MIA has claimed that the release of her new album was delayed by her US record label for being "too positive". The singer, who last year released the single "Bad Girls", was due to release her fourth album Matangi in late 2012. However, speaking to Australian newspaper Gold Coast Bulletin, she revealed that Interscope were not quite convinced by her work and were hoping for something a little different. "It's due in April, which is the Tamil new year – April 15th – and I'm still working on it," she said.

Paul Weller has confirmed that he will never reform The Jam as "it would be absurd". The Modfather said he admires bands like The Rolling Stones who keep rocking into their late-sixties but admits he couldn't do it, as he doesn't want to be performing songs that are over 30 years old. He told The Sun: "I take my hat off to people like the Stones but it's not for me. I couldn't do that. Jagger is brilliant and long may he rock. I couldn't make my career out of old songs, it would do my head in."

Suede have given fans new song "Barriers" as a free download today (Jan 7). The track is the first to be heard from the band's brand new studio album, which will be titled Bloodsports. Bloodsports will be Suede's sixth studio album and their first since 2002. "Barriers" is the first song to be lifted from the album, due out in March, and is available from their official website now. An official single, titled "It Starts and Ends With You", is due for release in February.

The psychedelic warlords' live masterpiece reissued...

Catching a relatively straightfoward performance from Crispin Glover in Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland over the festive season reminded me to dust down this interview I did with the actor for Uncut back in 2005.

Happy new year, everybody. Bit of a tentative start to 2013, though the new issue with Gram Parsons on the cover has just arrived in UK shops. A plug, too, for the next Uncut Ultimate Music Guide, dedicated to The Beatles, which I think is out January 17.

Bobby Womack has released an official statement after revealing this week that he is suffering from Alzheimer’s. The 68-year-old, who released his first single in 1954, previously admitted he is suffering from the brain disorder and that he struggles to recall the names of his songs and those of his collaborators. He said: “The doctor says there are signs of Alzheimer’s. It’s not bad yet but will get worse. How can I not remember songs I wrote? It’s frustrating. I don't feel together yet. Negative things come in my mind and it's hard for me to remember sometimes."

Brett Morgen, who directed The Rolling Stones film Crossfire Hurricane, has given an outline of the Kurt Cobain film he's been working on for the past five years. Speaking to NME, Morgen said that just as the tone of Crossfire Hurricane had been dictated by its subject, the as-yet-untitled film about the Nirvana frontman would too be an embodiment of his character.

Here’s no mud in your ear! The Johnny Thunders gang’s epochal 1977 album restored (yet again), with demos, alternative mixes... and badges!