Anarchy In The UK - The Sex Pistols have signed a record deal with Universal, it has been announced. An "expanded and repackaged edition" of the band's Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols album will be released later this year. Universal said the release will tie in with the record's 35th anniversary.
"To be given the opportunity to re-evaluate the Sex Pistols catalogue is every music lover's dream," said Universal's Karen Simmonds. "We're looking forward to working with the band and celebrating their impact on worldwide culture."
V Festival - The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and The Killers have been announced as the headline acts at this year's V Festival. Noel Gallagher and his band the High Flying Birds have also been added to the bill, along with Sir Tom Jones, Snow Patrol and Ed Sheeran. Organisers said more acts would be announced at a later date. The event, now in its 17th year, takes place on 18 and 19 August in Chelmsford and Staffordshire.
Festival director Simon Moran said organisers deliberately picked a mix of veteran and new acts to play the music event this year. "The mix of established and exciting breakthrough acts promises to give festival-goers a cracking weekend," he said.
Old Gold - Guns N' Roses have announced a seven-date UK arena tour for May. The US rock band will start the concerts in Nottingham on 19 May. They will then play dates in Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester before finishing at London's O2 Arena on 31 May. The original members of Guns N' Roses are due to appear together on the same stage in April as the band is inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
Odd Couple - Take That's Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber have announced they are to create a song together for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The collaboration will be performed at the Diamond Jubilee Concert outside Buckingham Palace on 4 June. For inspiration, Barlow is to travel round the Commonwealth to discover what the Queen means to ordinary people.
"This is probably the biggest challenge I've ever taken on musically," Barlow said. "I'm so excited and thrilled to be a part of it." Barlow's journey, which will also explore the different musical cultures and traditions in the Commonwealth nations, will be the subject of an hour-long documentary for BBC One. "It is a huge honour to be involved in this historic occasion and I am looking forward very much to working with Gary," Lord Lloyd Webber said.
Eurovision - Jedward have been chosen to represent Ireland at this year's Eurovision Song Contest for the second year running. The former X Factor contestants will sing the track Waterline on stage in Baku, Azerbaijan. Last year Jedward finished in ninth place with 119 points at Düsseldorf's Esprit Arena. This year's UK entrant has yet to be announced.
(Jim Evans)
