JERRY LEIBER DIES
Lyricist Jerry Leiber, who worked in partnership with pianist Mike Stoller to write songs including 'Jailhouse Rock' and 'Stand By Me', died from heart failure yesterday, aged 78.

Both born in 1933, Leiber and Stoller met in 1950, writing their first song together the same year, after discovering they had a shared love of rhythm and blues. Their first big success came three years later when their song 'Hound Dog', became a hit for Big Mama Thornton. However, the song's immortality was assured in 1956 when it was re-recorded by Elvis Presley. They went on to pen several more songs specifically for Elvis, including 'Jailhouse Rock'.

Also in 1954, the pair launched their own record label, Spark Records, which was then bought by Atlantic Records the following year, thanks to the success of one of their artists, The Robins. Leiber and Stoller then worked with a number of Atlantic artists, both as songwriters and producers, as well as those from other labels. In the Atlantic stable, they were particularly known for their work with the Drifters and The Coasters, the latter act featuring two members of The Robins.

Other songs written by Leiber and Stoller include The Coasters' 'Yakkety Yak', Ben E King's 'Stand By Me', The Clovers' 'Love Potion Number Nine', and Édith Piaf's 'L'Homme à la Moto' (a French translation of their song 'Black Denim Trousers And Motorcycle Boots', originally recorded by The Cheers).

Stoller's son, Peter, said in a statement yesterday: "Jerry's balance of natural talent and hard-won craftsmanship, of lightning wit and serious purpose, of compact form and complex content, made him not just the quintessential rock n roll lyricist, but the quintessential lyricist, period. In the history of popular songwriting, he has few equals; no superiors".

Leiber is survived by three sons and two granddaughters.

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NICK ASHFORD DIES
Motown songwriter Nick Ashford died yesterday, aged 70. He had been suffering from throat cancer.

Born in 1942 in South Carolina, Ashford began writing songs with his wife Valerie Simpson in the mid-60s, their early work including songs such as 'California Soul' for The Fifth Dimension. Their work with Ray Charles then brought them to the attention of Motown boss Ben Gordy, who brought them into the company in 1966.

Their first song for Motown was Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's 'You're All I Need To Get By', and they went on to write such classics as 'I'm Every Woman', 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough', 'Ain't Nothin Like The Real Thing' and 'Solid As A Rock'.

Although many of their songs were recorded by other artists, including Diana Ross and Chaka Khan, Ashford and Simpson also had success as performers themselves - 'Solid As A Rock' being one track they released themselves, as was 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough', though it was made more famous by Ross. Simpson also released three solo albums featuring their compositions.

More recently, they had continued to perform occasionally, and in 1996 opened a restaurant, The Sugar Bar, in New York, where they regularly put on showcases for emerging (and some more established) artists.

Ashford is survived by Simpson and their two daughters.

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AMY WINEHOUSE FOUNDATION OWNER "NOT ASHAMED"
The man who registered the name of the Amy Winehouse Foundation, blocking the singer's family from doing so, has said he is "not ashamed or embarrassed" after it emerged that donations to the proposed charity had been returned to fans.

As previously reported, Mitch Winehouse was forced to return cheque donations intended for the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which he announced he would set up in the wake of his daughter's death last month. Winehouse wrote on Twitter last week: "We all have to ... put pressure on this dickhead who stole our foundation name. Instead of concentrating on allocating funding I am having to send cheques back cos we haven't got [a] bank [account] in that name. Our solicitors are all over this, but it takes time. Meanwhile we can't get on with [the] foundation".

Martin McCann bought the domain name amywinehousefoundation.com hours after the announcement of plans to set up the charity were made. Then earlier this month, on 2 Aug, the day after Mitch Winehouse met with politicians to discuss better drug rehabilitation, McCann also registered the name Amy Winehouse Foundation Ltd with Companies House.

Speaking to The Sun, McCann said: "I'm not exploiting anything yet. I've just bought some domain names. Anybody could have. It only takes the click of a mouse. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed. Detach yourself from emotions and think business. [Mitch Winehouse] is making every effort to hijack this charity to satiate his own needs for the charity. She's not the only Amy Winehouse in the world".

He added that he would be willing to "come to an arrangement" with the singer's father, although only if he apologises for calling him a dickhead on Twitter. "I'm not the dickhead. The dickhead is sitting over there without the name in his possession", he mused.

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HEY, GUESS WHAT, LIL WAYNE'S BEEN SUED AGAIN
Having been sued in relation to pretty much every track on his album 'Tha Carter III' (well, several of them, anyway), people have now turned their attention to his forthcoming new LP, 'Tha Carter IV'. Well, one has.

