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Crikey, Watch The Police Live Webcast Here Tonight!

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Crikey, Watch The Police Live Webcast Here Tonight!

To commemorate The Police's 30th Anniversary announcement happening today, the band have set up a live webcast of this special comeback event. As previously reported, the group are holding a news conference at Los Angeles venue The Whisky, and are expected to announce details of a worldwide tour to take place this year. They played their comeback performance at last night's Grammy Awards, also in L.A. playing a fantastic rendition of their 1978 hit "Roxanne." The live webcast on www.thepolicerehearsals.com will be broadcast from 6.30 - 8.30pm GMT today (February 12). The Police will be performing songs, as well as taking part in a Q & A session after the 'special announcement.' A highlights programme will air tomorrow at 1.45pm (February 13). We'll be bringing you an update on Uncut.co.uk tomorrow, too. Click here for The Police's special announcement from 6.30pm!

To commemorate The Police’s 30th Anniversary announcement happening today, the band have set up a live webcast of this special comeback event.

As previously reported, the group are holding a news conference at Los Angeles venue The Whisky, and are expected to announce details of a worldwide tour to take place this year.

They played their comeback performance at last night’s Grammy Awards, also in L.A. playing a fantastic rendition of their 1978 hit “Roxanne.”

The live webcast on www.thepolicerehearsals.com will be broadcast from 6.30 – 8.30pm GMT today (February 12).

The Police will be performing songs, as well as taking part in a Q & A session after the ‘special announcement.’

A highlights programme will air tomorrow at 1.45pm (February 13).

We’ll be bringing you an update on Uncut.co.uk tomorrow, too.

Click here for The Police’s special announcement from 6.30pm!

LCD Soundsystem

John Mulvey
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Looking back over the past month and a bit, I think the two records I've played most in the Uncut office have been a new Grateful Dead live set from 1976, and the forthcoming second album from New York's LCD Soundsystem. Not sure what this says about my taste or my state of mind. But anyway: LCD's "Sound Of Silver" is tremendous - a kind of electronic party record written from the perspective of a grouchy man in his mid-thirties. James Murphy - who is LCD, ostensibly - has been stereotyped as a hipster over the past few years, thanks to his key role (as artist, producer and CEO of DFA Records) in the New York disco-punk scene. Murphy, however, is faintly disgusted at the idea of being cool, and "Sound Of Silver" proves that his music deserves to be much more than a passing fad. As the list of artists on his debut single, "Losing My Edge", suggested, Murphy has great taste, and one way of explaining his appeal is to note the influences here: Berlin-era Bowie, Neu!, Kraftwerk, Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, the Velvets, New Order, early Human League, Steve Reich, The Fall, Liquid Liquid, yada yada. He's the sort of musician who doesn't see the point in hiding the debt to his favourite artists. But fortunately, Murphy has the character to be more than the sum of his influences. With blocked sinuses, boundless reserves of sarcasm and a fraction of sentiment hiding amidst all the viciousness, he's a gripping frontman. "We set controls for the heart of the sun," he sings on the outstanding "All My Friends", "one of the ways that we show our age." It's great. Especially after you've just sailed past the heart of the sun listening to a 20-minute jam by the Dead.

Looking back over the past month and a bit, I think the two records I’ve played most in the Uncut office have been a new Grateful Dead live set from 1976, and the forthcoming second album from New York’s LCD Soundsystem. Not sure what this says about my taste or my state of mind.

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Sofia Coppola To Make Operatic Debut

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Sofia Coppola To Make Operatic Debut

Acclaimed filmmaker Sofia Coppola is to direct her first opera, for The Montpellier Opera House in France. Taking on Puccini's romantic tragedy "Manon Lescaut", Coppola will prepare the opera for Montpellier's 2009/ 2010 season. Puccini's third opera "Manon Lescaut" consists of four acts based on "L’histoire du Chevalier Des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut" by Abbé Prévost. Coppola, whose film credits include couture costume drama Marie-Antoinette, and the Oscar-nominated Lost in Translation, will also have have her work cut out with lead tenor, the controversial Frenchman Robert Alagna. Alagna- a frequent performer in the southern French city, and described as "the greatest tenor alive" by Montpellier Opera's director Rene Koering; is set to star as Chevalier Des Grieux, the lover of the doomed title character. However, last December, Alagna shocked the opera world when he stormed off the La Scala stage in the middle of a performance after he was booed by members of the audience. As well as Coppola's operatic production, Montpellier is planning a citywide celebration of her family's cultural heritage in July 2008. The festival curated by Koering will culminate with Francis Ford Coppola Day, during which the city orchestra will play music from the legendary director's films "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now". Artwork by Eleanor Coppola, Sofia's mother, will also be on display at an exhibition at the new Musée Fabre in the city. Pic credit: Rex Features

Acclaimed filmmaker Sofia Coppola is to direct her first opera, for The Montpellier Opera House in France.

Taking on Puccini’s romantic tragedy “Manon Lescaut”, Coppola will prepare the opera for Montpellier’s 2009/ 2010 season.

Puccini’s third opera “Manon Lescaut” consists of four acts based on “L’histoire du Chevalier Des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut” by Abbé Prévost.

Coppola, whose film credits include couture costume drama Marie-Antoinette, and the Oscar-nominated Lost in Translation, will also have have her work cut out with lead tenor, the controversial Frenchman Robert Alagna.

Alagna- a frequent performer in the southern French city, and described as “the greatest tenor alive” by Montpellier Opera’s director Rene Koering; is set to star as Chevalier Des Grieux, the lover of the doomed title character.

However, last December, Alagna shocked the opera world when he stormed off the La Scala stage in the middle of a performance after he was booed by members of the audience.

As well as Coppola’s operatic production, Montpellier is planning a citywide celebration of her family’s cultural heritage in July 2008.

The festival curated by Koering will culminate with Francis Ford Coppola Day, during which the city orchestra will play music from the legendary director’s films “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now”.

