FAC 501

All of Factory Records releases (both music and video) were given unique catalogue numbers in the form of FAC followed by a number. This numbering system was applied to all Factory productions including posters (FAC 1 advertised a club night), The Haçienda (FAC 51), a hairdressing salon (FAC 98), a broadcast of Channel 4's The Tube (FAC 104), sellotape (FAC 136), a bucket on a restored watermill (FAC 148), the Haçienda cat (FAC 191), a bet between Wilson and Gretton (FAC 253), and a radio advertisement (FAC 294).

Numbers were not allocated in strict chronological order - numbers for Joy Division and New Order releases generally ended in 3 or 0, A Certain Ratio and Happy Mondays in 2, The Durutti Column in 4. Factory Classical releases were 226, 236 and so on...

Why are you being told this?

The last ever Factory catalogue number was given to Tony Wilson's coffin (FAC 501). Brilliant.

The Monks to hit big screen

Garage punk legends The Monks are to hit the big screen... but at the moment, only our Bavarian pals can see 'em! Drat.

The theatrical release of the Monks documentary "The Monks: The Transatlantic Feedback" will take place throughout Germany during October and November. Hopefully, the rest of us will get the chance to see it on DVD release. Keep checking here for details.

This couples up with The Monks playing a couple of live dates in Austria and Germany which will see the group creating an unholy racket with guest spots from The Fall's Mark E. Smith and a DJ set from Alec Empire.

Read over for dates and places.

R Kelly leaves court and misses irony

With R Kelly going to trial for messing around with minors... and filming it... and making songs like 'Age Ain't Nothin' but a Number'... it seems funny that when he left court, he should be snapped next to... well... look at the poster.

My Bloody Valentine set to reform?

Seminal shoegaze noiseniks My Bloody Valentine are considering an offer to reunite and co-headline the 2008 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.

According to reports, a tour would follow later in the year. Best known for the profoundly influential 1991 album "Loveless," the Kevin Shields-led group has been inactive since 1995, although in recent years there have been occasional reports that it was working on a new album and a boxed set featuring unreleased material.

Coachella booker Paul Tollett politely declined comment on the report, but an MBV appearance would fit the festival's profile for luring long-dormant groups like Rage Against The Machine, Daft Punk and the Jesus & Mary Chain back onto the live stage. It is understood that Tollett has been pursuing My Bloody Valentine to play at Coachella for several years; the rumors were loudest in the run-up to the 2005 edition of the event, which was headlined by Tool and Depeche Mode.

CBGB Founder Hilly Kristal Dies At 75

Hilly Kristal, the founder of legendary New York punk club CBGB, died yesterday (Aug. 28) due to complications from lung cancer. He was 75.

Kristal founded the club in 1973 to showcase bluegrass and country acts, but it quickly became known as a breeding ground for experimental and punk music. Throughout the 1970s and '80s, the club served as a launching pad for Blondie, the Talking Heads, Television, Living Colour, Patti Smith and the Ramones, among many others.

Speaking to Billboard, Patti Smith said; "I evolved as an artist at CBGB. Every time I look at 'Horses,' I think of Hilly. He made a great contribution." "Hilly was an integral part of the punk scene from 1974 until his death," says Marky Ramone. "He was always supportive of the genre and of bands like the Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads and Richard Hell and Voidoids and will hold a prominent place in music history. In an era when disco was the mainstream, Hilly took a chance and gambled."

Bo Diddley back in hospital

Bo Diddley is in hospital in Florida after suffering a heart attack during a hospital check up last Friday.

The legendary 78-year-old singer-guitarist complained of dizziness and nausea on Friday, says his publicist. The rck'n'roller is currently in a stable condition, after spending the weekend in intensive care. His publicist has said that his condition is still "very serious".

The icon has been in recovery from a stroke since May, after a performance in Iowa earlier this year, which left him with partial speech and speech recognition problems. The siger/guitarist has also suffered severe diabetes, resulting in the loss of several toes.

All at ElectricRoulette wish him a speedy recovery.

Robert Wyatt to partake in Q&A at one-off event

Robert Wyatt is to appear 'in conversation' at a special one-off event in October. The talk at London's Southbank Centre Purcell Rooms on October 15 will see the musical legend discuss his new album 'Comicopera' as well as take questions from fans in the audience.

Commenting on the new LP, Wyatt has said: "It's really about the unpredictable mischief of real life - it's sort of chaotic our life. It's about humans and the things we turn to, and looking for fun and stimulus and meaning and stuff."

