| CMU Daily - on the inside Friday 17th June |
|
In today's CMU Daily:
- Three more Live 8 concerts due to be announced
- Government to look into feasibility of a music council
- Mudbaths unlikely at this year's Glastonbury
- Six.By Seven split
- Album Review: Fursaxa - Lepidoptera
- Virtualfestivals.com let fans decide
- REM broadcast protest song into Burma
- Mew play live dates
- Jacko resting
- East 17 boy slowly recovering
- Festival Review: Download Festival At Donington
- DJ sues Kid Rock
- Siouxsie wins Mojo Icon Award
- Longpigs frontman forms new band
- Album Review: Recloose - Hiatus On The Horizon
- Iron Maiden release hits album
- Depeche Mode tour
- Timo Maas features Molko
- Live music cuts crime
- 700,000 classical fans access Beethoven downloads
- Pete Doherty on Kate's answer machine shocker
- Federline proves himself to be deeply icky
- Tweedy and Cole set to wed
--------------------------------------------------
CMU PRESS ROOM>>
*** KILL ALL HIPPIES JUNE - London's greatest rock night is once again taking over the Scala, Kings Cross with live sets from The Beat Up, Tokyo Dragons and Narco and DJ sets from resident curator Eddy Temple Morris (Xfm), Jeff Automatic (Transmission) and DJ Syrinx. Plus the Fun House, KAH's second room, hosted by legendary Primal Scream producer Jagz kooner and cohort Richard Clouston and playing host to special guest DJs Jasper & Finn from White Rose Movement. All takes place Saturday 18 Jun, 8.30pm til 4am. Tickets £7, but £3 discount admission if you guest list yourself at http://www.leylinepromotions.com/killallhippies. And don't forget you can download exclusive live sets from Kill All Hippies right now at http://www.tunetribe.com - new sets from this month's event will be available for download from Sunday.
Full press release: http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/pressroom/killallhippies/
--------------------------------------------------
COLLEGE MEDIA NETWORK>>
***Calling all college media people - expand your skills and showcase your work with the latest media development projects from UnLimited's College Media Network - check out www.collegemedianetwork.co.uk
***Calling all music / media people - advertise your summer internship opportunities in the CMN interns directory - email company name and details, internship dates and details plus a contact email to [email protected]
--------------------------------------------------
THE TOP BIT>>
*** EDITORIAL VACANCY AT CLICKMUSIC.COM Clickmusic.com is looking to hire someone into their editorial team for re-launch of their broadband focussed site. Central London-based, large multi-media rock music website seeks person to provide content - both text-based and video interview-based. Should be able to write and edit as well as have a knowledge of HTML and Photoshop. A commercial mind is important. Ideal for media/broadcast journalism graduate. Start date 1 Jul. All CVs/enquiries to [email protected].
