RICK ASTLEY has signed a new record deal with Sony BMG. The deal is for four albums the first of which will be a collection of classic songs whih is expected to be ready for a September release.
ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN are in the studio working on a new, currently untitled, album for release in the summer...
ADAM & THE ANTS are to release a limited edition collectors boxset to coincide with the remastered and expanded releases of 'Strip', 'Friend Or Foe' and 'Vive Le Rock'. The box will be packaged with the new remasters and also provide space for the 2004 remastered versions of 'Dirk Wears White Sox', 'Kings of the Wild Frontier' and 'Prince Charming' and will also add a bonus CD to the set which will feature 15 rare tracks.
TEARS FOR FEARS will finally release their new album 'Everybody Loves A Happy Ending' in the UK on March 7th. The album will feature two bonus tracks 'Pullin' A Cloud' and 'Out Of Control' which were not included on the album's 2004 release in the US. The album will be preceded by a single 'Closest Thing To Heaven' on February 21st which will feature four new dance mixes.
DAVID BOWIE and MADONNA are both expected to voice characters in the forthcoming Luc Besson movie 'Arthur & The Minimoys'. Bowie is said to be taking the character of Maltazard while Madonna will play Princess Sélénia de Matradoy.
SIOUXSIE's recent shows at London's Royal Festival Hall and the 100 Club will both feature on a live DVD set for April release from DemonVision who are also working on releases from IAN DRURY and THE STRANGLERS.
TONY HADLEY and MARTIN FRY's live collaboration has been captured on DVD and will be released on February 1st and will be available online and at the duo's forthcoming UK shows. The DVD 'Tony Hadley vs Martin Fry & ABC' will feature interviews and backstage footage in addition to live footage shot in Milton Keynes last year.
KIM WILDE's single 'Cambodia' has been covered by Swedish metal band Hearse and will be released as a single at the end of January. Meanwhile Kim Wilde has mentioned in a recent interview that she hopes to record some new material later this year.
TOYAH has announced two more gigs for 2005. Toyah will play a PA at Blackpool Flamingo's on March 28th and a show at Hastings Beer Festival on July 2nd in addition to the previously announced show at the Wasted Festival on May 21st.
THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH will play a series of outdoor shows in the summer in forests around the UK. The band will play six shows in June.
KYLIE MINOGUE has recorded the theme for the film version of 'The Magic Roundabout' in which she also voices the part of Florence. The animated movie will open at UK cinemas on February 11th.
DURAN DURAN have postponed their Japanese tour, due to begin next week, while drummer ROGER TAYLOR recovers from a broken foot he sustained before Christmas. The band played a special UK show for BBC Radio 2 last week and although Taylor got through the set it left his foot 'severely swollen and painful' and he now needs to rest it following medical advice.
SPANDAU BALLET have reignited rumours about a possible reunion with songwriter GARY KEMP writing on his website that there is a 'slim chance' of the band reconciling, and singer TONY HADLEY acknowledging in a recent interview that he had exchanged letters with Kemp and had outlined his conditions for such a reunion, saying 'It would take an awful lot and I'm not just talking about money'...
A-HA mainman MAGNE will release a new single, 'Kryptonite', and album, 'Perfect Future Tense' in March, and will mark the release with a show at London club Fabric on March 9th.
FUN BOY THREE, AZTEC CAMERA, SCRITTI POLITTI and BLACK are among artists featured on an impressive looking new triple-CD showcasing the 12" versions of a host of 80's classics which is to be released on February 7th... other bands featured include THE CURE, SOFT CELL, ABC, SIMPLE MINDS, SPANDAU BALLET, VISAGE, SIMPLY RED, GRACE JONES, TEARS FOR FEARS and PROPAGANDA.
REM mainman PETER BUCK will make a guest appearance on the new album from Eels. 'Blinking Lights and Other Revelations' is set for an April release.
