Joe Kavanagh's Music News

The major music story in Ireland last week was undoubtedly the decision by Sony BMG to sign three Irish catholic priests to a recording contract worth a reputed $2 million. Fr. Eugene O'Hagan, Fr. Martin O'Hagan and Fr. David Delargy are all in their mid to late forties and grew up as friends in their native County Antrim, even before they entered the priesthood. The men share a lifelong love of singing, and even toured Ireland's churches and parishes performing as a trio, which is how they came to the attention of Sony BMG. The newly signed act will record under the name "The Priests" (I'm guessing that they're saving the imagination for their promo campaign?) and their debut album is due for release this coming November. The three men of the cloth claim that the album will be a mix of parts from the old Latin mass, a selection of catholic hymns and opera classics. All money raised will go to charity and the priests also have a stipulation in their contract that ensures that their promotional duties will never take precedence over any of their religious or spiritual obligations. The men claim that they won't be swayed by the rock n' roll lifestyle but that's easy to say now. Wait until the ladies start throwing their Zimmer frames and bloomers at them and we'll see how strong their fortitude is...

The very public collapse of Amy Winehouse continues apace, as the troubled singer generated gallons of tabloid ink virtually every day during the past week. According to those surrounding her, Winehouse informed her husband Blake Fielder-Civil that she was seeking a separation while visiting him in prison last week, with insiders claiming that she has already taken up with her manager's 24-year-old assistant. Next up was a spot of late night fisticuffs after a pub crawl in Camden, which saw Winehouse accused of head butting an individual that just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The accusation was taken seriously by police who spoke to the star over the weekend, with some reports claiming that she was so out of it that a doctor refused police permission to talk to her while she was in custody. According to those familiar with proceedings, police will not charge the singer but claim that the assault will be noted on her record, meaning that authorities can take the matter further in the event of any further transgressions by the star. Winehouse's father, Mitch, told the UK media that he believes his daughter is now so unstable that she should be sectioned under the UK Mental Health Act. Speaking of her increasingly erratic behavior, he claimed: "I want her sectioned. The situation is getting out of control. I want her off the street. I don't think being somewhere (in rehab) for six weeks is going to cure her problems. I think it needs far more radical measures. I've been on the phone to Amy's manager in Los Angeles and he's starting things rolling. They are going to be speaking to doctors, psychologists and everything else. Ultimately, it's the doctors who will decide if anybody is sectionable. I've told them (medical authorities) she is a danger to herself. There is evidence of self-harming and she's a danger to other people because she's attacked someone. Obviously as her dad I will try and do what's best for her. Unfortunately, what I think is best for her and what she thinks is best for her are two different things." While it can sometimes be difficult discerning where the PR machine stops and reality begins in the lives of many celebrities, one only has to look at a photograph of Amy Winehouse from two years ago and compare it with any one of the shots of her that appeared all over the newspapers last week to see that this is a lady with very serious problems. She looks more and more like Margaret Hamilton by the day...

While Amy continues her steady descent into depravity, reports out of the Pete Doherty camp claim that the singer seems to have turned a corner since being handed a 14-week prison sentence last month. Although Doherty was removed from the general population last week due to an imminent threat on his life, he has since found life on the secure wing more to his liking and has even begun studying the Koran in an effort to add meaning to his life. A source close to the imprisoned star brushed aside rumors that Doherty was back on heroin since entering Wormwood Scrubs prison, saying: "He's been reading the Koran since he went into segregation. He's got a lot of Muslim friends and they've been on at him for ages to study it. Now he's on his own he's got time on his hands to study it. I'm surprised how much it has calmed him down as he was very on edge inside. He definitely seems more chilled. He's really interested in it. I think it's helping him in there."...

Sadly, for me anyway, a poll conducted by Sky.com last week of people under 25 found that Amy Winehouse was named by most female respondents as their "ultimate heroine", with Victoria Beckham and Kylie Minogue finishing second and third respectively, proving conclusively that substance is a dead commodity in modern society. Men of the same age fared little better with Pete Doherty taking second spot behind likeable Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard. At least that's something, I suppose...

During the course of an interview with The Times last week, Phil Collins declared that he is retiring from the music business effective immediately and when pressed on how he would spend his free time, the domed drummer claimed that he would be dedicating more time to his passion for collecting all things related to the Battle of the Alamo, saying: "It's not that unusual for a man of my age who grew up reading (books about American hero) Davy Crockett." Hey, I don't care if he's collecting shampoo bottles from outer Mongolia as long as it keeps the man from making any more of what he refers to as "music". Collins, who famously once told his wife he was divorcing her - by fax, also stoked the fire of an old feud with Oasis' guitarist Noel Gallagher. In the run up to the UK's last general election, Gallagher famously quipped: "Vote Labour: if you don't and the Tories get in, [Phil Collins] is threatening to come back from Switzerland, and none of us want that." Although Collins never responded at the time, he told The Times' interviewer: "I don't care if he likes my music or not. I do care if he starts telling people I'm a w****r because of my politics. It's an opinion based on an old misunderstood quote." Man alive, almost four years to respond to Gallagher's jibe and that's the best he can come up with. Phil was never really known for his sense of humor... or style... or ability to produce anything that did not sound like a cheesy them-song to a game show that never made it past the pilot episode. I just want to make sure that this isn't one of the Jay-Z or Status Quo retirements before I break out the champagne and the good china...

I've been known to give out ding dong about the shenanigans of many rock stars in this column but I do try to uncover their good deeds to, hard as they are to find at times. This week, however, Morrissey makes the list of the good guys after he personally stepped in to save a Rock Against Racism concert that was almost cancelled due to financial concerns. The event, aimed at promoting racial harmony, came under threat after one of its main sponsors pulled out, leaving organizers $150,000 short of the funding they required to put on the event. Happily, Morrissey and his management company stepped in, stumping up the shortfall out of their own pockets. So good man Morrissey and I'm sure that it has nothing to do with rehabilitating your public image after you appeared to sound like a racist during an interview with NME a while back. Pure coincidence.