Hawley and Christie

Richard speaks on his new Sheffield based project with Tony Christie

31 July 2008 - Sheffield has been churning out quality musicians for decades and some of the city's favourites are being brought together by Richard Hawley.

They will contribute to the new Tony Christie album which Hawley is producing called Made in Sheffield .

Sheffield United

Speaking exclusively to 6 Music, Hawley told us how he was brought on board: "Tony basically approached me a while back. He liked a song of mine called Coles Corner. He liked the sound of it and wanted to make some music like it. So I suggested we did an album of Sheffield songwriters."

The record is an all Sheffield affair and features as yet unheard songs written by Jarvis Cocker, and covers by the Arctic Monkeys and The Human League.

Jarvis Onboard

Hawley said it was exciting to hear songs by these artists recorded in a completely new way: "We've done a version of the only ones who know by the Arctic Monkeys which is quite radically different from their version.

"Jarvis has written a song as well. It's quite an eclectic bunch of writers but we’ve got really excited about hearing songs done in a really different context and just hearing how exciting Tony's voice still is. He's an amazing singer."

He told us how he rounded up this star studded cast: I've actually spoken to each of the artists personally and asked their permission just so they'd be enthusiastic about it. And everyone I've spoken to seems to be mad for it and are really excited about hearing their own music in a completely different context."

Coles Corner Make-Over

Even one of his own songs is getting a make-over. Something he wasn't so sure about at first: "He [Tony] wanted to do a version of Coles Corner and I felt a bit uncomfortable about it at first but we did it and it sounds ok. There's a song that me and Jarvis co-wrote years and years ago called Born To Cry that’s a monster actually. But I'm not going to give it all away."

Not everyone writing and performing on the record is well known and Hawley said it was a good chance to give undiscovered local talent some exposure.

"Some of the writers are very obscure and they've never had the breaks they deserve," he said. "So, it's an honour to put them forward. I was just aware that there was a lot more to Sheffield than means the eye and a lot of songwriters from Sheffield who'd never got a break. So doing an album of all Sheffield artists just seemed to anchor the album and give it a focus."

"Tony basically appraoched me a while back. He liked a song of mine called Coles Corner."
Richard Hawley

Hawley has always been a fan of Christie and he reckons this is an important album for the Amarillo singer.

He said: "I think this record is like a legacy album for Tony as well. Because we all know that Tony is a legend. He's more well known for doing the Peter Kay charity record but I just wanted to re-set the balance and set the record straight. He's an artist that needs to be thought about really seriously."

And as for the title, he explained: "Just so many of my mates had 'Made In Sheffield' tattooed on the back of their necks when they were at school. So I thought it seemed appropriate. In honour of this record, I might get a tattoo saying 'Made In Sheffield' on the back of my neck."

New material

In between touring and producing for Christie, Richard Hawley has also been finding time to write more of his own songs.

When we asked him if he'd be going back in the studio soon, he said he's having a break and then added: "September or October I'm going to start another record."

Hawley's got plenty of new material but it might not all make the final cut: "It’s the same as always. I've got loads of stuff written but as soon as we start recording I'll probably bin it all off and write new stuff. It's not that I'm not enthusiastic about the stuff I've written its just that I like things to be super fresh."

Elizabeth Alker

Drummond's project

Ever controversial singer/author still at war with the music industry

31 July 2008 - Ex-KLF star and musical revolutionary Bill Drummond releases his latest book, 17 , today (31 July) - about how he thinks recorded music should be made a thing of the past.

As someone who once burnt one million pounds, fired a machine gun (full of blanks) into a crowd and dumped a dead sheep at a Brit Awards aftershow, Drummond is no stranger to bold and controversial statements.

Drummond’s controversial behaviour started with his stadium rave duo The KLF, as he and his cohort Jimi Cauty mixed punk shock-terrorism with late 80’s acid house.

Before they retired in 1992 they deleted their entire back catalogue, saying they’d never release again until world peace was declared.

His new book documents his latest project Derby 17 - which involves a one-off live performance by groups of 17 diverse people, who record a choral piece of music, listen back to it and then instantly delete it.

The book also includes autobiographical elements, something that was cathartic for him to write, as he said: “I used this book to say everything I’ve ever wanted to say about music, you know? I felt I wanted to get it all out of my system.”

The South Africa-born and Scotland raised singer/songwriter/producer/writer explained how a turning point in his musical career was first listening to Strawberry Fields by The Beatles - because it opened his mind to a whole new music world.

But more recently, he cut up his ancient 45 of the song, and he told 6 Music of how he wanted to go even further.

“What I wanted to do then was completely rid the world of Strawberry Fields forever actually completely take it so none of us could ever, ever hear it again,” Drummond said. “Now I know that’s impossible but I just love the concept that to hear it you have to somehow build it up from your imagination or memory.”

"What I wanted to do then was completely rid the world of Strawberry Fields forever so none of us could ever, ever hear it again."
Bill Drummond

Disillusioned with new music

Telling 6 Music about the moment he decided to forsake CDs, Drummond explained that it happened while he was out shopping.

“I was in Oxford Street, the flagship HMV record shop there,” he said. “I was gonna go in, I didn’t know what I was gonna get but I wanted to get a CD or two and I just see it, aisle upon aisle, rack upon rack and I knew whatever I got once I got it home - it wouldn’t be what I wanted.

After he decided recorded music was over Drummond gave his entire record collection to Oxfam, and vowed never to listen to a CD again.

He said he finds all current recorded music a big disappointment: “I’ve never understood it, why a bunch of lads form a band just to sound like another band, it just doesn’t compute with me.

“I’ve always thought you’ve gotta be taking a risk and if you know what you’re doing, you’re obviously going in the wrong direction.”

He concluded: “It wouldn’t open another door in my head that I hadn’t been into before.”

This 17 project has been going on for about 4 years around Europe and a bit in the UK - but its most ambitious moment yet is the Derby 17 project, which culminates in August.

Georgie Rogers

The Coral exclusive

Frontman speaks on new singles collection and Bill’s departure from the band

30 July 2008 - The Coral played to a small crowds at London’s Coliseum Theatre last night (29 July), home of the English National Opera.

6 Music caught up with the vocalist and guitarist James Skelly beforehand, who says it's great playing such an interesting venue, but is also a bit strange.

“I’ve never played an all seated place before but I suppose it's different, he said, “We’ve played stadiums in Cardiff, and then we played to 250 in Birmingham in a little club the other night - there’s pros and cons to both of it.”

As for whose idea was it to book them into the unique venue, Skelly held their manager responsible.

Skelly said: “He just said there’s this venue and he just thought it’d be good to get the songs across in the acoustic way – well, there is a bit of electric guitar in it – but to try and get the songs across in that way would be good for us.”

He said it keeps the band on their toes: “We needed to do something different, we’ve been playing Academy’s and that for about 8 years now, so it’s good to have a change.”

Skelly reckons it's important to keep things acoustic sometimes, and explained why: “You can strip it down to its bare minimum and it has still got that charm as a song, it’s not just tricks.”

Their August 2007 album Roots and Echoes was critically acclaimed, which pleased Kelly, as he said: “It did get really good reviews. You always look back and think, ‘shoulda done that, woulda done that’, but I’m proud of all the albums we’ve done.”

"It was kinda like making two albums with your hands ties behind your back in a way.  It wasn’t his fault but we had to finish it without him."
James Skelly

Looking back

As for the singer’s favourite album in their back catalogue, he said their 2002 self-titled debut holds a special place for him.

“It’s always gonna be your first one, it took about 20 years to write it. Dunno whether it’s the best album but it was the most important, probably got the most people into us and it sold the most,” Skelly told 6 Music.

And as for their most difficult albums to make, he said the last two The Invisible Invasion and Roots and Echoes were the most testing: “It was kinda like making two albums with your hands tied behind your back in a way.”

