Apparently I'm still not back on track but managed to go through my leads and pick out some interesting stories.  So if you've been AWOL like me for the last couple of weeks then this should help you get caught up, read on!

Steve Mason is good. - Source

Following in the footsteps of his bandmate Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead's Thom Yorke is dipping his toes into the world of classical music. He is joining musicians Simon Tong from The Verve/Blur/Gorillaz, John Maclean from the defunct Beta Band - Source

Sad news. A posting on the band's official website confirms that THE BETA BAND are to split following an autumnal UK farewell tour. The group, critically acclaimed but commercially ignored, cites just that reason for their breakup: "Sadly, eight years of hard work and critical acclaim but little return in terms of commercial success inevitably takes its toll and a group decision was made to finally lay the band to rest."

The band are still following through with plans to release a retrospective DVD in 2005, while Beta frontman Steve Mason has already announced plans for a solo career, as well as the continuation of his King Biscuit Time side project.

Radiohead / Beta Band
June 20, 2001
Red Rocks Amphitheater, Denver, CO

A lot of people were asking me, "So why are you going to Denver for your vacation?" And I would feel like a music-dork for saying, "A Radiohead show at Red Rocks". Lucky for me that my best-friend happens to live in Denver which gives me the perfect excuse.

Rarewerks from ASTRALWERKS? The label has just announced the release of a collection of rare, hard-to-find, and previously unreleased tracks from Astralwerks artists entitled "Rarewerks". Most of the tracks have not been available commercially anywhere in the world. Artists to be included are Fatboy Slim, Chemical Brothers, Primal Scream, Beta Band, and Basement Jaxx. The release is scheduled to be released January 23, 2001.

THE BETA BAND are set to begin work on their sophomore album this September. In an interview with NME, Beta frontman Steve Mason reveals that the group were on the verge of splitting following the horrid reception of their first full-length record last year. The new album is said to be full of shorter, more concise tracks. The band recently found US acclaim after being featured in John Cusack's movie adaptation of Nick Hornby's "High Fidelity."

OASIS just added yet another fan, as Noel Gallagher and Meg Matthews are today the proud parents of a 7 lb., 2 oz. baby girl. The newest Gallagher is to be named Anais Nin (after the French author.) The band, meanwhile, are taking flak this week because sources are claiming that the new Oasis single, "Go Let It Out," borrows heavily from the Beta Band's "Dry the Rain." While Noel Gallagher has publicly admitted that the group was an influence to him during writing, Beta Band frontman Steve Mason seems less than impressed. "A compliment that people steal your ideas?

More news on the upcoming releases front: BEN FOLDS FIVE are set to release their new album, "The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner" in the states on April 27. The first single, "Army" will hit radio a couple weeks before that. We've got Ben Folds Five tour dates for April up in Tours. Also, the first proper album from THE BETA BAND is said to be nearly complete. Clocking in at just under two hours, the album is likely to come out in a double-disc format sometime later this year.