"COMFORTABLY NUMB" COVER EXPECTED TO DEBUT AT NUMBER 1

 The New York band Scissor Sisters will release their second single, an electro-pop cover of Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb, on January 19th. Already getting plenty of airplay, it is strongly tipped to enter the UK singles charts at number one.
 
Seen as one of the big new acts of 2004, they are interviewed at length in today's T2 Arts section of The Times newspaper in the UK, which has a large picture of them on the centre-spread. The band have already become well known due to their outrageous stage outfits — most of them designed by Kylie Minogue's dressmaker — and songs that had soundtracked catwalk shows by Vivienne Westwood and Balenciaga.
 
Of their new single, singer Jake Shears, 24, said: "I'm a big Pink Floyd fan, although I think they'll hate what we've done to their song. I know Dave Gilmour has heard our version of Comfortably Numb, but no one will tell me what he thought, which doesn't bode well. I'm their biggest fan. I treated their song with the utmost respect. I know our version is slightly silly, but honestly, it's not supposed to be a joke."
 
The release will feature four takes on the track, including a remix by Fatboy Slim, and an acapella version.

And record executives blame file sharing for the demise of the music industry.