Artwork by Eleanor Coppola, Sofia’s mother, will also be on display at an exhibition at the new Musée Fabre in the city.

Pic credit: Rex Features

Compile Onto The Bus With Funeral For A Friend

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Compile Onto The Bus With Funeral For A Friend

Welsh rockers Funeral For A Friend have put together a party compilation of classic rock tunes, ahead of the release of their third LP “Tales Don’t Tell Themselves.” The gold-selling quintet have condensed their tour bus soundtrack for the “Back To The Bus” series. Classic tracks from Black Sabbath, Van Halen and Pantera are all included amongst the line-up. Band drummer Ryan Richards explained the vibe, saying “What songs are playing on the bus usually depends on the general mood at the time (party mood, singalong mood, chillout mood), or more likely which one of us gets to the stereo first. So I think we got all bases covered, a bit of Queen for party time, a bit of Boston for some air guitar action, a bit of Megadeth for some headbanging and bit of Johnny Cash for some chillout time and everywhere in between.” Funeral For A Friend’s bus trip consists of the following guitar heavy tracks: Queen, “Don’t Stop Me Now.” Dub War, “Enemy Maker” Earthtone 9, “Tat Twam Asi” Faith No More, “Midlife Crisis” Boston, “More Than A Feeling” Van Halen, “Ain’t Talking About Love” Far, “Water And Solutions” Megadeth, “Holy Wars” The Haunted, “Bury Your Dead” Pantera, “Mouth For War” Black Sabbath, “Black Sabbath” Longview, “Further” Johnny Cash, “Folsom Prison Blues” There is also an exclusive Funeral For A Friend live track and interview included on the compilation. Funeral For A Friend’s “Back To The Bus” is out on March 19. The studio album “Tales Don’t Tell Themselves” is due out in May.

Welsh rockers Funeral For A Friend have put together a party compilation of classic rock tunes, ahead of the release of their third LP “Tales Don’t Tell Themselves.”

The gold-selling quintet have condensed their tour bus soundtrack for the “Back To The Bus” series.

Classic tracks from Black Sabbath, Van Halen and Pantera are all included amongst the line-up.

Band drummer Ryan Richards explained the vibe, saying “What songs are playing on the bus usually depends on the general mood at the time (party mood, singalong mood, chillout mood), or more likely which one of us gets to the stereo first. So I think we got all bases covered, a bit of Queen for party time, a bit of Boston for some air guitar action, a bit of Megadeth for some headbanging and bit of Johnny Cash for some chillout time and everywhere in between.”

Funeral For A Friend’s bus trip consists of the following guitar heavy tracks:

Queen, “Don’t Stop Me Now.”

Dub War, “Enemy Maker”

Earthtone 9, “Tat Twam Asi”

Faith No More, “Midlife Crisis”

Boston, “More Than A Feeling”

Van Halen, “Ain’t Talking About Love”

Far, “Water And Solutions”

Megadeth, “Holy Wars”

The Haunted, “Bury Your Dead”

Pantera, “Mouth For War”

Black Sabbath, “Black Sabbath”

Longview, “Further”

Johnny Cash, “Folsom Prison Blues”

There is also an exclusive Funeral For A Friend live track and interview included on the compilation.

Funeral For A Friend’s “Back To The Bus” is out on March 19. The studio album “Tales Don’t Tell Themselves” is due out in May.

Matt Bellamy Is In The Hot Seat

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Matt Bellamy Is In The Hot Seat

Muse front man Matt Bellamy will be next in the hot seat for 'An Audience With...' in UNCUT magazine. So, is there anything you've always wanted to muse over with Matt? Do you want to know what his favourite Queen record is? Who really were the Knights Of Cydonia? Want to know how Muse felt about Klaxons turning down their offer to support them at Wembley Stadium? Just how does he get that amazing falsetto? You can ask the band absolutely you want - all you have to do is send us your question now - The more interesting, the better! Email your questions with 'Muse' in the subject header to Michael_Bonner@ipcmedia.com. Be sure to include your full name and where you're from. The best will be put to the band and published soon. Deadline is this Wednesday (February 14).

Muse front man Matt Bellamy will be next in the hot seat for ‘An Audience With…’ in UNCUT magazine.

So, is there anything you’ve always wanted to muse over with Matt?

Do you want to know what his favourite Queen record is?

Who really were the Knights Of Cydonia?

Want to know how Muse felt about Klaxons turning down their offer to support them at Wembley Stadium?

Just how does he get that amazing falsetto?

You can ask the band absolutely you want – all you have to do is send us your question now – The more interesting, the better!

Email your questions with ‘Muse’ in the subject header to Michael_Bonner@ipcmedia.com. Be sure to include your full name and where you’re from.

The best will be put to the band and published soon.

Deadline is this Wednesday (February 14).

See David Bowie’s Classy Chubby Little Fat Man Ode To Ricky Gervais

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See David Bowie’s Classy Chubby Little Fat Man Ode To Ricky Gervais

Every day, we bring you the best thing we've seen on YouTube - a great piece of archive footage, a music promo or a clip from one of our favourite movies or TV shows. Today: See David Bowie’s hilarious cameo appearance in hit BBC comedy Extras. Bowie improvs a hilarious song inspired by Ricky Gervais’ Extras character Andy, with the lyrics running something like: “Little fat man who sold his soul, little fat man who sold his dream, chubby little loser...Chubby little loser. National joke... Pathetic little fat man, no one's bloody laughing, the clown that no one laughs at, they all just wish he'd die. He's so depressed at being useless, the fatman takes his own life.” Bowie appeared in Extra: Season 2, and other brilliant cameos in the acclaimed series include Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Hollywood actors Ben Stiller and Samuel Jackson. Extras: Season 2 is available to buy on DVD from March 26. See the video by clicking here now

Every day, we bring you the best thing we’ve seen on YouTube – a great piece of archive footage, a music promo or a clip from one of our favourite movies or TV shows.

Today: See David Bowie’s hilarious cameo appearance in hit BBC comedy Extras.

