Print this page

Pick at the pops: 18 June 2007

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

As the mercury rises, tempers get frayed. Even if you’re in an ageing rock’n’roll band, squabbles can occur. And so it was that Rolling Stones Ronnie Wood and Captain Jack Sparrow – sorry, Keith Richards – began the week with a falling out. Sparrow accused Ronnie of being boring. Ronnie, perhaps remarkably, didn’t respond by pointing out it wasn’t his fault they’d been playing the same songs for 30 years. Apparently, the accusation was made when recovering alcoholic Ronnie didn’t want to go boozing with Sparrow.

Fortunately by the end of the week they had made up, with Ronnie’s son Jamie playing the Saffy from Absolutely Fabulous role. “Dad is dad and Keef’s Keef,” he reasoned. “They are always falling out with each other. They are like a pair of teenagers sometimes.”

Sparrow, who was angry with Mick Jagger for accepting his knighthood in 2003, might also have a few words to say to Joe Cocker, should he ever run into him. Joe has accepted an OBE for services to gruff-voiced balladeering, odd singing poses and, er, the theme to The Wonder Years. He’ll be joined at the palace by Glastonbury figurehead Michael Eavis, who receives his honour for services to mud.

One person who can’t be far off a gong is commentator Noel Gallagher. Noel, who has somehow become sage and witty as he’s aged, stated this week that watching Razorlight and Kaiser Chiefs contributing to Radio 2’s pointless Sergeant Pepper tribute was “with the greatest respect, embarrassing”. And he was, of course, right.

Kaiser Chiefs will be unworried as they are now involved in a creative project that easily outstrips anything Oasis have done. Yes, they’re going to appear in the Beano. They’re not the first of their peers to appear in the comic, though: anyone remember when Lord Snooty released an album called Hopes And Fears and then checked himself into The Priory?

Jon Horsley

Picture: PA

• 11/06/2007: George Michael avoids jail >>
• 04/06/2007: Beth Ditto bares all >>
• 29/05/2007: Stevie and Jacko disappoint Macca >>
• 21/05/2007: Lily vs Cheryl in catfight nirvana >>
• 14/05/2007: Eurovision carve-up shame >>
• 08/05/2007: How is Kurt Cobain still writing diaries? >>
• 30/04/2007: Bez and Mani? It's 1990 all over again >>
• 23/04/2007: MC Hammer inspires Arctic Monkeys >>
• 16/04/2007: Your planet is safe in Madonna's hands >>
• 10/04/2007: Kaiser Ricky fights for pop double standards >>
• 02/04/2007: Weller vs Sting in battle of the spittle >>
• 26/03/2007: Jagger and Trousersnake snubbed >>
• 19/03/2007: Ray Quinn and the death of pop >>
• 12/03/2007: The Jackson Five eye some filthy lucre >>
• 05/03/2007: George is on his way to Wembley >>
• 26/02/2007: Mel C holds up Spice reunion >>
• 19/02/2007: Joss Stone's big love >>
• 12/02/2007: Lily conquers America >>
• 05/02/2007: Oasis to meet Ringo at last >>
• 29/01/2007: Amy Winehouse wows the Savoy >>
• 22/01/2007: Chris Martin: the B-Boy >>
• 15/01/2007: Whitney auctions her belongings >>
• 08/01/2007: The Police to reform? >>
• 02/01/2007: James Brown RIP >>
• 2006 archive >>