BURIAL UNMASKS HIMSELF
Since the release of his second album, 'Untrue', and particularly following his nomination for the Mercury Music Prize, there has been a rush to reveal the identity of anonymous dubstep producer Burial. Gordon Smart from The Sun has been particularly keen to discover who he is, writing in his column yesterday: "My mission to find the man behind mystery Mercury Music Prize nominee Burial takes more turns every day. But even the combined skills of Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, Columbo and Rebus would struggle with this one'.

Well, even though I can think of two occasions when Burial has been unmasked already, the producer has now gone and done it himself. He posted a picture of himself on his MySpace page and wrote: 'For a while there’s been some talk about who I am, but it’s not a big deal. I wanted to be unknown because I just want it to be all about the tunes. Over the last year the unknown thing become an issue so I’m not into it any more. I’m a low key person and I just want to make some tunes, nothing else. My name’s Will Bevan, I’m from south London. I’m keeping my head down and just going to finish my next album'.

Of course, this sort of ruins the whole thing for Smart and everyone who was trying to discover Bevan’s identity and claim all the glory. Luckily, though, there’s a new conspiracy theory for everyone to get their teeth into. It turns out that the website www.williambevan.co.uk belongs to a funeral director in Herefordshire. Funeral director? Burial? Maybe he was lying about who he is! Yes! That’s it! Let’s all keep searching for his real identity! I heard it was Bono!

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BEATLES TAPE SELLS FOR £10,000
That forgotten Beatles recording we reported on last week has sold at auction for £9,800, just shy of the £12,000 top estimate, at an auction at Berwick-based Cameo Auctioneers.

The 30 minute reel-to-reel tape made in 1964 was found by a man as he sorted through his father's possessions after his death and features eleven original songs and cover versions. Amongst the songs is a cover of 'Don't Put Me Down Like This' by American soul singer Derek Martin, thought to be the only Beatles recording of the song, and a recording of Paul McCartney and John Lennon breaking into fits of laughter as they fail to play the song 'I'll Follow The Sun' correctly after three attempts.

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POLICE END REUNION TOUR (ALMOST) FRIENDS
The Police close their reunion tour tonight at Madison Square Garden, a year later than originally planned and now one of the most financially successful tours of all time. What’s more, the band have just about managed to get over the friction that caused the band to split in the 80s. Or at least learned to live with the things they don’t like about each other.

Guitarist Andy Summers told The Associated Press: "People don't really change. We're the same three [jerks] we always were. I'm actually quite proud of the fact that it's gone on as long as it has'.

Stewart Copeland added that he still struggles with Sting’s desire for perfection, but can understand it better now than 30 years ago: "When [Sting] exercises his right to have it the way he imagined it, it's a problem for both him and me. I just can't do it. I can't remember it. I have my own ideas. I'm incorrigible. It was really good for us to figure out what made the band work and what didn't work, so we could appreciate each other unconfused by these other issues. But, man, I need to breathe sometimes'.

Summers also explained why the tour had gone on as long as it had: "I'm in front of the stage and you literally see people break out into sobs or kiss each other and jump around expressing joy. It's been quite emotional in many ways'.

Copeland, who was very critical of the band’s early reunion shows, continued: "As we're getting more into it and less uptight about living the legend, it is actually becoming the stuff that got us here'.

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IRON MAIDEN APPEAL FOR STOLEN GUITAR
Iron Maiden are appealing for the return of a guitar stolen from the band’s Adrian Jackson after a show in Athens on Saturday night.

In a message on their official website, the band said: 'It will be extremely hard to get rid of as it's the only one in the world. There will be a reward of a Maiden tour jacket and I'm sure a hand written letter of thanks from Adrian for anyone with information leading to the recovery of the guitar'.

For more information on the appearance of the guitar, and how to contact the band with information, go here.

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STOLEN STOOGES VAN FOUND
Speaking of stolen musical equipment, the van stolen from The Stooges earlier this week has been recovered by police in Montreal. Although, there is still no sign of the tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment that had been inside. According to a police spokesman, the van was discovered just a few blocks away from where it was stolen.