Bowie improvs a hilarious song inspired by Ricky Gervais’ Extras character Andy, with the lyrics running something like:

“Little fat man who sold his soul, little fat man who sold his dream, chubby little loser…Chubby little loser. National joke…

Pathetic little fat man, no one’s bloody laughing, the clown that no one laughs at, they all just wish he’d die.

He’s so depressed at being useless, the fatman takes his own life.”

Bowie appeared in Extra: Season 2, and other brilliant cameos in the acclaimed series include Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Hollywood actors Ben Stiller and Samuel Jackson.

Extras: Season 2 is available to buy on DVD from March 26.

See the video by clicking here now

Ghostface Killah Launches Free Hip Hop Poker Site

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Ghostface Killah Launches Free Hip Hop Poker Site

Wu-Tang Clan collective member, Ghostface Killah, has launched his very own online poker site. The rapper introduces the gambling site as the place "where hip-hop plays hold' em" and prizes up for grabs will include VIP trip tickets to shows as well as wads of cash. The first free tournament "Hip Hop's Freeroll" to win $1,000 will take place on February 25. Explaining the GFK (Ghostface Killah) Crew history, the website says: "Ghostface and his crew are like most in the game, meaning they like to gamble. The GFK team knows that Hip Hop is down with holdem and is providing a place where the two come together!" The track "Pokerface" from Ghostface Killah's album "More Fish" has apparently become a poker room anthem. If you want to play with the playas, get your booty down to GFK.com, by clicking here now

Wu-Tang Clan collective member, Ghostface Killah, has launched his very own online poker site.

The rapper introduces the gambling site as the place “where hip-hop plays hold’ em” and prizes up for grabs will include VIP trip tickets to shows as well as wads of cash.

The first free tournament “Hip Hop’s Freeroll” to win $1,000 will take place on February 25.

Explaining the GFK (Ghostface Killah) Crew history, the website says: “Ghostface and his crew are like most in the game, meaning they like to gamble. The GFK team knows that Hip Hop is down with holdem and is providing a place where the two come together!”

The track “Pokerface” from Ghostface Killah’s album “More Fish” has apparently become a poker room anthem.

If you want to play with the playas, get your booty down to GFK.com, by clicking here now

The Queen Rules As Mirren Picks Up 24th Award For Role

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The Queen Rules As Mirren Picks Up 24th Award For Role

Jonathan Ross was a poor replacement for the mighty Stephen Fry. Not one of the presenters appeared able to read from an autocue. The cultural chasm between England and America was highlighted by the "You say 'tomayto', I say 'tomahto'" push-and-pull of how to pronounce Babel: "Bay-bell" or "Bah-bell"? In the end, Alejandro Innaritu's piece of mereticious clap-trap failed to nab any of the top awards, so perhaps it doesn't matter. Eva Green's hair might just be the scariest thing we've ever seen. Possibly worthy of its own blog. Elsa Lanchester's Bride of Frakenstein as reimagined by Crazy Meg of Bedlam. Kylie's blue dress was made out of metal. Helen Mirren won everything.... The BAFTAS are essentially like The Brits. An excuse for much industry back-slapping and a There were no great surprises at last night's awards, and Dame Mirren's Oscar momentum now seems unstoppable. Including the BAFTA, she's won 24 awards for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in Stephen Frears' picture, which also won Best Film. Forest Whitaker, another likely winner at the Oscar for his portrayal of Idi Amin, picked up the Best Actor award for The Last King Of Scotland. We were pleased to see Little Miss Sunshine get 2 awards -- for Best Original Screenplay and Alan Arkin for Best Supporting Actor -- although it stood little chance against the homegrown might of The Queen in any of the big categories. But which films will do well next year? We'd very much like to see Shane Meadows' brilliant Eighties-set skinhead drama, This Is England, receive serious acknowledgment. Apart from Andrea Arnold receiving the Carl Foreman Promising Newcomer award for Red Road, Britain's independent scene was disappointingly under-represented. An award next year for Meadows would show the BAFTAs can see beyond the box office receipts and big name glamour and reflect cinematic achievements outside the mainstream.

Jonathan Ross was a poor replacement for the mighty Stephen Fry.

Not one of the presenters appeared able to read from an autocue.

The cultural chasm between England and America was highlighted by the “You say ‘tomayto’, I say ‘tomahto'” push-and-pull of how to pronounce Babel: “Bay-bell” or “Bah-bell”? In the end, Alejandro Innaritu’s piece of mereticious clap-trap failed to nab any of the top awards, so perhaps it doesn’t matter.

Eva Green’s hair might just be the scariest thing we’ve ever seen. Possibly worthy of its own blog. Elsa Lanchester’s Bride of Frakenstein as reimagined by Crazy Meg of Bedlam.

Kylie’s blue dress was made out of metal.

Helen Mirren won everything….

The BAFTAS are essentially like The Brits. An excuse for much industry back-slapping and a

There were no great surprises at last night’s awards, and Dame Mirren’s Oscar momentum now seems unstoppable. Including the BAFTA, she’s won 24 awards for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in Stephen Frears’ picture, which also won Best Film.

Forest Whitaker, another likely winner at the Oscar for his portrayal of Idi Amin, picked up the Best Actor award for The Last King Of Scotland.

We were pleased to see Little Miss Sunshine get 2 awards — for Best Original Screenplay and Alan Arkin for Best Supporting Actor — although it stood little chance against the homegrown might of The Queen in any of the big categories.

But which films will do well next year? We’d very much like to see Shane Meadows’ brilliant Eighties-set skinhead drama, This Is England, receive serious acknowledgment. Apart from Andrea Arnold receiving the Carl Foreman Promising Newcomer award for Red Road, Britain’s independent scene was disappointingly under-represented. An award next year for Meadows would show the BAFTAs can see beyond the box office receipts and big name glamour and reflect cinematic achievements outside the mainstream.

