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Pick at the pops: 05 February 2007

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

What is an Outstanding Contribution to British Music? One decent effort over a decade ago, if Oasis, getting the award at this month’s BRITs, are anything to go by. Presumably, Freak Power and The Bluetones are up for next year’s gong. Anyway, it emerged this week that Ringo Starr will be handing the Gallagher twins their silverware; a man who knows all about doing some good stuff then mucking about for decades.

80s rock monsters Van Halen are looking to recapture former glories, bringing charismatic frontman David Lee Roth back into the fold after a turbulent split 22 years ago. Band leader and Beat It riffmeister Eddie Van Halen had this to say: “I’m very excited to get back to the core of what made Van Halen.” And doesn’t he just sound it?

In student news this week, Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke has launched a volley of polite abuse at Jack White, of The White Stripes and The Raconteurs. Jack has said that he won’t be critical of foreign policy because he’s a chilled-out entertainer, and this has got Kele’s goat. Apparently, White’s claim is “treacherous because it’s complicit with the capitalist society”. Expect two, maybe three placards outside the next Raconteurs gig.

Our hearts go out to Kylie Minogue this week, following the announcement that she and boyfriend Olivier Martinez have split up. Our flowers go out to her too, along with our invites for dinner, boxes of chocolates and phone numbers.

Our hearts perk up with the rumour that Big Brother production company Endemol hasn’t had nearly enough grief and has decided to forge on with a show tentatively named Rock Stars In Rehab. Yes, the genius plan is a reality TV show filming, erm, rock stars in rehab. Pete Doherty’s been approached. You don’t say.

Matthew Horton

Picture: Empics

• 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 >>
• 18/12/2006: Girls Aloud v Lily Allen >>
• 04/12/2006: Potty Pete pays the penalty >>
• 27/11/2006: Nelly says no to Playboy >>
• 20/11/2006: Queen's greatest-selling hits >>
• 13/11/2006: Ms Dynamite's high speed crash >>
• 06/11/2006: Glastonbury to go "gay"? >>
• 30/10/2006: McFly hit top spot yet again >>
• 16/10/2006: Girls Aloud v All Saints in war of words >>
• 09/10/2006: Razorlight ready for world domination >>
• 02/10/2006: Madonna's record breaking millions >>
• 25/09/2006: When pop stars reunite >>
• 18/09/2006: Robbie's new footballing chum >>
• 11/09/2006: Monkeys' Mercury delight >>
• 04/09/2006: Foo Fighters save miners >>
• 28/08/2006: Britney gets banned in Asia >>
• 21/08/2006: Radiohead's grumpy greatest hits >>
• 14/08/2006: Natasha Bedingfield's Rocky return >>
• 07/08/2006: The heavyweight return of Meat Loaf >>