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Pick at the pops: 03 March 2008

Our weekly round-up of the weird and wonderful world of pop music...

Rock’n’roll takes its toll – on your limbs, your relationships, but mostly on the mind. One of the major rock stories of 2007 was of course the Led Zeppelin reunion; we all knew about it, we all failed to get tickets to it. It seems to have passed someone by, though. Asked his opinion on the Led Zep comeback, Rolling Stones legend and paternal ash snorter Keith Richards drawled, “They had one?” But we think the old rogue might have been being, well, roguish. Like the ‘60s relic he is, he added: “’Stairway To Heaven’ don’t make it for me, baby.” Ouch.

At least it’s an informed opinion. This week’s “there but for the grace of God” award goes to the US edition of Maxim magazine, which managed to review the new Black Crowes album Warpaint without actually hearing it. To be fair, I think we can all imagine how it goes. They compounded the error, however, by reviewing the new Nas album in the same issue before a completed version existed. Bravo! On being rumbled, Editorial Director James Kaminsky whimpered, “It’s a mistake that won’t happen again.”

James might be tempted, though, when it comes round to reviewing the new Coldplay album – not even Chris Martin likes it. Well, he claims to be happy with it, then whispers: “Everyone might not like this.” What’s new, Chris? At least you had misplaced confidence in the last one…

Speaking of outrageous faith, Glastonbury Festival organisers have taken a punt on Mr Reliable himself, Pete Doherty, to headline the infant Park Stage at this year’s mudfest. Call us pessimists, but perhaps they should line up a substitute for the night in question. Is Amy Winehouse free?

Matthew Horton

Picture: PA Photos/Rex Features

• 25/02/2008: Mark Owen gives KT Tunstall his last quid >>
• 18/02/2008: Aretha or Tina - just who is the Queen of Soul? >>
• 11/02/2008: We mourn the Spice Girls - again >>
• 04/02/2008: Winehouse and Spears - will the madness end? >>
• 28/01/2008: Oh no! Simply Red and UB40 have split up! >>
• 21/01/2008: Annie Lennox and The Verve won't pave streets >>
• 14/01/2008: Robbie and Coldplay turn on EMI >>
• 07/01/2008: Out with the old, in with the new >>
• 2007 archive >>
• 2006 archive >>