Blur have released their first single since 2003's 'Good Song' yesterday (April 17), as part of Record Store Day.

The track, which was initially limited to just 1,000 vinyl copies, starts with a simple drum beat from Dave Rowntree and sees Damon Albarn sing about his west-London life, while Graham Coxon and Alex James back him up.

After vinyl copies of the track sold out almost instantly, Blur have announced that they are to make 'Fool's Day' available as a free download from midnight tonight on Blur.co.uk. Manager Chris Morrison said this was "to avoid fans having to illegally obtain an inferior copy of this track from pirate sites."

Fans up and down the country had initially queued at record stores to get their hands on the physical release of 'Fool's Day'. At London's Rough Trade East shop, one customer at the front of the 300-strong line told NME.COM he'd started queuing at 3am (BST) this morning to make sure he got a copy of the track.

"It's the release of a new Blur track," he explained. "We've waited seven years for a new song! I've asked all the staff where they are in the shop so I can definitely get one."

Record Store Day is continuing throughout today, with many shops featuring free instore gigs and rare records by the likes of The Rolling Stones, Lily Allen and Babyshambles.

Head to the NME Office blog now to read a full review of the Blur's 'Fool's Day'.

Source NME

The Vatican has finally forgiven The Beatles for John Lennon's infamous 1996 claim that the band were "bigger than Jesus".

The official Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, carried an article praising the group and saying that due to the beauty of their songs the Jesus comment was "meaningless".

"It's true, they took drugs; swept up by their success, they lived dissolute and uninhibited lives," the article reads. "They even said they were more famous than Jesus. But, listening to their songs, all of this seems distant and meaningless."

The article adds: "Their beautiful melodies, which changed forever pop music and still give us emotions, live on like precious jewels." The band were described as "the longest-lasting, most consistent and representative phenomenon in the history of pop music".

Source UNCUT

Iron Maiden and the 2012 London Olympic Games. A strange combination? Not to over 92,000 Facebook fans, who have joined a rapidly growing campaign for the iconic British heavy metal group to open the UK games.

Which means athletes won't just be running laps, they're be running to the hills!

On the Facebook page, called 1 MILLION STRONG 4 IRON MAIDEN to open the 2012 London Olympic Games!!, a message reads: "Iron Maiden are one of the most successful bands to come out of England that are still active and are arguably the biggest metal band of all time. They deserve to play and represent their hometown of London, England in 2012!

"This is a virtual petition I am going to pass along to whoever I can to get Maiden to play the London Olympics in 2012. Feel free to post pics/stories/whatever to the group. Pls repost and spread the word. LONG LIVE MAIDEN!!! Up the Irons!"

During the recent Olympic Winter Games, many competing athletes were said to listen to heavy metal on their iPods before competing, so to have Maiden open the 2012 event...sounds perfect to us.

Source musicradar

Blondie are to tour of the UK this June.

Debbie Harry and co will begin the three-date jaunt with a gig at Newcastle's O2 Academy on June 15, followed by shows in Sheffield and Bournemouth.

The band also appear at this year's RockNess festival, and play a Forestry Commission gig in Gloucestershire on June 20.

Blondie play:

Newcastle O2 Academy (June 15)
Sheffield O2 Academy (17)
Bournemouth O2 Academy (19)

Tickets go on sale this Friday (April 16) at 9am (GMT).

Source UNCUT

Rush have announced that on their upcoming Time Machine Tour, during which the band will not only perform many of their classics, give fans a taste of new material, but will also - for the first time ever - play the album Moving Pictures in its entirety.

The group is currently working on their 20th studio album with producer Nick Raskulinecz (co-producer from 2007's Snakes & Arrows), but decided that the lure of a North American summer jaunt was one they couldn't resist.

"We were off for a year and a half, and now it's just pouring," says guitarist Alex Lifeson. "Everything is totally crazy and there's not a minute left in the day. We've got these half-dozen songs, and we'll probably go in the studio and work on a couple of them and see how it goes, perhaps release something - and I say perhaps - and then we plan on being on the road."

While not quite 30 years old, Moving Pictures is within spitting distance of its 'pearl' anniversary. Released 12 February 1981, it ranks as Rush's most-successful album, selling over four million copies and containing radio staples such as Tom Sawyer, Limelight and the Grammy-nominated instrumental YYZ.

And there's even more Rush news to report: the band will be the subject of a new documentary, Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage, which is set to debut at New York's Tribeca Film Festival on 24 April. Described as a comprehensive exploration of the entire history, the film, directed by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, features rare backstage and concert footage. In addition, there's interviews with the band's admirers and contemporaries, including Gene Simmons, Billy Corgan, Kirk Hammett and Jack Black.

For tour dates and ticket information, visit Live Nation.com.

Source musicradar

Supergrass have announced they are to split after 17 years.

"Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years," said the band in a statement released this morning. "We still love each other but, cliché notwithstanding, musical differences have led to us moving on and of course we all wish each other well in the future"

Formed in 1993 by singer/guitarist Gaz Coombes, drummer Danny Goffey and bass player Mickey Quinn, the Oxford trio released their debut album I Should Coco in the summer of 1995. An ever-youthful blaze of British punk-pop, the album topped the UK charts and spawned five singles; Caught By The Fuzz, Mansize Rooster, Lenny, Lose It and the then-inescapable Alright. 1997's In It For The Money and 1999's Supergrass were also top three successes. Long-serving keyboard sideman Rob Coombes (Gaz's brother) became an official fourth member prior to the recording of 2002's Life On Other Planets. The band's last official LP, Diamond Hoo Ha, appeared in 2008. Coombes and Goffey released a Nigel Godrich-produced album of covers under their Hotrats banner earlier this year.

Four farewell shows are due to take place in June. Supergrass' final gig will be in Paris on June 11.

They play:

Glasgow Barrowlands (June 8)
Manchester Academy (9)
London, Brixton Academy (10)
Paris, La Cigalle (11)

Tickets go on sale on Friday, April 16 at 9am.

Source MOJO