week, when the tabloids first reported on the affair, Jo Wood said: "I was quite all right that she was hanging around with him. They have been staying in Ireland and Ronnie's art man was with them. Ronnie told me she was staying there and I said, 'OK - get on with it and have a drink, go mad. Drink your guts up'. She is mad - she is a terrible alcoholic. I know her - she's been here. She's a friend and he's a guy - I'm going to call her now. And I'm gonna go and call him now and tell him what she's said. He's drinking heavily - maybe two bottles of vodka a day".
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VILLAGE PERSON LEAVES HOSPITAL
The original lead singer and policeman from The Village People, Victor Willis, has been released from hospital following surgery on his vocal chords and has said that he could be able to get back to singing within three months. As previously reported, Willis was forced to cancel his planned tour and undergo surgery after doctors discovered nodules on his throat.
The singer's spokeswoman, Linda Smith, told reporters that his speaking voice "sounds almost normal" but he has been told by doctors not to sing for 90 days. Willis himself said in a statement: "I feel great and look forward to performing before the end of the year, but I can't say for sure".
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WINEHOUSE COLLAPSES
Amy Winehouse's dad Mitch has collapsed, apparently under the strain of constantly telling all the tabloids that his daughter's going to die any minute. Oh, and looking after her, following her discharge from hospital two weeks ago. Mitch told The Sun that the stress of being a full-time carer had caused him to start having panic attacks. He said: "I am awaiting the results of tests. I'm going away for a few days and we will see what happens after that".
A friend also told the paper: "He isn't well. He has been taking a lot on and has been dedicating himself to trying to improve Amy's health. But his own health has suffered as a result. He has been having stress-related panic attacks and collapsed at home last week".
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THE WHO WILL CARRY ON
Despite some pretty miserable-sounding comments about the future of The Who made by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend in interviews recently, and reported right here, The Who are not on the verge of calling it a day. Daltry told BBC 6music: "I still feel that [Pete] still will come up with perhaps his best work. It's just whether he thinks we're the instrument that he wants to do that on. I would think, personally, I think he's mad to try and change it at this stage of his life. I mean why fix something that's not broke? Just let him get on with it. It's a cracked old record, isn't it? Oh, it's all on, it's all off. Oh, it's all on. It's been 35 years, I'm tired of it. What is the point? What is the point? Give me a break!"
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COCKER: "I WILL KILL AGAIN"
Are you ready to rock? Or, more specifically, are you ready to be rocked by Jarvis Cocker? The ex-Pulp frontman has revealed that he is working on his second solo album, which he claims will be rockier than its predecessor, 2006's 'Jarvis'.
Speaking to BBC 6music, he said: "I have been working and I have been writing. I'm doing three shows in America in July where I'm gonna try a lot of new stuff out. I'll see if I survive that, then I'll try and get it recorded as soon as possible really. I probably won't get it out this year being realistic. But I'd like to get it out as soon as possible. But I'm afraid I will kill again. There will be another record".
He said that he decided to go for a heavier sound after touring the last album: "It's hard to say [what the album will sound like] as it's not all done yet, but I think it'll probably be louder than the last one. The thing was, I wrote that record over a period of time and enlisted the help of Steve [Mackey, bass] and Ross [Orton, drums] and Richard [Hawley, guitar] to help me record it. Then went out and played it, and discovered I had a band that could rock. That really made me think. I'd never really had that before. Pulp could be loud, but we didn't really rock. Well, maybe occasionally. So what I've tried to do with the new stuff, rather than me just sit there and wait for inspiration to come at some point, which takes ages, instead we've written stuff together. And it's a bit louder. It's probably something to do with some kind of midlife crisis as well, y'know? Rock while to still have the ability to do it before your bits start falling off".
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LEMMY FACES NAZI PROSECUTION
According to The Guardian, Motorhead's Lemmy is being investigated by German prosecutors, after he wore a Nazi hat in a photoshoot for one of the country's newspapers. Under German law, all Nazi paraphernalia is illegal, which is something you'd have thought someone at the paper might have known and pointed out. But then, you'd have thought even Lemmy might have been a little sensitive to people's feelings about Nazi-related things in Germany. Maybe. A little bit.
No statement has been issued by Lemmy as yet, but in a recent interview with New York Waste, he said: "I don't only collect Nazi stuff, I collect objects from all the Axis countries. Also from countries who aren't even mentioned anymore as former parts of the Axis. Like Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Hungary. From the beginning of time, the bad guys always had the best uniforms. Napoleon, the Confederates, the Nazis. They all had killer uniforms. I mean, the SS uniform is fucking brilliant! They were the rock stars of that time. What you're gonna do? They just look good. It's not a nationalistic kind of thing. Don't tell me I'm a Nazi cause I have uniforms. In 1967 I had my first black girlfriend and a lot more ever since then. I just don't understand racism, I never thought it was an option".