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MORRISSEY DELAYS NEW ALBUM
Morrissey’s publicist has told Billboard that the singer’s new album, 'Years Of Refusal', originally slated for a September release, will now not hit the shelves until early next year. They did not elaborate further, but this would not be the first album this year to be pushed back because early distribution figures weren’t looking good. Not that I think that’s the case, obviously. Everyone loves Morrissey and wants his new album. He’s probably just too busy planning his 50th birthday party.

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ASHCROFT TO RETURN TO SOLO CAREER
Richard Ashcroft has told Radio 1's Zane Lowe that he will return to his solo career once his current commitment with The Verve are completed. Although, he did hint that The Verve would continue to work together, too.

The singer said: 'It seemed a shame to leave [The Verve] dormant when there is so much talent there. We're just taking it as it comes. We set ourselves a goal of being able to fulfil our summer dates. We're taking it to the album and we'll see how we do. We haven't got any major plans. I don't understand why The Verve aren't seen like the Wu Tang Clan, keeping it alive as a satellite, no matter what is going on around you, personally between each other. I don't see why this thing should have to be dormant because I will continue doing my solo stuff. I do buzz off doing stuff on my own, I have gained confidence with that, I've beaten a lot of cynics down. I'm in a very comfortable, good place in my mind about that'.

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JOHNNY FOREIGNER VIDEO BANNED
The video for Johnny Foreigner’s new single, 'Salt, Peppa & Spinderella' has been banned by MTV for breaching OfCom rules on strobing, fast cutting and flashing images, which may trigger epileptic seizures.

Writing on the band’s MySpace blog, frontman Alexei Berrow said: 'Do you like epilepsy? Cos MTV don't. Our lovely shiny video for 'Salt, Peppa & Spinderella' has been banned. For real. Even though we took the cocks out. Likely every other music channel will follow suit and eventually we'll have to take it down, too. But for now we'd like to invite everyone that likes our band but isn’t epileptic to watch it and not have some seizures, please'.

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LOS CAMPESINOS! ANNOUNCE SECOND ALBUM
Los Campesinos! have announced details of their second album, just five months after releasing their first. Still, if there’s one thing we all know about music, it’s that it’s impossible to over-expose yourself or saturate the market in these fruitful times. With that in mind, the band will release 'We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed' on 13 Oct.

The band told the NME that they had originally intended to record an EP, but couldn’t decide which tracks to use. They said: "It's no B-sides and rarities or 'songs that weren't good enough to be on the album cobbled together with some remixes and field recordings of Cardiff's indie scene'. It's ten all-new tracks that none of you have ever heard before. Sure, we considered re-releasing a radio-edit of 'You! Me! Dancing!' and trying to get famous and scraping another tour out of that, but our parents unanimously agreed that if we did they would never speak to us again'.

Tracklisting:

Ways To Make It Through The Wall
Miserabilia
We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed
Between An Erupting Earth And An Exploding Sky
You'll Need Those Fingers For Crossing
It's Never That Easy Though, Is It? (Song For The Other Kurt)
The End Of The Asterisk
Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown #1
Heart Swells/Pacific Daylight Time
All Your Kayfabe Friends

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MADONNA TOUR SETLIST REVEALED
The setlist for Madonna’s upcoming 'Stick & Sweet' (eugh, that name still makes me shudder, even now) has been leaked, reports The Sun. The show will apparently be split into four parts, with video interludes separating each section. There will also be a 'Romanian folk interlude', which sounds like the most ill-advised thing ever.

The tour kicks off in Cardiff on 23 Aug. Here’s the setlist:

Intro/Candy Shop
Beat Goes On
Human Nature
Vogue
Video Interlude
Into The Groove
Heartbeat
Borderline
She's Not Me
Music
Video Interlude
Devil Wouldn't Recognise You
Spanish Lesson
Miles Away
La Isla Bonita/Lela Pala Tute
Romanian folk interlude
You Must Love Me
Video Interlude
4 Minutes
Like A Prayer
Ray Of Light
Hung Up
Give It To Me

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BIFFY CLYRO ANNOUNCE UK TOUR
Glaswegian rockers Biffy Clyro have announced six tour dates for this December, culminating in a huge homecoming show at SECC in Glasgow. Following these shows, the band will take time off from touring to work on their fifth album. Tickets go on sale on Friday.