--------------------------------------------------
CMU'S FRIDAY TIPS
VIGSY'S CLUB TIP: Buzzin' Fly at The End
Once again Mr C's The End club has a great night, with its monster sound system playing host to Ben Watt's label Buzzin' Fly, which is celebrating its second birthday. The night sees former Everything But The Girl guy Watt bringing his Buzzin Fly night into central London for the first time - previously it took place at Neighbourhood W10 where, until this week, Watt was resident DJ and 'creative consultant'. Expect house - deep sexy and cool - but always with soul. Mr Watt is joined by Charles Webster, San Francisco's Justin Martin, Lyon's Manoo, and the man named Chris Woodward. Advance tickets have gone so be there early. PV
Fri 17 Jun, The End 16A West Central Street, London WC1A, 10pm-5am, £10-£12, info at http://www.buzzinfly.com or http://www.the-end.co.uk
CHRIS' CLUB TIP: Remix Night and Kill All Hippies at Cargo & The Scala
Yep, it's that weekend. Remix Night this month will offer a great combo of breaks and boots. For the former there's Ils, quite simply the nicest man in break beat, and the bloke behind that wonderful Distinctive Breaks album 'Bohemia'. Then there's the mighty Barry Ashworth of the Dub Pistols on the decks, plus also spinning the tunes will be French bootleg duo Loo & Placido, who are behind some of CMU's very favourite ever bootlegs ('Kid Rock' is just genius). Eddy TM, as always, is your host, which makes for a busy weekend for Mr Temple Morris, because less than 24 hours later he will be curating this month's Kill All Hippies. All the details are in the press room bit above - but basically we're talking The Beat Up, Tokyo Dragons and Narco all live on stage, DJ sets Eddy TM, Jeff Automatic and DJ Syrinx, plus Jagz Kooner, Richard Clouston and Japser & Finn from White Rose Movement in Room 2. Don't forget if you miss either of these you can catch highlights of Remix Night on the Remix Show this Sunday on Xfm (7-10pm), and sets from Kill All Hippies will be available for download from http://www.tunetribe.com
Remix Night, Fri 17 Jun, Cargo, Rivington Street, EC2, 8pm-3am, £6 before 10pm, £10 (£8) after, info from Leyline.
Kill All Hippies, Sat 18 Jun, Scala, Kings Cross, 8.30pm-4am, £7 (£3 if you guest list in advance at http://www.leylinepromotions.com/killallhippies), info from Leyline.
Put your club night up for the tip - [email protected]
--------------------------------------------------
THREE MORE LIVE 8 CONCERTS DUE TO BE ANNOUNCED
It will be confirmed later today that three more cities will host Live 8 concerts next month.
Tokyo, Toronto and Johannesburg have been added to the list of host cities which already included Paris, Philadelphia, Rome and Berlin. Three concerts will be held here in the UK of course - one in London, one at the Eden Project site in Cornwall and one in Edinburgh - the latter taking place a few days after the other events, on the day of a big Make Poverty History riot, sorry, I mean march, in the Scottish capital.
Commenting on the new additions to the list of concerts, all designed to put pressure on the G8 countries to do more to alleviate poverty in Africa of course, Bob Geldof said he hoped former South African president Nelson Mandela - a long time campaigner on poverty issues in Africa - would head the Live 8 Africa event. Geldof: "Mandela, if he's well enough, will bring it to the world".
Explaining why he wanted to expand the number of Live 8 concerts, Geldof continued: "Three weeks ago Europe agreed, unbelievably, to double aid, throwing the ball back to the Yanks, the Japanese and the Canadians. So that forced me now to do, which I didn't want to do, a concert in Tokyo and Toronto".
On more logistical points, Geldof revealed plans to allow hundreds of thousands more people into Hyde Park on 2 Jul to watch the Live 8 London concert on large screens. He told reporters yesterday: "I'm not supposed to talk about this but other people tell me there are arrangements to allow hundreds of thousands more into the park on the day".
In Live 8 line up news, Roxy Music have joined the bill for the Berlin concert which will take place around the Brandenburg Gate. The Berlin show already has other legends of Germanic pop on its line up including, erm, Green Day, Tracy Chapman, Brian Wilson, Chris de Burgh and Welsh opera star Katherine Jenkins.
In the US, 50 Cent has pulled out of the Philadelphia Live 8 concert because the event will clash with work on his debut movie Get Rich Or Die Tryin, which is a pretty poor excuse, but whatever, I'm sure they'll cope without him.
--------------------------------------------------
GOVERNMENT TO LOOK INTO FEASIBILITY OF A MUSIC COUNCIL
Surely what the music industry needs just now is another quango to state the obvious - there's a real shortage of those - so hurrah for the lovely government who have announced their intention to set up a committee to explore the possibility of creating a feasibility study to assess the need and desire and practicality of founding a music council that could assess the feasibility of assessing the needs and desires of the music world on a long term strategic basis. Do you ever get the feeling we're getting just too cynical round here?
