Joe Kavanagh's Music News

John Lennon's half sister, Julia Baird, has become the latest person to criticize the soon-to-be-released biography of the legendary, late-Beatle, due to some of the incendiary charges leveled at him by author, Philip Norman. In the book, John Lennon: The Life, Norman maintains that he has recordings of a 1979 interview with Lennon, where he claims to have had sexual fantasies about his mother, saying: "I was just remembering the time I had my hand on my mother's t** in number one Bloomfield Road (in Liverpool). We were lying on the bed, and I was thinking, 'I wonder if I should do anything else...' I always think that I should have done it - presuming she would have allowed it." Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney, who originally collaborated with the author, have since poured scorn on the author's allegations and now Lennon's sibling has added her voice to the crowd, stating: "John is no longer around to defend himself from some of the bizarre, sordid and downright scurrilous rumors that sadly surround his extraordinary life. It makes me so sad, especially in recent weeks, when all manner of accusations have been flying about."... On the subject of former Beatles, Paul McCartney is worried that his latest collaboration with producer, Youth, under his on-off guise of The Fireman, will prove an embarrassing venture that could tarnish his own legacy. Electronic Arguments hits shelves this November but its improvised nature has McCartney worried that people will view the album as some awkward flight of fancy. Macca has also been in the news because he is furious that a McDonald's restaurant in Liverpool recently unveiled a prominent picture of the Beatles, despite the fact that McCartney is an avowed vegetarian and current president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The singer blasted the move, saying: "What sort of morons do McDonald's think Beatles fans are? It's ridiculous and insulting to use images to peddle hamburgers. Fans should boycott McDonald's - and not just in Liverpool." PETA also issued a statement that read, in part: "He became a vegetarian after watching lambs play in a field outside his home and surely would not want anyone to use his likeness to help promote meat." Hannibal Lecter obviously saw it differently...

In other McCartney news, his ex-wife, Heather Mills, is in trouble with UK officialdom after she allegedly built a swimming pool in the back yard of her Sussex property (well, I say hers but we all know whose it really is), without receiving planning permission. Local bureaucrats have told her that she must apply for permission immediately and if refused, she will have to fill in the hole. Personally, I don't see what the big deal is, I mean, it can't be that big a pool if it's only going to be used for swimming in circles... Sting has announced that he has decided to call a day on his acting career because it is "too much hard work". What, no more classic performances in great movies like Dune and The Bride? Seriously though, if Sting thinks its hard work acting in movies, he should try sitting through one of his performances. Now if we could only get him to give the same commitment to singing, we'd be set... And talking as well for that matter... Perhaps he could even persuade James Blunt to do the same...

Lead singer of indie-outfit, Kaiser Chiefs, Ricky Wilson, claims that he wants to put an immediate end to the feud between his band and Oasis after months of sniping between the two camps. Speaking to the BBC, Wilson asserted: "It was quite exciting at first, but now I just can't be bothered talking about it anymore. This is the band I grew up with. They're one of the biggest bands in the world and one of my favorites. I read things that I supposedly said and it doesn't even sound like my voice. It just frustrates me. I can't go into an interview now without talking about it." Noel Gallagher, recently claimed that "the Monkees haven't broken up, they're just going under the name of Kaiser Chiefs", before adding: "I did drugs for 18 years and I never got that bad as to say, 'You know what? I think the Kaiser Chiefs are brilliant'." Personally, I preferred the response of Kaiser Chiefs' drummer, Nick Hodgson, who - when told of Gallagher's comments, wryly retorted: "When I was 17 and Noel was going on about Blur I was watching it, and now I'm 30 and he's 50 and he's talking about us, it's brilliant." Anyway, if Noel is seeking a new band to feud with then he should look no further than Keane, whose drummer, Richard Hughes, had a pop at the Oasis guitarist last week. Talking to Capital Radio, the skin-basher claimed: "Get well soon, Noel. I heard he's been suffering since he was 'attacked' and I understand he has properly injured his ribs. Sounds like he was quite lucky not to get thrown off the stage." Erm, that's about as funny as an evening with Pauley Shore to be honest and I'm sure a witty riposte is forthcoming. While verbal barbs are just fine, I very much doubt that anyone will be attempting to push Gallagher off stage during the current UK leg of Oasis' tour, for the moment at least, because the band was introduced at a gig in Liverpool last week by none other than fellow Manc, and close friend, Ricky Hatton. The welterweight boxing champion walked onstage before the band and announced to the crowd: "They're the best band in the world, and I'm proud to say, friends. If anyone tries to push them over onstage tonight they're gonna have me to deal with!"...

While we're on the subject of Madonna, The singer has been busy using her current US tour as a platform for firing barbs at Republican vice-presidential candidate, scariest woman in the world and all around muppet, Sarah Palin. During her performance in NYC last week, Madge continuously ragged on Palin, saying, among other things: "You know who can get off of my street? Sarah Palin! I'm gonna kick her ass if she don't get off of my street!" I find that a little strange considering the fact that Madonna has lived on a street in the UK for the past several years and, quite frankly, I doubt that Sarah Palin could find the UK on a map, even if you told her that it was the one with the Union Jack on it. Actually, scratch that because Sarah Palin would probably think that Union Jack was some kind of US Civil War hero. Madonna also claimed at a gig in New Jersey's Meadowlands last week, that Palin is not welcome at any of her gigs, telling the audience: "Sarah Palin can't come to my party. Sarah Palin can't come to my show. It's nothing personal." Pardon me if I'm a little skeptical because, like anything else with Madonna, I'm sure if Palin flashed enough cash, Madge would take her onstage for a duet...

Lily Allen has finally received a work permit for the US, after immigration authorities revoked her entry visa in August of 2007, forcing her to cancel tour dates and an appearance at the MTV Awards. Speaking of the decision, Allen claimed: "It means I can go and tour there and finish what I started, which is something I've wanted to do for a while." Something has obviously changed in Lily because the last time she was out touring in the States, she mused: "I thought that being a pop star meant going out getting trashed with famous people and sleeping in all day. The fact that this is not true has come as a huge disappointment to me and as a result I am throwing the towel in." During that time, she also wrote in her blog: "Is it really important to break America? I'm bored" and referred to George W Bush as a "f***ing c***" in front of several thousand witnesses at the V Festival. I'm guessing that while US immigration have settled their differences with her, it's going to be a while before she gets an invite to perform at the White House.