Half way through recording their guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones left the band.

Skelly said: “It wasn’t his fault but we had to finish it without him and your head’s everywhere.  It was a bit of a shock and the next time he came back, but everyone knew it wasn’t right and we had to make the best of it.

However, despite some lows, the Merseyside rockers' frontman said he’s found the process of making their newest album much easier.

Singles collection and documentary

The Coral release a singles collection on 15 September. The frontman said it will be teamed with another disc with 10 unreleased tracks, “live stuff” and demos from when they first started in 1996.

They’ve consistently had chart success with 8 Top 40 singles and 4 Top 5 albums.

Turning to why they decided to compile this collection, Skelly explained: “Our guitarist left so we took a bit of time out, but you lose your confidence when you take time out. We had the last two albums cut short, did one tour and then that was it, it was over.

“So, we need to get a bit of momentum really, and remind people how good we are - get a platform for the next album to go out on. It’s a good way to put a full stop on, it’s a new band now.”

With almost 12 years and a fair share of experience behind them, we asked Skelly if the band go about things differently now.

He responded: “Now, we approach things the way we used to, when you’re a group of mates playing music. I think it became like being in a band for a bit and I didn’t like being in a band that much to be honest.”

The band also aiming to release a documentary  for fans at some point, which Skelly said has been shot since they were 16 years old – and has provided amusement when they’ve watched the footage back,.

James Skelly on Arctic Monkeys

Alex Turner and Co. have formerly said that The Coral have been a great influence on them.

As to whether he can hear The Coral’s influence in the Monkeys' music, Skelly said: “It’s not for me to say, they’re a good group but if someone says that and likes you, then it’s good. It’s what you do it for.”

Georgie Rogers

Phil Spector trial

His lawyers are arguing for a simple charge of murder or acquittal

29 July 2008 - It’s the first pre-trial hearing of Phil Spector’s 2 ^nd trial today (29 July) and the Defence are arguing that the jury shouldn't be allowed to consider a lesser charge of manslaughter.

The music producer is accused of shooting an actress, Lana Clarkson, who was found dead in his Alhambra, Californian home in 2003.  He claims that she committed suicide.

Spector's first trial in 2007 ended with a hung jury – after Judge Larry Paul Fidler refused to allow his jury to consider a charge of involuntary manslaughter when it struggled to make a decision.

This has now become part of Spector’s Defence’s position, as they argue that this is as good as an acquittal for the manslaughter charge - and therefore due to the rules of double jeopardy, the producer can’t face the same counts again.

Prosecutors have hit back at the latter claiming it, "flies in the face of logic and law".

They stated: "The court never impliedly or otherwise factually acquitted (the) defendant of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter."

"It’s the central focus of his existence right now, defending himself against these charges."
Phil Spector's lawyer

We hear from Spector’s lawyer

Speaking exclusively to 6 Music, Dennis Riordan - who is representing Spector - explained their position: “One of the issues is whether he should be tried on the issue of manslaughter charges as opposed to the murder charge because of double jeopardy issues.

“It’s a little complicated, it doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t face the murder charge but it would mean that it would be murder or an acquittal as opposed to the Jury considering intermediate charges.”

The Defence are also arguing against some of the woman that have testified against Mr Spector - who in the 1st trial claimed they experienced violence from him.

Riordan says their testimony is irrelevant: “Yes, there is a motion to exclude testimony of uncharged and unrelated events.”

As previously reported

Meanwhile Prosecutors from Los Angeles District Attorney’s office in the murder retrial are arguing that jurors should be able to hear testimonies presented by forensic experts, on the blood evidence and the autopsy of the actress.

Phil Spector’s state

And as for how the producer is coping, Riordan said the case, and clearing his name, is currently his prime focus.

“I’m sure for anyone facing a murder charge, it’s a most grave and serious situation. He’s no different from anyone else in that regard. It’s the central focus of his existence right now, defending himself against these charges,” he explained.

The actual retrial is scheduled for the end of September in Los Angeles.

Georgie Rogers

Winehouse fame

Singer's manager says drug use is symptom of her failure to cope with fame

27 July 2008 - Amy Winehouse's manager, Raye Cosbert, has told a Sunday paper that he thinks Amy's drug use is down to her inability to cope with fame.

He also said that her high profile combined with her sociable nature has led to conflict with the media. "Amy is a public person," he told the Sunday Times "She's not like your usual reclusive star. She likes ordinary people. She likes playing pool with the bin men in her local. If she could take the Tube everywhere she would. She feels deeply uncomfortable in the world of VIP celebrity."

He lamented: "It's unfortunate that you can't teach somebody how to deal with fame."

Apparently Amy envies the drummer of the Arctic Monkeys - despite the band’s spectacular success, his place at the back of the stage affords him anonymity.

The article then goes on to quote Amy’s father, Mitch Winehouse, who recalled her reaction to her Somerset House gig in London last summer - apparently, she was baffled by the size of the audience: “She said to me, 'Dad, what are all these people doing here?' She didn't get it. She didn't understand that she was the Number 1 recording star in the world and that everyone wanted to see her."

According to the article, Amy also wishes she could have a lower public profile, and has spoken to friends about how much she envies the drummer of the Arctic Monkeys - despite the band’s spectacular success, his place at the back of the stage affords him anonymity.

Victoria Hannaford

Amy's fame

Singer's manager says drug use is symptom of her failure to cope with fame

27 July 2008 - Amy Winehouse's manager, Raye Cosbert, has told a Sunday paper that he thinks Amy's drug use is down to her inability to cope with fame.

He also said that her high profile combined with her sociable nature has led to conflict with the media. "Amy is a public person," he told the Sunday Times "She's not like your usual reclusive star. She likes ordinary people. She likes playing pool with the bin men in her local. If she could take the Tube everywhere she would. She feels deeply uncomfortable in the world of VIP celebrity."

He lamented: "It's unfortunate that you can't teach somebody how to deal with fame."

Apparently Amy envies the drummer of the Arctic Monkeys - despite the band’s spectacular success, his place at the back of the stage affords him anonymity.

The article then goes on to quote Amy’s father, Mitch Winehouse, who recalled her reaction to her Somerset House gig in London last summer - apparently, she was baffled by the size of the audience: “She said to me, 'Dad, what are all these people doing here?' She didn't get it. She didn't understand that she was the Number 1 recording star in the world and that everyone wanted to see her."

According to the article, Amy also wishes she could have a lower public profile, and has spoken to friends about how much she envies the drummer of the Arctic Monkeys - despite the band’s spectacular success, his place at the back of the stage affords him anonymity.

Victoria Hannaford

Samples exclusive

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip speak exclusively about getting the nod from Radiohead

28 July 2008 - The new single from Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip’s debut album Angles , Letter From God To Man, is released today (28 July).

It borrows heavily from Radiohead’s Planet Telex, which is the opening track of their 1995 album, The Bends .

When we caught up with the duo, they told 6 Music they had a ramshackle approach to getting clearance to use the Radiohead sample.

Dan Le Sac said: “We weren’t clever enough to go directly to Radiohead at first, we just kinda found out about people who work with people, who work with them, and just passed the track all over the place. We gave it to a guy who’s Thom Yorke’s art agent – anyone.”

Scroobius Pip, and his usual humour, interjected: “We stood in Oxford givin’ it to anyone going; ‘Have that, anyone know Thom Yorke?’

Despite giving it to Radiohead’s people, they said they hadn’t really expected to get clearance for it.

Scroobius Pip explained: “It was kind of at the point where we were throwing in the towel on it and thinking it was over that we got an email saying, ‘They’re having a listen to it Tuesday and we’ll let you know Wednesday’.

“We were like, ‘Oo, er, what, your getting the band? Right. Ok.’ Because we were resigned to the fact that it would be a live favourite and never be released.”