Throughout his career Wyatt has collaborated with a diverse range of artists including Bjork and Brian Eno. Tickets for the event are a measly £6.

Click here for more information from the Southbank Centre's website.

Withnail & I back in cinemas

The ultimate destitute rock and roll film is to hit the cinemas again 20 years after its original release. 

Withnail and I, Bruce Robinson’s cult comedy classic, is making a welcome return to cinemas throughout the country on 11 September. First released in 1987 and set in the 1960’s, Withnail and I is an intelligent, superbly acted and hilarious film. I'm sure you already know the plot, but for fear of being lazy, I'll tell you again. Two unemployed actors scrounge and drink their way through the flicked fag-end of the sixties, and slowly descend into an elegant depression. They are indeed, selling hippie wigs in Woolworths man.

Withnail and I, directed by Bruce Robinson and starring Paul McGann, Richard E Grant and Richard Griffiths, will be screening at 136 screens nationwide on Tuesday 11 September, as the final cinema release of the BBC and UK Film Council ‘Summer of British Film’ initiative. The film has been restored and will be screened using D-Cinema (Digital Cinema) technology making the gloom look sharper than ever.

For more info, click here

Review - A Hawk And A Hacksaw & The Hun Hangar Ensemble

With the music press at large going mental for pretenders like Gogol Bordello, it seems frankly preposterous that they should all miss out on the real fuckin' deal! The incredible A Hawk And A Hacksaw! The purveyors of the finest Eastern European folk have teamed up with the stunning collective The Hun Hangar Ensemble to create an other worldly racket that is a must for anyone owning a functioning brain and a pair of ears.

A Hawk And A Hacksaw first came to my attention at the 2006 Green Man Festival, where they promptly stole the hearts of those smart enough to watch 'em. A bass drum, an accordion, a fiddle and a hat with bells on is seemingly all you need to make people go mental, cheer and dance. A swift payment and their entire back catalogue in my bag later, and my love affair with rabble rousing Hungarian music meets psych was cemented. So what of this new EP?

Double DVD of The Ramones to be released

Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee, Tommy, Marky, Richie, and C-Jay – The Ramones will always be the first “family” of punk. Together more than 20 years, The Ramones inspired left all for dead with their 1000mph garage-punk, shattering ears with a boot to the balls and a sweet pop singalong.

Rhino are now ready to send you back to rock rock, rock ’n’ roll high school with a double-DVD that captures the essence of the Ramones’ legendary racket with more than four hours of rare and unreleased performances. It’s Alive 1974-1996 will be available October 1 after more than four years in the making with Tommy Ramone serving as music supervisor.

Arranged chronologically over two DVDs, the film relives some of the band’s best (and most chaotic) performances with live footage of more than 100 songs, including “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker,” “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue,” “Beat On The Brat” and “I Wanna Be Sedated.” With more than four hours of impossible-to-find and unreleased live footage, this collection will make you feel like you’re standing in stale beer at CBGB shouting along with Dee Dee as he counts off, “One, two, three, four!”  The DVD also includes previously unreleased footage filmed on New Year’s Eve in 1977 during the band’s incendiary performance at The Rainbow Theatre in London.

Review - Your Time Is Gonna Come - The Roots of Led Zeppelin 1964-69

Everyone's got a bit of a soft spot for Led Zeppelin haven't they? I mean, they're the closest thing many of us have in our collection to prog. Preposterous riffs battle wails and drum solos... who else to we let get away with it? But what makes Led Zeppelin? Jimmy Page was in The Yardbirds and, for those who have dug really deep, you'll know that Mr Page produced a lot of great records... but what of the rest of the band?

Well, Your Time Is Gonna Come - The Roots of Led Zeppelin 1964-69 looks into the things that made Zep what they are... or were... or rather, what we know 'em as. From cranked up numbskull pounders to lilting gentle pop... it seems, on the strength of this compilation that to be Led Zep, you have to be all encompassing in your tastes... and quite right too.

Review - The Northern Soul Story Volumes 1-4

Northern Soul comps are ten-a-penny and for every new one that comes out, there's a promise of talcum powder on the floor and the deepest soul. Many fail thanks to using overplayed tracks or obscure b-sides that didn't make the cut for a reason. So, with trepidation, I tackle 4 CDs called The Northern Soul Story.