The Feeling Announce Forest Shows

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The Feeling Announce Forest Shows

Indie popsters The Feeling have announced that they will play three shows in the forest, as part of the Forestry Commisions annual summer tour, this June. Dan Gillespie Sells of The Feeling says: “We’re really looking forward to doing these Forest shows. Last year we played a few festivals but people didn’t really know our songs. I’m hoping that’ll have changed this year.” The Brit Award nominated band won't have to worry about people not knowing their songs this time around. Last years' four Top 20 singles "Sewn,” “Fill My Little World,” “Never Be Lonely” and “Love It When You Call" have earned them the title of most played group on UK radio. The four hit singles clocked up a massive total of 97,436 plays in the UK. That equates to 297 times a day! Forest Tours' Mike Taylor said he was pleased that The Feeling will be joining previously announced artsists, The Charlatans and Jools Holland, in supporting the Forestry Commission's valuable social and environmental programmes. He said: "We are delighted The Feeling has confirmed these shows. They are rising stars of the British music scene and will undoubtedly be a huge hit in the forests.” Gillespie Sells and co will be bringing their pop hits to the following green locations: Delamere Forest, Linmere, Delamere, Cheshire (June 16) Cannock Chase Forest, Nr Rugeley, Staffs (22) National Arboretum, Westonbirt, Nr Tetbury, Glos (30) Tickets cost £24 and will go on sale this Friday (February 16) at 9am. Ticket Hotline: 01842 814612 Click here to watch exclusive videos on The Feeling's artist website & click here for more details about the Forest Tours happening in 2007

Indie popsters The Feeling have announced that they will play three shows in the forest, as part of the Forestry Commisions annual summer tour, this June.

Dan Gillespie Sells of The Feeling says: “We’re really looking forward to doing these Forest shows. Last year we played a few festivals but people didn’t really know our songs. I’m hoping that’ll have changed this year.”

The Brit Award nominated band won’t have to worry about people not knowing their songs this time around. Last years’ four Top 20 singles “Sewn,” “Fill My Little World,” “Never Be Lonely” and “Love It When You Call” have earned them the title of most played group on UK radio.

The four hit singles clocked up a massive total of 97,436 plays in the UK. That equates to 297 times a day!

Forest Tours’ Mike Taylor said he was pleased that The Feeling will be joining previously announced artsists, The Charlatans and Jools Holland, in supporting the Forestry Commission’s valuable social and environmental programmes.

He said: “We are delighted The Feeling has confirmed these shows. They are rising stars of the British music scene and will undoubtedly be a huge hit in the forests.”

Gillespie Sells and co will be bringing their pop hits to the following green locations:

Delamere Forest, Linmere, Delamere, Cheshire (June 16)

Cannock Chase Forest, Nr Rugeley, Staffs (22)

National Arboretum, Westonbirt, Nr Tetbury, Glos (30)

Tickets cost £24 and will go on sale this Friday (February 16) at 9am.

Ticket Hotline: 01842 814612

Click here to watch exclusive videos on The Feeling’s artist website

& click here for more details about the Forest Tours happening in 2007

Snow Patrol Chasing Brit Single Award

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Snow Patrol Chasing Brit Single Award

The Best British Single nominees shortlist has been announced, prior to the Brit Awards ceremony this Wednesday (February 14). As previously reported, this years' Brit Awards will feature the first ever public live vote for the Best British Single category. The original eleven singles have been whittled down to five by public voting in recent weeks - the finallists are: Snow Patrol "Chasing Cars" Razorlight "America" The Feeling "Fill My Little World" Take That "Patience" Will Young "All Time Out" Taking place at London's Earls Court, this years Brit Awards will be hosted live by Russell Brand. Artists confirmed to perform at the all-star bash are Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snow Patrol, The Killers, Scissor Sisters, Amy Winehouse and Take That. Oasis are to be presented the Brit 'lifetime achievement" award by former Beatle Ringo Starr. Click here for full information on how to text your vote for Best Bristish single

The Best British Single nominees shortlist has been announced, prior to the Brit Awards ceremony this Wednesday (February 14).

As previously reported, this years’ Brit Awards will feature the first ever public live vote for the Best British Single category.

The original eleven singles have been whittled down to five by public voting in recent weeks – the finallists are:

Snow Patrol “Chasing Cars”

Razorlight “America”

The Feeling “Fill My Little World”

Take That “Patience”

Will Young “All Time Out”

Taking place at London’s Earls Court, this years Brit Awards will be hosted live by Russell Brand. Artists confirmed to perform at the all-star bash are Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snow Patrol, The Killers, Scissor Sisters, Amy Winehouse and Take That.

Oasis are to be presented the Brit ‘lifetime achievement” award by former Beatle Ringo Starr.

Click here for full information on how to text your vote for Best Bristish single

Dylan Double Grammy Win

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Dylan Double Grammy Win

Bob Dylan's "Modern Times" won the Grammy for best contemporary folk/Americana album, at the 49th Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, last night (February 11). Dylan's 32nd studio LP "Modern Times" debuted at No 1 in the US Pop charts at the time of it's release last autumn, making the singer, at 65 years-old, the oldest living musician to do so. Dylan, who did not attend the event, also picked up a Grammy for best solo rock vocal performance for the song "Someday Baby." The track from "Modern Times" was featured in an Apple Ipod commercial, starring Dylan himself. The song's form is based on that of Muddy Waters' "Trouble No More", and was originally made famous by the Allman Brothers Band. "Someday Baby" was also nominated for best rock song, but lost out to Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Dani California." Dylan has picked up ten Grammys in his career, he won best album for 2002's "Love And Theft" and the contemporary folk award for 1998's "Time Out Of Mind." Check out Dylan's Apple commercial here!

Bob Dylan’s “Modern Times” won the Grammy for best contemporary folk/Americana album, at the 49th Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, last night (February 11).

Dylan’s 32nd studio LP “Modern Times” debuted at No 1 in the US Pop charts at the time of it’s release last autumn, making the singer, at 65 years-old, the oldest living musician to do so.

