China Crisis - Oasis' debut concerts in China have been cancelled after the authorities revoked the band's licences to play, deeming them "unsuitable". Shows in Beijing and Shanghai due to take place next month have been pulled, and fans are to be reimbursed. Concert promoters said the Chinese culture ministry recently found out that Noel Gallagher played at a Free Tibet benefit in the US in 1997. The rest of the band's South-East Asian tour will go ahead as planned. In a statement issued through their publicists, Oasis said they were "extremely disappointed" about the news, and hoped the Chinese authorities would "reconsider their decision". Last year, Bjork shouted "Free Tibet!" after a song about independence performed during a Shanghai concert, which went unreported in the state-controlled Chinese media.
Sound Relief - Veteran rockers Midnight Oil are to reform and play alongside Kings of Leon at a benefit concert in Melbourne for victims of the Australian wildfire. Lead singer Peter Garrett said the event, on 14 March, would "give people affected by the terrible events what they dearly need". Garrett was elected to parliament in 2004 and became environment minister in 2007. Another Sound Relief concert, featuring Coldplay, will be staged at the Sydney Cricket Ground on the same day.
Royalty Row - US indie duo MGMT have demanded compensation from the French President for using one of their hits as a campaign soundtrack without permission. MGMT claim Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party used the track Kids at its national congress and in two online videos. UMP has admitted using it, but said it was a mistake and has offered a symbolic gesture of one euro (£0.89). But MGMT's French lawyer Isabelle Wekstein rejected the offer, telling AFP the offer was "insulting". The row comes a week before the French parliament starts examining a new law championed by Sarkozy's party, pushing for tougher penalties for online piracy and file-sharing on the internet.
On The Roof - U2 played a surprise gig on top of BBC Broadcasting House, in central London. A crowd of around 5,000 watched the rooftop show, which capped off a day of promotion for the Irish band's 12th studio album No Line On The Horizon.
Glasto Latest - Blur fans can expect to see the band play at this summer's Glastonbury Festival, Michael Eavis has said. "You can look forward to that, but it's not officially announced yet," he said when asked if Blur were lined up. Blur have been rumoured as headliners for Glastonbury since it was announced they were reforming nine years after their last gig as a four-piece band. The news comes after Blur's Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon performed This Is A Low at the NME Awards last week. Speaking to BBC 6 Music at the NME ceremony, Eavis said: "There's a bit more work to do on that yet, but you will not be disappointed, I can assure you."
(Jim Evans)
