News

Public Image Ltd. frontman John Lydon is set to appear on the panel for BBC One current affairs talk show Question Time. The former Sex Pistol will join former home secretary Alan Johnson and Conservative MP Louise Mensch on the programme tonight (July 5), which is being filmed in Derby. The panel will also include Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey and journalist Dominic Lawson, reports PA.

A rare single by The White Stripes fetched almost $13,000 (£8,300) at auction earlier this week. The 7-inch vinyl single is one of only 15 numbered copies and is the first in the series, with artwork prepared by Jack White and Italy Records owner David Buick. It was the Detroit duo's second ever single and contains early tracks "Lafayette Blues" and "Sugar Never Tasted So Good".

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is set to be honoured by his hometown of Warren, Ohio with the unveiling of two 900 pound drum sticks. The gigantic sticks have been carved from poplar logs as a tribute to the former Nirvana drummer. They will go on display on July 7 at the town's Warren Amphitheater, reports Rolling Stone. In September they will be moved to Dave Grohl Alley, which was dedicated to the musician in 2009.

Outkast's Andre 3000 is set to cover songs by The Beatles and blues legend Muddy Waters in the forthcoming Jimi Hendrix biopic All Is By My Side. The musician – real name Andre Benjamin – is taking the starring role in the new film, which is currently shooting in Ireland, though is actually set in London. The film will not feature any music or songs by Hendrix himself, as the late guitarist's estate have not granted permission for them to be used.

The Strokes have begun work on the follow-up to 'Angles', NME can confirm. The band, who were last in the UK to headline last summer's Reading And Leeds Festivals, were reported to have been working on new material at the famous Electric Lady Studios in their home city of New York earlier this month, but this was quickly denied by their management and record label.

Radiohead have teamed up with Jude Law to produce a campaign film for Greenpeace. The film tells the story of a polar bear forced out of her Arctic habitat due to climate change and features the Radiohead track "Everything In Its Right Place" from the band's 2000 album Kid A. Speaking of the film, Thom Yorke said: "We have to stop the oil giants pushing into the Arctic. An oil spill in the Arctic would devastate this region of breathtaking beauty, while burning that oil will only add to the biggest problem we all face, climate change."

Metronomy, Savages and Coda have been added to the bill for this year's Green Man Festival. The festival, which will be headlined by Mogwai, Feist and Van Morrison, takes place in Wales' Brecon Beacons from August 17-19. Also newly added to the line-up are Loney Dear, Tom Williams & The Boat, Dizraeli & The Small Gods, Polaroid 85, Laid Blak and Heymoonshaker. They join a bill that already includes Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, The Walkmen, Jonathan Richman, The Felice Brothers, Tune-Yards, Of Montreal, King Creosote & Jon Hopkins, Michael Kiwanuka and over 30 other acts.

ZZ Top mainman Billy Gibbons has revealed that he and bandmate Dusty Hill once turned down an offer of $1 million (£638,000) to shave off their beards. The singer, who has sported a very lengthy beard since the late '70s, told Brave Worlds that he and Hill were approached by Gillette, who offered them the staggering amount of money to shave. Though still a hefty wedge by today's standards, the offer came in 1984, meaning it would be worth $2.25 million (£1.44 million) in 2012.

Shane Meadows' documentary on The Stone Roses could be ready in time for Christmas. Speaking to the BBC ahead of the band's three comeback gigs last weekend in Manchester's Heaton park, the film's producer Mark Herbert (This Is England), said of the as yet untitled project: "I was hoping to get it out by Christmas. But over this weekend alone we were going to shoot 180 to 200 hours of footage. We've got 35 cameras out there – I feel like I'm making the Titanic at the moment. I want to get it out by Christmas. That's the dream."

Patti Smith has been added to the bill for this summer's End Of The Road festival.