Dylan, who did not attend the event, also picked up a Grammy for best solo rock vocal performance for the song “Someday Baby.” The track from “Modern Times” was featured in an Apple Ipod commercial, starring Dylan himself.

The song’s form is based on that of Muddy Waters’ “Trouble No More”, and was originally made famous by the Allman Brothers Band.

“Someday Baby” was also nominated for best rock song, but lost out to Red Hot Chili Pepper’s “Dani California.”

Dylan has picked up ten Grammys in his career, he won best album for 2002’s “Love And Theft” and the contemporary folk award for 1998’s “Time Out Of Mind.”

Check out Dylan’s Apple commercial here!

For Your Consideration

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For Your Consideration

DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER GUEST STARRING: HARRY SHEARER, CATHERINE O'HARA, PARKER POSEY OPENS FEB 9 CERT 12A 86 MINS PREVIOUS satirical offerings confected around the Christopher Guest/Harry Shearer/Michael McKean axis have targeted dim heavy metal musicians (This Is Spinal Tap), hopeless small-town repertory thesps (Waiting For Guffman), weird dog obsessives (Best In Show), querulous folk singers (A Mighty Wind), and the vacuous milieus in which these creatures function. In For Your Consideration, they turn upon dim, hopeless, weird, querulous Hollywood actors, and the backdrop of glittering bullshit that constitutes their habitat - and, once again, dispatch their slow-moving target with graceful ruthlessness. For Your Consideration shares with its predecessors a method (a script, in this case by Guest and Eugene Levy, heavily embellished by improvisation), much of a cast (regulars Parker Posey, Catherine O'Hara, Jane Lynch, Bob Balaban, the reliably godlike Fred Willard, this time abetted by a cameo from Ricky Gervais as a heroically unctuous studio boss), and the sureness of touch that comes of knowing, even quite liking, the subject of one's scorn. It differs, however, by ditching the familiar mockumentary format - For Your Consideration is a straightforward narrative comedy. It takes place on the set of an underthought, overacted melodrama, Home For Purim, whose cast - rather bafflingly - become the subject of rumours regarding Academy Award nominations (the title is taken from the oleaginous plea traditionally attached to trade press advertisements touting Oscar hopefuls). From this premise unspools a gleeful burlesque of modern celebrity and the media that amplifies it - an industry in which people who don't really care report on things that don't really matter for the diversion of people who don't really think. The chief victims of this snowballing imbecility are the stars of Home For Purim, Victor Allan Miller (Harry Shearer, with the not inconsiderable assistance of a rack of sensational prosthetic teeth) and Marilyn Hack (Catherine O'Hara). Both are middle-aged mediocrities, who become plausibly and touchingly dazzled by the chimerical hope that their deluded dreams might, at last, be redeemed. The hollowness of their ambition is cutely but cruelly emphasised by embodying the acceptance they crave in hyperactively inane Hollywood reporter Chuck Porter. The attention of Porter, rendered by an inevitably show-stealing Fred Willard, inflates Miller and Hack to grotesque proportions, and when it all goes horribly wrong, he is merciless in batting them about as the hot air hisses out of them again. The scenes in which Porter interviews - that is, talks unstoppably over the top of - Miller and Hack are beautifully observed illustrations of a modern media environment in which everyone wants to be heard, however little they have to say, but nobody wants to listen. ANDREW MUELLER PLOT SYNOPSIS The set of independent film Home For Purim is gripped by rumours of Oscar nominations for various cast members. As the buzz swells, so do the egos of all concerned - in particular those of journeyman leads Victor Allan Miller and Marilyn Hack. The actors, studio bosses and Hollywood media all become progressively more convinced that glory awaits, despite the self-evident hopelessness of the movie in question. The consequences are not distinguished by dignity.

DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER GUEST

STARRING: HARRY SHEARER, CATHERINE O’HARA, PARKER POSEY

OPENS FEB 9 CERT 12A 86 MINS

PREVIOUS satirical offerings confected around the Christopher Guest/Harry Shearer/Michael McKean axis have targeted dim heavy metal musicians (This Is Spinal Tap), hopeless small-town repertory thesps (Waiting For Guffman), weird dog obsessives (Best In Show), querulous folk singers (A Mighty Wind), and the vacuous milieus in which these creatures function. In For Your Consideration, they turn upon dim, hopeless, weird, querulous Hollywood actors, and the backdrop of glittering bullshit that constitutes their habitat – and, once again, dispatch their slow-moving target with graceful ruthlessness.

For Your Consideration shares with its predecessors a method (a script, in this case by Guest and Eugene Levy, heavily embellished by improvisation), much of a cast (regulars Parker Posey, Catherine O’Hara, Jane Lynch, Bob Balaban, the reliably godlike Fred Willard, this time abetted by a cameo from Ricky Gervais as a heroically unctuous studio boss), and the sureness of touch that comes of knowing, even quite liking, the subject of one’s scorn. It differs, however, by ditching the familiar mockumentary format – For Your Consideration is a straightforward narrative comedy.

It takes place on the set of an underthought, overacted melodrama, Home For Purim, whose cast – rather bafflingly – become the subject of rumours regarding Academy Award nominations (the title is taken from the oleaginous plea traditionally attached to trade press advertisements touting Oscar hopefuls). From this premise unspools a gleeful burlesque of modern celebrity and the media that amplifies it – an industry in which people who don’t really care report on things that don’t really matter for the diversion of people who don’t really think.

The chief victims of this snowballing imbecility are the stars of Home For Purim, Victor Allan Miller (Harry Shearer, with the not inconsiderable assistance of a rack of sensational prosthetic teeth) and Marilyn Hack (Catherine O’Hara). Both are middle-aged mediocrities, who become plausibly and touchingly dazzled by the chimerical hope that their deluded dreams might, at last, be redeemed. The hollowness of their ambition is cutely but cruelly emphasised by embodying the acceptance they crave in hyperactively inane Hollywood reporter Chuck Porter.

