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The future's a funny thing, isn't it? No one really knows what's going to happen, but we're all happy to have a guess. But a childhood spent watching 'Tomorrow's World', and a penchant for old sci-fi films set in a future where everyone still has to rush to a phone box if they need to contact someone in a hurry, has taught me not to trust such predictions.

However nothing - nothing at all - displays how hard it is to accurately predict the future more than this 1985 article from Ebony magazine predicting what Michael Jackson might look like in the year 2000. "At 40", it proudly proclaims, "he will have aged gracefully and will have a handsome, more mature look".

See, just because you say something matter-of-factly doesn't mean it's actually going to happen. However (watch for the seamless link), we can say with absolute confidence that something that has aged gracefully at 40 is CMU Weekly. Yeah, that's right, it's our 40th issue. This one, right here. The one you're looking at now.

No one predicted all that time ago, way back in September 2008, when issue one was first unleashed, that this little weekly music bulletin would age so gracefully. Nor that it would have such a handsome, more mature look. And it does. Don't sit there saying it doesn't. Have you not noticed the massive redesign to accommodate our new section? No? Oh well.

Anyway, we have a new section. We decided that now we're 40, we should start telling jokes like your dad does. So, welcome Pop Joke Corner and cast from your mind even the idea of a Where Are They Now? section, because the days of us telling you which pop stars remain deceased, or Welsh, or vegetarian are gone.

All the other usual sections are here, though. We've got news, and reviews (well, review), and quotes, and tips, and interviews. And we've got a competition. This week you can win yourself tickets to the fantastic Standon Calling festival. Yay!

Team CMU
 


 
 
  FOUL PLAY NOT RULED OUT IN JACKO INVESTIGATION
So, yes, look, we are still leading with Jacko. Sorry. Blame the head of the LAPD, Police Chief William Bratton, for refusing to rule out murder in his investigation into Michael Jackson's untimely death. He's not said that there's any reason to especially suspect foul play was behind the singer's cardiac arrest, but he did tell CNN: "Are we dealing with a homicide or are we dealing with accidental overdose? I don't have that information". Bratton says that the results of the coroner's toxicology tests will be key in deciding what routes of investigation to continue to pursue. Those results could be available as soon as next week. However, according to TMZ, the LAPD are actually already concentrating their efforts on investigating Jackson's personal doctor, Dr Conrad Murray, who, some allege, administered shots of prescription drugs to the singer in the hours leading up to his death, shots which may have caused Jacko's cardiac arrest. Whether Murray, or whoever, gave the singer an overdose through incompetence or deliberately depends on who you believe. Jackson's sister La Toya, echoing comments previously made by their father Joe, has said she believes her brother was killed in a plot to access his personal fortune. But hey, it's not all bad news. It's looking increasingly likely that there will be a Michael Jackson tribute gig at the O2 Arena on 29 Aug, which would have been his 51st birthday. It will be organized by 'This Is It' promoters AEG Live, so having charged fans once not to see Jackson, they can do it all over again.
     
 

ROUGH TRADE SETS UP IN TOP SHOP
From September the Top Shop group will give over a small bit of floor space in some of its bigger high street stores to the Rough Trade record shop people. The plan should ensure music retail continues to have a presence on the high street other than in HMV, despite the collapse of Zavvi and Woolies, and the ever shrinking CD departments in shops like WH Smith. It's also good news for the indie music retail sector, Rough Trade being proudly independent both in terms of ownership but also in terms of the music it stocks and champions. Rough Trade bosses say their partnership with Top Shop is based on their belief there is still much mileage to be had from physical music product. Certainly the Rough Trade Retail Group is doing rather well, despite CD sales being in decline for years, and many of the bigger CD sellers now out of business. The owners of what is now the UK's largest independent music-only store, Rough Trade East in London, reported a turnover of £2.1 million last year, and increased revenues year on year by 30% in the first quarter of this year. The first Rough Trade outlet will appear in Topman's Oxford Street store as part of an expansion and modernisation programme, scheduled for completion in October.
     
  CHINESE DEMOCRACY LEAKER GETS PROBATION
The US blogger who pleaded guilty to leaking part of the Guns n Roses album 'Chinese Democracy' online has been sentenced to a year's probation and two months of home confinement by a federal judge. Kevin Cogill, who, as previously reported, posted nine tracks from the then long, long, long awaited LP online last year, prior to its November 2008 release, explained in court that his intention was to promote the band, not hurt them. Federal prosecutors had requested that Cogill serve jail time, but the judge, Paul Abrams, said he felt that the blogger had learned his lesson. Cogill will also be required to give up his computers to government scrutiny, and will record a public service announcement for the RIAA.
     
