KISS DROPPED FROM MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE SHOW
The Michael Jackson tribute show being organised by the singer's mother Katherine, which is due to take place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in October, is proving controversial.

Before any bands had been booked, the singer's brothers Jermaine and Randy had said they thought scheduling the show on a date when the trial of the man accused of killing Michael, Dr Conrad Murray, is likely to still be in full swing was inappropriate. Then the co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate, John Branca and John McClain, released a statement confirming that they have no involvement in the event.

This week, fans were up in arms because Kiss were among the initial acts announced to play the event, alongside join Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green, Leona Lewis, JLS, Smokey Robinson, Craig David, Alien Ant Farm and Jacko's nephews 3T.

Katherine Jackson told CNN that Michael "would be very excited about Kiss". Though fans took to the internet in droves to point out that he might be slightly less excited following the interview Kiss bassist Gene Simmons gave to Classic Rock last year, in which he said: "There's no question in my mind [Michael Jackson] molested those kids. Not a doubt".

In fact, Simmons said considerably more than that. He told the rock magazine: "I knew Michael. I ran into him a few times. I met him the first time before he became the superstar, when he was sort of teenagey, when he was still a Jackson Five. But as time moved on, and no matter what my fond memories and fond images of Michael were, with one allegation of paedophilia after another and another and another... oh dear".

He added: "I knew some of the musicians he toured with, and specifically one who quit because of seeing boys coming out of the hotel rooms. And then you factor in that his travel agent was put on the stand and in court said that she was authorised to fly to Brazil and bring boys back to America for him... Well, you know, where there's smoke there's fire".

Michael Jackson was, of course, accused of child abuse a number of times. However, on the one occasion he faced trial in a court of law, he was cleared of all charges.

Yesterday, Chris Hunt, CEO of Global Live Events, the company putting together the show, said in a statement: "We have listened to Michael's fans and are grateful to have been alerted to these unfortunate statements by Gene Simmons. Under the circumstances, we fully agree that even though Kiss is a band Michael admired, we have no choice but to rescind our invitation to them to appear in our tribute concert".

According to Reuters, Howard Weitzman, a lawyer acting on behalf of McClain and Branca also wrote to Global Live Events saying that the executors of Jackson's estate were "disappointed" in the decision to book Kiss. The letter also raised questions about the event as a whole, noting that Jermaine and Randy Jackson were not supporting the concert and asking if all the acts announced had actually been booked. Weitzman wrote: "We are extremely concerned about Michael's legacy, his fans and the public-at-large".

As you may remember, Jermaine Jackson was behind plans to stage a tribute show for his brother in Vienna in 2009, but it all fell to pieces after half the acts announced to play told the press they'd agreed to no such thing. Jermaine then announced that the show was being moved to June 2010, though it never happened. Although he is clearly not involved with the latest planned tribute, and Global Live was not the promoter of either of the cancelled shows, the executors of the late king of pop's estate clearly aren't convinced that anyone in the Jackson family can pull it off.

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SYCO SETTLES WITH AVICII
Leona Lewis and her label, Simon Cowell's Sony imprint Syco, have settled out of court with Swedish producer Avicii over the use of his instrumental track, 'Penguin', as the basis for Lewis' new single, 'Collide'.

As previously reported, Avicii claimed that 'Penguin' was used without permission, and was doubly pissed off because he and his label, Ministry Of Sound, were preparing to release their own vocal version of the track, renamed 'Fade Into Darkness'.

When Avicii first began talking about legal action, Syco was quoted in the tabloids as saying that there was "zero legal case to answer" because "Avicii is already credited as a songwriter on Leona's song, it's a case of sour grapes from Ministry Of Sound". Lewis also insisted that Avicii had been aware of and had agreed to publishing splits for her version of the song.

Avicii's manager Ash Pournouri, however, issued a statement, saying: "We never got to hear the track before it was promoed on radio, how could we clear anything? We're not amateurs - we don't sign papers without knowing what we're getting into".

With a decision on whether or not Avicii should be granted an injunction barring Lewis from releasing the single due to be made by the High Court in London this week (and with the single's released date of 4 Sep fast approaching), Syco yesterday agreed a settlement with the producer. 'Collide' will now be released as planned, but further details of the agreement have not been disclosed.

