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It's been an exciting week at CMU HQ. We've spent our time successfully avoiding swine flu. That said, Chris is looking a little peaky. I'm on hand to remove his head in the event that he starts sneezing. That's how you stop swine flu, right? Or is that just zombies? I'm still upset because my gran's gone and given me bird flu. She always gets the wrong thing. So embarrassing.

The music industry is notoriously good at infection control, though. We know this because we've been reading the news. Already it has been confirmed that Glastonbury will definitely be cancelled this year (if there's a massive outbreak of swine flu in the UK, which would mean that all large public gatherings would be halted), gigs are already being cancelled left, right and centre (well, large gigs in Mexico and one Young Jeezy gig at a university in the US where ten people might have got swine flu but equally might be a little sniffly), and Madonna has been spreading the virus around the world (well, a computer virus is being delivered in an email claiming that she has it).

Anyway, if you're foolishly not even worried about catching a virus that has been already caught by literally several people, maybe you should watch this helpful, informative and totally not scaremongery US public information film from the last time swine flu reared its head and squealed in 1976: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASibLqwVbsk

But hey, we've still been able to pull this week's CMU Weekly together against all the odds. And may I say, it's quite a corker. It really is a good one this week. Okay, it's always good, but this one is particularly good. It's an extra 12.3% good, to be exact. Wanna know what's been going on in the music world? You got it. Wanna know who said what? Keep reading. Wanna know what new music you should be listening to? We can help.

Oh, and if you want to go to a guestlist-only secret event showcasing the best new music coming out of Japan, then you are also in the right place, because that's exactly what we're giving away in our competition this week. The line-up for this show (and indeed the entire tour it's a part of) is impossibly good and proves that it's not all cheesy pop over in Japan. There are some truly innovative and inspiring artists over there right now, as you will see if you're lucky enough to win our competition.

So, let this be the start of your long weekend. It may only be a four day week next week, but we'll still be working tirelessly to bring quality like this to you all over again next Friday. See you there.

Team CMU

		PIRATE BAY FUNDER CALLS FOR RETRIAL OVER JUDGE'S ALLEGED BIAS The legal rep of The Pirate Bay's money man, the fascist-loving (allegedly) Carl Lundstrom, has requested a retrial for him and the rogue BitTorrent tracker's three founders after Swedish media revealed last week, just a few days after The Pirate Bay Four were given a year in jail for their role in enabling mass infringement via their search engine service, that Judge Tomas Norström was a member of The Swedish Association for Copyright and the Swedish Association For The Protection Of Industrial Property. One of which also counts various lawyers associated with the prosecution as members. Norström maintains his involvement with those bodies did not influence his ruling, though some commentators reckon that - even if that is true - he should never have accepted the case because the accusations of bias were inevitable. All four defendants, so that's Peter Sunde, Fredrik Neij and Gottfrid Svartholm as well as Lundstrom, have already lodged appeals against their convictions, but Lundstrom's lawyer Per Samuelson this week filed new legal papers calling for a complete retrial based on the bias allegations against Norström.

		ASA SAY IGGY INSURANCE ADS MISLEADING The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that those slightly scary Iggy Pop ads for insurance firm Swiftcover were officially "misleading" when they first aired because they imply the rocker himself has cover from the insurer when, in fact, they didn't offer packages for musicians at the time. The insurer has since introduced a package for musicians, but when the ad campaign began they did not offer such a product. Following twelve complaints, possibly from musicians who had been knocked back by the insurer, the ASA investigated and ruled yesterday that the advert would lead "some viewers to believe the policy covered those who worked in entertainment, when it did not". Pop, the Authority confirmed, is not himself insured by the AXA Group owned online insurer. A spokesman for the insurer said that their choice of Iggy Pop for the campaign wasn't influenced by his rock star status, but more his reputation for having a "fast-living lifestyle". The company claims that it's online service provides faster insurance cover than that offered by traditional insurers.

		AMSTELL LEAVES BUZZCOCKS This is no fun. Simon Amstell has quit BBC comedy pop quiz 'Never Mind The Buzzcocks' after just three series to concentrate on his stand up and another TV show he has in development. The plan is to have a guest presenter system next series, as the show did between original presenter Mark Lamarr's exit and Amstell's arrival as host. Whereas last series the show had guest team captains to replace Bill Bailey, on the next series the second team captain will be Noel Fielding throughout. He, of course, filled in for Bill Bailey for three episodes the series before last. On Amstell's exit, a source told The Sun: "Simon is a funny guy who can think on his feet but he has decided it is time to move on. He is working on a new project that has been commissioned by the BBC and feels he wants to concentrate on that".