 

WINEHOUSE AND FIELDER-CIVIL DIVORCE
Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil's two year marriage will officially end in six weeks, after the couple were granted a decree nisi at the High Court in London. Neither Winehouse nor Fielder-Civil attended the short hearing. Fielder-Civil began divorce proceedings in January on the grounds of adultery, after pictures of Winehouse with another man on the island of St Lucia appeared in the press. Divorce papers also stated that he had found living with her "intolerable". She is thought to have paid her soon-to-be-ex-husband a settlement of £2.4 million. A spokesperson for the singer told reporters: "She is ready to move on following the end of the marriage. She has not had any contact with Blake for months and is focusing on the future. She's finishing off her album and is in good health". In other Pop Court news, Winehouse is due to stand trial next week on charges of assault.
     
 

COXON LEAVES HOSPITAL TO PLAY FINAL BLUR GIG
Blur frontman Damon Albarn revealed on stage at the band's T In The Park show on Sunday that guitarist Graham Coxon had discharged himself from hospital to be there. The reason, he hinted, was because the show was where the band's reunion came to an end. Well, we can only hope. Albarn told the crowd: "Graham literally walked out of a hospital to come here. He's alright. This is our last gig". Coxon was apparently taken to hospital with food poisoning on Sunday afternoon. As a result, he arrived to play the show an hour and a half late. The local council gave permission for the band to play past the festival's curfew, but they were still forced to shrink their set down to 75 minutes, rather than the planned two hours.
     
  THIS WEEK'S REVIEWS
There was this youth club I used to go to when I was about 10 or 11. My main memory of it is the number of different sweets you could buy there. And listening to Martika. Oh, and playing that game where you write part of a story and then fold over the paper and the person next to you writes the next bit. Anyway, read a review of Lemonade's new single here.
     

Want more? Want daily in-depth music news? Want all this for free? Well, ha, you're in luck. Click here to subscribe to the CMU Daily.

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WIN TICKETS TO STANDON CALLING
Winner of the Innovation Award at last year's Festival Awards, the small but perfectly formed Standon Calling festival is back again from 31 Jul - 2 Aug with yet another fantastic line-up.

Amongst the many acts performing this year are Friendly Fires, Ladytron, The Rumble Strips, VV Brown, Freeland, Tommy Sparks, Dave Haslam, NASA, Jagz Kooner, A.Human and Eddy Temple-Morris. See, I told you it was a good line-up. On top of that, the organisers make the outlandish claim that the toilets at the festival are better than your own at home.

Set in the Hertfordshire countryside, punters are drawn in to theatrical set-pieces, secret parties, fancy dress and, unusually, given access to a swimming pool.

  

 

We have a pair of tickets to give away to one of you lucky people. All you need to do to get your hands on it is to email competitions@unlimitedmedia.co.uk by 24 Jul.

You can find out more about the festival and book tickets at www.standon-calling.com
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Carl Barat says a Libertines reunion is looking increasingly likely: "Lots of people have come up to me saying a reunion would be a good idea. And I do think so too. I'd love to do it. It was a good band. I don't want to just do gigs. I want to make new material. We haven't got a date yet but it will happen if Pete stays on his current trajectory. Pete's very keen and persuasive"
     
 
Reverend & The Makers' John McClure says celebrities should use their power more wisely: "If David Beckham had of spoken out about Iraq it wouldn't have happened, I honestly believe that hand on heart, or Britain certainly wouldn't have got involved. But because he kept his gob shut, and everybody else did, it happened, we sleepwalked our way there"
     
 
Girls Aloud's Sarah Harding announces that the group are going to have a year off: "It's not fun when it feels like groundhog year. We've been on a treadmill for six years and need a break. It's very difficult when there are five of you trying to make decisions. Three might vote to do something that you don't want to do - that can be frustrating. We'll probably start doing another album next year"
     
 
Trent Reznor explains why he's ending Nine Inch Nails' life as a live band: "I'd never want to be Gene Simmons, an old man who puts on make up to entertain kids, like a clown going to work. In my paranoia, I fear that if I don't stop this, it could become that. Because it's nice to get a pay cheque, and now the only way to get a pay cheque is to play live, so it's all those things swirling around in my head"
     
 
Courtney Love responds to claims by former Hole guitarist Eric Erlandson that he has a contract that says she can't, as she plans, use the Hole name without his involvement: "I just heard that a former guitar player is saying I can't use my name for MY band. He's out of his mind, he may want to check the trademark. Hole is MY band, MY name and MY trademark"
     
