After lengthy consideration and a healthy amount of soul-searching, Michael has decided to announce his departure from SAGA at the end of the year. Michael would also like to make it clear to everyone that his decision to leave is mostly of a personal nature. As far as the rest of the band are concerned, they have decided, for the moment, to keep all possible options open. An open letter from Michael to the fans can be expected in due time.

My Chemical Romance are having to tour Japan without guitarist Frank Iero. He's dropped out because of an unspecified illness. Todd Price, from Drive By, is filling in.

THEATRE OF HATE are to reform for a special show at this year's 'Westworld' event organised by Theatre Of Hate and SPEAR OF DESTINY frontman KIRK BRANDON, the reunited act are also recording new songs which will hopefully become bonus tracks on a forthcoming reissue of Theatre Of Hate's debut album 'Westworld'.

THE WATERBOYS new album will be called 'Book Of Lightning'and will be released on April 2nd with a single, 'verybody Takes A Tumble' preceding it on March 19th.

JANE'S ADDICTION frontman PERRY FARRELL has announced details of his new album recorded with his new band, Satellite Party, and which features a number of guest appearances including NEW ORDER bassist PETER HOOK and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' FLEA. The release, entitled 'Ultra Payloaded', will come out in May.

QUEEN have reported that they are making good progress with their new album - which is being recorded with former Free and Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers - with guitarist BRIAN MAY going on to describe the new songs as "very different, they're very unlike anything that we've done, or anything that Paul's done."

SQUEEZE are to release a definitive album, 'Essential Squeeze', compiling the band's greatest musical moments on February 26th.

PRESS RELEASES

The nominations for the 2007 Brit Awards were announced earlier this evening with the legendary Bob Dylan up for best international male artist and album.

The full list is:

British male solo artist
James Morrison,
Jarvis Cocker
Lemar
Paolo Nutini
Thom Yorke

British female solo artist
Amy Winehouse
Corinne Bailey Rae
Jamelia
Lily Allen
Nerina Pallot

British album
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Lily Allen - Alright Still
Muse - Black Holes & Revelations
Snow Patrol - Eyes Open

British group
Arctic Monkeys
Kasabian
Muse
Razorlight
Snow Patrol

British breakthrough act
Corinne Bailey Rae
The Fratellis
James Morrison
The Kooks
Lily Allen

International breakthrough act
Gnarls Barkley
Orson
The Raconteurs
Ray Lamontagne
Wolfmother

British live act
George Michael
Guillemots
Kasabian
Muse
Robbie Williams

British single
Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On
The Feeling - Fill My Little World
James Morrison - You Give Me Something
The Kooks - She Moves In Her Own Way
Leona Lewis - A Moment Like This
Lily Allen – Smile
Razorlight – America
Sandi Thom - I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker
Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars
Take That – Patience
Will Young - All Time Love

International male solo artist
Beck
Bob Dylan
Damien Rice
Jack Johnson
Justin Timberlake

International female solo artist
Beyoncé
Cat Power
Christina Aguilera
Nelly Furtado
Pink

International group
The Flaming Lips
Gnarls Barkley
The Killers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Scissor Sisters

International album
Bob Dylan - Modern Times
Gnarls Barkley - St Elsewhere
Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
The Killers - Sam's Town
Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah
GIG NEWS

MEATLOAF joins the bill for Sweden Rocks.

MIDGE URE
FEBRUARY
3 - South Shields, The Customs House
8 - Birkenhead, Pacific Road Arts Centre
9 - Sale, Waterside Arts Centre
10 - Bangor, Theatr Gwynedd
21 - Cheltenham, Town Hall
24 - Redditch, Palace Theatre
MARCH
2 - Newtown, Theatre Hafren (acoustic)
4 - Ulm, The Roxy (acoustic)
6 - Koln,The Prime Club (acoustic)
7 - Bremen, Kulturzentrum Schlachthof (acoustic)
9 - Kiel, Kulturzentrum Die Pumpe (acoustic)
10 - Unna, Kulturzentrum Lindenbrauerei (acoustic)
11 - Melle, Alte Stadthalle (acoustic)
18 - Aberdeen, The Lemon Tree
22 - Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan
23 - Penzance, Acorn Theatre
24 - Exeter, Phoenix Arts
30 - Royal Forest Of Dean College, Gloucestershire.
MAY
10 - Yeovil, The Octagon Theatre
11 - Stratford, Cox Yard Arts Centre
12 - Howden, Shire Hall
24 - London Edmonton Millfield Theatre
JUNE
8 - Carnglaze, St Neot, The Rum Store
9 - Hailsham, Pavillion Theatre.
JULY
14 - Blickling Hall, Norfolk
29 - Nantwich, The Acoustic Festival of Britain
OCTOBER
12 - Maidstone, Hazlitt Theatre
25 - Shrewsbury, Music Hall