The attention of Porter, rendered by an inevitably show-stealing Fred Willard, inflates Miller and Hack to grotesque proportions, and when it all goes horribly wrong, he is merciless in batting them about as the hot air hisses out of them again. The scenes in which Porter interviews – that is, talks unstoppably over the top of – Miller and Hack are beautifully observed illustrations of a modern media environment in which everyone wants to be heard, however little they have to say, but nobody wants to listen.

ANDREW MUELLER

PLOT SYNOPSIS

The set of independent film Home For Purim is gripped by rumours of Oscar nominations for various cast members. As the buzz swells, so do the egos of all concerned – in particular those of journeyman leads Victor Allan Miller and Marilyn Hack. The actors, studio bosses and Hollywood media all become progressively more convinced that glory awaits, despite the self-evident hopelessness of the movie in question. The consequences are not distinguished by dignity.

Bright Eyes To Play Two UK gigs

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Bright Eyes To Play Two UK gigs

Bright Eyes have announced that they will play two intimate shows in the UK next month. The shows in Oxford and London on March 16 and 17, will precede the release of new album "Cassadaga" on April 9. Recorded with core-members Conor Oberst, Nate Walcott and Mike Mogis at sessions across the US, the album features several guest musicians. Gillian Welch, former Sleater Kinney, Janet Weiss, M.Ward, Maria Taylor, Ben Kweller and Rilo Kiley's Jason Boesel all contribute. "Cassadaga," named after a spiritual community in Florida, is the follow-up to Bright Eyes' simultaneous 2005 album releases "I'm Wide Awake It's Morning" and "Digital Ash In A Digital Urn." The new album will be released throughout the world by Polydor after the group signed a deal last year. They remain with their hometown Omaha label, Saddlecreek, in the US. Details of the UK shows are: London, KoKo, £17.50 (March 16) Oxford Brookes Uni, £16.00 (17) The album will be preceded with a new single "Four Winds" on April 2, but if you can't wait that long, you can download a brand new track from the recording sessions by clicking here! The new album "Cassadaga" will be preceded with a new single "Four Winds" on April 2, but if you can't wait that long, you can download a brand new track from the recording sessions by clicking here!

Bright Eyes have announced that they will play two intimate shows in the UK next month.

The shows in Oxford and London on March 16 and 17, will precede the release of new album “Cassadaga” on April 9.

Recorded with core-members Conor Oberst, Nate Walcott and Mike Mogis at sessions across the US, the album features several guest musicians.

Gillian Welch, former Sleater Kinney, Janet Weiss, M.Ward, Maria Taylor, Ben Kweller and Rilo Kiley’s Jason Boesel all contribute.

“Cassadaga,” named after a spiritual community in Florida, is the follow-up to Bright Eyes’ simultaneous 2005 album releases “I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning” and “Digital Ash In A Digital Urn.”

The new album will be released throughout the world by Polydor after the group signed a deal last year. They remain with their hometown Omaha label, Saddlecreek, in the US.

Details of the UK shows are:

London, KoKo, £17.50 (March 16)

Oxford Brookes Uni, £16.00 (17)

The album will be preceded with a new single “Four Winds” on April 2, but if you can’t wait that long, you can download a brand new track from the recording sessions by clicking here!

The new album “Cassadaga” will be preceded with a new single “Four Winds” on April 2, but if you can’t wait that long, you can download a brand new track from the recording sessions by clicking here!

Long-view Play Sunday Service

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Long-view Play Sunday Service

Cinematic indie group Long-view are to play Sonic Cathedral’s inaugural Sunday Service club night this weekend. Sonic Cathedral, the unique shoegaze and drone rock club is for the first time hosting a gig at Manchester’s Night & Day Café, this Sunday (February 11) and local heroes Long-view will headline. Previously known as Longview (they had to hyphenate because of a US band of the same name), formed at the Night & Day back in 2002, and haven’t played their hometown for 18 months, so this gig is likely to be a bit special. The band fronted by Rob McVey, are currently recording the follow-up to their 2005 Top 40 album, “Mercury.” Demos of new material has been posted online on the band’s Myspace page, track titles include: “Elysian Fields,” “Why,” “Signals,” “Drive Faster,” “Run off the Tracks” and “Happiness in Loneliness.” Ulrich Schnauss from the band will also be on hand to DJ at the club night. Other bands playing at the SC Sunday Service are newcomer electronic fused popsters, Maps and psychedelicists The Second Floor. Sonic Cathedral is currently on tour and is also venturing to Nottigham on Monday (February 12). The Early Years headline, supported by Maps and Model Morning. Longview's Ulrich Schnauss will also continue his DJ'ing stint. Click here for Sonic Cathedral’s website Click here for online tickets, £6 adv

Cinematic indie group Long-view are to play Sonic Cathedral’s inaugural Sunday Service club night this weekend.

Sonic Cathedral, the unique shoegaze and drone rock club is for the first time hosting a gig at Manchester’s Night & Day Café, this Sunday (February 11) and local heroes Long-view will headline.

Previously known as Longview (they had to hyphenate because of a US band of the same name), formed at the Night & Day back in 2002, and haven’t played their hometown for 18 months, so this gig is likely to be a bit special.

The band fronted by Rob McVey, are currently recording the follow-up to their 2005 Top 40 album, “Mercury.”

Demos of new material has been posted online on the band’s Myspace page, track titles include: “Elysian Fields,” “Why,” “Signals,” “Drive Faster,” “Run off the Tracks” and “Happiness in Loneliness.”

Ulrich Schnauss from the band will also be on hand to DJ at the club night.

Other bands playing at the SC Sunday Service are newcomer electronic fused popsters, Maps and psychedelicists The Second Floor.

Sonic Cathedral is currently on tour and is also venturing to Nottigham on Monday (February 12).

The Early Years headline, supported by Maps and Model Morning. Longview’s Ulrich Schnauss will also continue his DJ’ing stint.

