Joe Kavanagh's Music News

Bob Geldof was left 'very shaken' after he was involved in an automobile accident while driving two of his daughters around London last week. The singer's car was pulling out of a parking space when he struck a motorcyclist Andrew Quinn, throwing him from his bike. Speaking to the Sun Newspaper, Geldof claimed: 'I'm very shaken but fine. There was no serious harm done to anyone in our car. It's just a shock. The main thing is he's OK. He had all his bike gear on which probably stopped a lot of damage.' Quinn disagreed strongly with Geldof's prognosis and although doctors initially announced that his injuries were only of the minor kind, the biker now says that his condition is far more serious than initially thought and fired off a few barbs at Geldof. Speaking to a UK tabloid, Quinn declared: 'I was riding carefully. Nothing was coming the other way. Suddenly this car appeared in front of me doing a U-turn. I hit the brakes but... I didn't stand a chance. I'm now facing surgery and injuries that may be with me (for) the rest of my life. And it's all because he didn't pay enough attention when he pulled out.'...

Bono has caused a bit of a stir after a member of the paparazzi photographed the U2 frontman walking hand in hand with Penelope Cruz. The photo shows Bono and the actress enjoying an intimate moment while leaving an exclusive club in France's playground of the rich: St Tropez. Although rumors of Bono's infidelities have surfaced in the media from time to time, no one has ever managed to provide any concrete evidence of his roaming eye. The singer, real name Paul Hewson, has been married to Ali Hewson since 1982 and is fond of portraying himself as the consummate family man...

One of the more sensational stories to emerge in the music world last week was the allegation that the UK police once toyed with the idea of framing reggae band UB40 for drug dealing at the height of the band's fame in the early 90s. The explosive tidbit was revealed in a new book by former undercover cop, Ronnie Howard, who says that the plan was even given the codename, There's A Wrap In My Kitchen, in reference to the band's hit track: Rat In Mi Kitchen. In his book, Ronnie's Looking For Trouble, the former cop claims: 'They needed a high-profile bust and I was disgusted because all they were interested in was fitting people up. I told them I wanted nothing to do with it.' British Midlands police have yet to respond the stunning accusation...

The Klaxons have been forced to cancel their upcoming tour of Australia after frontman, Jamie Reynolds broke his leg at a gig in France last week. The accident happened when Reynolds leaped off stage, not realizing that there was a 12-foot drop. The singer is expected to take up to two months to recover and there is no word on whether the band will reschedule the tour dates...

Ordinarily, a #1 slot in the album chart would be reason enough for a band to celebrate but Coventry rockers, The Enemy, saw their album, We Live And Die In These Towns, knocked off the top spot by the recent winner of reality TV show, Britain's Got Talent. Speaking to the media last week Enemy frontman, Tom Clarke, said: I've just heard that we are about to be knocked off Number One by that fat bloke from Britain's Got Talent. It's a f***ing disgrace. Nobody will know who this bloke is this time next year. If he thinks he is going be making music in a year's time then he has another think coming. People who win talent shows have a habit of disappearing. They make one hit album, do a wave of promotion - and then it's on to the next big thing. I doubt he will make that much money out of it. It's a set-up. I don't know anybody stupid enough to go on a music reality show.' Unwilling to just sit back and accept such abuse, Potts fired off his own salvo at the band saying: 'The best is yet to come. My tour starts in January and I'll be singing for the rest of my life.' Yeah, but will there be anyone there to listen? It's hardly the 'Stones versus Beatles or even Blur versus Oasis...

The Magic Numbers make a welcome return to the recording world this fall with the release of a four-track EP titled: Undecided. The Anglo-Irish act is hoping to bounce back after the disappointment vented by fans and critics alike at their last album: Those The Brokes...

Coldplay are back in the studio recording the follow-up to their gazillion selling X&Y. The band is currently residing in Barcelona and plans to travel around Spain recording the album in a handful of churches that they have singled out. Frontman, Chris Martin, has hinted that the new album will have a strong Hispanic feel to it as the band discovered a deep love of all things Latino while traveling around South America on their last tour...

Finally, last week I read that Andrea Corr told an interviewer that the iPod is ruining modern music and I'm wondering how anyone who had anything to do with the dirge that was the Corrs has the temerity to accuse anyone or anything of ruining music. That's not even including her recent solo effort which is so bad it almost defies description but the phrase 'absolute s**te' comes pretty close.