 
Leonard Cohen would like everyone to stop covering 'Hallelujah now, please: "I was reading a review of a movie called 'Watchmen' that uses it, and the reviewer said, 'Can we please have a moratorium on Hallelujah in movies and television shows?' and I kind of feel the same way. I think it's a good song, but too many people sing it"
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  Ludacris ghost writes for Dr Dre. Dr Dre has been working, on and off, on his third solo album, 'Detox', for nearly ten years now. Although he hasn't, apparently, been writing lyrics for it. Rapper Ludacris has been doing that. Well, for one track at least. And now a demo version of a track from the album, featuring guide vocals provided by Ludacris, has appeared online - www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9AqCktfTYY
     
 

Mew. It's alright, everyone. Mew are back. It's been four years since they released their last album 'And The Glass Handed Kites'. Time they have possibly spent mainly thinking up the title to their fifth album, an eight line stanza which I am going to abbreviate to 'No More Stories'. The first two tracks from the album were released as part of a new EP last month, and have got us very excited about the album - www.myspace.com/mew
     
  Mistabishi plays an HP printer. Mistabishi was tipped here a few weeks ago, so you may remember that he recently released a track called 'Printer Jam', which cut samples of printers in between drum n bass beats. We liked it, as did computer manufacturers HP, who gave him one of their printers to cut into the mix. Check out the new HP-enabled version of the track, renamed 'Print Job' - www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE6331GTlEI
     
  Calvin Harris. If you are British and you are signed up to Twitter, you follow Stephen Fry. That is the law. However, the world would be a much better place if everyone followed Calvin Harris instead. Stephen Fry never proclaimed Toilet Duck to be a more worthy leader of Disneyland than Mickey Mouse. Nor did he ever get into an on-going feud with the outgoing editor of the NME (and have t-shirts made to promote it) - twitter.com/calvinharris
     
 

MJ Hibbett to preview one-man rock opera. Cult indie folkster MJ Hibbett will preview his new Edinburgh Festival show in London next Tuesday. 'Dinosaur Planet' promises to be "an hour long one man science fiction rock opera, featuring twelve brand new songs and even a couple of jokes". And, if that's not swung it for you, there will also be free badges - www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGBxhAZ5ZvQ
     
  The Ruskins. Having gone from jamming at home on Isleworth's Worton Estate in West London to stirring up a frenzy at the Islington Academy, it's clear the cheeky trio know how to charm the crowd with their catchy ska-infused take on modern rock; lead singer Eamon delivers his everyday-inspired lyrics at the speed of lightening, creating a kind of Libertines mixed with The Coral jiggly-indie vibe - www.myspace.com/theruskins
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  Q1 How did you start out making music?
BENT: "I had a Bontempi when I was a kid - I used to try and copy the music on TV and on the radio. Then at 16 I got a Commodore Amiga, and got into sampling and synths. I was hooked on technology from then on, and we've both always loved vintage synths. Music has always been one of the most powerful things in my life. I gave up my degree to pursue making music, and it was the best choice I've ever made!"

Read more of Bent's answers
   
  Q2 What inspired your latest album?
GRASSCUT: "Travelling around Britain really, looking and listening; trying to reflect how unfamiliar everyday stuff is if you really look. And the idea of writing it and saying it how you see it. Inspiring each other to make choices other than the obvious. And visiting small local museums in places like Hull, Watchet and Penmachno"

Read more of Grasscut's answers
   
  Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
MPHO: "It really depends, sometimes I start writing alone, in my head. Sometimes I go into the studio and start with a producer from scratch, sometimes I write to a pre-written track. And then I build it from there... I like interesting vocal arrangements"

Read more of MPHO's answers
   
  Q4 Which artists influence your work?
LADYTRON: "We all listen to a lot of music and it is all very different. It's impossible to pin point. For us making music comes out of what we know and can do and a desire not to repeat ourselves if we can help it. People like Brian Eno and bands like Goblin are an inspiration along with many others for doing something different that had not been done before"

Read more of Ladytron's answers
   
  Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
MASTER SHORTIE: "Keep your ears open for a melting pot of genres. My album is called 'ADHD' because it doesn't stay in one place; it never sits still!"

Read more of Master Shortie's answers
   
  Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
APOSTLE OF HUSTLE: "For the album, that you go on like water, seepin' and seepin', while you peepin' and drippin'. For the future, that you be gentle when you march into town with death's papier mache flotilla"

Read more of Apostle Of Hustle's answers
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Q. Why did Robbie Williams cross the road?

A. To get to the other side.
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