MUSIC NEWS FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8TH

Born today in 1943, one of the most enigmatic frontment of all time, Jim Morrison of the Doors.
And as if I need to remind you...on this day in 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed outside his home in New York City.

Your music news for this Friday...
* The Red Hot Chili Peppers are rolling in Grammy gold this morning. The Red Hots were nominated for six statuettes, including Album of the Year for "Stadium Arcadium" and Song of the Year for "Dani California." The Grammy awards will be televised February 7th on CBS.

*Another Grammy nominee, Snow Patrol (up for Best Rock Song for "Chasing Cars"), is denying break-up rumors. Both lead singer Gary Lightbody and guitarist Nathan Connolly are involved in side projects, but Lightbody says talks of a split are not true. Lightbody's new side gig is a band called "Listen...Tanks!" which he's started with producer Jackknife Lee.

* After touring for what seems like forever, Wilco is finally back in the studio. NME reports that Jeff Tweedy and Company expect to release their sixth studio album sometime in May. Jim O'Rourke is once again set to produce.

* And finally for you on this Friday...U2 is offering a limited edition double album called "Zoo(2)Live" for subscribers to their U2(dot)com web page. The set features 24 live cuts from their legendary ZOO TV tour and comes in a specially designed sleeve...
U2 at their absolute live apex? Sounds like a Christmas gift to me...

MUSIC NEWS FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 4TH

NEIL YOUNG'S, Bridge School Benefit concerts,which have spawned lots of cash while raising awareness of autism, have spawned one more cool thing: Lots of lots of great music that you can now download...

As we reported here a few weeks back, iTunes is offereing a compilation of recordings from those concerts. The collection features 80 tracks. You can purchase the album as a whole or as individual tracks but either way, proceeds go directly to the Bridge School.

Highlights include Thom Yorke covering Young's "After the Gold Rush" and playing Radiohead's "Street Spirit" solo, the Wilco live rarity "Bob Dylan's 49th Beard", Smashing Pumpkins' doing "To Sheila", Tom Waits' "Innocent When You Dream", and Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" ...

Also available...live performances from Pearl Jam...REM...and Ryan Adams

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In news that reaffirms my faith in the power of karma...Last night at the Kennedy Centers Honors in New York City, Jessica Simpson basically lost it. After stumbling through a performance of Dolly Parton's "9 to 5", she finished the song abruptly, then left the stage mumbling the words, "so nervous." Nobody in the audience clapped... and when she returned to the stage with the other singers in the tribute, she was hysterically crying.

No word on whether this will make the televised portion of the show coming up later this week, but i'll look for some YouTube footage.

But seriously, that's the way you wanna start your Monday. If that doesn't put a smile on your face, you are made of stone.

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Finally for you on this Monday...

Noel Gallagher treated one lucky Oasis fan to an intimate performance in his front room yesterday, after he won a competition run through England's Radio 1.

The winner of the prize was Ben Hayes from Poynton, who described meeting his hero: "It was just the best day of my life - so far."

He then added, "It was just absolutely amazing. It was just unreal". After the gig, Noel then spent time with Ben, signing his guitar, CDs and Oasis memorabilia.

Speaking about playing in Hayes house, Gallagher said to the press outside: "I said ... you're not coming around to my house - I've just put a new carpet in - I'm not having it".