Anyway, James Purnell, Minister for Creative Industries, has revealed plans to set up a feasibility thingy to look into the possibility of setting up a Music Council, which would support the UK music world in much the same way the Film Council supports British movie makers. Speaking at an Institute for Public Policy Research event yesterday, Purnell said: "The music industry is a big player in the national economy - contributing nearly £5bn annually and employing some 130,000 people. The live music industry is worth at least half a billion pounds each year - up by 50% since 1997. It's an important and dynamic industry, but one which is at the sharp end of the challenges of online distribution".
He continued: "Many people in the industry have been impressed by the work of the Film Council and believe there would be value in having a similar organisation for music, to act as a partner for government. This wouldn't be a body handing out public funding to orchestras, for example, but one to help shape policy. Over the last few years, for example, it would have been useful to government and to the industry to have a body that could co-ordinate the response to issues like digital distribution or the future of live music. So today, I can announce that DCMS and the music industry will carry out a feasibility study to examine the case for setting up a music council, how it might operate and how it might be funded".
All of which is great news, for fans of feasibility studies if nothing else. Certainly it is likely to be welcomed by key players in the music industry who have been looking for some time for some kind of formal body through which the music industry can interact with government on a day to day basis. Giving her support for the government's plans, Alison Wenham of the Association Of Independent Music told CMU last night: "AIM has been campaigning for the creation of a music council for the last five years and we are delighted the DCMS is supporting the next stage of its development".
--------------------------------------------------
MUDBATHS UNLIKELY AT THIS YEAR'S GLASTONBURY
Weathermen are apparently predicting that a heatwave will hit the UK this weekend, and that it will stick around until next weekend, meaning that the weather may be scorching next week when festivities take place at Glastonbury, and that seas of mud are unlikely to form.
According to Gigwise, Glasto organiser Michael Eavis said "Apparently, according to the reports today, the rain has passed over now so there's no dust on the tracks. It was really nice out there this morning actually! Next week is going to be an absolute heat-wave. We just hope it goes on through to the weekend. But the forecast is absolutely brilliant."
--------------------------------------------------
SIX.BY SEVEN SPLIT
Former CMU cover stars (yes, CMU used to have a cover) Six.By Seven have announced they are splitting up, which is a crying shame. The Nottingham based band were due to play gigs at Brixton's Windmill and Islington's Elbow Rooms this week, but they have cancelled the shows after announcing the split.
In a statement the band said: "After 8 years of being in Six.By Seven, Chris, James and Chris have decided to stop touring and effectively end the group for the foreseeable future. We would like to thank our fans for all of their support over the years. The end of Six.By Seven is not a sad one, as we are proud of our achievements and critical success over the release of 5 fine studio albums. It has been a difficult journey of late and we now realise that we have achieved what we set out to do and the three remaining members wish to move on and make music without the legacy of Six.By Seven hanging over them."
The band now plan to release a live album and a best of, b-sides and rarities album providing former label, Beggars imprint Mantra, give the go ahead.
--------------------------------------------------
ALBUM REVIEW: Fursaxa - Lepidoptera (ATP Recordings)
It's difficult to fathom how Tara Burke (aka Fursaxa) has made such distinguished friends. Signed to the elite All Tomorrow's Parties label and championed by Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, her avant-garde dirge is anything but sociable. Fursaxa's basic template is an semi-operatic, often wordless vocals arranged over layers of minimalist synths, guitar and feedback. The sound is so outlandish and formless, it seems strange that she's gone to the relatively extreme bother of dividing the noise up into songs, and then giving them titles. Occasionally the format works, usually when she allows herself a greater range of instruments and a tighter structure, and Fursaxa is compelling in her ability to set a mood. But mostly Lepidoptera starts, goes and ends nowhere, sounding like an hour of mineral water advertisements. If 'lo-fi freeform choral drone' are the four words you've been longing to hear in a review, then you may have found your harbour. But otherwise steer clear; Fursaxa isn't the type of avant-garde that converts the unconvinced. It wouldn't even be worth it for the scene points. NB
Release date: 20 Jun
Press: ATP IH [all]
--------------------------------------------------
VIRTUALFESTIVALS.COM LET FANS DECIDE
As previously reported, VirtualFestivals.com have teamed up with KarmaDownload.com to give new acts a chance to appear at a variety of festivals - and to let fans decide just who those new acts are. And now we know how it's going to work. Tracks from 21 top new acts have been posted online which music fans can listen to and vote for by buying and downloading the track. KarmaDownload.com will compile a chart from the sales, and the bands in the top positions will get the chance to play at five summer festival dates - Guilfest, Tin Pan Alley, Bestival, Beautiful Days and Get Loaded in the Park.
