CULTURE CLUB have announced the first of their dates with their new singer Sam Butcher stepping into BOY GEORGE's shoes... the band will play ten UK shows in December, see GIGS for all the information.

EURYTHMICS' classic 'Sweet Dreams' has been covered by Icelandic girl-group Nylon and will be released as a double a-side single on October 23rd.

PAUL WELLER will release a new retrospective, 'Hit Parade', next year which will be the first release to compile material from all stages of the singer's career, featuring material from Weller solo alongside tracks from THE JAM and THE STYLE COUNCIL. The release will coincide with a full-length documentary on Weller from the BBC.

THE BELLE STARS, THE COMMUNARDS, RICK ASTLEY and ALTERED IMAGES are among artists featured on a new double CD compilation of 12" mixes entitled 'Extended 80s' which will be released at a budget price on October 23rd. See NEWS on the website for the full album tracklisting which also features music from DEACON BLUE, LLOYD COLE and BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE.

NIK KERSHAW will release his new album 'You've Got To Laugh' via his own Shorthouse label on October 23rd.

U2 frontman BONO has been announced as the first guest on EURYTHMICS mainman DAVE STEWART's forthcoming TV show for US newtwork HBO next year.

DEACON BLUE have announced that they will perform their 1987 debut album 'Raintown' in its entirety at their forthcoming shows in Brighton, Leicester and Dundee. See GIGS for all their dates.

SALT N PEPA frontwoman Chery 'SALT' James - who will release a solo album in 2007 - is to address a 25,000 youth audience at New York's Christian Cultural Centre this week, speaking about her past experiences as a hip-hop artist and the role spirituality plays in her music. Meanwhile Salt N Pepa's classic 'Push it' has been sampled on a track entitled 'Do It' which will be included on the forthcoming album from up and coming artist Ciara.

SHAKIN' STEVENS will release a new album. 'Now Listen' on October 23rd. The release will be preceded by a single of the same name which will be released on October 16th, and followed by dates in the UK and Denmark in November. See GIGS for the full list of dates.

ROXETTE will release a retrospective album 'A Collection Of Roxette Hits' on October 16th. The release will feature two new songs ('One Wish' and 'Reveal') as well as remixes of 'Dressed For Success' and 'It Must have Been Love'.

U2 have recorded a cover of THE SKIDS' 'The Saints Are Coming' with Green Day to raise funds for musicians affected by New Orleans' Hurrican Katrina. The song will be released as a single and will feature a sleeve - shot by Anton Corbijn - that recreates The Beatles' 'Abbey Road' sleeve.

JOY DIVISION are to be the subject of a new DVD, 'Joy Division - Under Review', which will be released on October 31st. The release will feature rare live footage, interviews and photographs as well as a quiz section entitled 'The Hardest Joy Division Quiz in the World Ever'.

KYLIE MINOGUE has written a children's book entitled 'The Showgirl Princess' which has just been published in Australia. The book is aimed at girls aged between five and eight and tells the story of a princess named Kylie and her search for her special shoes as she prepares for a show. The book features illustrations which integrate photographs of Kylie into the pictures.

PAUL WELLER is to release a new single to tie-in with his upcoming winter dates. 'Wild Blue Yonder' will be released on October 30th and is brand new song, and is not featured on Weller's recent 'As Is Now' album. See GIGS for all the dates.

BLONDIE's DEBBIE HARRY has provided the vocals for Moby's new single 'New York, New York' which will be released on October 23rd on two CDs and a 12' single featuring a range of remixes. The single was written and recorded in New York this summer and features on the upcoming Moby collection 'Go - The Very Best Of Moby' which will be released in November.

MICHAEL JACKSON has decided to break his ties with his new 'Two Seas' label and link up with US producer TEDDY RILEY instead. Jackson is working on a new studio album with Riley producing. The album is due for a 2007 release. Meanwhile master tapes of Jackson's long-awaited Hurricane Katrina charity single have been withheld in the dispute and a future release looks even more unlikely.

FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM will release a three-disc boxset on October 23rd. Entitled 'Genesis & Revelation' the set will comprise two CDs and a DVD. The CDs will feature studio recordings, live recordings, early demos and remixes while the DVD will feature footage from early live shows, the band's last live gig and an interview. Fields of the Nephilim spin-off NFD will play a London show at the Camden Underworld on October 6th.

Many thanks for this news goes to: http://www.remembertheeighties.com/