Ache

The clock was ticking yesterday afternoon as we approached the final deadlines for the next issue of Uncut. But we were finished early enough for me to rush hot-foot across London to The May Fair hotel, near Hyde Park, where Leonard Cohen was due to present a playback of his new album, Old Ideas, to a specially invited audience.

It is a sad fact of life that a man from any walk of life – even the often preposterous world of music – will struggle to be taken seriously if he wanders about wearing a beard the size of Gibraltar, decorating his face with white stars and red war paint, growing his hair down to his waist, then dying it yellow on one side of the parting and blue on the other. So it is with Roy Wood, still best remembered for his terrifying dayglo clan chief appearance than the succession of superb pop songs he wrote for The Move, ELO, Wizzard and – perhaps most impressively - as a solo performer.

The Happy Mondays have announced their plans to reform with the band's original line-up, including backing vocalist and former X Factor finalist Rowetta. The Manchester icons, fronted by Shaun Ryder, will be touring the UK this summer as well as playing festival shows. No dates have yet been announced but it is thought that an official statement will be released in the coming weeks.

Radiohead have announced another summer festival headline appearance, this time at Japan's Fuji Rock festival.

4CD box set charting the ascendance of the blues’ most distinctive voice. O-wooo!

'Grinderman 2 RMX' also features The National, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and A Place To Bury StrangersQueens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, Cat's Eyes and UNKLE have all contributed remixes to a new Grinderman remix album. Released on March 12, 'Grinderman 2 RMX' is a "collection of remixes, reinterpretations and collaborations" based on the now defunct band's 2010 album 'Grinderman 2'.

Happy new year, everyone. A bit of housekeeping first: if you haven’t posted your 2011 Top Tens on this thread, please do so asap – I’m going to start adding up the votes end of this week.

And after 100 to 76, 75 to 51 and 50 to 26, here's my rough top 25. Thanks for indulging me.

Damon Albarn and co follow in footsteps of Paul McCartney, Oasis and Queen