NINE INCH NAILS
FEBRUARY
10 - Lisbon, Portugal - Coliseum
11 - Lisbon, Portugal - Coliseum
12 - Lisbon, Portugal - Coliseum
14 - Madrid, Spain - La Riviera
16 - Bilbao, Spain - Pabellon De La Casilla
18 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz
21 - Paris, France - Olympia
22 - Paris, France - Olympia
23 - Lille, France - Zenith
25 - Manchester, UK - Apollo
28 - Glasgow, UK - Academy
MARCH
3 - Nottingham, UK - Arena
4 - Birmingham, UK - Academy
7 - London, UK - Brixton
8 - London, UK - Brixton
14 - Koln, Germany - Palladium
18 - Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique
21 - Amsterdam, Holland - Paradiso
24 - Berlin, Germany - Columbiahalle
26 - Stuttgart, Germany - Porsche Arena
28 - Munich, Germany - Zenith
29 - Vienna, Austria - Gasometer
APRIL
1 - Milan, Italy - Alcatrazz
2 - Zurich, Switzerland - Volkshaus
4 - Frankfurt, Germany - Volkshaus
6 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega
7 - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene
8 - Stockholm, Sweden - Annexet
10 - Helsinki, Finland - Old Ice Hall

HEAVEN & HELL (DIO/IOMMI/BUTLER/APPICE)
March
11 - Vancouver, BC at Pacific Coliseum
13 - Edmonton, AB at Rexall Place
14 - Calgary, AB at Saddledome
16 - Regina, SK at Brandt Centre
18 - Winnipeg, MB at MTS Centre
20 - Sault St. Marie, ON at Steelback Centre
22 - Toronto, ON at Air Canada Centre
24 - London, ON at John Labatt Centre
26 - Montreal, PQ at Bell Centre
27 - Quebec City, PQ at Colisee Pepsi Arena
28 - Ottawa, ON at Civic Centre

REVIEWS

CRYPTIC VISION ‘In A World’ ProgRockRecords (2006) www.progrockrecords.com

Cryptic Vision return with their second studio album with guest spots from Alan Morse (Spock’s Beard) and violinist David Ragsdale (Kansas). This is an album of very accessible and melodic prog rock, none more so that the wondrous ‘Merkaba’ which features Ragsdale’s violin to great effect. Needless to day this track has a Kansas feel to it as does ‘I Am The Energy’. In vocalist Todd Plant (Eyewitness/Millenium) they have a very capable singer who comes into his own on the slower songs such as ‘Point Of View’, a very credible slice of melodic rock. They are a very competent band and each musician gets a chance to shine especially on the longer, epics such as ‘Power To Mend’.
Very enjoyable melodic prog rock with a strong emphasis on melodies and tight soloing. Plus of course you get the highly listenable vocals of Todd Plant.

****
Jason Ritchie

MARTONE ‘When The Aliens Come’ Lion Music (2007) www.lionmusic.com

Canadian guitar maestro Dave Martone has produced a literally out of this world album! The premise behind the music on this all instrumental affair is too imagine music as it would be played in 400 hundred years time. This being the case he whips out the SFX guitar and boy can he play! It is very space metal in sound although other instruments are added to the guitars/bass/drums including tabla. ‘Techno Bee’z’ is great fun, being an update of the classical piece ‘Flight of the Bumble Bee’, whilst ‘Starz Scarz’ is highly addictive to the ears and has you using the old repeat button.
I am not usually a big fan of guitar instrumental albums but this one is worthy of repeated plays plus it has some very catchy tunes contained on it.

***1/2
Jason Ritchie