Tour dates:

14 Dec: Belfast, Mandela
15 Dec: Dublin, Academy
17 Dec: London, Brixton Academy
18 Dec: Birmingham, Academy
19 Dec: Manchester, Academy
20 Dec: Glasgow, SECC

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MYSTERY JETS CANCEL MORE DATES
The Mystery Jets have been forced to cancel more tour dates, while singer Blaine Harrison receives hospital treatment for foot injuries relating to his Spina Bifida.

In a post on the band’s MySpace blog, Harrison said: 'I am sat in hospital writing this from my bed, which is where I have been for the past seven days, and indeed will probably be for seven or so more. The reason I am here is due to pressure sores on my feet, which are common among people who suffer from my disability. My body finally gave in on our recent trip to play at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, where I came off stage and felt the most horrendous fever take over my body. One fifteen hour flight later and I came off the plane and straight to A&E, where the doctor (a stern Polish madam) put me straight on a ward, and advised, to my horror, that I kiss goodbye to any plans I had for the coming two or three weeks. At this point in time it is impossible to say when we will be back on full fighting form, but I'd say Reading and Leeds are definitely as good a goal as any'.

So, here are the cancelled dates:

7 Aug: Haldern Festival
8 Aug: Underage Festival
8 Aug: Rip Curl Boardmasters Festival
9 Aug: Field Day
10 Aug: Summer Sundae
15 Aug: Belfast, Custom House Square (supporting The Zutons)

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FUJIYA & MIYAGI ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM AND TOUR
Brighton smart popsters Fujiya & Miyagi will release their new album, 'Lightbulbs', on 1 Sep via Full Time Hobby. The band will also play a clutch of shows around the UK and Ireland that same month.

Tour dates:

18 Sep: Cork, Roisin Dubh
19 Sep: Galway, Cyprus Avenue
20 Sep: Dublin, Spiegeltent
21 Sep: Belfast, Stiff Kitten
24 Sep: London, Bush Hall
25 Sep: Manchester, The Deaf Institute
27 Sep: Glasgow, Stereo
3 Dec: Brighton, Pavillion Theatre

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NAT JOHNSON ANNOUNCES TOUR
Former Monkey Swallows The Universe singer Nat Johnson has announced that she will release her debut solo single, 'Dirty Rotten Soul', on 29 Sep. She will also play a small number of live shows to promote the release.

Tour dates:

24 Aug: Newcastle, Cumberland
27 Sep: Sheffield, Academy
28 Sep: London, Bush Hall

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DR DRE TO LAUNCH ALCOHOL BRAND
I can just see the meeting now. What new product shall we launch to coincide with Dr Dre’s new album, 'Detox'? Spa weekends? Bubble bath? Herbal teas, maybe? No, Dr Dre will shortly be launching his own cognac and 80 proof sparkling, flavoured vodka. Perfect.

The drinks will be launched as a joint venture between Drinks Americas and Interscope-Geffen-A&M.

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BRITNEY GETS TARANTINO ROLE
Britney Spears is reportedly set to play the leader of a gang of thrill-seeking go-go dancers in Quentin Tarantino’s remake of Russ Meyer’s cult 1965 film, 'Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!'

An 'insider' told The Mirror: "Quentin is convinced Britney will be brilliant. She's delighted. She thinks it could turn her career and her life around. It is perfect Tarantino material. He wanted to get Britney first. She's playing the most important character'.

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THINGS NOT SO HOT ON THE WHITE ISLE
If you’ve listening to Ibiza coverage on various radio stations this summer, then you’d probably assume that things are going very well on the island right now. But this is not so, says Ibiza-voice.com, who say that clubbers are having their pockets tightened by the downturn in the UK economy and aren’t taking that flight this year, forcing entrance fees to the big clubs to fall drastically.

In the site’s 'Bitch List' column, the site says: 'The scarcity of punters this year has really got the big discotecas coming up with some great ideas. The fall out is that entrance into many clubs is practically free. There are free invitation flyers everywhere for La Communidad and Louie Vega to name but two. Meganite and Monza have free guestlist access advertised on Ibiza Global Radio. For Supermartxe or Juicy at Amnesia, just turn up! Even Space has wristbands for all of its parties, which give access to the club for less than the price of a drink inside'.