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OASIS REVEAL NEW ALBUM DETAILS
Oasis have revealed the artwork and tracklisting for their forthcoming new album, 'Dig Out Your Own Soul', which is released via the band's own Big Brother label on 6 Oct, preceded by the single 'The Shock Of The Lightning' on 29 Sep. You can view the artwork at www.digoutyoursoul.com and the tracklisting is this:
Bag It Up
The Turning
Waiting For The Rapture
The Shock Of The Lightning
I'm Outta Time
(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady
Falling Down
To Be Where There's Life
Ain't Got Nothin'
The Nature of Reality
Soldier On
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GUILLEMOTS TO RE-SCORE LYNCH CLASSIC
Guillemots will perform a live improvised score for David Lynch's cult 1979 film 'Eraserhead' at this weekend's Latitude Festival. Performing in the Uncut Arena as part of the Future Cinema Live event on Friday, they will also be joined by "some crazy dancers". The band will be back in the Uncut Arena on Saturday for a standard playing-the-songs-people-know kind of set.
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THE ALIENS RETURN
The Aliens are back. Or at least will be very shortly. Featuring three ex-Beta Band members (one of whom also goes by the name of Lone Pigeon), the band release their second album 'Luna' via their own label Pet Rock Records on 29 Sep. It will be preceded by a single, 'Magic Man', on 15 Sep. Press info from Darling Department.
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BROWN OUT ON STONE ROSES REUNION
Primal Scream's Mani has been talking to BBC News about his former band, The Stone Roses, and the reasons for them not reuniting. Other than the fact that no band should ever, ever, ever get back together. Ever.
He said: "I spoke to John [Squire, guitarist] and Reni [drummer] about it a few years ago and they said they'd love to do it at some point in time, but Ian Brown seems dead set against it. Who knows. It's not something that's uppermost in my mind to tell you the truth. I'm in Primal Scream and I think it's quite disrespectful to talk about the Stone Roses reforming when I'm having such a great time with the Scream. People will always be interested but you should ask Ian Brown about that one. If he changes his mind then we'll probably do it, but then I'll be back to Primal Scream after the one year of doing it".
He also said that the current indie scene isn't dangerous enough: "I think the Arctic Monkeys are brilliant. I love Klaxons and The Horrors. I think British music's quite healthy at the moment, kids have got ideas. I just with there was a little bit more danger, people taking a few more risks and they weren't so on their knees to the corporate beast. Be like punk rockers, man, and just get out there and change it and make it yours".
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SINGLE REVIEW: The Golden Silvers - Arrows of Eros (Young And Lost Club)
The winners of this year's Glasto Unsigned Competition, The Golden Silvers, release their debut single, an unusual and very jolly sounding disco record with a funky bass, retro keyboards and doowop harmonies. The north London trio's singer songwriter Gwilym Gold provides strong and poetic imagery with his lyrics. The song is about a girl, "who lived in London town, she had polka dots and rubies," and "a boy who lived in his head" ... they both fall foul of Cupid's lazy dart and dream of dying of a broken heart. The Golden Silvers have had a lot of support from Radio 1 thus far and a tour with The Mystery Jets has further boosted their profile. Look out for them playing a free gig at Pure Groove Records in Farringdon on 17 Jul and an extensive UK tour of their own in September. JW
Release Date: 14 Jul
Press Contact: Scruffy Bird [all]
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MCFLY SET FOR NUMBER ONE
McFly are apparently set for the number one slot in the UK singles charts this weekend with, 'One For The Radio', the first single from their new album. As you must know by now, we've told you enough times, the band have left the major label life behind and set up their own company, Super Records. The band's new album will be given away with the Mail On Sunday this weekend.
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COLDPLAY GIVE AWAY FREE DOWNLOAD
Coldplay just can't stop giving away their songs for free. They're now giving away another track from their 'Viva La Vida' album, 'Death Will Never Conquer', to celebrate the start of their world tour, which began at The Forum in LA on Monday night. To download the song, go to www.coldplay.com.
Via their official website, the band said: "Tonight's the first night of our tour. To say thank you to everyone who's bought tickets and supported us, here's a new song called 'Death Will Never Conquer'. You'll hear it at the concerts with a twist..."
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DOHERTY NEWCASTLE NO SHOW AND SOLO ALBUM
Pete Doherty has told the NME that he was not to blame after he failed to turn up to play an advertised solo show at The Cluny in Newcastle on Monday night.
