17 February –
Manic Street Preachers become the first western
rock band to play in
Cuba. (
Fidel Castro is in attendance.) They did not tour, meaning that an unsigned British rock band, Sandstone Veterans, remain the only band from the western world to tour Cuba.
8 March –
Melanie C announces she does not intend to do any more work with the
Spice Girls. Although the group denies it is splitting, it would not be active again until 2007.[1]
4 April – Original
Zombies lead singer
Colin Blunstone and keyboardist
Rod Argent reunite for a two-part performance at London's Jazz Cafe, the first time the two had performed together in over 30 years.
3 September -
Gorillaz withdraw from the nominations list for the
Mercury Prize, stating that being nominated is "like carrying a dead albatross around your neck for eternity".
1 November – The governing body of the
UK Singles Chart, Chart Information Network Ltd. (CIN), changes its name to The Official UK Charts Company.
4 December – Promoters for
So Solid Crew cancel their then planned tour – after a shooting at a gig at the London Astoria on 4 November, which saw two men hospitalised.
26 December – After denying rumours prior to their greatest hits album, pop group
Steps shock their fans by announcing their split, a move that was heavily criticised by the fans. The group would reunite 10 years later.
17 February –
Manic Street Preachers become the first western
rock band to play in
Cuba. (
Fidel Castro is in attendance.) They did not tour, meaning that an unsigned British rock band, Sandstone Veterans, remain the only band from the western world to tour Cuba.
8 March –
Melanie C announces she does not intend to do any more work with the
Spice Girls. Although the group denies it is splitting, it would not be active again until 2007.[1]
4 April – Original
Zombies lead singer
Colin Blunstone and keyboardist
Rod Argent reunite for a two-part performance at London's Jazz Cafe, the first time the two had performed together in over 30 years.
3 September -
Gorillaz withdraw from the nominations list for the
Mercury Prize, stating that being nominated is "like carrying a dead albatross around your neck for eternity".
1 November – The governing body of the
UK Singles Chart, Chart Information Network Ltd. (CIN), changes its name to The Official UK Charts Company.
4 December – Promoters for
So Solid Crew cancel their then planned tour – after a shooting at a gig at the London Astoria on 4 November, which saw two men hospitalised.
26 December – After denying rumours prior to their greatest hits album, pop group
Steps shock their fans by announcing their split, a move that was heavily criticised by the fans. The group would reunite 10 years later.