The CDs trace Northern Soul through it's various clubs... arguably the most famed clubs... with volume 1 tackling Manchester's legendary Twisted Wheel Club, volume 2 looking at Stoke-On-Trent's Golden Torch, volume 3 taking a trip to the Blackpool Mecca, and finally, volume 4 dancing around the expansive floor of the mighty Wigan Casino. An ambitious project that just might be the most comprehensive set of Northern Soul comps around.

Classic Clip: The Damned - New Rose

I feel sorry for The Damned - hitting their high point with their first single, there's just nowhere to go after releasing something so gloriously trashy like New Rose.

Thunderous opening, great riff, catchy chorus and an ending before the three-minute mark. All the ingredients for the perfect song. Shame they ended up as a comedy goth act really.

Nick Drake 'Fruit Tree' box-set to see release

The world has gone Nick Drake mad in recent years... and deservedly so. To continue Nick's growing popularity, the release date for the Nick box-set - Fruit Tree- has been confirmed as Oct 22nd.

Fruit Tree is a boxed set which comes in either CD format or vinyl. The expansive CD box contains Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter and Pink Moon in a mini-vinyl replica sleeve. To add to that, you'll also get a DVD of the film 'A Skin Too Few and a special commemorative book. The Vinyl box contains the same things, except you get records in it (obviously).

The boxes are lift-off lid in style and the book is 100 pages thick. The book contains the first-ever interview with Joe Boyd and John Wood together and takes you through each track of Nick's song-by-song. It also contains a song-by-song musical breakdown and history by Robin Frederick.It also contains all of Nick's lyrics It also contains the original sleeve notes by Arthur Lubow.

Jesus and Mary Chain to hit the US road and then, a new LP?

The Jesus And Mary Chain have announced a brief jaunt on the road in the US, kicking off October 20 in Las Vegas. The band have also confirmed they are heading back to the studio for the first time in almost ten years to work on new material.

The JAMC broke up in 1998, but reunited earlier this year for a select number of shows, debuting at Coachella in May. The band performed a memorable greatest hits set, and were joined by actress Scarlett Johansson for vocals on 'Just Like Honey'. They will be joined on all dates by Evan Dando, who will perform solo acoustically, and on the LA and San Francisco dates by Soulsavers, featuring Mark Lanegan.

The dates are: Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues (October 20) Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues (22) Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre (23) San Francisco, CA @ the Fillmore (26, 27)

What is your favourite Elvis track?

Everyone is going Elvis mad at the minute. It's 30 years since 'The King' passed away, and celebrations have seen fat men in jump suits crooning, reissues and Memphis businesses cashing in with special edition chocolates commemorating Elvis’ as well as one peanut butter cup emblazoned with the slogan ‘Live Like The King’. A bit crass eh?

It's easy to dislike Elvis because of all that comes with him (namely fat blokes doing bad impressions)... so it's easy to forget that he has belted out some of the greatest tunes ever cut!

So, read over for a look at some of Elvis' finest works... some you'll know... others you may not...

Tony Wilson's funeral to be held today

The funeral of Factory Records founder Tony Wilson will take place today (Monday Aug. 20) at the Hidden Gem Church in Manchester, England. The ceremony will be open only to invited family and close friends, a representative for the late entrepreneur said. Wilson's family has designated the Christie Hospital in Manchester as their preferred charity. Donations can be made online, while flowers can be sent to Manchester's Co-Operative Funeral Home. Wilson died August 10 after suffering a heart attack. The 57-year-old had battled cancer in recent months. As tribute, here's Joy Division's bleak and beautiful Atmosphere... it's what he would have wanted I'm sure.

Lost Mick Jagger and John Lennon duet set for release

A lost 1973 recording by Mick Jagger and John Lennon is finally to see the light of day with a release on Jagger’s first solo best of album.

“Too Many Cooks (Spoil The Soup)” was produced by Lennon in 1973 in Los Angeles and features a pantheon of superstar musicians alongside Jagger. The track features guitarists Danny Kortchmar and Jesse Ed Davis, keyboardist and Dylan cohort Al Kooper, ex-Cream bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Jim Keltner, with Harry Nilsson on backing vocals.

For those who think that a Mick Jagger best of doesn't hold much promise, “The Very Best Of Mick Jagger” also features the brilliant 1970 version of “Memo From Turner” featuring Ry Cooder, taken from the film “Performance”. Other than that, it won't be much cop. The LP sees release on October 2.

