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Pick at the pops: 16 July 2007

Shaun Ryder and Rod Stewart

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

While most of the world was getting over-excited about Posh Spice and her inflated sock of a barber’s model husband landing at some airport or other – honestly, what’s the big deal? Environmental earth mother Madonna’s massive carbon footprint has touched down at over 4000 airports this year already – we were getting all a-fluster about the death of rock ’n’ roll. Again.

The latest alarming decline in rawk’s health was spotted last week when former hellraiser and rock-soul gasper Rod Stewart was heard to be rather peeved at all the swearing at the previous weekend’s Live Earth gig. Oh, it’s so sad. Rod announced his pursed-lipped feelings to the audience at his Coventry gig, and told them he’d give them each a tenner every time he swore. Given how his Rodness reacted when comedian Russell Brand claimed to have enjoyed relations with his daughter Kimberley, the audience rather missed a money-spinning trick by not getting the old man worked up again with a few lewd reminders. Good for them.

The condition of the rock deteriorated further when reanimated puffball Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder was ticked off for smoking onstage at the Mondays’ Manchester Ritz show. He faces a whopping £50 fine, and local councillor Pat Karney was heard to pronounce: “No matter how big he thinks he is, he is not above the law.” That’s it, people, the squares have won.

It’s left, once more, to the raven-haired – let’s face it, there’s an enormous colony of the creatures living in uneasy harmony in that barnet – Amy Winehouse to keep that rock ’n’ rolling spirit alive. Amy missed her second gig in a week, this time a festival in Austria, because she’s “unwell”. She’s basically retired now, but no one’s noticed because she’s spotted absolutely everywhere. Apart from her own concerts, that is – these days, you’ve got more chance seeing Elvis on stage.

Matthew Horton

Picture: PA Photos

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