Even though they got the green light from Radiohead via a text message, they’re still not sure what Radiohead think of their song.

“We still never found out if they are really into it or not, we didn’t get any more detail or critique, it was simply; ‘You have artist approval’,” said Scroobius Pip.

"It was at the point where we were throwing in the towel on it and thinking it was over that we got an email."
Scroobius Pip

Getting involved with samples

They mused on the samples that first caught their ear tossing names like Portishead and Tricky into the mix, to which Scroobius Pip then said: “We talk such a load of rubbish, the first one was blatantly Ice Ice Baby, think of something more credible quick – it was definitely Ice Ice Baby.”

Both were agreed in the opinion that samples can be hugely influential.

Dan Le Sac said: “There’s one we sampled – Billy Squier’s Big Beat – for Fixed which Dizzee Rascal used with the vocal, which Jay-Z used for 99 Problems.

“It’s just got this break that everybody’s used and it’s so nice to see that you can re-use these things and people put their own slant on it.”

The duo also think that samples can introduce listeners to new artists.

“My view on sampling is that it’s not always this negative, lazy thing,” Dan Le Sac explained. “You’re not just taking something and trying to trade off what the previous band did, because so many samples and covers, to an extent, actually open peoples’ eyes to who’s be sampled.”

The good and the bad of sampling

Dan Le Sac believes that the quick turnaround of artists using samples of other artists, can only be a good thing.

He said: “What I love about samples is how quickly they are coming around again - like Kanye West with the Daft Punk sample, you’re talking a three year gap.

“It’s quite nice that people are willing to be bold with it and not just trying to slip something in.”

But as, Scroobius Pip described, there are examples where sampling has gone horribly wrong.

He used a track from Kanye West’s second album, where the American rapper sampled Gill Scott-Heron’s Home Is Where The Hatred Is, as a reference point, saying: “Kanye made his name as an amazing producer, but on that track he basically played Home Is Where The Hatred is and just rapped in the gaps in it.”

Scroobius Pip continued: “That’s what you do when you’re starting out and you’ve got no beats and you’re doing mix tapes and you can’t afford much. It’s like, he’s one of the biggest acts in the world, clearly a great producer, and he was just taking a brilliant track and saying stuff in the gaps.”

Scroobius Pip’s anecdotes

You can always rely on the pair to tell an amusing tale. When chatting to 6 Music Scroobius Pip regaled us with a recent gig occurrence.

He said: “I hit someone in France and it was described in the press as ‘I Winehoused someone’, because I stage dived at a gig and someone nicked my wallet. I found the guy afterwards and ‘Winehoused’ him apparently – but I thought that was a beautiful terminology.”

He also described a random meeting he had with Badly Drawn Boy in Wolverhampton: “I met him in the street once and he said I could have a guest list to his gig if I told him where the nearest Pool Hall was, if I went there and beat him I could have unlimited guest list but I declined because I was going home to watch my Alan Partridge DVD.”

Georgie Rogers

Rogue's hit stage

Swashbuckling string of stars perform an album of pirate songs and shanties

25 July 2008 - Tracks from the album Rogue’s Gallery are being performed live by Lou Reed, Pete Doherty, Oscar winning actor Tim Robbins and Mercury nominee Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, at three special shows in Dublin, Gateshead and London this month.

The album is a celebration of pirate songs and shanties and is the brainchild of actor Johnny Depp and Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski.

Whilst filming the blockbuster they became fascinated with traditional sea songs and put together a CD alongside the film.

Other artists including Nick Cave, Bono, Sting, Jarvis Cocker and Rufus Wainwright have featured on the Rogue’s Gallery album – which was produced by Hal Wilner.

"They’re an oral history, it’s kinda amazing all these songs that tell you about what it was like to be at sea."
Lou Reed

At rehearsals in Dublin, Lou Reed explained why it's important to keep these songs alive.

He said: “They’re an oral history, it’s kinda amazing all these songs that tell you about what it was like to be at sea. They are part of our history, it’s part of our heritage.”

Actor Tim Robbins, who’s taking to the stage for the shows, says it's essential to get in touch with our past and make it relevant today.

“I think that’s really important that we know where we came from particularly in folk music because it’s an oral tradition,” he explained. “It’s not really written down. It’s not like Beethoven or Mozart, it’s a raw form, something that needs new people to reinvent and carry on the tradition.”

And according to the Mercury nominee Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, who’re also performing, the songs are a lot more raucous than you’d expect.

She said: “By God, if you want rock and roll, look at the Shanties. If you want a bit of grit and substance and a bit of naughtiness as well, it’s all there. They are really rock and roll when it comes down to it.”

Georgie Rogers

Monkey opera album

Albarn & Hewlett's latest project gets release

23 July 2008 - It's been announced that Gorillaz collaborators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett will release an album later this summer.

It's an adaptation of the opera Monkey: Journey To The West which premiered in Manchester last year.

The ex-Blur frontman is well known for his interest in different musical styles, especially that of legendary Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen. 

Tony Allen has worked with Damon as the drummer for The Good, The Bad and The Queen and was in town last night (22 July). 

Damon told the BBC that Allen is an inspiration to work with: "He is a very wise man. Full of great stories and thoughts and ideas on everything. So hanging out with him is great, because anything that’s happening in the world, he's got a different sort of attitude to it.

"And a lot of the time it will make you a feel a lot better," he continued, "And that's something in the rhythm he puts together." 

Don't mention 'World Music'

Damon has famously been outspoken about his feelings on the category 'World Music', he doesn't think it should be used at all when describing music that's not from the West: "This shouldn’t be unusual, this shouldn't be strange, it really does mirror our society, (the term world music) immediately suggests that that was another world to our world."

"Anyone who wants to play should first of all do their homework on the drums" - Tony Allen

Everyone wants to play Afrobeat

Tony Allen spoke to the BBC about the impact Afrobeat has had on British music: "Afrobeat made the world listen to African music today. I think it's only beats that breakthrough to the West today.

He had some simple advice for those young bands looking to emulate the Afrobeat sound: "Everyone wants to play Afrobeat, the root of Afrobeat is the drums, so anyone who wants to play should first of all do their homework on the drums"


Ruth Barnes

Franz delayed

3rd album for the Scottish rockers on hold until Jan

23 July 2008 - Franz Ferdinand have given us the lowdown on their latest album saying that it's almost finished, but according to reports it will not be out until January.

Speaking exclusively to 6 Music at Latitude festival last weekend (18-20 July) the band said that the recording process is finished but their third album still needs to be mixed.

They also divulged some juicy details on The Cribs/Johnny Marr’s new material and explained why they split with their former producer Brian Higgins.

The Cribs’ preview

Franz Ferdinand recently played a gig with The Cribs in Italy, getting a sneaky preview of the Yorkshire trio’s new material.

Their recent collaborator, the former Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr, was not performing with The Cribs at that gig in Ferrara - but the Franz frontman explained how he got an exclusive listen of their new tracks.

Alex Kapranos said: “Ross played me a few songs that they’d recorded with Johnny, about four or five songs and they sound amazing.

“He had them on his ipod and it was funny because the guitars were panned hard right and left and it’s amazing - in one ear you’ve got this very distinctive Johnny Marr style, and in the left ear you’ve got this very distinctive Ryan Jarman style. It’s cool, it really works,” he said.

"It’s amazing - in one ear you’ve got this very distinctive Johnny Marr style, and in the left ear you’ve got this very distinctive Ryan Jarman style."
Alex Kapranos

Plans for producing

Having produced The Cribs’ last record and major label debut in 2007, Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever , Kapranos told 6 Music that he will not be involved anymore because of their touring commitments.

But he’d still like to get stuck into some more producing work after the next Franz Ferdinand album comes out, saying: “I’d love to do more producing. We built a studio in Glasgow as well which was where we recorded all of this record.”

And Kapranos had some idea as to who he hopes to work with: “I was talking to Sons And Daughters recently and I’d love to go in and record them.