		CHERYL COLE HAS SOLO PLANS Girl Aloud Cheryl Cole is planning to record solo material later in the year, according to reports. The group as a whole are taking a break after their current UK tour, and are all planning individual projects from "music to acting to beauty to fashion", said a spokesman, adding, with reference to Cole's plans: "Cheryl is going to work on some solo music - there is no release date set for this yet as she has not recorded any music. Her A&R people have approached various producers with the view to working with her. Until she has recorded music, we can't say who will be working on the record as we can't say at this stage what will make it past the idea stage". They might not be able to say anything, but hotly-tipped new boy on the block Frankmusik has claimed via Twitter that he's producing Cole's solo album, which, you know, might be true. Or it might turn out to be like when Calvin Harris announced that he was supporting Michael Jackson. Everyone knows that David Copperfield is supporting Michael Jackson with a special magic show.

		BLUE REFORM FOR CAPITAL PARTY I knew Capital FM's plans to launch a Summertime Ball could only lead to something sinister, and I was right. Blue are going to reform to play the event. Yeah, like we need that. And not only will the tedious foursome warble their tunes at the London party on 7 Jun, they're also refusing to deny plans to record new material together later in the year. Blue man Simon Webbe simply told reporters: "We don't want to give anything away". The Ball, by the way, is Capital FM's first major live event since it quietly pulled the Party In The Park in 2006. If you're visioning ball gowns, chandeliers and waltzes, you probably should remember it's being held at the Arsenal football stadium. And Blue are headlining.

		THIS WEEK'S REVIEWS As the weather gets hotter, so do the new releases hitting the shelves. Don't believe me? Well, just check out all these bands who've got stuff coming out next week: Caspa, Damian Lazarus, Fischerspooner, The Horrors, Japanther, The Maccabees, Marmaduke Duke, Maxïmo Park, Our Brother The Native, Pink Mountaintops, Poppy & The Jezebels, Rodriguez, The Wave Pictures and We Were Promised Jetpacks. And you can find out what we thought of all of those new releases right here.

Want more? Want daily in-depth music news? Want all this for free? Well, ha, you're in luck. Click here to subscribe to the CMU Daily. back to top

WIN TICKETS TO A SECRET JAPANESE PARTY
British bands are always going off to Japan and attaching themselves to throngs of slightly insane new fans, but the reverse happens less often. Which is a shame, because once you get past the endless amounts of terrible pop they seem to love in Japan, there are loads of great bands and producers to be found - something a new tour coming this way hopes to highlight.

Dubbed the '100% Genki' tour (genki, if my ropey Japanese is correct, means healthy), the tour is organised by Fuji Rock festival organisers Smash and Strummerville, and will wing its way around various music events over ten days showcasing the CMU-approved 80kidz, ambient studio boffin De De Mouse, ska band Riddim Saunter, and acrobatic turntablist Tucker.

We've bagged entry for three of you (plus a friend each) to get into a guestlist only event taking place at a secret London location on 19 May. It will be awesome. And all you have to do to be in with a chance of being there is email [email protected] by 8 May.

For further information on the 100% Genki tour, go to www.newmusicfromjapan.com

Look what they won...
Well done to Allison McCafferty, Carol DeBrikasaan, Michael Greer, William Hutton, and Rosie Lemmington for winning last week's Chris Cornell competition in CMU Weekly!

Lily Allen reveals that she was knocked out in Russia by bare-knuckle boxing: "I went to Saint Petersburg to play a gig a couple of years ago and it got cancelled because a few hundred metres up the river Putin was watching a bare-knuckle fist fight. Last minute, he decided to go and watch a bare-knuckle fist fight and therefore my concert got cancelled because of security issues"

Manic Street Preachers bassist Nicky Wire bigs up The Horrors: "I liked them initially because they were a bit like us and were portrayed as the cartoon band with spiky hair and eyeliner, which I always love anyway. Now they're a bit like us when we recorded 'The Holy Bible', they just locked themselves away, they haven't listened to anyone and they've come out with this album which really stands out"

Prince reveals that an angel cured him of childhood epilepsy: "My mother and father didn't know what to do or how to handle it but they did the best they could with what little they had. My mother told me that one day I walked in to her and said, 'Mum, I'm not going to be sick anymore'. She said 'Why?' and I said 'Because an angel told me so'. Now, I don't remember saying it, that's just what she told me"

Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody says the ruling in the Pirate Bay trial was too much: "They shouldn't have been jailed. A year in jail for someone doing that is crazy. The punishment doesn't fit the crime. This is what we've brought on ourselves and you have to live in the society you created. Music is available to everyone if they know how to get it and I say fucking go for it"

