This week’s news in pictures (29 November 2008)

Muse have told fans that they have begun work on their fifth studio album. Answering questions from fans on the Muse forum, bassist Chris Wolstenholme confirmed that work had started on the follow-up to their 2006 album ‘Black Holes And Revelations’.
Pic: Andy Willsher

Peaches is set to play a one-off gig for an end-of-year party in London.
The raunchy electro-rock artist will be previewing new material and DJing at the Durr club on December 29. A number of "secret guest DJs" are also set to feature. To check the availability of Peaches tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/GIGS now, or call 0871 230 1094.
Pic : Pamela Littky

Vampire Weekend are set to be interviewed about their whirlwind year, at a live interview open to the public in New York. The band will be interviewed on January 10 as part of the New York Times Arts And Leisure Week, when journalist Ben Sisario will quiz the band on the success of their self-titled debut record, and what’s next for them.
Pic: James Quinton

Britney Spears will play live at the London O2 Arena on June 3 and 4 next year. The shows will be the only European dates the singer plays as part of a world tour in 2009. Tickets for the London shows go on sale on December 5. To check the availability of Britney Spears tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/GIGS now.

As Fall Out Boy gear up to release their new album, ‘Folie A Deux’ on December 16, they’ve admitted the impact of fatherhood on one of the band has changed things. In addition to facing an uncertain economy and an altered music industry since they put out 2007’s ‘Infinity On High’, bassist/songwriter Pete Wentz and his wife Ashlee Simpson just had their first child.
Pic: PA Photos

Radiohead, Oasis and Rilo Kiley are to feature on a new charity compilation. The ‘Give. Listen. Help.’ two-disc package also features Bloc Party remixed by JKL, CSS, The Decemberists, Ladytron and previously unreleased tracks by Garbage and The Little Ones, and Of Montreal covering MIA’s ‘Jimmy’.
Pic: Guy Eppel

Kylie Minogue is set to release a compilation of remixes of her songs, entitled ‘Boombox’, on January 5. The album will feature 16 remixes of tunes that span the singer’s career, kicking off with the mash-up of her 2001 UK Number One hit ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ and New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’, which she performed live at the Brit Awards in 2002.

Reverend And The Makers will headline the Club NME New Year’s Eve Ball on December 31 at the London KOKO venue. More acts for the bill are set to be announced soon, while Club NME DJs will spin tunes until 5am (GMT) to see 2009 in.
Pic: Danny North

Tickets for Coldplay’s stadium tour next year are available now. As was reported on NME.COM, the band will perform three dates in the UK, with US rapper Jay-Z in support. Coldplay will perform at Manchester Old Trafford Cricket Ground on September 12, Glasgow Hampden Park (16) and London Wembley Stadium (19). For more tickets and information, head over to NME.COM/tickets.
Pic: Tom Oxley

Franz Ferdinand are set to play a surprise London show next week (December 1). The band, currently on a short European tour, will play the Durr club in the West End, according to posters being displayed around the city. It will be the band’s first show in the UK capital since they completed work on their third album ‘Tonight: Franz Ferdinand’.

Foo Fighters have made a special guest appearance on a reality chef show in the US. The band tested out their tasting skills on a Thanksgiving spread prepared by contestants on ‘The Top Chef’ in Rochester, New York, reports Stereogum.com, who are hosting footage of the Foo Fighters’ appearance.

Manic Street Preachers’ Richey Edwards has officially been declared "presumed dead". The guitarist went missing nearly 14 years ago, although his body has never been found. According to the band’s spokesperson, Edwards’ family have obtained a court order officially changing his legal status.
Pic: PA Photos

Metallica are considering releasing their next album online, but drummer Lars Ulrich says it might be a while coming. The band recently came to the end of their record deal following the September release of ‘Death Magnetic’, and are weighing up all the options, which could include a regular label release. "We’re free of our record contract," Ulrich told Rolling Stone. "We have that element of complete freedom with the next record, so we can do whatever we want. We could do an Internet thing or even put it on Andy Greene’s record label."
Pic: Danny North

Amy Winehouse as you’ve never seen her before. The mocked-up image was created by a fan as part of a Photoshop contest on website Worth1000.com.
Pic: www.worth1000.com