Legendary jazz sticksman, Max Roach, dies

News reaches us of yet another musical great shrugging off the mortal coil. Legendary jazz drummer Max Roach, famed for developing the bebop sound, has died aged 83.

Tributes have poured in for the legend, who has backed groundbreakers such as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Charlie Mingus, Thelonious Monk and Nat King Cole. All round legend Quincy Jones said: “Thank God he left a piece of his soul on his recordings so that we’ll always have a part of him with us.” Blue Note also paid their dues, saying Roach was "an unmistakable force on numerous classic recordings."

Born in 1924, the drummer quickly progressed to playing with Parker and Gillespie at New York club Monroe’s Uptown House. Roach and drummer Kenny Clarke are widely thought to have invented bebop, relying more on the cymbals to keep time and so allowing more freedom on the rest of the kit. Roach also contributed to sessions for Miles Davis’ seminal 1957 album “Birth Of The Cool”.

Live Review - The Rolling Stones @ Slane Castle

This weekend was a double whammy of new things for me to try. Firstly, I was off to watch The Rolling Stones. I'd never seen them before, and wisely, approached the gig with very low expectations... I mean... I went watching Dylan a few years back and he was shit (and for that, he still owes me £30 for my ticket). Secondly, I was watching a gig in Eire... something else I'd never done. So what was the craic?

Well, going to a gig that isn't in England is a bit like doing a football away day. Essentially, everything is the same, but there is something unquantifiably different (and no, I don't just mean the accents). No, it's a mental thing. You are acutely aware of the fact that you are, in essence, not from 'round these parts... but a traveling Englishman's paranoia forgets to remind you that you really aren't the only one in town who isn't an Irishman. In fact, there's a few of blokes on stage who aren't exactly local...

Punk Football by Andrew Vaughan

Another nostalgia-driven football book? Possibly, but Punk Football by Andrew Vaughan is as much about life and music in the mid-70s as the beautiful game.

Punk Football is Vaughan's story - an 18-year-old clothes and music-obsessed Wigan Athletic fan 18-year old, mixing his time in the town's Bier Keller, enjoying the emerging world of punk rock, reggae and girl and at Wigan's Springfield Park as the team finally made it into the football league.

Featuring contributions from players, punk rockers and supporters, the book describes an altogether different Wigan and indeed Wigan Athletic fro the one today. Published in September, it will retail for £9.99.

Find out more at the Mudhuts Media website

DJ-phone's Satisfashion - retro handset for hip DJs

Ever looked at the DJ booth in your local club and wondered why the bloke (or girl) on there happens to be on the phone? They're not booking a taxi or chatting to a mate, the DJ is lining up the next disc for your enjoyment, free of weighty headphones that might flatten the hip young thing's hair. Or more practically, leaving one ear open to hear what's going on.

And you can pick one up too - the very stylish DJ-phone by Satisfashion. It's a high quality vintage Swedish handset, converted for headphone functionality. In fact, the attention to detail in the conversion means you can actually hear both channels on the earphone, making cueing up your next tune a breeze.

Yours from Sivletto for £25.

Find out more at the Sivletto website

Via Crossed Combs

What is your favourite Beatles' cover?

With news that The Wu-Tang Clan have recorded their own version of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (complete with acoustic guitar work from Harrison’s son, Dhani and wailing lead from . Red Hot Chili Peppers’ guitarist John Frusciante) it's worth asking yourself:

What is your favourite Beatles' cover?

There are loads to choose from... not all good mind. There's everything from MFP albums like Beatles Go Bossa and Shirley Bassey vomitous reading of Something to the frankly absurd baggy nonsense of Candy Flip. Read over for some of our choices of Beatle covers par-excellence.

King Creosote is back with new LP, single and tour

Folkster King Creosote returns to our stereos with new single 'You've No Clue Do You' and a new LP 'Bombshell' of which he'll be touring 'round the UK. Having bubbled under the radar to become a fave of those in the know , Kenny Anderson (KC's real name) is now poised to  womble overground and launch from his status as one of fringe-folk's most adored and into the mainstream. We've got streams of his new work and a free MP3 download too!

