JAPAN will release a definitive retrospective album, 'The Very best Of Japan', on March 27th. The album will be the first Japan collection to feature material recorded for the Hansa label as well as for the Virgin label. On the same date the band will release a DVD of the same name featuring seven promo videos and the band's 1983 'Oil On Canvas' show.

NEW ORDER's STEPHEN MORRIS and his partner, the former New Order keyboard player GILLIAN GILBERT, are to write the score for the new series of TV's 'Cracker'.

DURAN DURAN will do a very special performance at the launch of the forthcoming Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The band will play the invitation-only event on February 15th at Medals Plaza, Piazza Castello.

WHEN IN ROME have been reformed by original keyboard player MICHAEL FLOREALE who is working under the WIR name with new vocalist Jayden Frost. The duo will soon release a new album entitled 'Blue' and are lining up US shows later in the year.

TOYAH has announced more dates, both with her band and also for her one-woman show 'An Audience With Toyah Willcox'.

ALL ABOUT EVE will release a definitive collection 'Keepsakes' on March 4th with initial quantities of the double CD set coming with a bonus DVD disc.

THE CULT's IAN ASTBURY has recorded vocals for three tracks for the forthcoming UNKLE album which is due for a release in the summer.

THE SUGARCUBES have released two DVDs, one - 'Sugarcubes: Live Zabor' - featuring fifteen live performances filmed between 1988 and 1989 with interviews with all the band members, the other - 'Sugarcubes: The DVD' - is a collection of nine promotional videos with an additional three 'bonus videos'.

ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN have announced the first of their tour dates for this year with the announcement of shows in Israel, Turkey, Greece and in March and a Spanish festival in the summer.

BROS bassist CRAIG LOGAN, who has been working in various music-industry roles since his departure from the band, has been appointed managing director of Sony BMG's RCA Labels Group.

THE PRETENDERS are to release a career-spanning boxset on March 14th. 'Pirate radio' will feature four CDs and a DVD and will feature album tracks, covers (including their version of MORRISSEY's 'Everyday Is Like Sunday') rarities and 15 previously unreleased tracks.