Click here for Sonic Cathedral’s website

Click here for online tickets, £6 adv

I Want To Take You Higher

John Mulvey
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There's a great, contentious review in the next issue of Uncut by Peter Shapiro. Addressing the expanded reissues of their first seven albums, Peter asserts, "Sly & the Family Stone were the quintessential artists of the 1960s - the only ones who actually put the rhetoric of ‘60s idealism into practice" Stated so baldly, it looks a pretty foolhardy claim. Peter's not one for crass grandstanding, though, and he makes a compelling case to back it up (excuse the cynical marketing ploy, but you'll have to buy the mag at the end of the month to read it all). Anyway, I've been working my way through the reissues over the past couple of days, and I'm beginning to see his point. I'm also beginning to question the standard critical perspective on Sly - that "There's A Riot Goin' On" is his high watermark. Amazing record, of course, but today I'm drawn more to "Dance To The Music" (1968) and "Stand!" (1969) "There's A Riot Goin' On" has all the traditional signifiers of a critic's favourite: the phenomenally messed-up vibe, the spiritual turmoil. It's very "dark". But "Dance To The Music" is a different kind of triumph, a relentless celebration of collective effort. It peaks with "Dance To The Medley", ideas crashing into one another, a sort of jumpy, ecstatic fluency underpinning everything. I'm going to take them all home for the weekend, along with a bunch of stuff that I'll try and get round to writing about next week - new albums by Mavis Staples and Bill 'Smog' Callahan, a great new folk thing by Lavender Diamond, some fierce psych jams by Corsano & Flower, a mighty Neil Young solo gig from 1971. God knows what else, really. Let me know how I'm doing if you've a moment to post a comment. And don't forget to mention if there are any forthcoming albums you'd like me to dig out.

There’s a great, contentious review in the next issue of Uncut by Peter Shapiro. Addressing the expanded reissues of their first seven albums, Peter asserts, “Sly & the Family Stone were the quintessential artists of the 1960s – the only ones who actually put the rhetoric of ‘60s idealism into practice”

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The Stooges Announce US Gigs

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The Stooges Announce US Gigs

The Stooges have announced a set of US dates, in between the first of their numerous festival appearances. Iggy Pop and co are promoting the release of their first album in 33 years, “The Weirdness,” their first since David Bowie produced “Raw Power.” The Stooges have also been confirmed to play at renowned music showcase, South By Southwest in Texas, on March 17. The Stooges have the following headline gigs arranged: Caprices Festival (March 8), Crans-Montana SXSW (March 17) Austin, Texas. Orpheum, Boston (April 7) United Palace, New York (9) Fox Theatre, Detroit (13) Filmore Auditorium, Denver (17) The Warfield, San Francisco (19) WaMu Theater at Qwest Filed Events, Seattle (27) Tromso Open Air Festival, Bukta, Norway (July 21) “The Weirdness” is released through Virgin records on March 5. For more information about Iggy and the Stooges – click here for iggypop.com

The Stooges have announced a set of US dates, in between the first of their numerous festival appearances.

Iggy Pop and co are promoting the release of their first album in 33 years, “The Weirdness,” their first since David Bowie produced “Raw Power.”

The Stooges have also been confirmed to play at renowned music showcase, South By Southwest in Texas, on March 17.

The Stooges have the following headline gigs arranged:

Caprices Festival (March 8), Crans-Montana

SXSW (March 17) Austin, Texas.

Orpheum, Boston (April 7)

United Palace, New York (9)

Fox Theatre, Detroit (13)

Filmore Auditorium, Denver (17)

The Warfield, San Francisco (19)

WaMu Theater at Qwest Filed Events, Seattle (27)

Tromso Open Air Festival, Bukta, Norway (July 21)

“The Weirdness” is released through Virgin records on March 5.

For more information about Iggy and the Stooges – click here for iggypop.com

Watch the new video from Richard Swift

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Watch the new video from Richard Swift

This month sees Richard Swift release his third album, ‘Dressed Up for The Letdown’, a ‘deft, dark major debut’. To mark the occasion Uncut.co.uk has exclusively got the video to the ‘Nilsson-like and sprightly’ ‘Kisses For the Misses’ for you to watch. Simply click on the links below to view. Windows Media. lo/hi

This month sees Richard Swift release his third album, ‘Dressed Up for The Letdown’, a ‘deft, dark major debut’.

To mark the occasion Uncut.co.uk has exclusively got the video to the ‘Nilsson-like and sprightly’ ‘Kisses For the Misses’ for you to watch.

Simply click on the links below to view.

Windows Media.

lo/hi

David Lynch Illuminates About Inland Empire

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David Lynch Illuminates About Inland Empire

I was blown away the first time I ever saw a Lynch film – Blue Velvet at the Sutton Odeon, back when I was 17 – and I’ve been a fan since. I devoured every episode of Twin Peaks (I even stand by the, um, fallow Second Series), and I’m the only person I know who ever saw – let alone loved – On The Air, his short-lived sitcom about a struggling TV network set in the 1950s. Two of his last three films – Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive – have been among the best of his career, woozy, beguiling noirs that remind us why Lynch is still a vital force in cinema. I have to admit that his new film, INLAND EMPIRE, hasn’t grabbed me with quite such urgency. Still, it’d be wrong to turn down the opportunity to see the great man take part in a rare Q+A session at London’s National Film Theatre. Lynch at 61 still looks great. That quiff, grey shot with nicotine yellow, is magnificently intact, though his right hand jittered throughout. Maybe jet lag, or coffee jag? I’d hate to think it’s anything worse. The opening five minutes found Lynch extolling the virtues of Transcendental Meditation, his great love. Fortunately, once that was out of the way, we could talk about the movies. Well, sort of. He comes across like Gordon Cole, the FBI Chief he played in Twin Peaks – affable but slightly befuddled, like he’s just woken up. He’s smart, though, doing a spectacular job of sidestepping any questions about specific aspects of his movies. One typical question, about his use of drapes and chequered floors, most notably in Eraserhead and Twin Peaks, was answered with: “I just like drapes and chequered floors.” Thanks, David… He did talk, though, about Sandy’s speech about her dream in Blue Velvet, how proud he is of it. He spoke about the darkness in his films, where Frank Booth came from… And his coffee. Yep, the man who put the phrase “Damn fine cup of coffee” into the national consciousness has launched his own brand of java. “It’s all in the beans… and I’m just full of beans.”