“And Panico, the band from Chille, who are now in Paris, that we toured with recently - I’d love to record them. If there’s a band that excites me and thinks it could work with me then I’d love to, it’s just a case of time as for a while we’re gonna be busy touring,” he explained.

No love lost with their old producer

Franz Ferdinand split with their former producer Brian Higgins – who’s famed for his commercial work with the likes of Girls Aloud, Sugababes and Kylie Mingogue - to record their forthcoming album and Kapranos explained why.

He said: “Brain’s a really great guy and the stuff that they do down at Xenomania is unique and there’s nobody else really doing stuff like that, but they have a completely different way of working from us.”

But the parting of ways was seemingly amicable, as Kapranos said: “While it was fun to hang out together, it didn’t really work. I still get the odd email from Brian and they’re doing interesting things, but not with us.”

Georgie Rogers

Mercury profiles

6 Music gives you the lowdown on the 12 nominees shortlisted for the Mercury Prize

22 July 2008 - The final twelve artists in the running for the Mercury Music Prize have been announced and check out 6 Music's profiles of them below.

Adele, 19

Biography: Born in 1988, Adele has stormed into our consciousness with her debut album 19 and number one hit single Chasing Pavements. Dubbed as the next Amy Winehouse when she was just 19, the London-based singer songwriter has influences of Etta James and Jill Scott. Adele began to make an impression in 2006 when she opened for Jack Penate and later signed with XL recordings after she appeared on Later With Jools Holland. She has since won the BBC’s Critics’ Choice award.


British Sea Power, Do You Like Rock Music?

Biography: Hailing from Brighton, the quartet have been likened to Joy Division and Arcade Fire. Formed in 2000 they had released two singles Fear Of Drowning and Remember Me by 2001. Their acclaimed debut album, The Decline Of British Sea Power hit us in 2003 with Open Season in 2005, and their most recent contribution, Do You Like Rock Music?, earlier this year. The new album was made in the Czech Republic, Canada and Fort Tregantle in Cornwall.


Burial, Untrue

Biography: The mysterious dubstep producer released his self-titled debut in 2006 which was voted The Wire’s Album Of The Year and received critical praise from Mixmag and Pitchfork. The anonymous Londoner’s follow up album, Untrue , hit stores in 2007 and was reviewed even more favourably than its predecessor.


Elbow, The Seldom Seen Kid

Biography: Their debut album Asleep In The Back was a Mercury Prize nominee in 2001.  Active since 1990, the band have had some trouble with labels in the past and were dropped by Universal in 1998 before releasing an album. They went on to sign with the indie label V2 and ten years on, are back with the major label Polydor, owned by Universal. Elbow just released their commended fourth studio album, The Seldom Seen Kid, in March with Grounds For Divorce and One Day Like This released as singles.


Estelle, Shine

Biography: The female UK MC Estelle sprang from performing in London clubs with the likes of Roots Manuva. Her solo debut album, The 18 ^th Day , came out in 2004 but she has been making waves this year with her new album Shine , released in April of this year. The track American Boy features the American rapper Kanye West and went to number one in various singles charts across the world.


Laura Marling, Alas I Cannot Swim

Biography: Reading songstress Laura Marling was first noticed when she was 16 years and began to gain a Myspace following. With quirky folk songs, a unique voice and her guitar she has toured extensively with her debut album Alas I Cannot Swim.   The album was produced by Noah And The Whale’s frontman Charlie Fink and released with a multimedia Songbox package.

Neon Neon, Stainless Style

Biography: Neon Neon formed when Super Furry Animal’s Gruff Rhys and hip-hop producer Boom Bip came together for the side project in 2005. There is a distinct ‘80s new wave influence to their dance inflected songs. Their debut album Stainless Style was released in March on Lex Records and is a concept album about the car designer John DeLorean - the man who's car was made famous in the Back To The Future film.  The band have since played a heap of festivals - including their Other Stage appearance at Glastonbury 2008.


Portico Quartet, Knee Deep In The North Sea

Biography: Their first album, Knee Deep In The North Sea , hit stores in 2007. The jazz quartet originate from London and their sound consists of a soprano and alto saxophone, double bass, and various percussion instruments.


Rachel Unthank & The Winterset, The Bairns

Biography: The Northumbrian quartet’s debut titled Cruel Sister was extremely well-received and praised for their eerie acoustic ballads. Crowned Mojo’s Folk Album Of The Year in 2005 they delivered their follow up, The Bairns , in August 2007 - which received four and five star reviews across the board.


Radiohead, In Rainbows

Biography: Radiohead caused an upheaval in the music industry when they decided to release their new album In Rainbows as a download, for which fans could decide on their own price. Thom Yorke’s haunting vocals feature are once again showcased in their recent singles Jigsaw Falling Into Place and Nude. Since releasing their eighth record, Radiohead have embarked on a massive tour of the UK, Europe, Japan and America.


Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Raising Sand

Biography: The former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant and bluegrass icon Alison Krauss are up for their 2007 Grammy winning record Raising Sand . The juxtaposition of rock god and country singer was once deemed an unlikely pairing but the results have been successful as critics congratulated the fruits of their labour.


The Last Shadow Puppets, The Age Of The Understatement

Biography: The Last Shadow Puppets is a collaborative side project of Arctic Monkeys’ frontman Alex Turner and The Rascals’ singer Miles Kane, inspired by the music of Scott Walker. Their first album, The Age of Understatement , is described on the band's website as, “12 full-blooded songs, bold and brassy”. They met when the Arctic Monkeys toured with Kane's previous band, The Little Flames.

Georgie Rogers

Mercury shortlist

The nominees are unveiled and the Mercury director reveals all

22 July 2008 - At a London ceremony today (22 July), the Mercury Prize nominations were announced.

Adele, Laura Marling, The Last Shadow Puppets, Radiohead, Estelle and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss are among those shortlisted.

Klaxons were the victors last year with their debut album Myths Of The Near Future .

Set up in 1992, the award celebrates the last twelve months of music, with 12 albums battling out to be crowned winner of the respected prize – which is to be announced on 9 September.

2008 Shorlisted Mercury Prize nominations

Adele
British Sea Power
Burial
Elbow
Estelle
Laura Marling
Neon Neon
Portico Quartet
Rachel Unthank & The Winterset
Radiohead
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
The Last Shadow Puppets

About the awards

Prior to the nominations, the director of the Mercury’s, Kevin Milburn, explained to 6 Music the criteria for the award.

The albums need to have been released between July 2007-2008 by UK or Irish artists.

He explained who makes up the panel: “Basically people have to listen to music every day as part of what they do but have no direct involvement with any of the records.”

And this year the panel is made up of some key industry people, as Kilburn explained: “We’ve got Charles Hazlewood - the conductor, we’ve got Kitty Empire - Music Editor of The Observer, we’ve got Janis Long from Radio 2, George Ergatoudis – Head of Music from Radio 1, Conor McNicholas from NME. It’s basically people who have a broad range of musical tastes.”

In terms of getting down to the hard part of deciding the shortlist, Kilburn said that the record companies decide who they are putting forward and send the Mercury team the artists’ albums.

These are then sent out to the judges and the process is as follows: “We ask the panel to draw up their own favourite list and then they have a big discussion where they talk through a lot of the albums that have tended to pull clear. From that there’s usually 12 that have some consensus between them all.”

This year there were approximately 240 albums entered for the award and Kilburn went on to say that the number of albums submitted is on the rise.

“The last couple of years has seen a substantial increase in what it was before and I think the cost of recording, releasing, distributing and promoting an album has come down just because of the advances in recording technology,” he said. “The ability to get your music out there is easier than say five or ten years ago when studio costs were so high.”

The Mercury director also said accusations that the inclusion of genres like folk, classical and jazz are token, are unfair.