You can vote now at:
http://www.virtualfestivals.com/festivals
/article.cfm?articleid=1930
Oh yes, and if any other festivals are interested in giving the winners a slot email [email protected].
--------------------------------------------------
REM BROADCAST PROTEST SONG INTO BURMA
REM plan to broadcast into military-ruled Burma via satellite TV this Sunday, in order to dedicate a song to Nobel Peace Prize winning pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest at her family's compound in Burma's capital Yangon for nearly seven years. The band, who hope to draw attention to Suu Kyi's 60th birthday, and 2523rd day of detention, will perform the as yet unspecified song from their gig at Ardgillan Castle in Dublin, as part of a series of global events which includes planned protests at Burmese embassies.
--------------------------------------------------
MEW PLAY LIVE DATES
CMU favourites Danish band Mew, who release a new single 'Apocalypso' on 18 Jul, are to play a short series of UK live dates to coincide with that release. The new album is released on 5 Sep, but as yet has no name.
25 Jul: London ICA
16 Jul: Manchester Academy
27 Jul: Nottingham Rescue Rooms
28 Jul: Glasgow ABC
--------------------------------------------------
JACKO RESTING
Are you feeling "at peace"? Well, Michael Jackson is apparently "at peace", which is wonderful news. Jermaine Jackson has been talking to CNN's Larry King Live show about his brother's acquittal, and said: "Michael is recovering, but it's a time to rejoice for the family". That said, he admitted Michael still isn't eating properly following the ordeal of the trial.
Asked about rumours Michael is planning on leaving the US, Jermaine said he "wouldn't be surprised" if that was the decision his brother made, adding "I would be right with him", and "we've always had a love for other places outside the US."
As for Michael's immediate future plans career wise, Jermaine said: "I'm pretty sure he's just looking to rest. That's what's most important, to rest and get his mind back and focus on being a person - nothing about doing this or doing that but just resting."
--------------------------------------------------
EAST 17 BOY SLOWLY RECOVERING
Not necessarily "at peace", but apparently in "good spirits" is former East 17 member Brian Harvey, who is still recovering from that bizarre incident last month when he ran himself over. His manager, Simon Harrison, has reported that Harvey "continues to make slow progress" adding he "is in very good spirits - smiling and reading through his messages and cards". The former pop star is still unable to talk, however, following the throat operation that was required after the accident. Harrison concluded: "Considering what condition Brian was in two weeks ago, these improvements are great news."
--------------------------------------------------
FESTIVAL REVIEW: Download Festival at Donington
This then, will be part two of our review of last weekend's Download Festival...
Sunday morning. We awoke to a grey morning, feeling a little worse for wear, but still ready to take on another day of Download entertainment. A bacon roll and a large coffee (though interestingly not a chocolate bar) gave us sufficient sustenance to take on the Snickers stage. Here we found Send More Paramedics and Gizmachi - very heavy, non-stop thrash metal which, to be honest, I wouldn't have been ready for had it not been for the enthusiasm of the crowd around me who were, indisputably, more than ready. And so, somehow, an early Sunday dose of thrash metal suddenly made sense and we arrived at the main stage (where we caught the end of Mudvayne's wild set which I wished I'd seen more of) fully charged and ready to go.
