Joe Kavanagh's Music News

It is perhaps a measure of our times that a planned tribute to the Beatles famed appearance atop the Apple Studios building was shut down by officialdom last week, instead of an intervention from the boys in blue. The Bootleg Beatles, had planned to mark the 40th anniversary of the Fab Four's legendary gig with a concert on the roof of the same building on Saville Row, London, but saw the idea shot down by the local council in a sea of red tape and costly permits. According to the band's delightfully named publicist, Emma Busk: "It became economically unfeasible for the band to do so. Originally, everything looked fine for the band to give a proper concert, but then there were various health and safety issues addressed by Westminster Council. They probably could have gone ahead with the concert, but in the end, to do so would have cost them thousands of pounds." Two members, David Caitlin-Birch and Andrea Barreau - playing Paul McCartney and George Harrison respectively - did manage to get onto the roof long enough to perform an acoustic version of One After 909, for a local radio station, but the event fell far short of the original Beatles gig in 1969, when huge crowds converged on the scene and cops shut down the show by cutting off the power supply...

While we're on the subject of the Beatles, it appears that Fox News got slightly ahead of themselves when channel reporter, Roger Friendman, recently announced that John Lennon's sons, Sean and Julian, would make their first live appearance together at the upcoming UN Millennium Goal Awards. Responding to the claim on his MySpace site, Julian Lennon wrote: "Do they ever tell the truth at FOX? He/they didn't even attempt to get in touch with either of our reps or the producers of the UN event to find out whether this story was true or not. So you know what they represent." Say it 'aint so. And here was me thinking that Fox News were paragons of virtue and committed to unbiased reporting at all costs, gosh darn it...

Abba's Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad have denied that there is any ill will between the two, despite the multitude of reports that have appeared in the media down the years saying quite the contrary. Speaking to the media at a recent Swedish award show where the band was handed a lifetime achievement award, Lyngstad claimed: "A lot has been written about how Agnetha and I fought and quarreled with each other. There is absolutely no truth in that. Of course we competed, but to good effect." Now I'm no psychologist, but the last sentence kind of undermines the first two just a little, don't you think? Kind of like me saying, Fox News is absolutely beyond reproach when it comes to reporting things in a fair and just manner. They definitely don't have any agenda, backed up by overly-simplistic answers designed to keep people in ignorant bliss... But that's just this reporter's opinion...

A survey in the UK has found that the public believe Paul McCartney's ex, Heather Mills, is Britain's moodiest celebrity. The poll, conducted by Karma St John's Wort, saw Mills beat out some stiff competition from the likes of Naomi Campbell, Victoria Beckham, Pete Doherty and Noel Gallagher, who rounded out the top five. According to a Karma spokesperson: "Heather's rant on 'GMTV' when she likened herself to Princess Diana earned her the place of the moodiest celebrity but Naomi Campbell makes a worthy runner-up. She often looks down in the mouth and her diva-like behavior has set off a string of outbursts." I'll bet there're entire days where Paul McCartney just sits around scratching his head, saying to himself over and over: "what in the name of Harry H Houdini was I thinking?"...

Speaking of Macca, his son, James McCartney, is set to release his debut album later this year, which he has been working on for quite some time with his famous father. The 31-year-old is, by all accounts, an accomplished guitarist and has featured on several of his father's albums but until now has been quite happy to remain in the background, hardly surprising given his father's considerable shadow. Initial reports maintain that this will likely be the best album to date by any Beatles offspring... I've just realized that there appears to be a significant Beatles theme in this week's column. Now if I could only find something about the Harrisons we'd be set, because Ringo doesn't want anyone writing about him any more. Peace and love...

Comedian Ricky Gervais, is slated to appear on an upcoming episode of Sesame Street, where he is due to sing a tune that he has written, as a duet with Elmo. I suppose it can't be any worse than his dancing and he does have some history as a songwriter (check out 80's act Seona Dancing on Youtube to see a young New Wave version of Ricky). He definitely can't be any worse than James Blunt, who also gave a "performance" on the acclaimed children's show...

Not happy with baiting elements of the UK media, sharing every little thought she has and moaning loudly about how tough her life is, Lily Allen has now picked a fight with US blogger extraordinaire, Perez Hilton, because of a perceived slight. Hilton recently suggested that Allen "get her partying in check", and concentrate on her work for a while, given the imminent release of her sophomore album, It's Not Me, It's You. Allen was quick to respond, telling UK tabloid, The Sun: "The other day Perez Hilton wrote that I was a lazy arse and I should give up on my record. Today, my single is number 1 in the midweeks and I am on tour, working really, really hard. And his job is sitting at a computer all day. How can he call me lazy? I am working so hard because this album is all I care about. I'm so happy with how it's worked out and that's why I took my time with it. At first I was a bit scared of what people might think. Because of how famous I have become, I feel very judged." In all fairness, Perez appeared to be quite the fan of Lily until she recently referred to him as a "woman hater" and if she doesn't want to be judged negatively then she shouldn't be giving people so much ammunition. The vampire can only hurt you if you invite it into your house and Lily doesn't just invite it in, she clubs it over the head and drags it in...

The sudden and unexpected death of legendary guitarist, John Martyn, on Thursday last, has shocked and saddened music fans around the globe and deprived the world of a truly great talent. The word "legend" is often bandied around with little foundation, but it is entirely appropriate when used in this case, for Martyn was surely one of the most influential guitarists of all time, and for all time. Born Ian David McGeachy, in Surrey, his parents divorce as a child saw him spend most of his early years growing up in Glasgow, where his excellence in academics was only outshone by his ability as a musician. By 17-years-old, he was living in London, where he became a hugely influential member of the burgeoning folk scene under his more well-known name. He announced himself to the world at large with his 1967 debut album, London Conversation, sparking a career that saw him excel in multiple genres including folk, jazz, blues and rock music. His seminal album, Solid Air, is considered by many to be the finest folk album ever made and was inspired by his close friend, Nick Drake, who died tragically a year after its release in 1973. His 1970 album, Stormbringer, is broadly recognized as giving birth to the genre known as trip hop, a full two decades before it exploded onto the global scene. His gift saw him work with names like David Gilmour, Eric Clapton and Lee "Scratch" Perry and it is simply impossible to measure his influence as a guitarist, but it would not be an exaggeration to say that virtually any serious guitarist that has followed in his wake has something of John Martyn in their technique. Having been fortunate enough to get to know something of the man over the past several years, I can fully attest to his renowned friendliness, humility and love of a good laugh and he is mourned by all who knew him, from Glasgow, to his long time home in Kilkenny and among his legion of fans around the world. An utterly unique and preternaturally gifted talent, his death leaves a gaping hole in the position he alone occupied in the world of music. R.I.P.