Audition to Join the Smashing Pumpkins!

Another day, another lineup change with the Smashing Pumpkins -- but this time YOU could end up joining the ranks of the alt-rock band!

Billy Corgan announced today that bassist Ginger Pooley -- who replaced Melissa Auf der Maur when the Pumpkins "reunited" in 2007 -- has left the band to "to raise her new baby with her husband." So, The Bald One is launching a search for a new bassist the same way he found 20-year-old drummer Mike Byrne, who replaced founding drummer Jimmy Chamberlin when he left last year: by holding open auditions.

Read more over at SPIN Magazine

First cut off the album is the song Stylo featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack (we reported back in Jan that this track had been leaked on the web.) You can listen to it here.

BBC Entertainment (Channel 120) has teamed up with Sport Relief, one of the UK’s biggest fundraising events, to broadcast a unique programme on 21st March 2010.

Created in 2002, Sport Relief is a biennial charity event which brings together the worlds of sport and entertainment to raise money to help transform the lives of poor and vulnerable people all over the world.

At the heart of the campaign is the Sport Relief Mile, an event open to everyone regardless of their athletic prowess or mobility. This year South Africa will join the cause as the first Sport Relief Cape Town Mile takes place on 21st March. 

The beneficiary of the inaugural event in Cape Town is Child Welfare South Africa and all the money raised by the public will go directly to this charity. 

To celebrate the occasion, highlights from the event will be aired on BBC Entertainment from 19.30 that evening, along with classic and brand new sketches from a host of well-known stars.

Gavin and Stacey’s James Corden teams up with Jenson Button and a host of top flight British sporting heroes; there’s an exclusive sketch by the cast of Outnumbered, and special editions of Strictly Come Dancing featuring business big wigs Duncan Bannatyne and Peter Jones from Dragons’ Den. Viewers of BBC Entertainment can also look forward to something very special from the Top Gear team, as well as films about the sort of charitable work the money raised will fund. Ex-England and Newcastle United football Captain Alan Shearer, OBE and double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes will be on hand to introduce footage from the Sport Relief UK show and all the action from the Cape Town Mile

Everyone who takes part in the Sport Relief Cape Town Mile will be able to choose from a 1 Mile (1.6 km), 3 Mile (4.8 km) or 5 Mile (8km) fun walk or run. Starting from and finishing at The Lookout at the V&A Waterfront, the route will take in the magnificent beachfront Promenade and will give walkers/runners an upfront look at the glorious new Cape Town soccer stadium. The Sport Relief Mile promises to be a great, fun-filled day for friends, families, schools and clubs with a festival atmosphere of entertainment and music for runners, walkers and those supporting.  

Entry forms are available at various sport stores, CT Tourism offices and all Cape-based Sportsmans Warehouse stores where one can enter and receive a race pack. 

The entry fees are R35 from 02 Feb-14 March and R40 for registration at The Lookout, V&A Waterfront from 19-21 March.   For more information on how to participate go to www.sportrelief.co.za.

For donations visit www.cwsa.org.za