Someone's pinched Stuart Braithwaite's guitar

At the weekend, there was break-in at Mogwai's place in Glasgow. Amongst fifteen grand's worth of stuff pinched was Stuart Braithwaite's guitar. He'd really like it back, explains the Evening Times:

Stephen Hines, an employee of the group’s record label Rock Action Records, who discovered the break-in at the band’s base, said: “This is Stuart’s recording guitar. It doesn’t even go on tour with him as it’s very precious to him. I had to break the news to him.”

Stuart said: “Everyone is gutted about this theft. We have been lucky that most of our equipment is currently on tour with us, meaning the theft could have been a lot worse.”

They're asking for anyone who knows anything - presumably somebody flogging a lovely guitar you'd not have expected them to have had - to get in touch with police. Or have the curse of Mogwai rain down on your head.

Mogwai on hold

Earlier this week it was the Pipettes; this week, visa problems have forced forced Mogwai to rearrange a US tour. The April dates are off; they're hoping to play in October instead.

Mogwai back in the studio

Well, given that next year is going to be rubbish, with most of us on the dole, having Experian going through our pockets to see where we've been, at least there's something to look forward to: Mogwai are off into the studio to do a new album.

They haven't a clue what it's going to sound like yet. I think 'not like the Wiggles' will be a safe bet, though.

Decade Null: 2003 - Mogwai

A fan-made video (I suspect you didn't actually get that many of these back in 2003 itself), for Mogwai's Boring Machines Disturb Sleep. Off of Happy Songs For Happy People:



[Part of Decade Null 2003]

No way, no Mogwai

Nasty scare following Mogwai's All Tomorrow's Parties set in New York: Martin Bulloch was rushed off to hospital with his pacemaker gone all wonky; the band have cancelled their slate of US dates and Martin has issued a statement:

"I was taken into hospital last night almost immediately after the show at ATP. I've been having some problems with my pacemaker for the duration of the tour and it unfortunately culminated in me being sent to the emergency room. The doctors there initially thought i would have to have corrective surgery at a larger hospital nearer NYC but i have been given the all clear to travel home on the understanding that i go straight to my cardiologist on arrival back in Scotland.

Tbh, i'm really bummed about having to go home and feel for the folk who had bought tickets for our upcoming shows but i can honestly say it would be almost impossible for me to carry on at this point as my pacemaker has broken skin and the surrounding area has become infected."

Presumably the American doctors assumed Scottish hospitals were much more familiar in dealing with dodgy hearts.

Get well soon, Martin.

... and I never liked Kevin Shields anyway

Alan McGee takes to his MySpace blog for what presumably was meant to be an enthuse over Mogwai, but which crashes into being another one of his tiresome railings against former friends:

Finally got time to listen to it and it's even better than the last two Mogwai albums which to me have both been wonderful.I'm Jim Morrison,I'm Dead/Danphe and the brain/Local Authority/Kings Meadow/Thank you space expert are all beautiful Mogwai music.Their is a beautiful irony that the ''nostalgic cabaret'' that is my bloody valentine are throwing at people in 2008 gets critical acclaim in the easily pleased UK press with MBV still playing the exact same set they did 20 years ago and the only trick Kevin Shields has anymore in 2008 is actual volume and double extra pa to numb you and zero new songs.


Hear the new Mogwai record it's beautiful.Mogwai are 2008 My bloody valentine were a joke signing in 1991 maybe they got better...

This, of course, from a man who would be sleeping under the arches but for Oasis' tired old slogging.

Niall, who emailed us to bring the post to our attention, also offered a little context:

From the man who in 1996 took out a full-page ad in NME to rave about a gig the reformed Sex Pistols had played at Shepherds Bush Empire...

Also he seems to have trouble with "there" and "their".

Watch with Mogwai

Here's a video slice of a new Mogwai track, Batcat. Which is named after a really, really rubbish superhero. Possibly.

Mogwai: Come on, try free

As a taster for the new album, Mogwai are releasing a free mp3 download, The Sun Smells Too Loud. We could link straight to the mp3, but it's much more fun to go through the page before.

Mogwai grind Pepper

Mogwai aren't impressed with the idea of bands recreating Sgt Pepper:

Such musical wonders as James Morrison and The Fratellis are to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Sergeant Pepper's Beatles album by covering songs from it. I cannot wait to hear this meaningful idea.

"Only thing is, can anyone really better the genius of With A Little Help From My Friends? I know Wet, Wet, Wet came really close but it'll take a mastery of music to pull this one off.

"Such classics as A Day In The Life will surely be so difficult to interpret due to its subtleties and beautiful piano breakdown. I cannot wait and I doubt you can either.

Yeah!"

Mogwai are, erm, currently preparing their track for a Pixies tribute album.

Keith Richards not welcome

Mogwai have just released a slew of dates for Europe, keeping them busy this summer:

11 May - Zurich M4
13 - Edinburgh Liquid Rooms
18 - Minehead ATP Festival
26 - Seville Territorios Festival
16 Jun - Barcelona Sonar (headline 2nd stage)
23 - Germany Hurricane (No town or city listed)
24 - Germany Southside (No town or city listed)
12 Jul - London Somerset House
14 - Birmingham Supersonic
24 Aug - Paris Rock en Seine
01 Sept - Inveraray Connect Festival

Go on, die old

Mogwai have had a bit of a bad reaction to the tale of Keith Richards snorting his own dad's ashes. They've responded with an open letter:

Hi everyone. I just woke up to find that average blues guitar peddlar and all round unlikeable London pirate-like arsehole Keith Richard snorted his dad's ashes on a drug binge. Well done Keith, you talentless publicity hungry horrible prick of the highest order. He then goes on to say modern bands are a load of old crap. Right, but can we really listen to the opinions of a nasal cannibal?

Keith, your band are possibly the worst band in the history of human events, worse even than Placebo and The Reynolds Girls combined. Your posh English singer sings with an American accent about a load of old American prostitutes he met once and your guitar licks are Grade F. The sooner you die the quicker my Ladbrokes bet comes in between you and McCartney you old dick. I hope you kick the bucket in the most humiliating of ways, like on the toilet and then being eaten by your own dog. Stop living and give us peace you attention seeking non relevant oxygen thief.

Of course, it's an exaggeration. Ladbrokes wouldn't let you place a bet on the death of a famous person.

I collect, I reject

The undeclared war between Mogwai and Belle & Sebby carries on. B&S auctioned their car, and may have thought their position as Weirdest Indie Online Auction champs was safe. Mogwai's Martin Bulloch has upped the stakes, though by putting his old pacemaker up to the highest bidder, in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

Yes, yes, Brett Anderson may be trying to flog his knickers for charity, but surely this is the only time you've actually been able to possess something taken from the heart of a rock star?

[Thanks to Popism for the lead on this.]