King Creosote will release single 'You've No Clue Do You' on September 3rd with the LP 'Bombshell'  following on September 10th. 'Bombshell' is the successor to King Creosote's widely acclaimed 2005 album 'KC Rules OK'. A veteran of almost thirty albums, mostly released solely as limited editions CDRs, King Creosote raised the stakes with 2003's 'Kenny and Beth's Musical Boatride' album, his first to receive a widespread release courtesy of Domino. The following year's fabulous 'Rocket DIY' set took Anderson to the next level before moving to 679 for 'KC Rules OK' which confirmed his potential. Kenny will celebrate the release(s)  with a full UK tour that includes selected festival dates. Definitely one to catch.

Read over for tour dates, streams of his new single and, not only that, but a FREE MP3 of the Kris Menace Mix of the single! We spoil you!

Lambretta's Who clothing range - pictures

Over at Retro To Go, we mentioned a few weeks back that Lambretta Clothing was issuing an officially-sanctioned range of Who Clothing. Well, that clothing hits the shops in September - and we have images of some of the replica pieces.

There were initially two ranges - Tribute and Iconic - but these have now been merged. But you might have to check out some higher-end stores for the replica clobber, such as the blazer and shirts.

And we haven't prices as yet. But for now, check out some of the items above and over the turn.

Lambretta Clothing website

Fancy breakfast and eggs 'round Pop Levi's?

It seems like someone has been ruffling the feathers of psychedelic warlord, Pop Levi. In a MySpace bulletin, he's invited fans 'round to his house to help him cause a bit of trouble with Paul Tollet (or, Paul Toilet and 'Twat' as Pop Levi has been calling him) who runs the Coachella Festival in the States.

His message reads "My Darlings! If anyone wants to come round to my house for breakfast tomorrow morning I would love it. I will also be "egging" Paul Tollett's car from my bedroom window. I know its naughty, but I just can't help myself. He's the owner of the Coachella Music Festival, you see, and he's been saying all sorts. Honestly, you wouldn't believe it, babies! If you want to come and film the proceedings and/or bring eggs, please feel free. I love ya'll and value all your support forever and ever and ever! Kisses from the sun, San Juu Shichi X37!

Read over if you want the address and what time to turn up all egged...

A Hawk and a Hacksaw to play special dates

At last years Green Man, the best band I saw by miles was the fabulous A Hawk And A Hacksaw.  Sitting somewhere in the middle of Hungarian gypsy folk music, psychedelia and a Warp Records release, the band left all who saw in ribbons.

Well, following the overwhelming success of their UK Spring tour with the Hungarian virtuoso group The Hun Hangár Ensemble, A Hawk And A Hacksaw return to the UK in September for a two night residency at The Luminaire in London. These very special shows will take place on the 4th and 5th of September, and will be recorded for future release on The Leaf Label.

AHAAH’s Jeremy Barnes and Heather Trost will be joined by the undoubted star of the tour, Cimbalom maestro Unger Balázs, for two nights of frenzied celebration of the music of Eastern Europe, featuring both original and traditional songs. ‘God Bless The Ottoman Empire’ - taken from AHAAH’s third album, ‘The Way The Wind Blows’ - will be released as a digital download only single in mid-September, and the group will be recording sessions for Rob Da Bank’s BBC Radio 1 show and Stuart Maconie’s FreakZone on BBC 6 Music.

Cassette mix tape goes USB

Once there could be no greater sign of your love or friendship than creating and passing on your favourite tunes on an old cassette tape. But cassettes have died away, so what should you do? You could send a USB Mix Tape from Suck UK.

Yes, this is a cassette for the digital age. Instead of loading a tape, you can add your digital tunes to the USB stick included. And it comes in a cassette-style box, so you can even add the handwritten tracklisting to the outside, as well as adding your own message to the stick.

Nice idea, but as yet there isn't a price for it. But we'll know more when it goes on sale in September.

Find out more at the Suck UK website

Via Retro To Go

Julian Cope's Japrocksampler

All the muso types amongst you are probably aware of Julian Cope's Krautrocksampler book from a few years back - a detailed and fascinating history of the weird and wonderful music produced in Germany in the late 60s and 70s. Well, he's now doing the same thing for Japanese music with the Japrocksampler from Julian Cope.

An altogether heftier book than the German one, Japrocksampler is a more detailed look at the Japanese scene, with plenty of background leading into the book proper and the 1960s, before focusing on the key artists and collector's favourites - and their bizarre stories, including everything from violence to plane hijacking.

And if you fancy buying some of the material mentioned here, there's a top 50 Japrock chart to keep your wallet busy.

The book is published on 3rd September, available for around £10.