In a statement, Syco said: "It is announced today that Leona Lewis and Avicii will work together on the forthcoming single of 'Collide'. 'Collide' will be released on 4 Sep. Since getting its first radio play in the UK it has received rave reviews and is already topping club charts across the country".

Avicii said via Twitter: "We've finally come to an agreement with Leona on all the issues. So happy to move on and focus on hit making!"

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ORIGINAL BLACK SABBATH LINE-UP NOT REUNITING
Despite reports to the contrary, Black Sabbath's original line-up - Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward - have not reunited to record a new studio album and tour. So says Iommi, anyway. And I guess he'd probably know.

The Birminghma Mail quoted Iommi as saying yesterday: ''We're really looking forward to it and I think the stuff we've been writing is really good. It's more back to the old original stuff. It's all been very hush-hush. Ozzy's been the worst at trying to hold it back. He's doing a lot of TV and he's being asked stuff about a reunion and he's going: 'Well, I never say never'. He told me: 'I don't know what to say'".

But last night, Iommi issued a statement on his official website saying: "I'm saddened that a Birmingham journalist whom I trusted has chosen this point in time to take a conversation we had back in June and make it sound like we spoke yesterday about a Black Sabbath reunion. At the time I was supporting the Home Of Metal exhibition and was merely speculating, shooting the breeze, on something all of us get asked constantly: 'Are you getting back together?'"

He continued: "Thanks to the internet, it's gone round the world as some sort of 'official' statement on my part, absolute nonsense. I hope he's enjoyed his moment of glory, he won't have another at my expense. To my old pals, Ozzy, Geezer and Bill, sorry about this, I should have known better".

Earlier this year, Geezer Butler also issued a statement denying rumours that the original Sabbath members were getting back together after he told a US radio station that "we are all talking, we are all friends", which was construed to mean an album and tour was in the offing.

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LIL WAYNE AND DRAKE PLANNING FURTHER COLLABORATIONS
Having collaborated on Wayne's 'Tha Carter IV' track 'She Will', Lil Wayne and Drake are reportedly planning to record an entire album together. This decision could, perhaps, in some way have been influenced by the success of Kanye West and Jay-Z's 'Watch The Throne', or it might just be because they really want to work together. Stop being so cynical, you.

Anyway, Cash Money Records boss Bryan 'Birdman' Williams told XXL recently: "Wayne and I recently talked about [Drake and Wayne recording together]. That's definitely going to get done".

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COREY TAYLOR AND DUFF MCKAGAN TO WORK TOGETHER
Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor and former Guns N Roses bassist Duff McKagan are planning to work together in the future. But not as Velvet Revolver. Taylor was mooted as the possible long-awaited replacement for former vocalist Scott Weiland earlier this year, but it was not to be.

Speaking to Blink 182's Mark Hoppus on his Fuse TV show, Taylor said: "I'm not singing with Velvet Revolver. We were doing some writing and doing some jamming and what-not, but it just seemed like there were different ideas as to what they wanted to do. And it was completely mutual; it was all good. I just love the fact that I got to hang out with people I grew up listening to".

He continued: "Me and Duff will probably do some stuff later. Me and him, we really hit it off, and we're really close, and we started writing songs together, and we've got some really good stuff. So, you never know. There might be a mystery supergroup out there - me and Duff and some other weird people - making some weird music that people are, like: 'What?! That's them?!' So, yeah, maybe. We'll see what happens".

As previously reported, Weiland himself is the latest person to be rumoured to replace, er, Weiland.

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DAVID LYNCH DETAILS DEBUT LP
Film director turned avant-dance act David Lynch is to release his debut solo album 'Crazy Clown Time' on 8 Nov through Sunday Best. All tracks were written, produced and performed by Lynch, who collaborates with Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs fame on opening song 'Pinky's Dream'.

Here's the tracklist:

Pinky's Dream
Good Day Today
So Glad
Noah's Ark
Football Game
I Know
Strange And Unproductive Thinking
The Night Bell With Lightning
Stone's Gone Up
Crazy Clown Time
These Are My Friends
Speed Roadster
Movin On
She Rise Up

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FINDERS KEEPERS ADOPT MAKE DO AND MEND POLICY POST-[PIAS] FIRE
As part of an admirably resilient scheme to raise funds in the wake of last week's [PIAS] warehouse fire, rarities-purveyor Finders Keepers has plotted a series of ten 'Make Do And Mend' compilations of exclusive and previously unreleased tracks. Each edition will be supervised by affiliates of the label, with Gruff Rhys, Demdike Stare and David Holmes amongst the list of curators.

