Simon Jones (ex-VERVE) and John Squire (ex-Stone Roses) are working together. They are writing material in a Manchester studio but details about release dates or even the name of the project has not been made public. Excellent Online will keep you updated on what happens with this collaboration.

We've finally received confirmation on what was becoming painfully obvious: ULTRASOUND have split. The hotly-tipped group, labeled early as a cornerstone band of the "Nu-Psychedelic" movement, released their debut disc, "Everything Picture," to much critical disdain earlier this year. Shortly thereafter, the band began cancelling festival gigs amid rumours of problems within the ranks.

Congratulations are in order for BLUR'S Damon Albarn, on the birth of his first child, a girl (yet unnamed.) Wee Albarn was born on Sunday to Damon and girlfriend Suzi Winstanley, according to reports published in The Mirror this week.

We have breaking news that could jeopardize one of the main draws for this weekend's Coachella Festival. MORRISSEY was forced to cancel his Las Vegas appearance last night after band member Alain Whyte suffered back spasms so severe that he had to be rushed to hospital and put on some pretty hefty muscle relaxants. Morrissey is expected to be a headliner at the show.

THE CHURCH had to shorten their recent set at the Bowery in New York due to frontman Steve Kilbey being arrested! Kilbey was picked up by NYC police after purchasing three small doses of heroin off the street. Rather than cancel the show, the remaining members, led by Marty Wilson-Piper, performed an abbreviated set. Kilbey, meanwhile, has been ordered by a judge to spend one day cleaning the A-train!

We have at least ONE break-up story that we can confirm as being untrue. A spokesperson for Creation Records is flat-out insisting that HURRICANE #1 are, for the time being, still together. Rumours had been flying about the Internet (and even made the pages of Melody Maker) that the band had called it quits, but Creation insists that although the band is taking some time off (with no immediate plans to record,) we havn't seen the last of 'em.

Well, it's seemingly fall cleaning season with some of the major UK record labels, and this time round, an extraordinary number of bands have been dropped and left out in the cold. Many analysts agree that the current music climate has labels focusing on more pop-oriented acts and less on the indie scene, causing many familiar names to be dropped from label rosters. Left homeless this summer/fall include:

ARNOLD, who were dropped by the Creation label earlier this summer.

SHED SEVEN, who couldn't reach a deal with Polydor and quickly left the label.

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes totally disappearing from Earth, apparantly. Not only has Radio One morning show presenter ZOE BALL announced that she is to step down, but now her new hubby, FATBOY SLIM aka Norman Cook, has told Mixmag that he intends to pack it in following the release of the next Fatboy Slim record. The two want to settle down to a "normal family life." This from a man who used to snort cocaine off the train tracks behind his house. Hrrrrm...

Likely due to disappointing critical and commercial response to their sophomore album, "Peasants, Pigs, and Astronauts," KULA SHAKER have announced their split today. Band frontman Crispian Mills has announced his intentions to pursue a solo career, and will likely remain attached to the Sony label.

For the past few years, the Tibetan Freedom Concert has arguably been the United States live music event of the year. This year, however, the COACHELLA FESTIVAL seems destined to be the event to remember. The show, which is October 9-10 at Coachella Valley, near Palm Springs, features a lineup including UNDERWORLD, BECK, THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS, SUPER FURRY ANIMALS, GUS GUS, and CIBO MATTO, just to name a few. The event also features a good deal of intrigue. The U.S. debut of the new SPIRITUALIZED live lineup is bound to be interesting.