Next to don the stage was Papa Roach. I've read mixed reviews about these guys live, with one review describing Coby as a pretty lame frontman. But either the Papa Roach man had had an off day when that review was written, or the reviewer didn't know what he was talking about, because today he was on top form - running from stage left to stage right working the crowd into a frenzy of screaming. As he climbed onto the speaker stack his crowd were singing all the chorus lines back to him. He had great stage presence throughout his albeit short set.
Next up Nightwish - a combination of metal and operatics which isn't really my bag, but which seemed to please the crowd before them (and to be fair, they played their Scandinavian rock butts off), and then, following a quick liquid top up, the mighty metal-machine that is Slayer.
Unfortunately the Slayer boys were cursed with the worst sound of the day - the wind picked up considerably and what should have been a triumph of heavy metal mastery was lost to the elements. Slayer always play hard and heavy and today was no exception. When it was good it was electrifying and the thunderous power chords and searing lead exchanges were awesome. Kerry King's stage presence is almost legendary and the long tattoos running from his head, over his shoulders and down to his fingertips, ensured he looked every inch the archetypal rock 'n' roll maniac. 'Dead Skin Mask', 'War Ensemble' and 'Mandatory Suicide' certainly showed how Slayer have earned their stripes through the years and whilst this will never go down as one of their greatest gigs they will certainly be back to tear it up again soon. Despite the sound issues, I loved it.
We stayed around the main stage because we really wanted to see Slipknot. Commanding the stage with blood-curdling severity, enormous presence, huge drum sounds and flames to boot, the American band bought their own renowned style of metal to Download. Enticing the crowd with songs never played in the UK before, as well as old masters, they proceeded to draw the crowd into a mosh frenzy. In a fit of spectacular stage wizardry the drum kit rotated and pivoted above the audience and the crowd went wild. While a few looked a little skeptical at the beginning of these guys' set, it didn't take long to see that the majority of the crowd were solidly behind this monstrous metal band.
Back to the Snickers stage to catch the last tunes from MC5, who did a good job in warming everyone up ready for the wonder that is Motorhead. Lemmy came onstage and growled into the microphone like he'd drunk a pint of neat Jack Daniels filled with razorblades (which he possibly had), and ranted out "We are Motorhead, we play rock 'n' roll". Hit with a monumentous crunching wall of sound I realized this was heavy metal and this was how it all started.
Thirty years on and Lemmy and co are still giving it 110%. On and on the numbers charge, classic metal tunes, one after another. 'No Class', 'Stay Clean', 'Metropolis' and, of course, 'Ace of Spades', and the crowd reaches frenzy point. A dedication to himself, a dedication to "the Brazilians in the house" and a dedication to "every motherfucker who ever listened to heavy metal". The music is searing, the temperature just rises, the music simply roars and the crowd shout "Louder!!" in between every single number.
Lemmy shouts to his engineer, Dave, "Turn it up! Turn it up, they want it louder!", and, accordingly, it just gets louder and louder. Music of this intensity needs to be loud and we were proud to witness the masters of heavy metal pulling off an outstanding performance to a totally loyal and enthusiastic crowd. A rip-roaring torrent of rock 'n' roll. 'Overkill' closes the show, an amazing climax to a fantastic rock 'n' roll weekend. When Motorhead are good they are untouchable.