Jarvis Cocker takes the helm on volume one of the series, which is priced at £5 in CD format, or £4.50 digitally. A tracklist and full details can be found here.

A Finders Keepers representative told CMU: "In response to the Finders Keepers/Twisted Nerve/Bird/Battered Ornaments stock loss in the [PIAS] warehouse fires caused by rioting on 8 Aug a few of our close labelmates have come together to compile some of their favourite moments from the Finders Keepers family discography. [The series of 10 compilations is] now ready to order directly from the website and like-minded retailers in a bid to ease us back onto our feet releasing fantastic obscure and obsolete music as soon as possible".

www.finderskeepersrecords.com/discog_make_do.html

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BOWIE HAS RETIRED, CLAIMS BIOGRAPHER
Anyone waiting for a new album or tour from David Bowie might want to occupy themselves with something else for a bit, if claims made by the the author of a new book on the musician are true.

Speaking to Spinner about his new book, 'David Bowie: Starman', former editor in chief at Mojo, Paul Trynka said: "My heart says he'll come back, [but] my head says he's likely not to. I think he would only come back if he thinks he could deliver something that will be seismic. If you pop back into the stage, it's got to be something that has a big explosion and lots of flashes. It would be a bit of a miracle if he comes back, but miracles do happen".

Bowie has not released a new studio album since 2003's 'Reality', and has not performed live since November 2006 when he performed a duet with Alicia Keys at her Black ball event in New York, which raised money for AIDS orphans in Africa. He completed his last full tour in 2004.

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NEW JAMES BLAKE TOUR DATES
James Blake, whose subtle, cerebral mastery of silence and noise on his eponymous debut LP earned a place on this year's Mercury Music Prize shortlist, has celebrated this latest critical coup by announcing a few fresh tour dates.

These look thus:

25 Nov: Leeds, Leeds University
26 Nov: Manchester, Warehouse Project
29 Nov: Bristol, Anson Rooms
30 Nov: London, The Forum

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THE DRUMS TO TOUR
Surf-pop sect The Drums have announced a series of headlining UK dates surrounding the release of their new album 'Portamento', which is due out via Island Records/Moshi Moshi on 5 Sep.

Tour dates:

28 Nov: Birmingham, The Library
29 Nov: Newcastle, Academy
30 Nov: Leeds, Metropolitan University
3 Dec: Glasgow, ABC
4 Dec: Edinburgh, Picture House
5 Dec: Cambridge, The Junction
6 Dec: Portsmouth, Pyramids Centre

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COSMO JARVIS TO TOUR IN SUPPORT OF DEBUT LP
Stephen Fry-endorsed indie sort Cosmo Jarvis has announced that he will release his debut album, 'Is The World Strange Or Am I Strange?', via 25th Frame Productions on 26 Sep. Watch the video for latest single 'My Day', due out on 19 Sep, below.

Following an appearance at Manchester's Pride festival on 27 Aug, where lead 'Strange' single 'Gay Pirates' should go down an absolute treat, Cosmo's LP-promoting tour will wind its way about the following venues:

14 Sep: Leicester, The Musician
15 Sep: Birmingham, Rainbow
16 Sep: York, Fibbers
17 Sep: Glasgow, King Tut's
20 Sep: Exeter, The Cavern Club
21 Sep: Bristol, The Fleece
22 Sep: Poole, Mr Kyp's
23 Sep: Brighton, The Green Door Store
24 Sep: London, The Borderline
26 Sep: Nottingham, Bodega Social Club
27 Sep: Manchester, Night and Day
29 Sep: Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
30 Sep: Coventry, Casbah

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q69Y_vOgiD0

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SINGLE REVIEW: Erland And The Carnival - This Night (Full Time Hobby)
Erland And The Carnival's guitarist, Simon Tong (yeah, the one out the Verve and The Good, The Band And The Queen), sums up this single as having "lyrics shamelessly borrowed from Morrissey and Lionel Bart's Oliver, the music is part the Strokes first album, part Television and part Banana Splits theme music". Which, frankly, sounds rather brilliant.

