Feb 15

Factory boss fights cancer
[source: NME.com] Factory Records boss Tony Wilson will begin chemotherapy at Manchester's Christie Hospital after he was diagnosed with cancer.
Wilson managed Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays, who all resided on his label, Factory Records. He was also behind the legendary Hacienda nightclub in Manchester.
"I wasn't too upset when I was told the news," Wilson said. "I just think you have to go with it and I see it as another step in life's adventure."
The disease was discovered during a routine visit to the doctor. Minutes into his check-up, the doctor identified something was seriously wrong with his right lung.
After having the lung drained, a scan revealed his right kidney was "completely consumed" by cancer. It was removed and he is now set for two five-day treatments at the hospital.

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Funeral For A Friend preview new song
[source: NME.com] Funeral For A Friend have premiered new song "Out Of Reach" online.
The track is taken from forthcoming album Tales Don't Tell Themselves, which is due out in May, and can be heard on the band's MySpace page.
Funeral For A Friend are asking fans to direct videos for the song, which will be shown on the group's own YouTube channel. The eventual winner will get a chance to meet the band and the video will be included on a forthcoming release.
Fans can send footage to ffaf@atlanticrecords.co.uk with the subject heading: "Out Of Reach video comp".


Snow Patrol singer goes solo
[source: NME.com] Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody is working on a solo movie soundtrack project.
Lightbody has teamed with producer Jacknife Lee (who worked on Snow Patrol's 2006 album, Eyes Open) at the Grouse Lodge studios in Ireland.
"It is something we're very excited to be asked to be involved in as we've been fans since childhood," Lightbody said.
He refused, however, to confirm which film he was working on.

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Beyoncé graces Sports Illustrated
Long considered one of the most coveted jobs in the modelling world, US singer/actress Beyoncé Knowles will appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue.
The 25-year-old singer, who recently announced a solo tour of Australia, will wear a yellow and pink bikini from her House Of Dereon label.
The issue has a music theme and features artists such as Kanye West, Aerosmith, Kenny Chesney, Gnarls Barkley and Panic! At The Disco. They'll all pose with models in swimwear and items from the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
"Once the decision was made to have a music hook, one of the first settings to come up was the Rock Hall because it's such an iconic place," Sports Illustrated's Rick McCabe said. "It was a natural fit."

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Brandy's legal battles continue
Having already been hit with a AU$64million lawsuit, R&B singer Brandy is facing further legal troubles after causing a fatal car accident in December 2006.
The 28-year-old actress/singer accidentally rear-ended a car while driving her Land Rover SUV on a Los Angeles freeway, causing another car to fatally crash into waitress Awatef Aboudihaj.
Now a second lawsuit from Aboudihaj's children has been filed, citing wrongful death.
"Our clients are obviously devastated by this tragedy," lawyer Paul Philips said. "Their lives are upside down, and as children they're really finding themselves having to deal with a loss they don't even fully comprehend yet."

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Brandy.aspx


New Elliott Smith LP revealed
US indie label Kill Rock Stars have revealed the tracklisting for a new compilation by late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith.
Due for release on Tuesday May 8, the two-disc New Moon will feature songs recorded by Smith in the period between 1994 and 1997, a time that also yielded the Elliott Smith and Either/Or albums.
Smith's long-time friend and estate archivist Larry Crane is overseeing the project and a percentage of the proceeds will go to Portland homeless youth charity Outside In.
Smith died on October 21, 2003, after an apparent suicide.

New Moon tracklisting:

Disc One:
"Angel In The Snow"
"Talking To Mary"
"High Times"
"New Monkey"
"Looking Over My Shoulder"
"Going Nowhere"
"Riot Coming"
"All Cleaned Out"
"First Timer"
"Go By"
"Miss Misery (Early Version)"
"Thirteen"

Disc Two:
"Georgia Georgia"
"Whatever (Folk Song in C)"
"Big Decision"
"Placeholder"
"New Disaster"
"Seen How Things Are Hard"
"Fear City"
"Either/Or"
"Pretty Mary K (Other Version)"
"Almost Over"
"See You Later"
"Half Right"

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Brit Award winners
Muse singer Matt Bellamy thanked his girlfriend and wished everyone a happy Valentine's Day as he collected the award for Best Live Act at the 2007 Brit Awards.
Held early this morning (Australia time) at Earls Court in London, the awards recognised the cream of the British recording industry.
Aussie trio Wolfmother, however, were up for the publicly voted International Breakthrough Act, but missed out to Hollywood rockers Orson.
There were performances from the likes of Scissor Sisters, Corrine Bailey Rae, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Oasis, but the big winners were the Arctic Monkeys, who, dressed as characters from The Wizard Of Oz, accepted their two Brits via a video cross.

Brit winners:

British Male Solo Artist – James Morrison
British Female Solo Artist – Amy Winehouse
British Group – Arctic Monkeys
MasterCard British Album – Arctic Monkeys (Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not)
British Single – Take That ("Patience")
British Breakthrough Act – The Fratellis
British Live Act – Muse
International Male Solo Artist – Justin Timberlake
International Female Solo Artist – Nelly Furtado
International Group – The Killers
International Album – The Killers (Sam's Town)
International Breakthrough Act – Orson
Outstanding Contribution To Music – Oasis

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Lou Rhodes heads Down Under
Lamb frontwoman Lou Rhodes is brining her acclaimed solo work to Australian shores for the first time.
The English band's principal songwriter owns one of the most unmistakable voices in pop and will perform songs from her critically acclaimed debut, Beloved One.
As one half of influential Manchester drum'n'bass duo Lamb, Rhodes' striking vocals made tracks like "Gabriel" and "Gorecki" modern classics. But she and Andy Barlow split in 2004 after two successful visits to Australia.
Tickets for Lou Rhodes' first solo tour are on sale now.

Tour dates:

Thursday April 5 – The Zoo, Brisbane
Sunday April 8 – The Great Escape, Sydney
Tuesday April 10 – The Gaelic Club, Sydney
Wednesday April 11 – The Factory, Sydney
Thursday April 12 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Friday April 13 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Sunday April 15 – Fly By Night, Perth

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Lamb.aspx