Like everyone around us, we made our way to the car park with ears ringing big time, a little bit sad that the weekend was over, but up beat in the knowledge this festival properly proves that heavy metal is here and is definitely here to stay. Well done to Download and their respective partners - when it comes to bringing the best of the best to create a rock fest - I wouldn't choose anywhere else. Bring on Download 2006. I'm already there. JT
If you want more Download type stuff, then check out Click Music's Download video diary, which features Ville Valo, The Ga*Ga*s, Tokyo Dragons, Tat, Open Hand and Eyelash in conversation behind the scenes. NB: This video also contains footage of bottle fights, moshing, midgets, a hysterical Ozzy fan, breasts, and the grim reaper. Definitely one for the kids. You can check it out at:
http://www.clickmusic.co.uk/Clickmusic_Web_Guide
/Downloads/Clickvids/
--------------------------------------------------
DJ SUES KID ROCK
A DJ has sued Kid Rock for £315,000 after the US rock rapper, as previously reported, punched him in a Nashville strip club back in Feb. Kid Rock, who did not contest the charge of criminal assault, was given a suspended sentence of 11 months and 29 days on Monday, but the DJ, Jerry Campos has now issued a claim for damages claiming that the incident left him with "severe, disabling and permanent injuries".
--------------------------------------------------
SIOUXSIE WINS MOJO ICON AWARD
Siouxsie Sioux beat off competition from the likes of Bowie and the late Mark Bolan to win the Icon Award at the Mojo Magazine awards yesterday. The awards, which aim to honour past stars of music as well as current ones, saw Paul Weller taking the Songwriter Award whilst buzz band The Magic Numbers were named Best New Act whilst Gang of Four took the Inspiration Prize. Guest presenters at the event included Led Zeppelin star Jimmy Paige, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, and U2 guitarist The Edge.
--------------------------------------------------
LONGPIGS FRONTMAN FORMS NEW BAND
Former Longpigs frontman Chrispin Hunt has started a new band with Gay Dad's Nigel Hoyle. The new outfit is called Gramercy, and their debut single is releases on 18 Jul. Live dates and more releases to follow.
--------------------------------------------------
ALBUM REVIEW: Recloose - Hiatus on The Horizon (Peacefrog)
After the release of his exquisite 'Cardiology' LP back in 2002, Detroit DJ Matt Chicoine, aka Recloose, signed to Carl Craig's seminal Planet E label, and toured with Craig in his Innerzone Orchestra, as the scratchmaster. Jazz to hip hop to broken beat and ska, lop sided and off centre, are all blended together in this latest outing. Taking each track in turn, 'Landed' starts slowly with those jazz keys and hanging disjointed chords, 'Still' sees Hollie Smith on vocals and a typical Recloose jazz/funk combo, whilst 'Dust' has been released with Joe Dukie on vocals, and is nothing if not classy, with its traces of bleepy Hammond. 'Spinning' takes the tempo down in funky Recloose style and is followed by slightly out of place dub/ska styled work out 'Mana's Bounce'. 'Makutu Man' will be the one that hits the clubs, I suspect, with its abstract jazz groove - I'm expecting some serious remixes of this one, and Patrick Forge is already caning it. 'Time On Your Side' feels more like a mainstream cut, and 'Why I Otta' doesn't fare well, in my opinion, but all in all this is a good funky leftfield production from a very talented man, and frankly, I wouldn't expect anything less. PV
Release date: 25 Jul
Press contact: Peacefrog IH [all]
--------------------------------------------------
IRON MAIDEN RELEASE HITS ALBUM
Iron Maiden plan to release a greatest hits double album this summer, in the US at least. The album, which will comprise all the classic hits, is due out in America on 11 Jul, but no date appears to have been set for a European release as yet.
--------------------------------------------------
DEPECHE MODE TOUR
Awww, brilliant. Depeche Mode have announced they will play three stadium dates in the UK next year as part of a world tour which will take in more than 16 European countries and 22 North American cities. The UK dates are at the Manchester Evening News Arena on 30 Mar 2006, Birmingham NEC on 31 Mar, and Wembley Arena on 3 Apr. Tickets go on sale to the general public on 24 Jun but members of the band's fan club are already applying for tickets. Damn them. Why didn't I join?
