Violinist Nigel Kennedy (40) has decided to change his name to persuade people to take him more seriously. He has said he will drop Nigel for all future concerts, recordings and public appearances and wants to be known simply as Kennedy.
He popularised classical music, selling two million copies of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and releasing 12 other albums, but now he wants to rebuild his image among classical purists as a talented musician.
The move came as he released his latest album, a new recording of Elgar's Violin Concerto, under his surname alone.
Record producer Phil Spector launched a scathing attack yesterday on the Spice Girls. He said that in the US right-wing Christian groups claim the group's performances are like pornographic movies.
But Spector said: "There is a big difference between the Spice Girls and a porno movie. A porno movie has got better music."
He was speaking at the Q magazine music awards in London. The audience also heard DJ Chris Evans issue a public reconciliation plea to the Radio 1 boss who sacked him from his breakfast show. Spector received a special award for his long career in the music industry. Noel and Liam Gallagher sent a special video message after winning the Best Act in the World trophy for the second year running.
Comedian Spike Milligan presented the Best Songwriter of the Year trophy to Sir Paul McCartney. "If he did nothing else, he wrote Yesterday. Mind you, I wrote Ying Tong Yiddle I Po," Milligan said.