The venue said that they had booked the show through Doherty's booking agent, but the singer insists he knew nothing about it. He said: "This was a hoax. I was in Newcastle for a funeral but was never booked to play the Cluny. I don't quite know how you can book a show without informing the artist concerned. Apologies to any fans that turned up to this but I never knew anything about it. I did, however, play in the Johnny's Bar in Newcastle for the Teenage Cancer Trust".
A spokesman for The Cluny responded, saying: "Pete's quotes imply that it was all a ruse on our part - this could not be further from the truth and we wish to strenuously defend our hard-earned and well-deserved reputation as one of the best small venues in the north east of England".
Doherty also revealed to the NME that his previously announced solo album is now half-complete. He entered an undisclosed European studio earlier this month with producer John Fior, where he recorded a number of songs. He also said that, while he will honour all planned live commitments with Babyshambles, he will not book any new dates with the band until the solo album is finished.
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ROLO TOMASSI ANNOUNCE TOUR DATES
Rolo Tomassi have announced full tour dates to promote their debut album, 'Hysterics', which will be out on 22 Sep via Hassle Records. As if that wasn't already exciting enough, the tour kicks off with two free London shows in the same night (possibly even a third TBC, I've heard).
Here are the dates:
22 Sep: London, Old Blue Last + The Macbeth
23 Sep: Bristol, The Croft
24 Sep: Birmingham, Sanctuary
25 Sep: Leeds, Brudenell Club
26 Sep: Glasgow, Barfly
27 Sep: Nottingham, Bodega Social
28 Sep: York, Junction
29 Sep: Cambridge, Portland Arms
30 Sep: Leicester, Firebug
1 Oct: Hereford, Jailhouse
2 Oct: Sheffield, Fuzz Club
3 Oct: Gloucester, Guildhall
5 Oct: Bournemouth, iBAR
6 Oct: Brighton, Freebutt
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THE RASCALS ANNOUNCE UK TOUR
The Rascals, you know, that band with the other one from the Last Shadow Puppets in, have announced tour dates to promote their debut album, 'Rascalise'.
Tour dates:
17 Sep: Liverpool The Picket
18 Sep: Liverpool The Picket
19 Sep: Glasgow Garage
20 Sep: Ullapool, Loopallu
22 Sep: Edinburgh Liquid Rooms
23 Sep: Newcastle The Other Rooms
25 Sep: Coventry Kasbah
28 Sep: Norwich Arts Centre
29 Sep: Cambridge Junction
30 Sep: London Scala
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VAMPIRE WEEKEND ANNOUNCE UK TOUR
Those Vampire Weekend boys have revealed that they will return to the UK for a new tour this October. Here are the dates:
20 Oct: Birmingham, Academy
21 Oct: Manchester, Academy
22 Oct: Sheffield, Academy
24 Oct: London, Forum
25 Oct: London, Forum
28 Oct: Newcastle, Academy
29 Oct: Glasgow, Barrowlands
30 Oct: Liverpool, Academy
31 Oct: Bristol, Academy
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MTV LAUNCH NEW SOUNDTRACK SERVICE
For those who bitch about how the main NTV channel has so little music programming these days, a new website from the music telly company may placate you. MTV US are planning a new online service which will tell viewers what music they have heard on all their shows, including music played in the background on the reality and magazine shows that dominate on their flagship channel. The service will provide thirty-second clips of tracks, and then link through to artist profiles and presumably some sell-through nonsense. MTV will presumably tell you that people are actually much more likely to discover new music by hearing it on a non-music show than they are by watching back-to-back video services - and the new site will help with that process. No word on whether a UK version is planned.
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NETTWERK RE-LAUNCH NUTONE
Canadian music company Nettwerk are to re-launch Nutone Records, a label specialising in "devotional chant, new age and mantra music". Well, someone has to I guess. Nettwerk chief Terry McBride told reporters: "Nutone's mission is to seek out what we feel is the best music that fits into the modern day Yoga studio, various wellness practices and everyday enjoyment of music".
Talking of Terry McBride, don't forget he will be in London tomorrow for that previously reported mini-conference from MusicTank on the music fans of today (and tomorrow), in which McBride and a cast of thousands will advise a band on how to engage with modern consumers. More details here...
www.musictank.co.uk/events/face-to-face-with-the-millennials
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INGENIOUS EXTEND CREAM RELATIONSHIP
Media investment types Ingenious have entered into a new agreement with dance music brand Cream which will build on the existing association between the two companies. The new arrangement will see the investment fund invest into a new company, CFDT Limited, which will co-promote Cream's flagship Creamfields festival at the end of August. Cream chief James Barton explained "Using their investment we are able to deliver on our promise of the best Creamfields to date". Ingenious say they have raised over £18 million for their live entertainment fund, of which about a million will be invested into the Cream partnership.
