Well, it would have been rude not to. After announcing a big 90th birthday bash in his honour two days ago, organisers have today revealed that Nelson Mandela will indeed be attending his June 27th Hyde Park party. Those conceding that, yes, Nelson lead the transition to multi-racial democracy in South Africa, and that true, he’s one of few people that can call themselves an international icon of peace and equality, but are unable......

It seems you don't need to be a spy to get on the wrong side of Russia this year, merely the member of the kindest, sweetest little band you could ever meet. Two weeks ago, Razorlight had to pull a big gig in Moscow declaring: "Mysterious government agents denied permission for the band to perform unless they paid an astronomical amount of money. The band were not going to pay a bribe and tried to......

Help: A Day In The Life Anyone else spend the weekend battling with War Child's servers, trying to download Help: A Day In The Life? Frustrating as it was at times getting on that golden free server, the end result was a mostly satisfying always interesting collection of 22 tracks, recorded and released in just over 24 hours, that will make it's physical appearance in the record racks on the 26th September. Stripped of......

Out there in cloud cuckoo land and obviously not wanting to let Sharon Osborne's blistering return volley at Iron Maiden (it's like the Alien Queen versus Ripley) take all the pop column inches, pugilist, prol poet, and one time popcorn pusher (at the Prince Charles dontcha know, he used to punch tickets as well as journalists) Pete Doherty took time out from actually turning up to play a gig for once to headbut Razorlight's......

Remember the NME sponsored Blur-Oasis war of 95? Well ten years later and the record companies could have engineered another North South indie civil war, but due to some judicious scheduling we have been deprived of a potential face off between two of the gobbiest bands alive. In the North corner ladies and gentlemen we have serial bar room brawlers and returning to defend their title, Oasis. And representing us Souther puffs, the most......

Manic Street Preachers have announced a UK tour. The artists formerly known as thin play the Hammersmith Apollo on 18th April. The official line is "Tickets are not on sale yet. Watch this space for more details very soon....." but the CD Times reckons that tickets will be available this Friday at 9am from gigsandtours.com. The excellent Delays will be supporting. Meanwhile, a band who have yet to settle into corpulent comfort and could......