NEWS DIGEST: Friday, May 29

2:24 PM GMT 29/05/2009

As MOJO checks weather reports for signs of hell freezing over, news has emerged that Lee Mavers will be recording a second La's album.

Babyshambles bassist Drew McConnell has spoken to the BBC about being recruited by Mavers for the latest line-up of the group, who have still yet to release any new material since 1990's self-titled debut.

"He saw me playing double bass and asked me if he could have a jam with me. The next day he came round to my house. A month later he's still there. As a musician I feel really honoured. I must have done something good in a past life," said McConnell, before adding with charming naivety, "we just need to find a drummer and a guitar player that can nail it down the same way I have."

The new-look La's are slated to make their live debut at Sheffield's Tramlines festival in July and then embark on a full UK tour. "At the end of that tour we're going to go in and record the second record, which is all written already," McConnell told BBC 6 Music.

Mavers, however, has been rumoured to have an entire second album written since the early '90s and despite sporadically recruiting numerous musicians over the last two decades, including Edgar 'Jones' Jones, Liverpool's The Crescent and most recently original bassist John Power, a second record has yet to materialise, with Mavers' relentless perfectionism and desire to re-record the debut from scratch often blamed for the lack of lasting working relationships.
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Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan has undergone surgery to have a cancerous tumour removed from his bladder.

As reported previously, Gahan suffered a severe bout of gastroenteritis earlier this month forcing the band to cancel a string of European dates.

Gahan has been ordered by doctors to rest until June 8, when the band we restart their European tour in Leipzig, Germany. For the full band statement and for a list of the new European dates, visit Depeche Mode's website.
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Jarvis Cocker is fighting plans for a £6 million, "big ugly lump" cinema and office complex next to his home in East London.

"I don't want office workers to see me parading in my pyjamas," the 45-year-old told the Hackney Gazette.

Cocker has challenged Hackney town council to "come down to Hoxton and hold a proper consultation" about the planned development on Pitfield Street, Hoxton.

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And finally... a very happy birthday to Oasis chief Noel Gallagher who is 42 today. Here's vintage Noel - suffering from a touch of the sniffles - showing off his platinum American Express card, threatening to burn down the rainforest and encouraging children to throw televisions out of windows...

Posted by Ross_Bennett at 2:24 PM GMT 29/05/2009

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