Pacha’s Danny Whittle is nonetheless upbeat, recently telling Skrufff; 'Sure, there are a few less tourists on the island, but I think that’s the same for pretty much everywhere. I think we all know it is because of the situation on the global markets, the credit crunch and the pound’s weakness against the euro, there is really nothing surprising in it. However, in Pacha we are not seeing the downturn too much as a lot of our clients are the kind of people who are not too effected by these issues, the only difference for them is they may not be in St Tropez this year; they are in Ibiza and having a ball. We see Eden putting their prices down and offering free drinks, also Manumission doing the same and Privilege doing the same. We have kept our Friday nights the same entrance rate as last year and are breaking records so that just proves that a lot of people are not just looking for a cheap deal but have may already made their minds up on where they want to go regardless of cheap offers'.

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GOOGLE LAUNCH MUSIC SEARCH SERVICE IN CHINA
Google have launched a free music search service in China to compete with those slightly controversial MP3 search facilities offered by Yahoo! and Baidu in the country - ie a search engine that specifically searches for music files online. The difference between the Google service and those operated by Yahoo! China and Baidu, however, is that the Google service links to legit music sites only, whereas the Yahoo! and Baidu services have pissed off the record companies somewhat by also linking to illegal content sources. Google will also give a cut of ad revenue generated by the service to the labels, so everyone in record company land thinks they're great. And so do we. Of course, whether the Chinese music fans currently accessing all kinds of music via Baidu will agree and switch to the presumably less comprehensive but more legit Google service remains to be seen.

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VODAFONE LAUNCH NEW MUSIC SERVICE
Vodafone has launched a new music service called - following a flash of inspiration on the part of the phone firm's marketing people - Vodafone Music. It is, and I quote, "a new, simple way to allow customers to discover and buy music anytime and anyplace". So, that's something to get excited about, no?

Vodafone Head Of Music Tom McLennan said this: 'With Vodafone Music, customers will be able to make the most of the Vodafone Music store as well as gaining an entirely new musical experience on their phones. Our commitment to music and our handset technology allows for the ultimate user experience coupled with great value for money'.

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CHATTER GALORE ABOUT SONYBMG DEAL
Lots of chatter in the finance press about the Sony/BMG deal, mainly because everyone seems to think Sony Corp got a very good deal in getting the other half of the major record company for just $900 million (plus $300 million of SonyBMG money), and everyone might be right given Bertelsmann were thought to be asking for $1.5 billion, and bearing in mind they paid $3 billion back in 2002 just for Zomba which, though it did include some publishing catalogues since sold to Universal, was nowhere near as big as the BMG catalogues that Sony have just acquired.

The low price could have a bigger impact on other record companies than on Bertelsmann because it is making city types downgrade even further the value of the recordings business. Some reckon that could impact on Warner's share price, and on any efforts by Terra Firma and Guy Hands to share their EMI related debts. Time will tell I guess.

Meanwhile others have questioned why Sony Corp - despite the good price it got for the other half of SonyBMG - would want to expand its interests in the struggling record industry. The Wall Street Journal's Martin Peer and Thorold Barker offered this theory: 'Why would Sony want to double its exposure to recorded music when the industry is in disarray? Perhaps because there is one thing worse than owning a music company in today's brutal market: owning half of one… It is a bold bet for Sony. But at least it has given itself some room to maneuver in such a volatile industry by not overpaying. And who knows, maybe it will finally figure out how to have Sony music content benefit its electronics businesses".

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ANDI PETERS JOINS HEAT RADIO
Former 'Live & Kicking' presenter, Channel 4 yoof telly man and Top Of The Pops destroyer Andi Peters is joining Bauer owned digital station Heat Radio, the radio spin off of the c'leb mag. Bauer Radio National Radio Brands MD Mark Story confirmed the appointment yesterday, calling Peters a "great radio presenter, naturally able to capture the right balance of irreverence and knowledge, which will hit the right note with Heat Radio listeners".

