Joe Kavanagh's Music News

The recession may be hitting most of us very hard but U2 must be banking on it missing out on their own fans, after announcing last week that their latest album will be released in five different formats, with the highest priced coming in at a whopping $90. According to details released to the press, the five formats range from regular CDs and vinyl, to a $35 digipak version, a magazine edition that comes in at almost $50, right the way up to the aforementioned mack daddy, special edition box set. You just know that there are idiots out there foolish enough to try and collect all five versions - in fact, I'm sure that U2 are banking on it. It just seems a little mercenary in a year that appears to be shaping up as a tougher economic prospect than the one we are just about to wave goodbye to, and it also cheapens Bono's constant cries for us all to donate more to charitable causes (especially his ones). No Line On The Horizon will hit stores on March 2 and no doubt the band will try to gouge fans a little more with some super duper seats that cost five times more than a regular ticket, just because you can actually smell Bono's sense of self-importance from them. The only other band that ever took more from people was Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men...

As this year draws to a close, let's hope that the next one offers something a little bit more positive for Amy Winehouse, who has undergone an annus horribilis like few other singers in recent memory, and we're not talking one of those "I need more attention" meltdowns like Britney Spears. This was more the drug hell, marriage breaking up and friends deserting her kind, which now sees her hidden away in St Lucia, as those around her make another determined effort to get her clean and sober. Last week, however, her cover was blown when she was filmed dancing and singing in a bizarre manner, wearing only her bikini bottoms, in footage that has since appeared all over the internet. According to one witness, quoted in UK tabloid, The Sun: "It was hilarious. The mood was suddenly shattered by loud music, then Amy Winehouse appeared with her bits hanging out. She was dancing and slurring along to the music, oblivious to everything. The only thing protecting what was left of her modesty was her bikini bottoms - and they weren't doing a great job. A lot of guests didn't seem to know whether to laugh or scream at her." Let's hope it was a mirthful thing. In another Amy related tabloid story, her former personal assistant was quoted saying that the troubled singer was spending over $5,000 per week on drugs during his time with her. Alex Haines, who briefly dated Winehouse, claims that her first act of the day would be to look for drugs, and that her drugs of choice were heroin and crack cocaine. According to Haines: "She lived off Crunchie bars--up to 10 at a time--packets of Haribo sweets and bottles of orange Lucozade Sport. Her heroin problems made her crave sugar." Their relationship ended when they received word that husband Blake Fielder-Civil was going to receive an early release from prison, or so he says, because the little toe-rag is now selling his story to the highest bidder, making him another of these so-called friends that used a troubled girl for their own devices...

In one final Winehouse story, Blur bassist, Alex James, told the UK's Daily Mirror, that he believes that she will not live to see 2010, if she continues on her current path, stating: "I'd be surprised if Pete Doherty and Amy Winehouse both live to see the decade out. You know, it's not funny. I've been in situations where my best friends have been killing themselves (with drugs) and they won't listen." James also lashed out at the current plethora of reality TV shows, aimed at securing record deals for bands and thrusting them into stardom before they are ready, saying: "Bands in these shows think getting a record deal is the answer to their problems. But it's probably the start of all their problems actually. You know success messes you up far more than failure does, I think." That opinion might carry a little more weight, were it not for the fact that James has spent much of the past year, basically playing the part of Simon Cowell, for a British show called Unsigned Act, which essentially attempts to find the country's best new unsigned indie band, sign them to a deal and thrust them into the spotlight. He evidently never felt bad enough about it to give up his paycheck, so it's kind of like Sarah Palin trying to preach to people about the environment... Or intelligence for that matter...

Johnny Borrell has revealed that he has been writing songs for up-and-coming stars, Florence and the Machines. Speaking to the Star last week, the singer claimed: "Florence And The Machine are friends of mine but I haven't really talked about it [writing songs for them], before because the press always get the wrong idea and they're just starting out. They've been playing some of the songs in their live set for a while now." So let me get this straight, he didn't want the press to know so he decided to talk to them about it? Methinks Johnny might be worried that someone else would get the credit for his work but I hope it's a damned site better than Razorlight's last album because that thing would stink out Calvin Klein's house. Anyway, I don't think Florence and the Machines really need his help, considering they recently won the Brit Awards Critics' Choice, unless he wants to backdate his assertion by about a year...

The Scottish parliament will soon vote on whether they will officially recognize AC/DC's work in the field of music with an award next year. Guitarist and bassist brothers, Angus and Malcolm Young are both from Glasgow, while late-singer, Bon Scott was from the Scottish town of Kirremuir. Member of Scottish Parliament, Christine Grahame, recently lodged a motion for "official recognition" of their achievements as part of a bill titled, AC/DC: We Salute You, is a cheesy reference to their track For Those About To Rock. Speaking to the media, Grahame claimed: "When they played Glasgow in 1978 the whole band wore the Scotland national football strip as their concert took place just ahead of the World Cup finals and it would be fitting if they were to do the same when the band play Hampden national football stadium next June." ...

Finally, even though it's not exactly a European item, I'd just like to pay a brief tribute to the late-great Eartha Kitt who was beloved on the four corners of the globe and sadly passed away last week at 81-years-old, after a battle with cancer. A true entertainer, her career spanned almost seven decades and took her from her roots in South Carolina to superstardom in her adopted home of New York, where she became something of an institution. Despite her diminutive stature, she was a giant in many ways, none more so than the time in the 1960s when she famously spoke out against the Vietnam War, during a dinner organized by First Lady, Ladybird Johnson: "You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed." She is perhaps remembered by most as the coquettish voice behind the hit, Santa Baby, making it almost fitting that she left this world at this particular time of year. R.I.P...

A Very Happy and Prosperous New Year to all our readers and I hope that it brings you everything that you ask of it. Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo arÌs.