Rapper Rich Rick claims that the beat on the third single from 'Tha Carter IV', 'How To Love', features a beat he purchased from producers Drummer Boyz at some point between 2006 and 2009. In legal papers filed last week at the LA County Superior Court, he claims that the producers then pitched the same percussion track to Wayne in November last year, accepting a 35% cut of royalties from any track in which it featured.

Rich Rick is now suing Wayne and the Drummer Boyz for breach of contract and fraud, seeking all of those royalties due to Drummer Boyz, plus 10%.

In other Lil Wayne news, the rapper was rushed to hospital on Sunday after he fell of a skateboard. A cut above his eye required nine stitches. He later tweeted: "Busted my fuggin head at the skate park! Nine stitches! Gnarly gash over my left eye!"

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BONO DENIES HEART SCARE
A spokesperson for Bono has denied rumours that he was recently hospitalised in Monaco after complaining of chest pains.

The rep admitted to Reuters that Bono had visited a hospital in Monaco last Wednesday, but it was for a routine check-up (possibly related to the back surgery he had earlier this year). They said: "Despite press stories to the contrary, Bono has not suffered a recent health scare. Reports of his being rushed to hospital for emergency treatment are untrue. Bono is in good health and enjoying a family holiday in the south of France".

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KAISER CHIEFS PREDICTED THE RIOTS
The Kaiser Chiefs have said that they predicted the recent riots in various cities in their song, 'I Predict A Riot'. I'm not sure the content of that song completely correlates with what happened earlier this month, but let's stick with it.

Guitarist Andrew White told NME.com: "It's funny, if you listen to our lyrics and give it a fucking chance, we did predict this. We sing about culture and the state of city centres and the state of society for five years".

Frontman Ricky Wilson added: "I was reading an article about a moaning old rock star who was saying that no one writes about culture anymore and I was thinking 'who are you listening to?'"

It's not just "moaning old rock stars"; NME editor Krissi Murison wrote a piece that appeared in The Guardian last week, in which she claimed that there are no bands (none whatsoever) making political music any more. You can read Murison's article here and oft political musician Chris T-T's very good response for the Morning Star here.

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GLASVEGAS NOT SPLITTING, DESPITE BEING DROPPED
Glasvegas have said that they plan to stay together, despite being dropped by Sony/Columbia earlier this year. Guitarist Rab Allen told NME.com that the band have "no need" for a record contract right now, anyway. Although they don't plan to go down the DIY route.

Allen said: "We're definitely not breaking up. We're thinking about what we want to do, which is probably why people think we're breaking up. People have come in about signing us, but there's no need for us to have a label right now. James [Allan] is writing the third album and when it's ready we'll probably sign. The people who want to sign us will still be there in four months time".

He added: "I think we need the support of a label, we were lucky because our label gave us support so we now don't need a label, but we're quite lazy and we don't like doing things ourselves, so we'll probably still use one. The label were great for some things and they were awful for some things".

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LOU REED AND METALLICA RELEASE (SOME) ALBUM DETAILS
Lou Reed and Metallica have launched a new website for their collaborative album. On it, they announce that the album will be available from 31 Oct, that it will be called 'Lulu', and three of its song titles.

As previously reported, the collaboration features recordings of songs Reed wrote for a Berlin stage adaptation of Frank Wedekind's turn-of-the-20th-century 'Lulu' plays, 'Earth Spirit' and 'Pandora's Box'. The stage show, also called 'Lulu', and directed by Robert Wilson, opened earlier this year.

Take a look at the website here: www.loureedmetallica.com

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BRETON RELEASE VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE
Art-pop peddlers Breton have unveiled a space-age video to accompany their new track 'The Commission', which is taken from the FatCat-signings' forthcoming debut album 'Other People's Problems'. Watch it below.

Also known as remix outfit BretonLABS, the band released much-lauded EP 'Counter Balance' last year via Untold imprint Hemlock Recordings, who were also responsible for James Blake recent twelve-inch, 'Order/Pan'.

'Other People's Problems' is scheduled for release next Feb.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLO4IeRb-lA

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OLLY MURS TOURS
If you haven't seen/heard quite enough of be-quiffed 'X-Factor' survivor Olly Murs and his new single 'Heart Skips A Beat' yet, here are some newly-announced Murs arena dates to marvel at:

1 Feb: Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
4 Feb: London, O2 Arena
7 Feb: Brighton, Centre
10 Feb: Birmingham, LG Arena
11 Feb: London, Wembley Arena
12 Feb: Sheffield, Motorpoint Arena
13 Feb: Nottingham, Capital FM Arena
15 Feb: Bournemouth, BIC
18 Feb: Manchester, MEN Arena
19 Feb: Liverpool, Echo Arena
21 Feb: Aberdeen, ECC
24 Feb: Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
25 Feb: Glasgow, SECC
28 Feb: Belfast, Odyssey
29 Feb: Dublin, O2 Arena

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SCROOBIUS PIP TOUR ANNOUNCED
Bearded MC Scroobius Pip has unveiled an intensive schedule of tour dates in support of his previously reported new LP 'Distraction Pieces'.