He said: “Obviously we are going to be accused of this until one of those kind of albums wins - so us involved in the Nationwide Music Prize always want one of those records to win so we don’t get asked the same question every year.

“Certainly they have got very close in the past. I remember last year we were accused of having various token indie bands – I mean you can’t win. All I can say is that the nominations are argued on there very fairly.”

“I think it would be a joy if we were nominated, if we were to have a mercury nomination it really would be the icing on a love cake.”
Elbow's Guy Garvey

Elbow’s reaction

The band’s latest record The Seldom Seen Kid  was one of this year’s records tipped for nomination.

They have made the shortlist and leading up to the announcement, frontman Guy Garvey told 6 Music he wasn't getting his hopes up.

He said: “You can’t really think about things like that, I think it would be a joy if we were nominated. We’d all be over the moon, especially as for two and half years making this record we didn’t have a label, and we didn’t know if it was coming out. If we were to have a mercury nomination it really would be the icing on a love cake.”

Guillemots dismiss a double

The Guillemots were nominated for their debut Through The Windowpane but frontman Fyfe Dangerfield wasn't exactly confident that they will make it again.

He told us: “I thinks there’s a pretty good chance that Red by the Guillemots won’t be nominated.”

Past Winner – Franz Ferdinand

The Scottish rockers were another group that won the Mercury Prize for their self-titled debut album, Franz Ferdinand .

Vocalist Alex Kapranos said: “It’s funny, we won it and I think at the time we didn’t really realise how significant it was. I’d never really paid attention to prizes and awards’ ceremonies in the past.

“It was only afterwards that I realised it was actually quite a big deal. I liked it because the way the panel and nominations work, they tend not to be that influenced by commercial success.”

Previous nominees

2007

Amy Winehouse
Arctic Monkeys
Basquiat Strings
Bat For Lashes
Dizzee Rascal
Fionn Regan
Jamie T
Klaxons
Maps
New Young Pony Club
The View
The Young Knives

2006

Arctic Monkeys
Editors
Guillemots
Hot Chip
Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan
Lou Rhodes
Muse
Richard Hawley
Scritti Politti
Sway
Thom Yorke
Zoe Rahman

2005

Anthony And The Johnsons
Bloc Party
Coldplay
Hard Fi
Kaiser Cheifs
KT Tunstall
Maximo Park
MIA
Polar Bear
Seth Lakeman
The Go! Team
Magic Numbers


Georgie Rogers

Bloc Party vs Sex Pistols

Kele accusses Pistol's entourage of a 'racist attack': Lydon denies it.

21 July 2008 - Bloc Party's Kele Okereke is accusing The Sex Pistols' entourage of a racist attack, following a fight backstage at a Spanish festival this weekend.

Both bands were playing at the Summercase Festival in Barcelona this weekend, and, according to Kele, Pistols' frontman John Lydon was aggressive after he went over to ask him whether he'd consider reforming Public Image Limited.

Kele then says he got in a fight with some of Lydon's associates, with one of the Pistols' entourage saying, 'Your problem is your black attitude'.

"We are achieving a true unity in our audience. They are multi varied, all ages, all races, creeds and colours"
John Lydon

Lydon has a different version of events however.

He says "I feel very sorry for a man that needs to lie about what was a perfect evening.

"The trouble was brought to us, resulting in those causing the trouble being physically removed by festival security."

The Bloc Party frontman has reported his version of the incident to the police, and says he has sufferd from severe facial bruising, cuts to his face and body, and a split lip.

Kaiser Cheifs frontman Ricky Wilson, and Yannis from the Foals were reportedly involved, trying to break up the fight, before festival security intervened.

Lucy O'Doherty and Chi Chi Izundu

Blake Incarcerated

Winehouse's husband sentenced to jail

21 July 2008 - Amy Winehouse's husband has been jailed for 27 months for attacking a pub landlord and perverting the course of justice.

The sentence was handed down to Fielder-Civil today at London's Snaresbrook Crown Court.

He has already been on remand in Pentonville Prison for the past nine months, suggesting that he could spend a further 18 months in jail.

This will come as a huge blow to Winehouse who has been telling the public for weeks that she expected him to be released soon.

Blake's hopes dashed by judge

Even in court things were looking hopeful for Blake, at one point Judge David Radford mentioned the words 'community order' during the sentencing after which Blake actually hugged his co-defendent Michael Brown thinking he would be released today. However, the Judge was quick to say "No", this wouldn't be the case and that Blake would be going to jail.

Blake's defence lawyer stated that Blake should have been released today, that he was almost over his drugs habit and that he hoped to be a role model to his wife.

Gratuitous, cowardly and disgraceful

Fielder-Civil pleaded guilty to assaulting James King, at the Macbeths pub in Hoxton, east London, in June 2006. He also admitted trying to make Mr King withdraw his complaint using a £200,000 bribe.

The attack left Mr King needing plates fiting into his face for a broken cheekbone and Judge David Radford told Fielder Civil, he behaved in a "gratuitous, cowardly and disgraceful way."

"You behaved in a gratuitous, cowardly and  disgraceful way". Judge David Radford on Blake Fielder-Civil

Three other men were also sentenced. Michael Brown, also admitted assault for his part in the attack and was jailed for 33 months.

Anthony Kelly, 25, from Chalk Farm, north London, was given a custodial sentence of 20 months after admitting perverting the course of justice. James Kennedy, 19, from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, who also admitted the charge, was given a 40-week sentence at a young offenders institute, suspended for 12 months.

The Judge said Fielder-Civil was "high on alcohol and cocaine" when he attacked Mr King outside the pub.

Mistaken sense of loyalty

He also said Fielder-Civil joined in the attack "out of a mistaken sense of loyalty" to his friend and that it would be "of little comfort" to Mr King that he did so "because of his inebriation."

The court heard that after the attack, Mr King was bullied into withdrawing his statement against Fielder-Civil and his friend, Brown, who offered him the bribe to drop his assault complaint.

Mr King was found not guilty of perverting the course of justice at a trial in June.

Amy Winehouse was not at court to see her husband's sentencing take place.


Elizabeth Alker

Latitude Closes

Interpol Draw Festival to a Close

21 July 2008 - The Latitude festival in Suffolk was brought to a close last night by Interpol, who braved the wet weather to deliver the goods.


The reaction from fans was largely positive:

"It was absolutely fantastic once they started playing," gushed one fan.

"The lights and the effects were brilliant and it didn't matter about the weather, if anything, that made it even more special."

The band played a mix of old and new tracks including 'Mammoth' and 'Obstacle 1' and chose one of their early classics 'Stella Was A Diver And She Was Always Down' for the encore.

"The lights and the effects were brilliant and it didn't matter about the weather, if anything, that made it even more special."   Fan gushes over Interpol

Just before Interpol, The Breeders thrilled fans with a set packed with classics and friendly banter. Kim Deal joked with the all ages crowd: "Given this is a family affair, we all know someone who's a meth head or a speed freak."

The band finished with their regular cover of the Beatles classic 'Happiness Is A Warm Gun.'

Elsewhere, Nick Cave showcased his occasional side project Grinderman, and in the Uncut Arena Blondie and Tindersticks both played lively sets. But Joanna Newsome was the talk of the festival after her impressive set on the main stage at mid-day.


Elizabeth Alker

Music v Monkeys

The Leeds band question the passion of their big Yorkshire rivals

18 July 2008 - The Music have dismissed fellow Yorkshire bands, including Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs, saying they're not as passionate about what they do.

The Leeds band played the iTunes festival at London's Koko on Friday (18 July). Their label Polydor said they were booked for the vacant slot in the month-long event because of the reaction to their recent London Astoria show.

It follows their Top 20 comeback with their third album, Strength In Numbers, last month. But they don't feel any kinship with other local bands.

Bassist Stuart Coleman said: "We're in a totally different league to them, I think, not in a big-headed way but I just think we are.

