Today's news: MP3s, tampons, torture and profits

"What are MP3 blogs, and why are record companies starting to use them as a marketing tool?" asks The New York Times.

Tom Jones gets underwear thrown at him. Aaron Carter gets tampons. Is that a comment on the relative merits of each act, or has someone mistaken Aaron for Prince Charles?

At long last, someone has combined our two least-favourite things in the world to create an entirely new form of pain and misery: A musical based on the songs of UB40. Apparently, the US Army has block-booked the front row for the show's entire run and will fill the seats with Guantanamo Bay's toughest terrorist suspects.

Following on from yesterday's entry, Pink Floyd have pledged to donate the profits they make as a result of their Live 8 performance to charity. Nice one.

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They drink it in the congo

The python picked the passion fruit,

The marmoset the mandarin,

The parrot painted packets,

That the whole caboodle landed in.



So when it somes to sun and fun,

And goodness in the jungle -

They all prefer the sunny funny one,

They call Um Bongo!



That is all.

Um Bongo: The advert

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Live 8 - send us your money (via HMV)

Everyone is going to bitch about this, so let's get it out of the way...

All of the Live 8 acts have seen their album sales go mental. Sales of Pink Floyd's greatest hits album have risen by 1,343%.

That's 1,343%

Predictably, several people have already called this filthy money made on the back of the poorest people on the planet. We disagree.

First of all, this sales jump is hardly a surprise. Secondly, it really doesn't detract from the point of the day.

Was awareness raised? Yes.

Will the G8 leaders be publicly ridiculed if they don't make progress on Africa? Yes.

Was the concert superb? Yes (suprisingly so, if you ask us).

Furthermore, the artists who have seen their albums fly off the shelves gave up at leasy two days of their time. They could all have realisitically been making money doing gigs elsewhere. That's what Oasis did, after all.

And ths icing on the cake is that the Great British Public have finally realised what a hopeless nutcase Pete Doherty is. Sales of the Libertines album fell 35%!

Trade Justice is served.

Launch: Live 8 sales boost

Live 8

Buy Sgt Pepper (and the Long & Winding Road, if you're a glutton for punishment)

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Brosnan's boob

In the rain-enforced downtime at Wimbledon, the BBC have dragged Pierce Brosnan into the studio for a squirm-worthy stilted interview with Sue barker.

Apart from the fact his fake tan is slowly melting under the studio lights, he's just dropped the most massive clanger about his time as James Bond.

"I had a marvellous time," he says, "and each film was better than the next."

How true.

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All you need is Jaws

What's amazing about the Beatles is that they can still outdo every other band in the universe 35 years after they last made a record (Free as a Bird doesn't count).

Look around you now, and there are 'classic' acts putting aside their differences and touring again. Pink Floyd will be at Live8, Abba reformed for a friend's wedding, Duran Duran got back together for... well, we're not really sure what Duran Duran got back together for.

But the Beatles, bless them, only seriously considered reforming once - and it wasn't for money, it wasn't for 'the fans' (money again), it wasn't even for 'the music' (translation: the money).

No, according to Ringo Starr the occasion was a one-off TV show. And why did the Beatles consider it?

"Because,", says Starr, "we were on after the guy who fights the shark."

That, right there, is sheer class.

Contactmusic: The Beatles Considered reforming for shark show

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A warning that spans the decades

Happy 60th Birthday, Debbie Harry! Our dads used to fancy you in the 70s, but the years haven't been kind.

Michael Jackson plans to "repair his image with a documentary". Doesn't he ever learn? (And wouldn't a plastic surgeon be more appropriate?).

Paula Abdul's erratic behaviour on American Idol wasn't due to drugs or alcohol. The poor dear has suffered a year of ill-health after a dodgy manicure. Like we haven't heard that excuse before.

Cabin Crew, who were responsible for the ubiquitous retooling of "Waiting For A Star To Fall" want to hear your opinion of their new material over on the popjustice messageboards.

And good news from Richard X - new Annie tracks, a Gwen Stefani remix and the next Rachel Stevens single are all on the cards. Yippee!

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