--------------------------------------------------
TIMO MAAS FEATURES MOLKO
A new Timo Maas single is to feature vocals from Placebo frontman Brian Molko, who is joined on the track by Jo Kate, of whom Maas says 'She's so talented and has a great vibe". The single is to be taken from the new Timo Maas album, 'Pictures', set for release on 17 Jul.
--------------------------------------------------
LIVE MUSIC CUTS CRIME
Live music cuts crime, or at least that is the conclusion reached by one member of the House Of Lords. Speaking in a debate on the UK's cultural industries, Baroness Buscombe commented on just how little crime there was at major music events like the Glastonbury Festival, despite there being so many people in one place at one time.
She observed that more crimes took place in the small city of Bath than at the 2004 Glastonbury Festival over the weekend the music event took place. This was despite the fact, she noted, that between them Glastonbury festival-goers consumed "most of the cider Somerset can produce".
The Barnoness concluded: "More music equals less trouble. Music can act as an effective catalyst for improving the quality of life at a very local level."
--------------------------------------------------
700,000 CLASSICAL FANS ACCESS BEETHOVEN DOWNLOADS
Nearly 700,000 classical music fans have downloaded live performances of Beethoven's first five symphonies after BBC Radio 3 made them available online as part of a Beethoven season.
The broadcaster was able to make the recordings available for free because they had been performed by the Corporation's own Philharmonic Orchestra. The advantage of older classical music, of course, is that there are no publishing royalties to pay, making its online distribution less complicated.
Commenting on the success of the Beethoven download initiative, Radio 3 controller Roger Wright told reporters: "We hope it will encourage audiences to explore online classical music. This trial was all about gauging listeners' appetite for downloads and the results are astonishing."
He added that he hoped that by having on online component to his Beethoven season that the radio station had "attracted people who wouldn't previously have explored much classical music, as well as inspiring others to embrace digital technology".
The station intends to make the remaining symphonies available to download later this month. The initiative has received a mixed reception from the classical music industry. While most welcome any programmes that increases public interest in classical music, some owners of classical recordings fear the precedent the BBC is making in giving away recordings.
--------------------------------------------------
PETE DOHERTY ON KATE'S ANSWER MACHINE SHOCKER
The Sun has reported that Kate Moss's answering machine message now features Pete Doherty singing his er, 'unique' version of Searchers hit 'Needles And Pins'. Which may be great for Kate, but not so popular with her mates.
A friend (unnamed, obviously) of Kate's said "Every time you try and get hold of her you end up having to listen to Pete strumming his guitar and singing the song. It was funny...the first time I heard it."
Crikey. And I thought the extra Live 8 concerts were news.
--------------------------------------------------
FEDERLINE PROVES HIMSELF TO BE DEEPLY ICKY
Sorry to resort to cliché, but sick bags at the ready, people. No, really. You may actually need it. Kevin Ferderline has brought an end to his and Britney's reality show Chaotic in a deeply sentimental way by compiling a montage of images covering the pair's relationship, backed with no doubt queasy music, and a gushing verbal accompaniment that went something like this.
"I wanted to put this together just to kind of show you, baby, how much I care. I love you more than life and I'd do anything for you. She's my angel. Everything that I've ever wanted in life, in a person, in a human being. Her soul is caring. She's just a giving person. You don't see everybody like that. She puts a happy light on everything. I see this person that really knows how to turn things around for her own happiness and to make other people happy. The most wonderful things have happened to me with her and I can't see myself with anybody else. I love her more than anything."
Eeugh.
--------------------------------------------------
TWEEDY AND COLE SET TO WED
And on to another happy couple. Let's just hope they don't make a reality show about it. Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy and footballer Ashley Cole are to be married, after the Arsenal player proposed whilst they were on holiday in Dubai.
According to The Sun, Cheryl said: "It feels fantastic. Ashley went down on one knee. He's a gentleman. It was all very romantic."