"But they seem to have their own things going on, I don' think they need to be told. Kaiser Chiefs are one of the biggest bands in the country, they've got it pretty damn licked and so have Arctic Monkeys and Pigeon Detectives."

"They look great, they've got TV star girlfriends. That's not us."
The Music singer Robert Harvey

Singer Robert Harvey added: "We'd make music if you took a record deal off us tomorrow. I'm not so sure they would."

After being tipped for greatness when they were still teenagers, Harvey admitted it was hard to see the rise of Arctic Monkeys a couple of years ago.

"At first you're bitter but that just holds you back," he said. "I wouldn't want to get in the way of anyone's success. It's alll about timing and look and you can't fault the music, it does what they want it to do: it gets on radio, it gets on TV programmes.

"They look great, they've got TV star girlfriends. That's not us. We do it purely for musical reasons - I don’t think they do."

The band have experienced a turbulent time after first emerging back in 2001. By the time of their second album, Welcome To The North, they admit they weren't happy with the songs or their own lives after a hectic touring schedule.

Harvey said: "A mate said to me 'you're depressed Robert', and I were like 'okay, yeah maybe I am'. You've got to hit rock bottom before you can start again.

"I've totally changed my lifestyle, I had to. I'm totally sober now, I don't drink, I barely go out. That's what it means to us - we're willing to change our lives for this to survive."

Their new single The Spike is out on 11 August.

Andre Paine

Mandela is 90

Manchester band writes birthday song

21 June 2008 - Manchester band International One have told 6 Music they thought it was an honour to be asked to write Nelson Mandela's official birthday song.

The former South African president turns 90 today. International One were asked by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to write the song.

The band have been recording their debut album at Chapel Studios' in Lincolnshire, with Dan Swift (Kasabian, Snow Patrol, Futureheads), and have been on a small UK tour.

The song 'Iyaniso' was written after Archbishop Desmond Tutu approached the band and all the proceeds go to Nelson Mandela's AIDS charity 46664.

Singer John told 6 Music what happened when they met the Archbishop: "It was a real nerve wracking moment, but as soon as he came in, he put us at ease straight away.

"He's got a lot of charisma, a lot of character. He said it's great to see a young band like us rejecting drugs and writing charity singles."

"It was a mad all night writing session" - John, International One

The band weren't given much time to write the track, as John explains: "The record label phoned up and said we had to write a song for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, which I thought was joke.

"But it was true! Such were the demands on us that we had to write something in 24 hours. So it was a mad all night writing session and then we came out with the song 'Iyaniso'.

John says this song is Archbishop Desmond Tutu's personal birthday gift for Nelson Mandela "We have all given our signature in a presentation pack which he is going to pass onto Nelson Mandela. Personally I think he is just trying to save a few quid," he joked.


Ruth Barnes

Coldplay ticket mare

Empty venues could greet the band when they play the Scottish leg of their tour

18 July 2008 - Hundreds of Coldplay fans will be locked out of their Scottish gigs on December 5 and 6th after a massive ticket mix-up.

Ticketmaster has recalled a batch of 3200 after they were printed on the wrong paper. The gaffe means anyone who bought the tickets from secondary sources, like eBay, will be denied entry.

Despite the chaos, scores of tickets to the gig were selling on eBay yesterday, with some fetching £150 for tickets whose face value is £60.

Don't buy from 'unofficial sources'

A statement from a DF Concerts spokesperson says: "Tickets purchased through Ticketmaster for the Coldplay gigs at the SECC have been printed on incorrect stock, but we are confident that Ticketmaster will be able to replace all tickets for their customers in advance of the gigs in December."

The statement comes with a warning about buying from touts: "It will be more difficult to replace tickets originally purchased through Ticketmaster and then sold on through the secondary ticket market. In this case, ticket holders should contact their point of purchase.

"We always advise fans not to buy from the unofficial sources because they are not covered by standards set in place by promoters and official agents such as Ticketmaster. We urge these secondary sources to look after their customers at this time," it read. 

"People who buy from other sources lose the rights that other fans are covered" - Ticketmaster spokesperson

Live At: Loch Lomond tickets missing

In addition to this, two batches of tickets for two major Scottish music events have gone missing, said to be worth £90 000.

500 weekend and 1000 Saturday passes for Live At: Loch Lomond disappeared while they were being taken by courier from Glasgow to Manchester. And 600 tickets for Dutch DJ Tiesto's show in Edinburgh have also gone astray.

Ticketmaster realised the mess and reported it to the police after their courier firm arrived offices in Manchester with tickets missing.

Warning against touts

Live At: Loch Lomond organiser Ricky Magowan said last night: "This is a bit of a nightmare just a couple of weeks before the events are to take place.

"We want to warn the public not to buy tickets from touts as we know the serial numbers and have cancelled the tickets.

"We will reissue fans with new tickets, so they will not lose out. But anyone who thinks they might be getting a bargain for Live At: Loch Lomond from a tout will be disappointed.

"Anyone who turns up at the events with the cancelled ticket will be turned away and will lose out."

Ticketmaster have sent a statement saying that this should not stop punters getting their tickets:

"Tickets have not yet been dispatched for this event and all Ticketmaster customers will receive their tickets, valid for entry."

"The missing tickets account for a small proportion of the tickets sold for this event and as we are able to identify the missing tickets by their serial numbers we have on the instruction of our client cancelled these tickets."

Sex Pistols, Groove Armada, Ocean Colour Scene, Idlewild and DJs Roger Sanchez and Carl Cox are on the bill at the the festival on August 2 and 3.

Tiesto plays the Royal Highland Centre on August 9.


Ruth Barnes

CSS on Left Behind

Singer Lovefoxx reveals the story behind the Brazilian band's latest single

17 July 2008 - The latest single from Brazillian electro party band CSS is out this week and they say it was all inspired by a surreal night out in Helsinki.

In a solo hub session this morning (17 July) frontwoman Lovefoxx sang the single, Left Behind and she told us the lyrics were all inspired by a DJ set they played following a gig in Finland, that ended in madness:

"Left Behind was partially made when we were touring with Gwen Stefani, and we think this song is Gwen Stefani-ish in its own way. The story is the Helsinki story, it really happened, like people dancing on top of tables!" she laughs. 

Lovefoxx referred to popular TV show The OC when trying to describe the audience dancing: "It wasn’t like dancing on the table OC style - it was like Lemmy from Motorhead-style, if he ever danced on a table..."

The Helsinki story

The singer then went on to tell the story of that night, which inspired the lyrics for the single:

"We were deejaying in this place after a show in Helsinki and the place, it looked like a pizza parlour. And everyone was like, 'This club is so cool!'. We arrived there, it was a restaurant! We started playing and we started dancing to encourage people, and then later eveyrone was being crazy... throwing beer bottles against the walls, dancing on tables, wearing the lamps as hats, it was a very crazy night! And people were arm wrestling on the tables."

"You can't deal with problems anymore you just need to leave them behind" - Lovefoxx, CSS

The lyrics include a reference to ditching a suitcase full of 'things I want to set on fire', which Lovefoxx explained:

"Adriana wrote the whole song, it's like we have been together for so long. The story kinda belongs to everybody. It was so stressful and sometimes you feel like you are going to die, you can't deal with problems anymore, you just need to leave them behind."

Importance of performing live

"Left Behind is represents the album more than (first single) Rat Is Dead. I think one thing we wanted with this album was to be able to have enough layers that we could play them live. Because with the first album there were so many layers we had to put lots of things on the backing track, which there is nothing wrong with, but we just wanted to play everything live."

She continued: "So all the songs, they are full off keyboards and synths but at the same time all the guitars we have on stage, three sometimes."

