THIS is a Red Alert – Basement Jaxx are back.
The Brit electronic duo, who are behind a string of massive hits including Romeo, Where’s Your Head At and Good Luck, are gearing up for a series of special live shows to celebrate their 30th anniversary.
DJs Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe last released an album a decade ago, and while I’m told new music is not around the corner right now, it could be on the cards if their live dates are a success.
A source said: “Basement Jaxx got their name because of the club nights they put on in Brixton in 1994.
“They didn’t release their debut album for another five years but for Felix and Simon, this year celebrates 30 years from where their music first started.
“They are planning in the coming weeks to announce a handful of massive shows to mark the milestone.
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“Last year Basement Jaxx only played a couple of times in the UK, and this will give fans more of a chance to see a full live show.
“It is massive for Felix and Simon and they’re really excited about what they have planned.
“If the shows are as successful as they think they might be, they could start working on some new music which would be really special.
“It’s something they’ve been talking about for a while.”
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Basement Jaxx are the soundtrack to my teens — and my half-arsed Couch To 5K attempts — so I’ll be first in line when tickets go on sale.
And as for new music, I’d really love to hear some.
In 2019, Simon revealed he had spoken to Felix about getting back in the studio.
He said: “I think it’s time to get on and do some Basement Jaxx tunes — we both feel quite refreshed and ready for the next phase.
“We’ve got a few tunes which need finishing and they should result in an album.
“There is going to be another Basement Jaxx album, definitely.”
Given the pandemic hit just months after Simon said this, I can imagine their hard work got put on the back burner.
But there’s no excuse now, surely lads.
GIRLS JUMP TO RESCUE
GIRLS Aloud released their hit The Loving Kind more than 15 years ago but they’re still living by that mantra.
The group has offered a hand of friendship to Years & Years singer Olly Alexander ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Olly has come under pressure from pro Palestine groups after announcing he would represent the UK with his song Dizzy.
They want him to drop out because of Israel’s inclusion in the competition.
And insiders told us that the girls Cheryl Tweedy, Kimberley Walsh, Nicola Roberts and Nadine Coyle, have reached out to Olly and invited him to join them on their reunion tour in a bid to boost his confidence.
A source said: “The girls have been close with Olly for some time and know how isolating it can be when scandal hits.
“They don’t think Olly has done anything wrong and behind the scenes have been making sure he is OK and letting him know he has their full support if he needs anything.
“Their tour kicks off in a few weeks and they have asked Olly if he would like to make a surprise appearance at one of the dates.
“The schedules are still being worked out but Girls Aloud and Olly are really keen to make it happen.
“He brought out Kimberley and Nicola during his Mighty Hoopla festival set last year and it went down a storm.
“They’d love to relive that moment on stage as a full group.
“They want Olly to get his bounce back ahead of Eurovision and think him coming out to perform with them would be the perfect tonic.”
If this doesn’t put a smile back on Olly’s face, we’re not sure what will.
NOEL’S UP FUR A CAREER CHANGE
NOEL Fielding says he wants to move away from telly presenting and into fashion.
Chatting to me at designer Bella Freud’s birthday party last week, where he was wearing a snazzy pink coat, Noel said: “I would like to bring out my own fashion label. I would like to design fur coats and call it Friend or Fur.
“All I have got is the title, but I think it is enough. I love Bet Lynch. She was my biggest fashion influence.”
His garish fashion choices might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the Bake Off host admitted he had got the seal of approval from Prue Leith – who he credited for some of his brighter outfits on the Channel 4 show.
Noel added: “Prue dresses amazing. She is all about trying to bring colour back She has got me on board.”
’Mayne man on Broadway
EDDIE Redmayne is the toast of Broadway – and he put on his jazziest outfit to celebrate.
The British actor has reprised his role as Emcee in Cabaret, which won him an Olivier Award for Best Actor in 2021 when he took on the part for the West End production.
Now he’s on Broadway and has critics raving about him, with one describing him as acting like an “otherworldly salamander” which is, apparently, a compliment.
OLLY ON FIGURING OUT FAKES
HE found his happy ending with Amelia Tank, but Olly Murs says he had to wade through gold-diggers like treacle before meeting her.
The couple, who had their daughter Madison last week, have been dating for four years and married last July.
Opening up about his struggle to find the right woman, Olly said: “In the early days I found dating really hard because it was about figuring out who actually wants to get to know me over the girls that were just wanting to be seen with me.
“Suddenly, there’s all these gorgeous Victoria’s Secret-vibe models around you and you’re like, ‘No man, this doesn’t feel right’.
“This wasn’t happening to me when I was a recruitment consultant.”
It is amazing what a bit of cash and a music career can do for you eh, Olly?
IT’S officially the year of the dragon, so it couldn’t be more fitting for Imagine Dragons to drop their seventh album.
The rockers announced last night that they will be bringing out Loom on June 28.
The nine-song record has been produced entirely by the band and their long-time collaborators, production duo Mattman and Robin.
I can’t wait to hear it.
TRICKSTER ANTHEM FOR KING
IT’S St George’s Day tomorrow and before we hang out the bunting and enjoy a few pints, we have got something that might help make you feel even more patriotic.
Austrian singer Trickster has recorded a new version of the National Anthem with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The track is the first ever recorded for King Charles by a foreign national – but it sounds brilliantly British.
Trickster, real name Juergen Pichler, said: “I am Austrian, but I love the UK and I wanted to make something special.
“I hope that when he hears it, it brings some joy to King Charles, and of course the whole country.
“I have made rock songs, swing songs, pop songs and dance songs before but this is something new for me.”
Adele of a poor disguise
IT’S time to say Hello to Adele again. She’s been spotted for the first time in eight weeks, after cancelling her remaining residency shows in Las Vegas.
And it seems she knows pulling the plug will have made her a little unpopular with fans because she hid behind a clutch bag held over her face as she left a party at Soho House in Malibu.
Adele was photographed with her sports agent husband, Rich Paul, leaving music producer Lenny Santiago’s birthday bash, alongside fellow celebs including Jay Z and Kevin Hart.
I’m not surprised the singer is feeling a little camera-shy, after her fans hammered her for postponing her Vegas dates last month.
Despite telling them she was having to cancel the shows at Caesars as she was ill, they let rip when she made the announcement – which I’m sure only made her feel worse.
I’m not sure the bag-over-the-face routine is going to wash when they see she’s been out and about partying.
PETER AND ABBEY ARE McLOVIN’ IT
PETER Crouch is used to checking out Abbey Clancy’s buns.
But when he headed over to McDonald’s 360 immersive burger experience at Outernet in London, he got an eyeful of another kind of bap.
Pete and Abbey were VIP guests at the event, which gave Maccie’s fans the chance to go inside one of the fast-food chain’s famous burgers.
I am sure they were absolutely “lovin’ it” but I would rather eat the burgers than look at them.
Shak finds shades in the desert
WE’RE amazed Shakira could see anything at Coachella, given the size of her sunglasses.
The singer wore this enormous pair of futuristic shades as she partied at the US desert music festival.
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Shakira put on biker boots, hot pants and a sleeveless long jacket to complete her look for the event, which saw singers including Doja Cat, Sabrina Carpenter and Lana Del Rey taking to the stage.
We’re sure the Colombian beauty enjoyed the sounds, just maybe not the sights.
