Urban Hymns Nominated For A BRIT

As the Brit Awards marks its 30th year this year, the show is awarding an Album of 30 Years prize. The Verve's Urban hymns has been nominated along with the following albums:

Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head

Dido - No Angel

Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

Duffy - Rockferry

Keane - Hopes & Fears

Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

Phil Collins - No Jacket Required

Sade - Diamond Life

The Verve - Urban Hymns

Travis - The Man Who

Are You Ready? Asks Richard Ashcroft

Richard Ashcroft has unveiled the first material from his new project, the United Nations Of Sound.

The track was produced by No ID, and features Ashcroft working with a host of new musical collaborators.

The song is described as a taster for the album - recorded under the working title 'Redemption' - which will be released on March 29, although the tracklisting is yet to be confirmed.

Ashcroft Reveals New Album Working Title

Richard Ashcroft has revealed exclusively to NME.COM that the working title of his forthcoming new album is 'Redemption'.

The singer/guitarist is returning this year with a new band, which he has named United Nations of Sound. The album is expected to be released in late March.

Ashcroft has teamed up with producer No ID for the album, who produced Jay-Z's 2009 singles 'Run This Town' and 'DOA (Death Of Auto-Tune)'. It is being mixed by long-time collaborator Chris Potter.

Ashcroft's Turkey Pet Gift For Vegetarian Son

Rocker Richard Ashcroft astonished his butcher by ordering a giant turkey - as a pet for his vegetarian son.

The former The Verve singer paid £20 for the bird - weighing in at a mouth-watering 16lbs - a few days before Christmas.

But instead of having it slaughtered the dad-of-two asked for a cage and whisked the turkey away for nine-year-old Sonny.

Richard, 38, who lives in Ledbury, Herefordshire, said: "My son has recently turned vegetarian and he said he wanted a turkey for Christmas. I travel to the butchers a lot and have definitely bought the luckiest turkey in Ledbury."

Butcher Matthew Waller of DT Waller and Sons added: "It was quite an odd request to take the turkey home alive but we were happy to oblige."

Richard, who had hits with Lucky Man and Bitter Sweet Symphony, has since named the turkey Lucky.

Ashcroft Returns

Richard Ashcroft has returned with a new song for the film "The Journey." He explains:

"Dear All. I have been fortunate enough to work on a very special project for a cause that when you learn the disgusting truth you will be sickened by and want to help, you can! By watching the film “The Journey” and also downloading the song which I composed, money will be donated to the Helen Bamber foundation. I must warn all parents, being one myself, that the content of the film and song have graphic detail and should never be seen or heard by children."

Love and peace forever,

Richard Ashcroft.

No I.D. To Produce New Ashcroft Album

Acclaimed producer No I.D., who has crafted tracks for Jay-Z, Common, Fabolous and Jim Jones, is set to release a new album in 2010 which sees him join forces with Richard Ashcroft of UK group The Verve. Talking exclusively to HipHopDX, the Chicago-born musical mastermind explained that the yet to be titled album which will be released on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean came about after Ashcroft, famed for tracks such as "Bittersweet Symphony" and "Lucky Man," heard his Grammy-nominated production on Jay-Z's "D.O.A."

"He also heard an interview where I talked about how producers destroy albums just for the sales and he said he liked how I thought," No I.D explained. "So we went in and recorded between 20-30 songs." The album, which is slated for an April release, was recorded in New York, Los Angeles and London and will be released through Virgin and Virgin/Capitol based on the continent. No I.D was recently nominated for four Grammy Awards for his work on The Blueprint 3 securing two nods for both "Run This Town" and "D.O.A."

The Black Ships That Twitter

You can now follow the latest updates and news on Simon Jones and Nick McCabes new band The Black Ships Twitter account, the two other members of the band - Mig Schillace and Davide Rossi also have accounts - http://twitter.com/theblackships