Fish Forced To Take A Break:

In a post on his MySpace page, the Planet Rock presenter revealed that prior to his recent tour a visit to the doctor had revealed a “worrying” patch of “irregular cell growth” on his vocal chords. On doctor’s advice the tour was able to go ahead but as soon as the last show ended in Buxton a few weeks ago Fish headed into hostpial for a biopsy on the cells and he’s currently awaiting the results.

Fish will now be taking time off from music for the foreseeable future, and although he hopes to do some gigs next year it’s possible that we may not see him on stage until 2010.

“In all honesty I am 50 year old, I smoke(d), drink, have a "colourful" history, have sung nearly 1700 gigs in 27 years and have conducted probably three times as many interviews. It's like standing on the M1 and expecting not to be hit by a car,” he says in his blog.

“I am taking at least 6 months off from singing. I'd like to think that I can play
ome festivals in the summer of 2009 but there will be no arranged tours until 2010. I don't plan to even contemplate a new album until the end of next year. It all depends on what happens in the coming weeks. There are no set plans for any musical activity at the moment or in the near future.

“Either way I intend to get to work on that elusive novel and start studying and writing screenplays. My acting career I would like to reopen and I definitely want to spend a lot more time at home.

“There are bundles of unwrapped cunning plans. It's a bit scary as I haven't had a "blank" year for as long as I can remember and the prospect of being "unemployed" is quite weird! It's an exhilarating time and not since I left my forestry career behind in 1980 have I found myself in such an exciting and frightening position in my life.”

Get well soon, Fish.

South Of Scotland MSP Christine Grahame has put forward a motion entitled AC/DC We Salute You which aims to acknowledge the band’s Scottish roots and their continuing success and influence across the world.

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Grahame said "After 35 years AC/DC are still contributing to music and giving fans enjoyment worldwide. ::
 :: ::
"I think they have long deserved official recognition from their homeland for that major musical contribution and my parliamentary motion will go some way towards recognising that."

U2 See New Album On The Horizon: U2 have confirmed that their new album, No Line On The Horizon, will be released on 2 March.

The album is the follow up to 2004’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb and features production from long-term collaborators Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, who produced many of U2’s classic albums of the 80s and early 90s.

Sessions for No Line On The Horizon began last year in Fez, Morocco, continued in the band’s own studio in Dublin, before moving to New York’s

Platinum Sound Recording Studios, and finally being completed at Olympic Studios in London.

Further details are sketchy, but it’s believed that an extensive world tour is due to be announced in the new year.

In celebration of Guns n’ Roses releasing their new album “Chinese Democracy” - UK Classic rock radio station - Planet Rock is dedicating a month of specials to G’N’R.

Sunday Dec 14th 6pm UK time (repeated Thursday 18th 7pm UK time)

My Planet Rocks – with Duff McKagan. :::::Duff talks about his musical influences and the music he listens to today.

A Set List Special - Guns n Roses live in concert.

Sunday Dec 28th 6pm UK time

Classic Album Special – Appetite for Destruction

For more information the G’N’R specials and some unique competitions visit www.planetrock.com

Planet Rock broadcasts on DAB digital radio throughout the UK. Sky channel 0110, Virgin Media channel 924, Freesat channel 730 and online worldwide www.planetrock.com.