I was blown away the first time I ever saw a Lynch film – Blue Velvet at the Sutton Odeon, back when I was 17 – and I’ve been a fan since. I devoured every episode of Twin Peaks (I even stand by the, um, fallow Second Series), and I’m the only person I know who ever saw – let alone loved – On The Air, his short-lived sitcom about a struggling TV network set in the 1950s. Two of his last three films – Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive – have been among the best of his career, woozy, beguiling noirs that remind us why Lynch is still a vital force in cinema.

I have to admit that his new film, INLAND EMPIRE, hasn’t grabbed me with quite such urgency. Still, it’d be wrong to turn down the opportunity to see the great man take part in a rare Q+A session at London’s National Film Theatre.

Lynch at 61 still looks great. That quiff, grey shot with nicotine yellow, is magnificently intact, though his right hand jittered throughout. Maybe jet lag, or coffee jag? I’d hate to think it’s anything worse. The opening five minutes found Lynch extolling the virtues of Transcendental Meditation, his great love. Fortunately, once that was out of the way, we could talk about the movies. Well, sort of. He comes across like Gordon Cole, the FBI Chief he played in Twin Peaks – affable but slightly befuddled, like he’s just woken up. He’s smart, though, doing a spectacular job of sidestepping any questions about specific aspects of his movies. One typical question, about his use of drapes and chequered floors, most notably in Eraserhead and Twin Peaks, was answered with: “I just like drapes and chequered floors.”

Thanks, David…

He did talk, though, about Sandy’s speech about her dream in Blue Velvet, how proud he is of it. He spoke about the darkness in his films, where Frank Booth came from… And his coffee. Yep, the man who put the phrase “Damn fine cup of coffee” into the national consciousness has launched his own brand of java. “It’s all in the beans… and I’m just full of beans.”

Catch The Killer In This Thin Lizzy Video

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Catch The Killer In This Thin Lizzy Video

Every day, we bring you the best thing we've seen on YouTube - a great piece of archive footage, a music promo or a clip from one of our favourite movies or TV shows. Today: Watch the smoke-filled, slow-mo, promo video for Thin Lizzy’s 1980 Top 10 single “Killer On The Loose.” Taken from the rock band’s tenth studio album “Chinatown,” - the first album that replaced original Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore, with musician Snowy White, who went on to play with the group until 1982. Killer On The Loose? Check out Lynott’s killer hair! How could we forget... See the video by clicking here now

Every day, we bring you the best thing we’ve seen on YouTube – a great piece of archive footage, a music promo or a clip from one of our favourite movies or TV shows.

Today: Watch the smoke-filled, slow-mo, promo video for Thin Lizzy’s 1980 Top 10 single “Killer On The Loose.”

Taken from the rock band’s tenth studio album “Chinatown,” – the first album that replaced original Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore, with musician Snowy White, who went on to play with the group until 1982.

Killer On The Loose? Check out Lynott’s killer hair! How could we forget…

See the video by clicking here now

Genesis To Play A Specacular Free Concert In Rome

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Genesis To Play A Specacular Free Concert In Rome

The newly reunited rock band Genesis have announced a massive free concert to take place in Rome. Up to 400,00 fans are expected to attend the concert at Rome's Circo Massimo on July 14. As previously reported on www.uncut.co.uk, Genesis are to embark on their first European tour in fifteen years. Entitled "Turn It On Again," the shows kick off at the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki on June 11 and the free finale will take place in Rome. Over 800,000 tickets have so far been sold for the tour which will call at twelve countries en route. The concert in Rome will not be ticketed, and fans will be admitted on a first come, first served basis. Logistical problems from embarking on a tour of this size means Genesis have had to slightly reschedule two previously announced shows. The show in Austria will now take place one day later than originally planned, and their concert in Prague has a change of venue. All original tickets remain valid. The full changes are: Linz, Austria, Gugglestadium (June 19) Prague, Czech Rep Strahov Football Stadium (20) Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford will be joined on stage by long-time Genesis sidemen, Chester Thompson on drums and Daryl Stuermer on guitar. Coinciding with the Genesis tour, EMI Records will be re-issuing 14 Genesis during the year. The first reissues out on April 2 are: "A Trick Of The Tail" (1976), "Wind & Wuthering" (1977), "And Then There Were Three" (1978), "Duke" (1980)and "Abacab" (1981). Click here for further information and regular news updates on Genesis

The newly reunited rock band Genesis have announced a massive free concert to take place in Rome.

Up to 400,00 fans are expected to attend the concert at Rome’s Circo Massimo on July 14.

As previously reported on www.uncut.co.uk, Genesis are to embark on their first European tour in fifteen years.

Entitled “Turn It On Again,” the shows kick off at the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki on June 11 and the free finale will take place in Rome.

Over 800,000 tickets have so far been sold for the tour which will call at twelve countries en route.

The concert in Rome will not be ticketed, and fans will be admitted on a first come, first served basis.

Logistical problems from embarking on a tour of this size means Genesis have had to slightly reschedule two previously announced shows.

The show in Austria will now take place one day later than originally planned, and their concert in Prague has a change of venue. All original tickets remain valid.

The full changes are:

Linz, Austria, Gugglestadium (June 19)

Prague, Czech Rep Strahov Football Stadium (20)

Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford will be joined on stage by long-time Genesis sidemen, Chester Thompson on drums and Daryl Stuermer on guitar.

Coinciding with the Genesis tour, EMI Records will be re-issuing 14 Genesis during the year. The first reissues out on April 2 are:

“A Trick Of The Tail” (1976), “Wind & Wuthering” (1977), “And Then There Were Three” (1978), “Duke” (1980)and “Abacab” (1981).

Click here for further information and regular news updates on Genesis

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