MUSIC NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS

Soccer superstar Lionel Messi has formed an Oasis tribute band - and is taking them on a secret European tour.

The Argentinian World Player Of The Year has revealed he performs as guitarist Noel Gallagher. Hitman Messi, 23, has also recruited a Barcelona team-mate to play singer Liam - but won't say who it is yet.

He said: "Our disguise is based on how Oasis looked in the mid-90s. We have our wigs, clothes and glasses sorted. I also spent a lot of time getting the mannerisms right."

Messi says his band will tour soon - and says he's invited Noel to see them play. He said: "We'll visit the UK. If you're at a pub or club where we are performing and see past our disguises there'll be a decent prize in it for you."

Zinedine Zidane has reveal that he has yet to be asked to fill the Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs role. EB.

Franz Ferdinand have started work on a new album says Alex Kapranos.

"I'm writing songs. I don't know anyone who has a period of writing songs and promoting an album; if you write songs, you write songs and keep doing it," he told the BBC.

"I always talk before we do releases and talk about them too much, I get excited and I don't want to ruin the surprise, I'm going to shut up now!" he said.

Former winner Alex Kapranos also tipped The xx as this year's winner, saying it shouldn't matter they aren't huge stars yet.

"Occasionally you can have a prize-winner that doesn't connect with the public, as there isn't the songwriting in the band, and it's great that a band who don't necessarily base their output on songs could win. I think that is a great thing to acknowledge - that there are other ways you can advance music."

Alex should have shut up - as that last paragraph was just complete gibberish wasn't it? EB.

Liam Gallagher has revealed the only way he would ever reunite will the full Oasis line-up is if he is "f***ing skint".

Former frontman Liam Gallagher insists the group - who split up last August after tensions between the singer and his guitarist brother Noel Gallagher became unbearable - are unlikely to ever get back together.

He said: "The only reason why Oasis will come back is when we're f***ing skint. I'm far from skint as you can tell - and I won't be skint for a long, long f***ing time. Believe me, it ain't gonna be happening."

The rocker - who has formed new band Beady Eye with former Oasis bandmates Gem Archer, Chris Sharrock and Andy Bell - went on to claim his new project's debut album would be "the best record you'll hear for the next 50 years."

He told Sky News: "We have this tune and it was a bit Rolling Stones-y, and I didn't like it. It was slow and boring. So we just got on a piano and f**k it up, Jerry Lee Lewis style, and stuck a John Lennon vocal on the top. It's good."

Jerry Lee Lewis style? Better keep Beady Eye away from any 13 year old cousins they have then! EB.

Kaiser Chiefs guitarist Andrew White is to take part in an attempt to set a new record for the world's longest scooter rally.

White will lead thousands of other motorcyclists across the length of the Humber Bridge, near Kingston Upon Hull, next month.

More than 548 scooters are needed to break the existing world record, reports This Is Grimsby.

Organisers for the Grimsby And Cleethorpes Scooter Scene said they were "absolutely stunned" when White said he wanted to be involved.

"To have Andrew White riding his scooter over the Humber Bridge and camping here will be amazing," they said.

White is one of the founding members of Kaiser Chiefs. The group released their last album 'Off With Their Heads' in 2008.

Some of us also hope that the Kaiser Chiefs attempt to set a new record for the world's longest gap between albums. EB.

A representative for Amy Winehouse has dismissed speculation that the singer is working on a musical collaboration with Lady GaGa.

The National Enquirer earlier reported that GaGa had reached out to Winehouse to help her prep a career comeback.

"It's been agreed that GaGa will go to London in September just before her European tour to help Winehouse with the new album," said a source for the magazine.

However, Winehouse's rep has denied the report, claiming that it is "not true at all".

Why are we reporting it then? We dunno. EB.

Three time capsules are being created to mark what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday and will be dedicated at a ceremony in the US.

The capsules, which will contain music from his post-Beatles career and fan contributions, are to be stored at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

They will be reopened in 30 years' time on 9 October 2040, which will mark the centenary of Lennon's birth.

Lennon's widow Yoko Ono has said she is "delighted" to support the project.

The public has until 15 September to submit birthday wishes, music performances, art work and other dedications for inclusion in the capsules.

They will also be encouraged to submit their ideas about what the time capsules should include to help preserve Lennon's legacy over the next 30 years.

We once buried Lennon's 'Milk and Honey' LP - but that sadly wasn't really a tribute. EB.