Joe Kavanagh's Music News

The biggest story in the world of Irish rock music last week was obviously the seventh annual Meteor Music Awards, or an Irish version of the Grammys if you will. Big winners on the night were Belfast's Snow Patrol, who beat out stiff competition to walk away with awards in four different categories, including Best Band, Best Live Performance, Best Irish Album and the curiously titled Most Downloaded Song Award. Contemporary folk singer Damien Dempsey received the Best Irish Male and Wicklow singer Luan Parle was presented with the award for Best Irish Female. Cork act, Royseven were given the Hope for 2007 Award, whilst the only real upset came when Dublin band, Director picked up the Best New Band Award ahead of The Blizzards, who were the bookies hot favorites for the prize. Performances from Kaiser Chiefs, Amy Winehouse and Pussycat Dolls gave the ceremony an international flavor and offered further proof that Ireland is increasingly viewed as an important stop in the world of music...

Aside from the Meteor Music Awards, the other major piece of news in the relating to the world of Irish rock music in the past week has been word that the Church of England has made the decision to begin using U2 music in one area of the UK in an effort to boost dwindling congregations. Parishioners in the English city of Lincoln will now get to hear tracks such as Mysterious Ways and When Love Comes To Town in place of their regular hymns, in a move that has raised a few eyebrows. According to Rev. Timothy Ellis, the Bishop of Grantham: 'Bono and Bob Geldof are very human, but they have demonstrated that they believe there is sanctity to life that has to be protected. If that makes them saints, then I would go along with that. We are hoping the service will be a fresh way to look at worship, less formal, and less rigid. This is not designed to replace traditional services but to enhance the worship provision of the Church.' The services, known as 'U2-charist' have become popular in seven countries since they debuted in the US state of Maine in 2005. I'm sure I'm not the only one that sees the irony in something the church referred to in the not too distant past as 'the tool of the devil' being utilized to attract people to the church, or even the fact that an establishment that spent several centuries attempting to wipe out the indigenous church in Ireland is now turning to an Irishman in order to save themselves...

It looks like Gary 'kiddie-fiddler' Glitter will be getting out of prison early after Vietnamese authorities claimed that they the disgraced singer will be released in May due to good behavior. Glitter (real name: Paul Gadd) was sentenced to two-and-a-half -years in prison in 2006 for conducting 'obscene acts with children' but will be released as part of a Vietnamese New Year's tradition that rewards prisoners for model behavior. All will not be roses for the 62-year-old however, as he will be immediately be deported and will face further charges the second he touches down in Britain should he choose to return...

Kele Okereke has launched a scathing attack on former White Stripes frontman Jack Black for his refusal to discuss his political beliefs in interviews. The Bloc Party singer claimed: 'I was amazed when Jack White said it wasn't his job to be critical about foreign policy because he was being paid to be an entertainer. I thought that was treacherous... Selling more records is the only thing that's important to him.'...

Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno has expressed regret over how the band handled the sacking of former guitarist, Chris Karloff in July of last year. Pizzorno told an interviewer last week that the parting of ways could have been managed better saying: 'It was like when you don't want to go out with your bird anymore. You treat her like s**t"' I'm sure that makes Karloff feel a hell of a lot better...

Roger Daltrey revealed in an interview last week that magic mushrooms are the secret to his continuing vitality and the reason that he is still able to leap around stage even though he's approaching pension age. Well, sort of. The Who singer, speaking in an interview with UK radio station, Virgin FM, maintained that a little known fungus called Kombucha is the secret behind his vitality. The jelly-like fungus was discovered in ancient China and used by warriors in the Qin Dynasty before entering battle, as it was thought to have properties that could lead to immortality...

Australian band The Avalanches say that they are finally ready to begin recording a follow-up to their smash hit debut album, Since I've Left You, after a six year wait. They claim that the new record will be extremely upbeat and feature a heavy Hip Hop influence. Of course, they said virtually the same thing about two years ago - and two years before that. The rumor mill claimed that the last time they approached their label with an album's worth of material the record company bosses sent them straight back to the drawing board with the addendum: 'Must do better.'...

Speaking of long hiatuses, Dexys Midnight Runners are about to return with a new album, which will be their first since 1985's Don't Stand Me Down. Best known for their hit, Come On Eileen, the band had their appetite for a return whetted by a brief tour in 2003. Let's hope that it goes better than the time eccentric lead-singer Kevin Rowland attempted to use the 1999 Reading Festival as a springboard for a comeback. After showing up in drag, talking nonsense and introducing a pair of strippers to his act, Rowland was forced to flee the stage due to a barrage of bottles from a hostile crowd.