Find out more at the Amazon website

Anthony H Wilson - RIP

Anthony Wilson, the man behind some of Manchester's most successful bands, has died of cancer. The Salford-born entrepreneur, who founded Factory records, the label behind New Order and the Happy Mondays, was diagnosed last year. The 57-year-old, also famous for setting up the Hacienda nightclub, underwent emergency surgery in January to remove a kidney. He died on Friday evening at the Christie Hospital surrounded by family.

Phil Saxe, who used to work at Factory Records with Wilson, said: "Part of me, part of Manchester, part of modern British music has died tonight. Tony was a genius, basically. He was a visionary in that he helped bands, who otherwise wouldn't have made it, who were a bit out of the ordinary. He helped them realise their dreams and through that probably realised himself to be Mr Manchester".

With this sad news, perhaps the most fitting tribute would be to go to your stack of records and stick on some Joy Division or some Acid House and dance around your living room like a loon.

Stax 50th anniversary movie at the cinema

Something to look out for at your local cinema, the  Stax 50th Anniversary Documentary and Concert - Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story. It will be showing all over the UK (at 23 cinemas) throughout August and September, with two special showings in Manchester and London:

London - Odeon Covent Garden, Tuesday 14th August at 19.00, with Sam Moore from Sam & Dave attending for a Q&A. Tickets £15.

Manchester - Odeon Printworks, Wedneday 15th August at  19.00, with Sam Moore from Sam & Dave will be attending for a Q&A. Tickets £12.50.

Paul Weller - Genius or overrated lump?

My mate has a saying "Mutton dressed as a kebab". Now that's usually saved for the least desirable of ladies, but that's how I often think of Paul Weller who is currently celebrating 30 years since the forming of The Jam. It may be worth pointing out that he's not going to be celebrating with his considerably less well-off former band mates.

Weller is often spoke of in hushed tones. Oh, he's one of the greatest songwriters this country has ever produced. Is he? Honestly? Is he? To me, The Jam were a half decent band that spat out a couple of decent punk singles, a couple of decent sixties influenced cuts before falling into noodly diet Northern Soul which he carried on with the dismal Style Council.

His solo career has been patchy at best, peaking with Wild Wood and troughing with Heavy Soul (and everything released thereafter). To me, he is hugely overrated. However, people still gasp at his latest appearance in a tailored suit. So he's got a good tailor? So did Hitler. Quite why he's sometimes revered as the Modfather is another puzzler. When I think of Mod icons, I think of people who made soul records. I think of the Brit R'n'B boom of the sixties. If Keith Relf was a sharp suit, then Paul Weller is an off-the-peg Ben Sherman shirt. As much as I enjoy the occasional Weller related single, there is a thousand sycophantic drooling faux-mods falling over themselves just to touch the hem of his garment. This can taint yer view. What are your thoughts? Weller - Genius or Chancing Git?

Review - Unknown Mystery 60s Group Vol III

A strange thing landed on my desk. A CD from an 'unknown mystery 60s group'. The info that came with it read of a collectors dream come true. A reel-to-reel tape was found at a flea market in Philadelphia. The tape contained nought but a tracklisting and a couple of photos of what looked like a sixties band. It's almost true good to be true isn't it?

Well, that's half the problem.

I have to say that I love the idea of this story being true, but after listening to the third installment of the Unknown Mystery 60s Group records, it's too hard to swallow. So what is giving the game away? And if it ain't sixties, is it any good?

Lee Hazlewood- RIP

Lee Hazlewood, one of the wittiest songwriters who ever lived has died peacefully, aged 78, at his home outside Las Vegas after a three year struggle with cancer.

An incredible songwriter, singer, arranger and producer over the past 50 years, Hazlewood has influenced a huge range of artists, and is best remembered for writing Nancy Sinatra's 1966 signature hit 'These Boots Are Made For Walkin'. Far from a one hit wonder, Hazlewood also created the incredible 'Trouble Is A Lonesome Town' LP, as well as penning the incredible 'Sand' and 'Some Velvet Morning'.

Hazlewood started his career as a DJ in Arizona, before going on to set up several record labels, starting with Viv Records in 1955. In the early 60s he set up LHI Records which released the International Submarine Band's (which featured a young Gram Parsons) 'Safe At Home'.

Leonard Cohen art exhibition in Manchester

If you happen to be in Manchester in August, it's worth checking out the excellent Richard Goodall Gallery for the first ever public exhibition of Leonard Cohen’s artwork - A Private Gaze.

