Fondly known to the music community as go go’s “godfather”, the performer enjoyed his biggest hit with Bustin’ Loose, which managed to spend a unheralded month atop of the American R&B chart towards the close of the 1970s. The guitarist, who passed away aged 75, became known for not taking a break between songs during concerts that often lasted for several hours. The style was named “go-go” by Brown as, in his own word, the music “goes and goes”.

Among those paying their tributes to Brown was the mayor of Washington DC, Vincent Gray, who commented that his city owes much to Brown for bringing go-go and that the guitarist’s passing marked an incredibly sad day for those who love music. Fellow figures from the world of entertainment, such as rappers Snoop Doggy Dogg and Chuck D of Public Enemy, whose own genre of hip hop took influence from the go-go style, also paid their respects.

While in prison during the 50s and 60s, serving eight years on a murder charge, Brown acquired his first guitar after he traded five cartons of cigarettes with another prisoner for the instrument. Upon release, he honed his craft then put together the Soul Searchers, who relied on funky horns, lively percussion, and Brown’s own deep vocals.

To the shock of many, including Melvyn Bragg, the show’s long-running host, the arts series was axed in 2009 by its original broadcaster ITV. Prince Charles joined the chorus of discontent when he branded the end of the show a “sad loss”.

Much to the excitement of viewers, Bragg is to return to host Sky Arts’ new series. He commented that it is great for him and the show to both be back in business. The first episode is to be broadcast on 27 May and will feature the first ever South Bank Show profile of Hytner – the boss of the National Theatre since 2003.

When he was a director, Hytner worked on History Boys by Alan Bennett as well as an adaptation of the Phillip Pullman trilogy – His Dark Materials. Two years ago, the leading figure was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to drama. In forthcoming episodes, violinist Nicola Benedetti and novelist Pat Barker are also to be profiled.

Dizzee Rascal, previously a Mercury prize-winner, and Tinchy Stryder are just some of the artists that have lent their thoughts to the already-filmed special episode that explores the origins of the UK’s grime music scene, as well as how UK hip-hop has impacted on east London.

The iconic Dame Monica Mason made her comments on both nutrition and eating disorders in the industryat the Dance UK conference, saying that while perhaps those involved in dancing were in denial in the past, anorexia is now a recognised problem and more can be done to help vulnerable young people suffering from the illness.

In July, Dame Monica will retire from her current role as the Royal Ballet’s director. Speakers who had their voice heard at the Nutrition and Disordered Eating Conference, attended by over 100 delegates, were dance and medical experts, with former dancer Kenneth Tharpe acting as chairman of the proceedings.

The conference was held earlier this week after professionals demanded that there be a public forum made for discussion. Tharpe, who is now heads a contemporary dance centre The Place, called for greater transparency on such issues as anorexia. He set the ball rolling at the conference by uttering ‘Let’s talk about it’,” at the very start.

Medical experts have repeatedly stressed the importance of dance organisations identifying staff that students can turn to. Following the conference, The National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science (or NIDMS) was launched by Dance UK. NIDMS is a joint initiative between Birmingham Royal Ballet, the University of Wolverhampton, the University of Birmingham, Trinity Laban and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.

Discussing the Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell, written by Tom Bowers, at a celebrity-filled gathering at Serpentine Gallery in London, Cowell apologised to anyone he caused  embarrassment to and told guests of how he has spent the last week hiding under a pillow in his bedroom in shame, with all newspapers banned from his house.  The book, serialised in the Sun newspaper last week, tells of a relationship Cowell allegedly had with one of his fellow X Factor judges, Dannii Minogue, as well as his fascination with singer Cheryl Cole.

Sweet Revenge currently sits in The Bookseller’s hardback non-fiction chart at number five and is in its first week of release. Bower, who’s recent effort is his 20th unauthorised biography, has also used the likes of Formula One mogul Bernie Ecclestone, who was present at the launch of Sweet Revenge, Philip Green, and Karren Brady as subjects for some of his other books.

Cowell joked that he will not feature on television again for another year from this week onwards as he is now going to dedicate his time to writing a book entitled, The Sordid Sex Life of Tom Bower – a collaboration with the author that has caused him blushes recently with the release of Sweet Revenge.

The series, starring Oscar-winner Dustin Hoffman and 48 Hours star Nick Nolte had been filming episodes for its second season before the incident occurred. A statement from HBO said that the network has been left with no other choice than to cease all future productions of Luck.

Created by David Milch, the force behind Western drama Deadwood and NYPD Blue, and Heat director Michael Mann, the series examined US horse-racing’s seedy side. Hoffman played crime kingpin Chester Bernstein. The character was attempting to wrestle control of a Californian racetrack by introducing casino gambling while exacting revenge on a former business associate for landing him in federal prison.

Luck made its American debut in January and is to have the finale of its first season broadcast on 25 March. Recently, it began airing in Britain on Sky’s Atlantic channel. HBO’s decision to scrap the entire series was made just a day after filming had to be suspended pending further investigations into the horse’s death.

On Tuesday, the AHA – or the American Humane Association – issued a suspension order for the show. HBO said in its statement that the horse suffered a head injury and was put down on the track at a racecourse in Arcadia, California, where Luck had been filming.

