DEPECHE MODE have announced the tracklisting for their forthcoming new studio album 'Sounds Of The Universe' which will be released on April 20th, preceded by a new single 'Wrong' - which will be premiered live by the band at the Echo Awards in Germany later this month - on April 6th. Meanwhile the band's hit 'Just Can't Get Enough' is to be the 2009 Comic Relief single in a version recorded by UK girl group The Saturdays. See NEWS for the full album tracklisting and more details on the Echo Awards and Comic Relief.

SISTER SLEDGE, KIM WILDE, CHINA CRISIS, HEAVEN 17, TOYAH, T'PAU and RICK ASTLEY are all on the bill for the 80s REWIND FESTIVAL which is to take place near Henley on Thames over the weekend of August 22nd and 23rd. See NEWS for the full twenty-five band line-up!

MADNESS have announced the first of their 2009 gigs to mark their 30th anniversary with news of four outdoor shows in June and July in support of their new album 'The Liberty Of Norton Folgate' which is due for release on March 2nd. See GIGS for all the dates.

SPANDAU BALLET are reforming for a 30th anniversary tour to take place in November and December this year according to unconfirmed tabloid reports. The tour will apparently be filmed for a live DVD and dates are said to be announced in March.

MADONNA has announced that she will continue her 'Sticky & Sweet' tour this year with a new London show and a succession of European dates in cities she didn't visit last year. See GIGS for more details.

MARC ALMOND is to replace BOY GEORGE on the bill for the forthcoming HERE AND NOW concert at Blickling Hall on July 18th. The bill also features ABC, GO WEST, BANANARAMA, KID CREOLE AND THE COCONUTS, CUTTING CREW, HAZEL O'CONNOR and VISAGE.

BARRY MANILOW has confirmed the UK release date for 'The Greatest Songs Of The 80s', his album of 80s covers that includes versions of songs made famous by GEORGE MICHAEL, PHIL COLLINS and CYNDI LAUPER among others, will be released on March 16th and will include three bonus tracks. See NEWS for more details and the full album tracklisting.

RICK ASTLEY is working on a script for a musical film based on his own songs. The project is only at the planning stage and Astley, who will headline the forthcoming HERE AND NOW tour, is realistic about it being accepted, saying 'nothing may come of it and I totally understand that'.

SCARLET FANTASTIC singer Maggie De Monde has teamed up with MARC ALMOND collaborator Martin Watkins to form a new partnership, Maggie & Martin, who are previewing new material on their MySpace page. See NEWS for more details.

THE CURE, MORRISSEY, PAUL McCARTNEY, THROBBING GRISTLE, PUBLIC ENEMY and PAUL WELLER have all been confirmed on the bill of this year's Coachella Festival which takes place in California in April.

SPARKS have announced three Japanese shows in April, performing two classic album sets in Tokyo and a career retrospective set in Osaka. See GIGS for all the dates.

THE DREAM ACADEMY's classic hit 'Life In A Northern Town' has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Country Collaboration with Vocals category, as performed by Sugarland, Jake Owen and Little Big Town. The Dream Academy meanwhile are planning a new compilation album while the band's GILBERT GABRIEL has just released a solo album, 'The Chapel', on iTunes under the name The Chapel Of Dreams.

Thanks to www.remembertheeighties.com - "The eighties... up to date!"