*** A few weeks after bassist Nick Oliveri was fired from Queens Of The Stone Age, front man Josh Homme has scotched speculation that drug abuse was responsible for his band mate's departure. That was nothing new, according to Homme; the band has "put more people in rehab than Mardi Gras". It was instead Oliveri's general behaviour that led to his downfall: "It's not just drinking, it's how you live your life", Homme said.
*** Chris Martin has said Coldplay, hard at work on their new album, are "trying to make the best thing that anyone has ever heard". In a rare interview promoting Fair Trade, Martin said the follow-up to 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head' will not be released until 2005. He added: "My philosophy at the moment in life is why not try and be Einstein, even if youre never going to make it".
*** Busted's Charlie Simpson has denied rumours that he's leaving the band. Speculation has been rife that he wants to pursue a career with his underground indie group Fightstar. But Simpson insists: "I love Busted. Really. When people say I'm not happy in the band, that's bulls**t".
*** P Diddy says he will probably retire as a rapper after his next album. "I don't want nobody to just go crazy or nothing", he said. "It's not going to be as dramatic or traumatic as Jay-Z retiring". His upcoming studio album, 'PD5', is due out in autumn.
*** Prosecutors in Los Angeles have filed a new misdemeanour charge of disorderly conduct against Courtney Love. The extra charge stems from her arrest on October 2, when police said she was found breaking windows at the home of a former boyfriend. The trial, scheduled to begin on Monday, March 8, has been postponed due to incomplete results for Love's drug test, but her lawyer, Michael Rosenstein, managed to enter an innocent plea to the new charge on her behalf.
*** The Chemical Brothers have confirmed they will be playing at least three festivals this summer, including Glastonbury. Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons have still to confirm which stage or day they will play at the festival in June, but have also confirmed they will be playing T In The Park in Scotland and Oxegen in Ireland.
*** The Smiths' 'I Know It's Over' has been voted the best song to listen to when you're feeling down. Written by Morrissey, the song is taken from the 1986 classic album 'The Queen Is Dead'. The poll, entitled 'The Songs That Saved Your Life', was carried out by BBC radio station 6 Music and voted for by thousands of listeners.
'KS'