And it doesn't disappoint. The frantic psychedelia of 'This Night' is at once instantly gratifying and intriguingly unfathomable. Folky widdle-diddles and stop-start tempo rollicks into a tankard swilling, tavern brawl offset with the delicate high-pitched swirls and rich vocals.

Though it's undoubtedly stuck in a wilful 60s time-capsule, ultimately, 'This Night' is refreshingly honest and deliciously poppy. To return to Tong's quote - please, sir, can we have some more? EG

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BBC AGREES SALE OF MAGAZINES
The BBC's commercial wing has agreed to sell its magazine publishing business to Exponent Private Equity for £121 million. As previously reported, BBC Worldwide confirmed that Exponent, which owns the media and PR information service Gorkana, was favourite to buy BBC Magazines back in May. However, the deal still requires Office Of Fair Trading approval before it can finally go through.

The Beeb put its magazine business up for sale last amid calls from government and other media owners that the Corporation's commercial division should focus more on broadcasting ventures. There was a lot of interest in some of the company's key titles, but Worldwide said it wanted to sell the whole business to one buyer. Talks with both Haymarket and Bauer faltered.

John Smith, the chief executive of BBC Worldwide told reporters yesterday: "The deal announced today offers the best prospects for the magazines business to continue on this path of success, while BBC Worldwide pursues a strategy increasingly focused on international video and digital services".

Among the titles to sold are Top Of The Pops and The Radio Times, the latter of which has been published by the BBC since 1923.

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PITCHFORK TURNS FIFTEEN
Pitchfork has reached it fifteenth birthday, which hardly seems possible but it's true.

Writing on the website, founder Ryan Schreiber said: "A decade and a half feels like an eternity on the internet. In the late summer of 1996, when Pitchfork launched as a daily music review site, the web itself had just turned five, and the tools that now power our daily online lives - search engines, social networks, and MP3s - were either embryonic or years away from invention. In its infancy, the web essentially served one purpose: to provide its users with a platform to self-publish material that could be accessed by anyone with a connection. It's easy to take that ability for granted today, but to a kid from Minnesota who had dreamed for years of one day starting his own music publication, it was revolutionary".

This week, the site is publishing a series of features on its history, and the lives of some of its favourite artists in that time, as well as showcasing some key articles from the last fifteen years. You'll find all that collated here: pitchfork.com/features/articles/8015-introducing-pitchfork-at-15/

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MR TRICK AND WRONGTOM RETURN TO THE AIRWAVES
It's now nearly two years since one of our favourite radio shows, 'Mr Trick And Wrongtom On Your Radio', disappeared from the Resonance FM schedule. That's nearly two years of feeling like we actually know a little bit about music. Thankfully, all that is to end later this month, when they will be making us feel stupid on a weekly basis once again. God, I've missed them.

Supported by clothing brand Fly53, the pair will broadcast from their new studio in Soho via Ustream from 7pm on 31 Aug. The show will then appear on Mixcloud and as a podcast.

Explaining their absence, some sort of disembodied voiceover boomed into our office yesterday: "Early this year, Wire and Guardian scribe Joe Muggs tracked the pair down to a small corner of Soho. Trick had sold his record collection and, in sheer desperation, was forced to take a job in the music industry. Tom refused to confirm rumours that he'd buried his prized records under Waterloo Bridge, but did admit that he'd remixed records for food".

The voice continued: "Taking pity on the pair, Joe made some calls to see what could be done. A studio was cobbled together and clothes legends Fly53 stepped in to support the beleaguered presenters before they descended into a vortex of White Lightning and Happy Shopper tea".

Mr Trick added: "This is a show about being a music fan; about hearing those glorious curveballs that blow your mind and the stories around them. It's not about hearing things you know - it's about hearing music you've never heard of and wanting to know more about it immediately".

Find out more and listen live when the time comes at www.mrtrickandwrongtom.com.

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SEARCH ON FOR WINEHOUSE TV SERIES STAR, APPARENTLY
According to The Sun, the race is on to find a star for a TV drama about the life of Amy Winehouse.

A "family source" told the tabloid: "The feeling is there wouldn't be an actress under 30 who wouldn't want to play her. The first job is to get financial backing from co-production companies in the States. Some are showing interest because it's a sure-fire money-spinner. They know anything Amy-related is going to be a huge success".

Just to remind you, Amy Winehouse died less than four weeks ago.

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