Miley Cyrus speaks out about trashy gossip sites: "I think they're so hard, not only on the celebrities but the kids as well... I mean, I am normal, if I was any smaller I would be too skinny, if I was any bigger I'd be too fat. There's never perfect. If they see that, or me on the red carpet and think, 'That's what I'm supposed to look like'. I think it all gets people mixed up. I think it's all kind of trash"

Pete Wentz comes across a tiny bit paranoid. But at least he's over his fear that he's going to kill someone close to him: "I used to think that some day I'd end up murdering a close friend or relative. Now it's reversed and I'm convinced it's going to happen to me. That's the way I'm going out, I'm completely sure of it. So I refuse to answer the front door - it greatly minimises that risk"

		Empire Of The Sun launch interactive video. Empire Of The Sun have released an interactive video for their next single, 'We Are The People', which is due out on 1 Jun. Some funky new technology behind it means that by clicking on certain parts of the video you can go off to other content, including free downloads, more videos and a competition - www.empireofthesunsound.com/wearethepeople

		NewIslands. Things are moving fast for this band, and with songs this good it's not hard to see why. 'Crosstown Feel' sounds like a mash-up of early 80s and late 90s Depeche Mode, while the newest of the three tracks on offer, 'Don't Stop Dreaming', is a slice of heart-tugging pop mixed with epic rock, and 'Cold' is reminiscent of Bloc Party and brings more of a live feel to the music. Keep a close eye on these guys - www.myspace.com/newislands

		Download The Heavy's Noisettes collaboration. Garage-punkers The Heavy's decision to invite Noisettes frontwoman Shingai Shinwa to provide guest vocals on the first single from their new album has turned out to be quite a shrewd move, now that her band are tearing up the charts. What does it sound like, you may ask? Well, you can find out for yourself by going here and downloading it for nowt - www.counterrecords.com/ohnonotyouagain

		Gary Go. One-man pop machine Gary Go made news this week by playing a new song live at the Apple Store using just an iPhone, and then by announcing that he'd be doing the same when he supports Take That later this summer. Given that we declared him a 'CMU favourite' on 6 May 2004, we should probably keep tipping him now the rest of the world is starting to catch on - www.myspace.com/garygo

		Oh, hello Rolo Tomassi video. Rolo Tomassi have released a new video for, 'Oh, Hello Ghost', the opening track from their marvellous debut album, 'Hysterics'. The band are touring hard at the moment, so you should be able to (and indeed should) catch them someone near you very soon. The video's got mannequins and fairy lights in it. What more do you want? - www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGHSg9_VDmY

		The Donkeys. San Diego four piece The Donkeys operate chilled out summer jams ideal for the mid afternoon festival slot. 'Lower The Heavens' would certainly fit in perfectly, a grooving instrumental with reams of Fugazi-aping guitar that ends up redolent of Electrelane's final album. Then on 'In The Morning' and 'Nice Train' they hit territory somewhere between My Morning Jacket and The Shins - www.myspace.com/thedonkeys

		Q1 How did you start out making music? EUREKA MACHINES: "I wrote my first song about my sister's pet rabbit Mischief when I was three and it's pretty much been downhill from there" Read more of Eureka Machines' answers

		Q2 What inspired your latest album? DJ FOUNDATION: "War, disco, pop, Iraq, bombs, America, suicide, Christians, Muslims, Jews, money, guns, and parties" Read more of DJ Foundation's answers

		Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track? MAGIK MARKERS: "We jam on Coke! One thing about the Magik Markers is soda! Can after can of Coke until we're stoked and ready" Read more of Magik Markers' answers

		Q4 Which artists influence your work? FISCHERSPOONER: "I am influenced by things that are not necessarily musical. I was really influenced on this album by Shakespeare and The Wooster Group. I have been involved in their production of 'Hamlet' for the past three years. It is a very experimental production. I never had any interest in Shakespeare. It was not something I could hear or connect to. But after being immersed in this language for two years solid, I can appreciate it now. It helped me write better, and the staging of their show has really inspired me to make a very unusual live show for this album. Really more like a hybrid between a play and a pop show" Read more of Fischerspooner's answers

		Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time? BEN'S BROTHER: "Turn it up loud and don't turn it off just because your phone goes or the neighbours complain. Keep it on and listen to the album from start to finish. It's not a soundbite - it's a living breathing work and it deserves your attention. I'm extremely proud of it, as you can tell!" Read more of Ben's Brother's answers

		Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future? GARY GO: "I want my songs to reach as many people as possible. I want to travel the world and play music and make records. I want to continue to surround myself with people that I like and enjoy working with. I want to continue to grow and expand The Canvas Room, my production company and studio. I want I want I want. Not sure I like the word 'want'. Swap every 'want' for 'I hope to'" Read more of Gary Go's answers

This week, Iggy Pop.

Still uninsurable.

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