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FACEBOOK PREVIEW NEW PROFILE PAGES
Facebook have set up a new site to allow users to view their newly redesigned profile pages, which will go live at some point in the near future. The pages are not fully functional as yet, and any changes will not appear on your current profile. Most interesting, for us at least, is the fact that, rather than being pushed up front, music pages and such like have been hidden away at the bottom of the new 'Info' tab, which would suggest that Facebook is backing down from its bid to take on MySpace Music directly.
Check it all out here: www.new.facebook.com
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BT PROMISE HIGH-SPEED NET TO 10 MILLION HOMES BY 2012
BT has said it plans to roll out fibre-optic-based internet connections to 10 million homes by 2012 - which basically means BT and all the ISPs who utilise BT's networks will be able to offer high speed internet services like those currently only available via Virgin Media. Said development is important because as more and more people access rich media services over the net the good old copper wire over which much of the net runs is going to struggle.
BT say that rolling out a higher speed internet requires significant investment (obviously) and that they will need media and telecoms regulator OfCom to relax certain restrictions on the tel co major to make such investment viable. A spokesman for BT said: "A supportive and enduring regulatory environment is essential if this investment is to take place. Given this, BT will be discussing with Ofcom the conditions that would be necessary to enable this programme to progress. These include removing current barriers to investment and making sure that anyone who chooses to invest in fibre can earn a fair rate of return for their shareholders".
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NEW APPOINTMENTS AT VIRGIN RADIO AND BAUER
Virgin Radio, soon to change its name following its acquisition by the Times Of India, has head hunted Bauer Radio's Chris Lawson to a new role where he will be responsible for developing Virgin Radio's brand and digital business. He will report to Clive Dickens of the Times Of India's existing UK radio firm Absolute, who, as previously reported, has already taken the COO job at Virgin.
Dickins said this: "This is a really exciting appointment for us and we are delighted to welcome Chris to the team. In building a global audio brand for the modern radio consumer, it is vital that we fully exploit the digital space. In Chris, we've found not only a highly experienced media marketeer but also someone who really understands the power and potential of new channels and the opportunities for our audience and our business partners".
Back at Bauer, they have appointed Adrian Serle, formerly MD for Kerrang! Radio, to the new post of Commercial Development Director.
Bauer Consumer Media CEO Paul Keenan says this: "Having a portfolio of powerful, multi-touchpoint, cross-media brands gives Bauer Consumer Media clear advantages over our pure magazine or radio competitors. I am delighted to announce that Adrian Serle has been appointed to the newly-created role of commercial development director. By simplifying our structure and bringing a marketing-led, collaborative and creative approach to how our teams deliver innovative brand-led commercial solutions, we can fully-exploit our market advantages: remaining close to our clients whilst putting our audiences at the heart of everything we do."
Adrian said: "Bauer Consumer Media has so many premier league brands which are underpinned by cross-platform audience insight unique to our markets. Being in a position to make a difference, and build on what we have is truly exciting".
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OPERA COMPOSER FACES BANKRUPTCY AFTER FAILED LIBEL SUIT
A composer who unsuccessfully sued the Evening Standard over comments they made about one of his operas is facing bankruptcy as he struggles to pay the paper's legal fees relating to the case.
Keith Burstein sued the paper after they said a performance of his opera 'Manifest Destiny' at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival made suicide bombers appear heroic, and that he was sympathetic to them. Burstein sued for libel, but the paper successfully defended itself, saying its remarks "constituted fair comment". It initially looked like the case would go before a jury, but a judge ruled that unnecessary - an opinion Burstein takes issue with.
The composer was ordered to pay the paper's £67,000 legal fees. He is struggling to do so, which is why the paper have moved to launch bankruptcy proceedings against him. Burstein had hoped to delay said proceedings by arguing he should be allowed to take the case to the European courts before being forced to pay the Standard's legal fees, but the registrar in the UK courts - who rules on such matters - has said the European case is irrelevant and the composer should pay up or face bankruptcy.
The composer told the Guardian "I regard this as a travesty of justice" but that added he is "even more spurred on" to take the case further. Explaining what would have to be done in the European case, he continued: "I would have to prove that the UK government breached my human rights to have a fair trial. It will be a few months before we know if my case is even admissible to the court and then a further year before any case is heard. We are looking at a potential one to two years in Europe".
