The week’s 20 biggest news stories (10 December)

1
 

The Stone Roses’ Ian Brown and John Squire reunited onstage for the first time in 16 years earlier this week (December 2). The Madchester legends’ singer and guitarist appeared as part of Mick Jones’ Hillsborough Justice Campaign gig at Manchester’s Ritz venue, playing on versions of The Clash’s ‘Bankrobber’ and ‘Armagideon Time’ and The Stone Roses’ ‘Elizabeth My Dear’.

2
 

Lady Gaga is reportedly planning to undertake an enormous world tour in 2012.The singer, who released her second album ‘Born This Way’ earlier this year, is said to be preparing to announce a mammoth world jaunt, consisting of a record-breaking 450 dates over two years.

3
 

Liam Gallagher has confirmed his band Beady Eye will definitely be playing Oasis songs next year. The move comes following his brother Noel’s decision to play tracks by their former band on his solo tour. Liam told LA Weekly:”It takes balls to go onstage and not play Oasis songs. I don’t miss those songs yet, but we’re definitely going to play them on the next tour.”

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4
 

The chairman of the Association of Independent Music (AIM) has described the BBC Sound of 2012 longlist list as “completely meaningless”. With this year’s longlist only featuring one act on an independent label the organisation’s head Alison Wenham dismissed the poll saying: “I think it’s very inconsequential because, even going back years, this list has not proven to be particularly accurate.”

5
 

A track from Nicki Minaj’s forthcoming album ‘Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded’ has surfaced online. The song – ‘Roman In Moscow’ – sees the singer proclaiming that her gay male alter ego Roman Zolanski is back as she raps: “Roman’s back bitch/ I fucked up your life last year this time/ Remember that?“.

6
 

Air have joined forces with Victoria Legrand of Beach House on a song called ‘Seven Stars’. In 2010, Air were commissioned to provide a new soundtrack to a hand coloured version of Georges Méliès 1902 silent film Le Voyage Dans La Lune (Journey To The Moon). Discovered in 1993, the coloured print was restored and premiered this year at the Cannes Film Festival in France, with Air’s soundtrack.

7
 

Paul McCartney has spoken about his history of pre-gig nerves, revealing that he felt like quitting playing live as he was so nervous before The Beatles performed at Wembley Arena. Speaking about his record of pre-show nerves, he told the Daily Mirror: “When the Beatles did Wembley for the first time (in 1963), I felt sick. I thought, ‘I’ve got to give this up.'”

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8
 

Leona Lewis is set to cover the Nine Inch Nails’ 1994 track ‘Hurt’ on her forthcoming EP. Famously covered in 2002 by Johnny Cash, Lewis will feature the song on ‘Hurt: The EP’, which is set for release on December 9. The video to Johnny Cash’s version of the song was named the Best Video of All Time by NME earlier this year.

9
 

Blur will receive the Outstanding Contribution To Music award at next year’s Brit Awards. The band will be presented with the gong, which was rested for a year at the 2011 ceremony, at the O2 Arena on February 21. Frontman Damon Albarn hailed the nod, commenting that it is “recognition for all the work and all the heartache that has gone into this band.”

10
 

The rider requests for Adele’s cancelled North American tour have leaked online. The London soul singer had stated that North American beer was ‘not acceptable’ for her and her crew and insisted on 12 bottles of European lager for her tour bus. For her dressing room, she asked for one bottle of “very best quality red wine” as well as one packet of Marlboro Lights and one disposable lighter.

11
 

The Rolling Stones’ Charlie Watts had admitted he was lucky not to become addicted to heroin during the ’70s. The drummer revealed he had dabbled with the drug during the recording of the album but was convinced to stop taking the substance after an intervention from guitarist Keith Richards. Watts said: “I was lucky that I never got hooked, but I went through a period of taking heroin.

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12
 

Franz Ferdinand have been confirmed for the 2012 Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona. The Scottish band released their last album ‘Tonight: Franz Ferdinand’ in January 2009 and haven’t played a billed gig in the UK for almost two years, but have now confirmed their first show for next year.

13
 

Liam Gallagher dedicated a song to ‘Scientologist weirdos’ at Beady Eye’s show last night (December 3) at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. Gallagher asked the crowd: “Do we have any Scientologists in the house tonight?” Following cheers, the former Oasis frontman said: “Some? Well this for them weirdos.”

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