The influence of Gwen Stefani

So did touring with Gwen Stefani rub off on the band musically? Maybe not, but Lovefoxx certainly admires the American singer:

"I don’t think people will say, 'Oh this is very Gwen Stefani', because we have a very different take on things. It was good to tour with her, it was a long tour, it was in the Winter, and Winter sometimes is not too helpful for your mood."

"She was very amazing, inspiring to see her give her all on all her shows. She has her baby, and she is expecting another one. She is so full of energy, her body is like a machine, she runs through the crowd, she runs and sweats her butt off, its very good to see. I imagined she wouldn’t give her all, everybody loves her already, she doesn't need to try and make more effort, but she does."


Ruth Barnes

Royalties for rockers

EU plan for ageing rock stars to keep receiving royalties for the rest of their lives

17 July 2008 - Sir Cliff Richard is one artist who has been campaigning for this proposal over the past few years.

The veteran rocker's first hits are due to go out of copyright on 1 January 2009, as under the current copyright laws artists lose the rights to their recordings after 50 years.

The Who's Roger Daltrey, Sir Paul McCartney and U2 are amongst those campaigning to extend the limit to a lifetime.

As is stands now performers, producers and record labels would no longer get paid for sales or airplay, and the songs could be released cheaply by any record label.

The EU has now announced a scheme for copyright on recordings to last for 95 years. EU governments and the European Parliament still need to give approval.

"I am especially pleased that the announcement focuses on the 'invisible' members of our industry" - Feargal Sharkey

Lesser-known band members

The EU plan also looks out for the lesser-known band members, sessions musicians and producers who may need the cash in retirement more than the big names.

Former Undertones frontman Feargal Sharkey, now chief executive of British Music Rights, says this is crucial:

"I am especially pleased that the announcement focuses on the 'invisible' members of our industry - the musicians, engineers and session players whose names are hidden away in the liner notes and credits.

"It is they, and not just 'featured' artists and record labels, who could derive real benefits from this move - and at a time in life when their earning power would be severely diminished."

Bridge the income gap

European Commission Single Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy revealed the plan:

"A 95-year term would bridge the income gap that performers face when they turn 70, just as their early performances recorded in their 20s would lose protection."

But the UK government rejected its own extension to the copyright term last year, saying it was "not convinced" that there was an economic case for the move.

On further investigation, the government said most artists would not benefit from an extension because of their record contracts as most musicians had contractually had to pass royalties back to their record
labels.

The government also concluded that an extension would lead to increased costs for consumers, who would be forced to pay for royalties for longer.



Ruth Barnes

Ronnie Wood in rehab

Rolling Stones legend seeks help

16 July 2008 - Ronnie Wood has gone into rehab, following the mounting tabloid speculation about his love life.

The Rolling Stones guitarist was splashed all over the front of the Sun newspaper last friday, amid claims he'd run off to Ireland with an 18 year old Russian waitress.

Since then there have been reports that his wife has called time on their relationship, and that his son Jesse has flown to Ireland to talk sense into him.

Meanwhile his latest love interest, the 20 year old waitress EKaterina Ivanova, has been descibed as everything from his drinking buddy to his artists muse.

"His close friends and family say he is seeking help." - Spokesperson for Ronnie Wood

Ronnie has a history of drinking problems, and is now said to be "seeking help" with his battle with alcohol.

The rock star flew home on Tuesday and his spokesperson said: "Following Ronnie's continued battle with alcohol he has entered a period of rehab."

"His close family and friends say he is seeking help and look forward to his recovery," She continued.

Former model Jo Wood, 53, the musician's wife of 23 years, told The Sun newspaper of her husband going to Ireland with Ivanova:

"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'."



Elizabeth Alker

Zutons' are complete

Bassist Russell Pritchard on how the third album 'flows'

16 July 2008 - Ahead of their show at London's Somerset House tonight (16 July), we caught up with Russell from The Zutons, who reckons their latest album, You Can Do Anything, is a triumph.

The band recorded in LA for the first time and Russell admits that did affect their sound:

"Bit more heavy and bit more rocky than some of the other albums. But it's definitely still a Zutons and it's not a massive leap away from anywhere we have been before.

"We're a little bit older, it's reflected in the album, it's still a Zutons, it's our most complete album so far."

Difference between their albums

The Zutons' bassist went on to describe just how album number three differs from the first two:

"The quality. It flows better than the other albums. The second album was a bit bitty, the first album has lots of different influences all over it, whereas this one is a bit more consistent throughout. A bit more of a straight line."

"They sort of know they are the best and that gets in the way" - Russell Pritchard, The Zutons

America vs. UK

Working in America for the first time definitely influenced the album, but are American producers better than British ones?

"From personal experience, we have done two over here and one over there. I think that they are good over there, but there is a certain element of being up themselves a little bit which can get in the way of themselves a little bit, of their own talent.

"They sort of know they are the best and that gets in the way, it's a bit of a barrier."

The Zutons play Somerset House tonight and Russell likes an interesting venue:

"It's always nice to do extraordinary gigs in funny places. This is quite, well I don't know what it is, a stately home or whatever, but it's weird being in the centre of London like this, it's great."


Ruth Barnes

Ronnie Wood Checks Into Rehab

Rolling Stones Legend Seeks Help

16 July 2008 - Ronnie Wood has gone into rehab, following the mounting tabloid speculation about his love life.

The Rolling Stones guitarist was splashed all over the front of the Sun newspaper last friday, amid claims he'd run off to Ireland with an 18 year old Russian waitress.

Since then there have been reports that his wife has called time on their relationship, and that his son Jesse has flown to Ireland to talk sense into him.

Meanwhile his latest love interest, the 20 year old waitress EKaterina Ivanova, has been descibed as everything from his drinking buddy to his artists muse.

"His close friends and family say he is seeking help." - Spokesperson for Ronnie Wood

Ronnie has a history of drinking problems, and is now said to be "seeking help" with his battle with alcohol.

The rock star flew home on Tuesday and his spokesperson said: "Following Ronnie's continued battle with alcohol he has entered a period of rehab."

"His close family and friends say he is seeking help and look forward to his recovery," She continued.

Former model Jo Wood, 53, the musician's wife of 23 years, told The Sun newspaper of her husband going to Ireland with Ivanova:

"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'."



Elizabeth Alker

Beggin' for Duffy

US set to embrace Welsh singer

16 July 2008 - Welsh songstress Duffy reckons it will take commitment and longevity to crack America.

Speaking from LA, where she's launching a new karaoke singing computer game, she says that despite being tipped for massive success in the States, it's all about being in it for the long haul:

"I don't know if I am well known over here. I heard my song on the radio, that was a bit of a weird moment," she laughs.
 
"It's such a big place you know, to really be well known in America you have to have a lot of patience, and you've gotta hang around for quite a long time. It's early days for me."

"I still get equally upset with boys" - Duffy

Remains grounded 

"I am still the same person", Duffy continued on whether fame has changed her, "I wake up in the morning with a headache, the same things upset me, I still get equally upset with boys.

"Nothing really changes, but of course because my surroundings are changing I am sure I am influenced by that."

No maracas or Rolf Harris

But she was quick to reassure fans that her sound will stay the same: "Although I was in Spain the other day, I don't think I will suddenly want maracas on my record," she joked, "Uh Oh, Duffy's off to Australia, what's his name Rolf Harris-esque 'Whoo choo key choo', or whatever he does with the paper!

"I don't know if I am really gonna be affected geographically by the things I see, but my personality and the things I am learning - it will probably affect me."

Duffy performs at Somerset House on the 18 July.


Ruth Barnes

Barat bares all

Exclusive insight into the new record, The Chavs and working with Mark Ronson

15 July 2008 - Carl Barat has recovered from his recent attack of pancreatitis, and Dirty Pretty Things are set to play a number of dates in August and October in support of the new album Romance at Short Notice.

Carl explained the title:

"It's from a story from an old Edwardian writer called Saki, and it’s the name of one of the short stories. I just kind of figured with the way we've been going through life at the minute, it's kind of a hearts on the sleeve kind of thing."