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FESTIVAL REVIEW: Rise Festival at Finsbury Park on 13 Jul
So, the annual Mayoral festival took place this year with a fair bit of controversy as its new head, Boris Johnson, decided to rebrand the event from being anti-racism to merely pro-diversity. But I'm not here to write about the politics, and as a result my main suggestion to Boris for next year is to spend more on the sound system and less on the funfair. I don't imagine the mayor was involved too heavily in the stellar line up, although I have to make a confession, at the danger of making CMU reviewers look like lightweights, we left before Jimmy Cliff came on through a combination of tiredness, the fact the park was getting packed and the aforementioned disappointing sound quality from the main stage. Still, at least this wasn't an event centred around one act, so I think we got away with it. Early on, Kitty, Daisy And Lewis put on an energetic retro-tinged set, The Aliens rocked out, with their single 'Robot Man' the highlight, and Dub Pistols found previously uncharted bass levels with Terry Hall on vocals. Unfortunately, the muddy sound on the main stage meant all this was distorted and, depending where the wind was blowing, almost unlistenable at times. Over on the African Village stage the former child soldier Emmanuel Jal put on a stirring show which, while not quite managing to recreate his Mandela gig due to the lack of a choir, was a highlight helped by a more appropriate sound system. We left during CSS's set. They were showing their usual energy but were as scuppered by the sound as everyone else. I won't labour the point any longer and overall this was a good event with lots going on, but it's just a shame that the acts on offer didn't really have the opportunity to do themselves justice. IM
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QUEEN/JACKSON TRIUMPH IN RANDOM POLLS
A new poll of 10,000 music fans have voted 'Bohemian Rhapsody' the best pop song ever. In second, third and fourth place were The Village People's 'YMCA', Bryan Adams's '(Everything I Do) I Do It For You' and Robbie Williams's 'Angels', so you can see what sort of really stiff competition the Queen track was up against. A spokesman for One Poll, who did the, er, poll, says, "We got a worthy winner".
Elsewhere in random poll news, Radio 2 listeners have named Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' the greatest dance record ever. A shortlist of 20 tracks was drawn up by panel that included DJs Trevor Nelson and Danny Rampling before the public were allowed to vote on it.
The results of the poll were presented in a three part series presented on the radio station by Zoe Ball, who says this: "I'm delighted that Billie Jean has been voted the greatest dance record ever made. This is Jackson at his best. This track is way up there for me - Jacko's rendition of it at the Motown 25th anniversary show has got to be one of the great live performances of all time. The bass line is awesome, the production is killer. It's just perfect."
Here's the top ten:
1. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
2. I Feel Love - Donna Summer
3. Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine - James Brown
4. Strings Of Life - Rhythim Is Rhythim
5. Where Love Lives - Alison Limerick
6. Keep On Movin' - Soul II Soul
7. Can You Feel It - Fingers Inc.
8. Big Fun -Inner City
9. Theme From S'Express - S'Express
10. Key To My Happiness - The Charades
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WELLER VS ROTTEN
Paul Weller has hit out at John Lydon, saying that between appearing on 'I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!' and getting all dewy-eyed about his Sex Pistols heydays, he's lost his edge. Weller said: "I don't really understand him anymore. He's become the antithesis of what he once was. Does he need the money? Perhaps he misses the adulation, the buzz. Nostalgia has become a whole industry in itself... and I don't like it. You can never recapture what has gone".
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WINEHOUSE UNIMPRESSED WITH WAXWORK
Amy Winehouse doesn't like the waxwork Madame Tussauds have made of her. In fact, she called it "crap". She told New! Magazine that she had been unavailable to attend a sitting for the waxwork's sculptors, so that instead they had to work from photographs. Given most the photographs we've seen of her lately, you can kinda see why she might not be happy. She also said: "I thought you had to be dead almost before they made a wax of you". You can choose your own joke to end this story with.
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GRANDMA TIMBERLAKE WANTS MARRIAGE
Justin Timberlake's grandma wants her celebrity grandson to marry his girlfriend, Jessica Biel. She even suggested a venue for the event, which is nice of her. She told The Sun: "Jessica's really sweet. She's his age and isn't possessive. I think their personalities are a lot alike. I just want them to be happy. Justin should get married in [Timberlake's mother] Lynn's back yard in Tennessee. She has a big back yard with beautiful flowers. I think it would be perfect".
Back in June, you may remember, Justin denied various rumours about himself and Biel, saying: "I am not engaged. I'm not married. I'm not pregnant", which would suggest that he's slightly resistant to his grandmother's wishes. I think that officially makes him evil. You heard it here first.
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