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While the name Pipas has been slowly infultrating the indiepop worlds in both London and NYC they haven't had much worldwide exposure yet, until now. Recently releasing their debut album 'A Cat Escaped' on Matinee Recordings they've been the darlings of the Chickfactor shows in London, New York and DC. You can view the Pipas video for 'Run Run Run' at at the Long Lost Cousin website.

According to the Midnight Oil website, lead singer Peter Garrett has left the band.  In a statement on the site Peter states, "The last 25 years have been incredibly fulfilling for me, and I leave with the greatest respect for the whole of Midnight Oil. The band has brought a lot of pleasure and meaning to people's lives, including my own. Who could ask for more? But it is time for me to move on and immerse myself in those things which are of deep concern to me and which I have been unable to fully apply myself up to now."  The remaining band members (Bones Hillman, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey and Gary Morris) do plan on making music together at some point in the future.

OASIS have cancelled at least one gig following a brawl this weekend in Munchen (Munich), Germany.

Reports are still filtering in, but we've got some slightly different takes on exactly what happened.

According to a report that just came across the Reuters wire, four members of Oasis, including frontman Liam Gallagher, were arrested following a fight at the Bayerischer Hof hotel. The report says that the younger Gallagher "brawled with guests" before three other unnamed band members (NOT including guitarist Noel Gallagher) jumped into the fray. The four were arrested by police and released later in the day.

In celebration of their chart placement on the US Billboard 200 (Number 5), Coldplay has added a second leg to their current North American tour. Included in the new tour dates are support appearances at several holiday concerts in LA, San Fran, Boston, New York, DC and Philadelphia and a tv appearance on Letterman.

Chumbawamba have released a new anti-war song available for free download on their website. The free track, Jacob's Ladder, takes jabs at the Bush Administration, Tony Blair and the British Press.

Once the BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB 19-month tour ended they decided to take a break. But they obviously missed the road because they're heading out to tour England in December. It's expected they will be playing several new tracks on the tour. Also, they have a new song, "Waiting Here", on the Rock Revolution CD that's given away with the current NME.

According to Virgin Mega Magazine, Morrissey is planning to hold a press conference this month in Australia regarding the unethical treatment of baby elephants in Thailand. He is attempting to expose the government of Thailand for their practices in an undercover video made by PETA. Moz will be distributing leaflets during his current tour of Australia to discourage travel to Thailand by Australian tourists.

As if he wasn't all over the place already, Damon Albarn has apparently contributed vocals to the new Massive Attack album according to today's NME. He hasn't been credited on the track, which will appear February in 2003 in the long awaited followup to 'Mezzanine'. Also featured on the album are Sinead O'Connor and Horace Andy .

Ooberman are offering a world of fun on their website right now. They are running a contest to win a bunch of goodies (glossies of the new artwork, signed band photos, new singles, etc). The band is also holding a "web event" on December 6... which basically means that on that day only (after 8 PM GMT) you can download the new single 'Lavender Blue', chat with the band live, and a 7 minute documentary will be available.

Oooberman's new album 'Hey Petrunko' is finished and should be seeing a UK release in early February. A single for 'Cities That Fall' and 'Where Did I Go Wrong' will be out in January.

Sweden's illustrious Cardigans have invited you along on a recording tour of their new album. Their album diary follows them on their journey from Sweden, to Spain to England, to the moon and back again as they record and produce the upcoming record. Look out for a less electronic and more "live" feel to the new album.
PS. If you want to enter their 'contest'... try reading the gossip at Tambourine Studios.