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ALBUM REVIEW: Gramercy Arms – Gramercy Arms (Reveal Records)
Gramercy Arms should know better. They are a collective made up of members of Guided By Voices, Luna, Joan As Police Woman and The Dambuilders, and yet they appear to have hit far wide of the mark. Even at the album's brightest points it sounds like poor pastiche. The highlight, 'Looking At The Sun', is perfectly hummable, like a good mobile phone advert song, but it leaves no lingering taste. In fact, there is barely any taste to it. It is a truly dull affair, seemingly sold to us as a ruse by esteemed artists, watered down and made instantly marketable (at least this appears to be their plan) but in a way so horrible and against the quality song writing that these various artists are known for it beggars belief. At best it is a dull Jack Johnson; dry and unexciting, taking all the sheen out of breezy summer pop. Album opener 'Automatic' has already been released as a single and this fairs little better. Like The Dandy Warhols without the song writing, they are limp and lifeless as they chug despondently at their guitars with all the energy of a lame duck. It's not even that this album is so bad, it drifts along pleasantly enough but by the time it's over you are left questioning where's the melody? Where's the excitement of summer? Where's the bright, breezy pop we've been promised? It's like they are duping us, insulting our intelligence because they are renowned artists and they have that power, the bottom line however is that it is entirely uninteresting. SJS
Released Date: 4 Aug
Press Contact: Motion PR [all]

Buy from Amazon

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TOPSHOP DENIES LEWIS DESIGN JOB
According to reports in The Sun yesterday, Leona Lewis is set to meet with Topshop founder Philip Green later this month to discuss a deal for a range of clothes designed by the singer. However, a spokeswoman for the high street fashion store told Gigwise that they claims were 'unsubstantiated', saying: '[There is] nothing in place, no plans have been made'. So, er, good.

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MAROON 5 MAN TO QUIT MUSIC
Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine has said he will quit music in ten years, because he doesn’t want to be an old rocker. He told Rolling Stone: "I've spent my twenties on tour and there's no consistency in my life, which can take its toll. Eventually I want to focus on being a completely different person because I don't want to be doing this into my 40s and 50s and beyond, like the Rolling Stones. I don't want to give it up just yet, though - I think we have a little more to say'.

No, no, I think you’ve said plenty.

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LOHAN AND RONSON TO MARRY
Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson are reportedly set to marry later this year. In fact, if rumours are to be believed, the date will conveniently coincide with the release of Lohan’s new album in November.

A source said: 'They've been keeping the relationship quiet for months and trying to pass each other off as 'just good friends'. But they've decided it isn't a fling, it's for life - so they want to make their romance public. [Lohan’s mother] Dina is still working on the date of the party but it's looking like towards the end of the year'.

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RHIANNA AND CHRIS BROWN ENGAGED?
Well, it’s been a while since we’ve had one of them there wedding rumours and now here come two all at once. Rhianna, was photographed with a big diamond ring on her wedding finger this week, sparking rumours that she’s now engaged to fellow R&B singer, Chris Brown.

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MISSY ELLIOTT TO ADOPT
Missy Elliott says she is planning to adopt children, because she is to scared to actually give birth to any. The rapper said: 'I most definitely want kids, but I’ll probably adopt. I don’t know if I can take the kind of pain women go through with childbirth. Maybe in the year 2020 you could just pop a baby out and it’d be fine. But right now I’d rather just adopt'.

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RAP TURNS YOU INTO A MURDERER: OFFICIAL
Well, it turns out Tipper Gore was right to demand that CDs were slapped with those 'Parental Advisory' stickers. In an in depth article written for The Sun, Five Live presenter Dotun Adebayo has discovered that listening to rap, and specifically UK grime, will turn you into a murderer.

Adebayo listened to twelve hours of grime on Sunday and found that: 'After listening to this hybrid of hip-hop and garage music, I wanted to kill someone'. Although, he added: 'I wouldn’t, of course, because I don’t have a violent nature'. But wait: 'If that’s how it affects a forty-something man like me, what is it doing to your children?'

To further prove how bad things are, the article lists lyrics from The Supremes' 'Where Did Our Love Go?' (released in 1966), Bob Marley’s 'One Love' (1977) and NWA’s 'Straight Outta Compton' (1988), along with other rap and hip hop tracks that feature swearing and violent lyrics. Looks like they’ve got this one sewn up. Anyway, having listened to the NWA track in order to research this piece I'm now off to go and murder someone.

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