It features over 50 images from the songwriter’s private archive from the last 40 years - people, nudes, objects and places - all with a very unusual and certainly distinctive style. And if you like what you see, you can also buy limited edition fine art prints that Leonard Cohen will personally sign and annotate individually.

Prices start from £925, with the print pictured here, Dear Heather, available as a 30-inch x 20-inch limited edition print of 100, hand printed on Arches Infinity Textured 355 gsm, 100% Cotton Rag, Lignin-Free, PH Neutral, Fine Art Watercolor Paper for £1,550.

Browse the artwork at the Richard Goodall website

Via Retro To Go

Pink Floyd - Piper At The Gates Of Dawn: 3-CD 40th anniversary edition

It's 40 years since Pink Floyd's Piper At The Gates Of Dawn hit the shelves - a fact that hasn't passed EMI by - its reissuing the album as a 3-CD set.

Those 3 CDs bring together the original mono album, the current stereo mix and a third CD of extras and rarities, including the 1967 singles collection and B sides and unreleased versions of some albums tracks, including a new take of Interstellar Overdrive.

There's also a sleeve in a cloth-bound book format plus 12 page redesigned booklet and a reproduction of a previously unseen Syd Barrett notebook from 1967 that contains personal artwork and lyric ideas.

The album is released on 3rd September - expect to pay around £20.

More about the CD at Amazon.co.uk

Review: Mother Earth - The People Tree (2 disc reissue)

There are some things I just don't understand - the popularity of Jamie Oliver, stamp collecting as a hobby and low alcohol lager to name just three. And I can add to that list Mother Earth's The People Tree not being one of the biggest selling albums of 1994.

It was the right time and the right place - a series of top-notch EPs had moved the band away from a studio-based soul/funk combo (see the Stoned Woman album) into a 60s-inspired act knocking out some great soulful rock grooves, not a million miles away from the kind of thing Weller was re-igniting his career with. Indeed Weller was a fan, even appearing on some of the band's single tracks.

Blow Up director shrugs off his mortal coil

Michelangelo Antonioni, the Italian film director best known for his portrait of Swinging London in Blowup, has died. Antonioni was born in 1912, in Ferrara and alongside Luchino Visconti and Roberto Rossellini was pivotal in the development of the post-war neo-realism movement, dedicated exclusively to portraying the working classes.

However, in these shores, he's best known for the 1966 flick Blowup, set in London and starring David Hemmings as a photographer investigating a possible murder. The film famously featured the Yardbirds playing in a club scene. His next film 1970’s Zabriskie Point, was a box office failure, but gained cult status for its soundtrack, which featured new music from Pink Floyd. In '75, he directed The Passenger, starring Jack Nicholson as a TV journalist who assumes the identity of a dead man.

Antonioni suffered a stroke in 1985, which left him part paralysed and unable to speak. In 1996, he received a Lifetime Achievement Oscar, presented to him by Nicholson.

For more news on cult cinema, click here to go to Cinedelica.

New Dylan remix available online

Mark Ronson’s remix of the classic Bob Dylan track “Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)” will have its global radio premiere on August 11. To get you ready, a soundclip has been made available on Dylan's website. This is sure to ruffle a few feathers as Dylanologists will surely see this as high treason.Click here for Dylan07.com to hear the track.

Mark Ronson is doing the rounds at the minute with an album featuring popsters doing shit covers of shit indie bands (see Lily Allen doing the Kaiser Chiefs) and a Nutley Brass cover of a Coldplay tune. Now he's tackling a tune so famous that someone might actually brick him for it.

What do you make of it? Is it sacrilege? Is it a desperate lunge for credibility by Dylan?

Wolfgang's Vault - legendary live performances for free

If you're a younger reader, one of the most annoying things about listening to people like Stevie Wonder, The Band and The Beach Boys is that you never got the chance to see them live whilst in their prime. Flabby jowled reunion tours with mullet headed session men are only so much fun.

Well, thankfully for you, there is a place where you can dig the live sounds of your fave artists online and for free! Wolfgang's Vault contains a rich mine of concert recordings featuring all the aforementioned artists, as well as legendary performances from Miles Davis, Crosby Stills Nash and Young and more.

Not only that, Wolfgang's offers you the chance to purchase the recordings as MP3s, along with vintage posters, T Shirts and more. It's a great site that you should plunder for all it's worth.

Click here to visit Wolfgang's Vault