Take a glance at the video for album-opener 'Introdiction', which features Blink-182's Travis Barker on drums and 'The Fifth Element' actress Milla Jovovich on backing vocals, below.

Here are said tour dates:

25 Oct: Hull, Fruit
26 Oct: Aberdeen, The Tunnels
27 Oct: Liverpool, The Masque
28 Oct: Newcastle, O2 Academy
30 Oct: York, Fibbers
31 Oct: Stoke, The Sugarmill
1 Nov: Leeds, Cockpit
2 Nov: Sheffield, The Plug
3 Nov: Birmingham, O2 Bar Academy
4 Nov: Bristol, Croft
6 Nov: Norwich, The Waterfront
7 Nov: Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
8 Nov: London, Dingwalls
10 Nov: Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
11 Nov: Brighton, Coalition
12 Nov: Milton Keynes, The Craufurd Arms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_Gh8TWpQE8

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MJ HIBBETT BRINGS MOON HORSE TO LONDON
After a triumphant two week run at the Edinburgh Festival, MJ Hibbett is bringing his new show, 'Moon Horse Vs The Mars Men Of Jupiter', to the Camden Fringe this weekend.

The two man rock opera was recent called "amazing", "incredible" and "like two drunk dads picking up a guitar at a party" on Scott Mills' Radio 1 show. All of which it is. It's also very funny, and filled with songs that will jam themselves right into your brain.

The shows will take place on 26 and 27 Aug at the Camden Head, and tickets will cost you £5. You can find out more and watch some videos at www.moonhorse.net.

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PLEDGEMUSIC SCORES FIRST CHART HIT
Fan-funding facilitators PledgeMusic are celebrating the improbable commercial success of Charlie Simpson's debut solo album 'Young Pilgrim', which, despite having most of its stock destroyed in the recent riot-fuelled fires at Sony's DADC warehouse, entered the UK Album Chart at number six over the weekend.

'Young Pilgrim' received the majority of its funding via PledgeMusic, who orchestrated an interactive campaign whereby over 500 fans contributed costs in exchange for limited edition EPs and various other exclusives.

Craig Jennings, well-chuffed CEO of Charlie's management company Raw Power Entertainment, said this: "We are delighted to achieve a top ten album with 'Young Pilgrim', and it would not have been possible without PledgeMusic putting together such a great direct-to-fan plan to launch the project. This is an example of the PledgeMusic model working perfectly".

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MARY ANNE HOBBS SECURES NIGHTLY XFM SLOT
As of 5 Sep, Mary Anne Hobbs is set to revive Xfm's classic 'Music:Response' show, presenting a cross-genre array of guests, sessions and mixes from Monday to Thursday 8-11pm.

The former Radio 1 DJ, whose existing Saturday evening slot launched on Xfm earlier this year, had this to say of her new assignment: "This is such an exciting new challenge for me, an unprecedented opportunity to paint much broader brush strokes on primetime radio, and build on a lifetime's passion and hunger for new music".

Xfm Programme Director Andy Ashton seemed just as enthusiastic: "I cannot think of a better person than Mary Anne to spearhead a renewed focus on cutting edge new music in the evenings across the Xfm network. We're incredibly excited about the changes we've made across the schedule as we continue to deliver 'must listen' shows to our rapidly growing audience".

This seems like the perfect opportunity to listen to the Powers Of Ten playlist that Mary Anne put together for us earlier this year: www.thecmuwebsite.com/article/mary-anne-hobbs-powers-of-ten-playlist/

Other proposed reshufflings to the Xfm schedule include a new mid-morning show with Ian Camfield from 10am-2pm and a new drive-time show hosted by Eoghan McDermott from 5-8pm.

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HARD FI MAN UPSETS STAINES
A local councillor for Staines has denied claims made by the town's most famous son, Hard Fi frontman Richard Archer, that it is becoming "like a ghost town".

Archer told The Times: "Staines is in a dark place at the moment, like a ghost town. A lot of the bars are closing, Habitat went into administration, Jane Norman, Thorntons. It's all starting to fall to bits".

Councillor Colin Davies responded by saying: "Far from Staines being a 'ghost town', retail vacancy rates in Staines are running at 8% which is less than half the national average. This has not increased to any great extent during the poor economic climate, in contrast to many other towns".

So, that's him told. For those of you who have never set foot in the town that is Staines, I can inform you that the streets are paved with rainbows and no one has frowned there since 1976.

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