He went on to say he is planning to work with producer Mark Ronson, but was unsure as to whether it will actually happen:

"I wanna do a track with him for this film about northern soul music... I can't get hold of him. Maybe he is ignoring me, I don’t know."

"The Chavs are not going to be too silly anymore" - Carl Barat

The Dirty Pretty Things frontman has also been busy on a project with Jon McClure of Reverend and The Makers, which he told us is a labour of love for both of them:

"I'm just making a little dub record. To see how it goes, and if it's no good then well just leave it. It's just something I want to do and something he wants to do, so…"

On the supergroup he formed with Tim Burgess from The Charlatans and Klaxons' Jamie Reynolds, The Chavs, Carl says their sound is evolving:

"It's gonna be our darker stuff that we haven't been able to do with our bands. I think, I mean the inspiration starting points were the later PiL records. The idea is everyone brings something to the table really and we just see how it goes. It might change completely, but The Chavs are not going to be too silly anymore."

Carl also responded to recent reports that quoted him as saying there was "unfinished business" with the the Libertines and says he still hasn't closed the doors on a future with the band:

"I'm open to doing something in the future. Well, we are going to have unfinished business... until we finish it. There's nothing on the horizon as we speak."

UK Dates

August

23 - Reading Festival
24 - Leeds Festival

October

04 - ABC, Glasgow
05 - Old Picture House, Edinburgh
07 - Academy 2, Manchester
08 - Metropolitan University, Leeds
09 - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
11 - Keele University, Newcastle
12 - The Junction, Cambridge
13 - UEA, Norwich
14 - Roundhouse, London
16 - Carling Academy, Oxford
18 - Guildhall, Southampton



Ruth Barnes

The Who not over!

Roger Daltrey says there's still life in The Who yet four decades after one of their biggest hits.

15 July 2008 - They may well be the great grandfathers of rock and roll but Roger Daltrey reckons The Who have still got their best work in them, especially now Pete Townshend is writing again.

"I still feel that he still will come up with perhaps his best work". Its been 40 years since My Generation was released but Roger says there's still life in them all.

"Its 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.'

'I still think he's got it in him'.- Roger Daltrey on The Who bandmate Pete Townshend

But Daltrey's admitted that he's not to sure who the songs are being penned for.

"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!"

Actor Jack Black's band, Tenacious D, Pearl Jam, The Flaming Lips and The Who themselves took to the stage at a special tribute concert in Los Angeles last weekend, where The Who were honoured at the VH1 Rock Honours.

Chi Chi Izundu

VH1 Honours: The Who

And Supergrass's Gaz joins The Foos

13 July 2008 - Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, and the Flaming Lips were among the bands who took to the stage for VH1’s Rock Honors: The Who, which taped in Los Angeles at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion, Saturday night.

David Duchovny, Sean Penn, Roseanna Arquette and members of ACDC, The Cult and Supergrass were all in attendance as the legendary London group was honored – and performed -- at the event.

'Pete Townsend is so awesome and he’s so kind and sensitive and loving so it makes you like their music and want to do things like this even more,' Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne told 6 Music as he walked the red carpet into the show.
Coyne said it was The Who which helped select the groups that ended up honoring them.

'They picked. They were looking for groups to span The Who catalog in a sense,' Coyne said. 'We do the late ‘60s period and Pearl Jam is doing the ‘70s and Tenacious D is doing the late ‘70s. But I think us doing Tommy is perfect. It’s perfect for us.'

As previously reported by 6 Music, Dave Grohl’s performance at the event was put in jeopardy when he lost his voice, while singing at a Foo Fighter’s show last week at Red Rocks. Due to his voice troubles, he was able to open the Rock Honors singing 'Young Man Blues,' but he was forced to recruit another vocalist for 'Bargain.'

'This is Gaz from Supergrass,' Grohl said as his recent touring partner joined them for the song, which found Coombes dueting with Foos drummer Taylor Hawkins, while Grohl walked the stage playing just guitar.

"It's deafening" - Pete Townsend, The Who

Rainn Wilson from the US version of 'The Office' introduced The Flaming Lips who took to the stage second, with Coyne in his trademark bubble.

After a short jam by the Oklahoma band, which saw the singer walk across the crowd encased in the plastic sphere, he joined his outfit for a Tommy medley, which included 'See Me/Feel Me,' and 'Pinball Wizard.'

Incubus took the stage next performing straight renditions of 'I Can See For Miles,' and 'I Can Explain,' the later song they learned how to play on Saturday shortly before soundcheck after a request from the producers of the show.

Tenacious D took the stage for 'Squeezebox,' their performance accented by a cartoon enactment of the lyrics.
Actor Sean Penn introduced Pearl Jam, who brought in an orchestra for 'Love Reign O’Er Me,' before covering 'Dr. Jimmy,' as their second number.

Finally, after a special musical introduction by actor Adam Sandler, The Who took the stage – which featured a mod circle crisscrossed with Union Jack stripes -- opening with 'Teenage Wasteland.'

Their near hour long set also saw the legendary rockers tackle 'The Seeker,' 'Who Are You,' 'Behind Blue Eyes,' and 'Two Thousand Years.'

On one of their last songs – 'You Better, You Bet,' the group encountered problems. Daltrey started the opening harmony at a different time to Townsend and it appeared sound problems continued as the song progressed.

Three-quarters of the way through, Townsend took his hands from his guitar and waved at the crew to let them start again.

'Whatever you’ve added, take out,' Pete told the soundmen. 'It’s deafening.'

With the sound fixed, the band jumped into their own medley of 'My Generation' and 'Won’t Get Fooled Again,' before closing out the show.


Jolie Lash

Verve vs Guardian

Ashcroft slams 'haters' at T and Futureheads singer to wed

12 July 2008 - Fans can expect light showers and sunshine at the second day of T in the Park in Kinross according to the forecast.

Around 85,000 fans are expected on site and there will be sets from Rage Against the Machine, Kaiser Chiefs and the Fratellis.

Richard Ashcroft had a go at The Guardian during the Verve's headline set at T on the first night (11 July), saying one of the paper's music journalists could never understand their relationship with the greatest live audience in the world. 

The piece in the paper said Ashcroft was past his prime and had borrowed too obviously from Pink Floyd's Breathe on the new song Numbness.

"Thank you, greatest live audience in the world," said Ashcroft. "That's something Guardian writers don't understand."

"Thank you greatest live audience in the world."
Richard Ashcroft

He also referred to characters from Scarface and The Sopranos when he dedicated The Rolling People to "Tony Montana, Tony Soprano and all the haters".

Fans seemed to agree with Ashcroft's assertion about the show, which included The Drugs Don’t Work and Bittersweet Symphony as well as two new songs, ending with the single Love Is Noise.

The Futureheads headlined the King Tuts stage on the first night - and the band dedicated Hounds of Love to singer Barry Hyde who's getting married this weekend (12 July). So he was taking it easy after the show.

No alcohol," he said. "Everything's all ready to go with the wedding, so I've just got to get off the bus in the morning, go back to bed then wake up and get married."

Return of Rage

Festival director Geoff Ellis is pleased with how the festival is going.

He said: "It has been a really good start to the event with the traffic management plan working so well.

"I am personally really looking forward to seeing Rage Against the Machine. They played the first ever T in the Park in 1994, so it's a real coup to have them perform at our 15th anniversary."

Emergency services reported a trouble-free evening on the campsite.

Chief Superintendent Matt Hamilton, of Tayside Police, said: "There are four people being remanded in custody which is extremely low at this stage for an event of this size.

"We look forward to the continued good nature of the fans and once again we urge everyone to have a good time but to remain vigilant and keep all of their belongings with them at all times."

Medical staff reported 56 hospital visits, mainly for sprains and other minor reasons.

Andre Paine