Relatives including his wife and  the daughters they raised together were present at the ceremony, which was held close to the Florida home of the family. The singer’s publicist said that Jones’ body would first be cremated before his ashes are then sent to Manchester.

A public memorial service is to be held in the star’s home city next week. Micky Dolenz, a bandmate of the icon who died at 66 years of age last week, said that The Monkees are unlikely to attend as Jones’ family wishes to have a low-key service and that the mere presence of one, two, or more of the band would quickly turn the event into a spectacle. Jones’s publicist said that there may yet be another public service held in either New York or LA.

BBC Radio Lancashire was told by Hazel Wilkinson, the frontman’s eldest sister, that Jones ‘played the monkey since birth’. According to his sibling, the star appeared fit and well the last time he saw her before dying in his sleep after a heart attack.

The Monkees were a chart smash and scored four number one LPs in the US over a period spanning just 13 months. Also popular in the UK, they were also often described as music’s first-ever manufactured pop band after being  put together for a 1966 TV series that became a worldwide success.

The Great Gatsby will open at Wilton’s Music Hall in April before Gatz’s opens at the Noel Coward Theatre in the West End in June. Lastly, a musical take on the novel will open at north London’s King’s Head Theatre in August.

First published in 1925, Fitzgerald’s book is regarded as a literary classic and one of the great American novels. Set in Long Island, an affluent area east of Manhattan, the story is mainly about the dreams and delusions that the nouveau riche had in the 1920s.
The musical is to be directed by Linnie Reedman, the Young Vic Genesis director, with Joe Evans, an award-winning composer lined up to pen the production’s score. As of yet, casting for the production at Wilton hasn’t been decided.

The announcement follows the six-hour-long off-Broadway production that became a hit in the last months of 2011. Recently, The Great Gatsby’s popularity has soared – which is mostly down to a new-spin off book that tells of the fortunes of Pamela, Daisy Buchanan’s daughter.

As well as this, Australian movie director Baz Luhrmann, the man behind Moulin Rouge and Romeo & Juliet, has also began production on his new film adaptation that stars UK actress Carey Mulligan and Spider-man actor Tobey Maguire. Leonardo DiCaprio will star as the titular Jay Gatsby with a release scheduled for Christmas this year.

The 48-year-old singer was meant to perform in Vienna on Monday but cancelled just two hours before the concert was due to start. According to reports, Michael is being treated in the Austrian capital. Concerts in Vienna, Strasbourg and Cardiff will be rescheduled confirmed his publicist Connie Filippello, who said that the exact dates will be provided once they are available.

Michael’s European tour, entitled Symphonica, kicked off in the Czech capital Prague back in August and is meant to include at least 47 dates. He previously claimed that his gigs in 2008 would be the last live shows he would perform before retiring, but announced Symphonica after serving a prison term in 2010 for crashing his car while high on cannabis.

At the press launch to promote Symphonica in May, the Careless Whisper star told reporters that he felt re-energised after his recent troubles and was ready to surprise the world with his newly-reformed personality, adding that he felts he has started being more true to himself. Earlier this month, a Royal Opera House gig was performed to raise funds for the Aids Foundation set up by Sir Elton John’s Aids Foundation.

Jagger provides vocals for Satyameva Jayate (translated as Truth alone triumphs), which is the second single about to be released by SuperHeavy – a supergroup containing Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, Cornish soul sensation Joss Stone, and reggae/hip hop star Damian Marley.

As mentioned, Satyameva Jayate will be put out as the band’s second single. According to industry insiders, Superheavy’s debut LP should be released next month.

Dave explained to me that the group wanted my voice on this album and that it should be a great Indian-style song too, explained AR Rahman. It’s long been a dream for me to help raise one of Indian culture’s most important morals, Satyameva Jayate, and turn it into a song, the star continued before calling the recording historic.

Jagger put the band together in May, at the time saying that he wanted to make sure a convergence of varying musical styles can be presented. It really is far different from anything else that myself or the others have been involved in before, explained Jagger to music publication Rolling Stone.

The album is very wide-ranging – with everything from reggae to power ballads and Indian songs in Urdu covered, the icon concluded.

There are 2,542 shows scheduled to be staged by around 21,000 performers at what is the world’s biggest arts festival. For the first time in history, cabaret will feature as it was added to the long list of music, comedy, theatre, and dance performances.

Kath Mainland, the Festival Fringe Society’s chief executive told how 2011’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe line-up looks, and is, better than it has ever been before. She continued by explaining that although the event is exciting every time, this year is set to be something special given the combination of creative and talented individuals that have chosen to bring their work to Edinburgh.

The Fringe can be whatever they want to it to be, Mainland added, and the Fringe Festivals still remains the number one choice for performers, creators, artists, and producers to bring their work.

Malkovich is set to direct Julian Sands in a theatre production of a play that celebrates the legendary Harold Pinter’s work. A string of top names in the world of comedy are also set to return at various stages of the month-long festival. As mentioned, Al Murray will be there and is joined by the likes of Ed Byrne. Street dance group Flawless, remembered by the nation for reaching the final of 2009’s edition of Britain’s Got Talent, will return and a show from Paul Daniels and long-time partner Debbie McGee is also pencilled in.