This is news which is not going to rock the foundations of entertainment as we know it, but it's worth mentioning: unsigned pop group Beyond have thrown in the towel. The interesting bit is that, unbelievably, they've done so just as a deal with a major label was on the table.
You may remember that about 18 months ago we covered Beyond's first London showcase. It was the first time we ever took a photograph of a chandelier at a showcase — history in the making, really. After our rather vague praise for one of Beyond's cover versions a few days earlier, the night also featured the band dedicating their version of Cliff Richard's 'Just Don't Have The Heart' to Popjustice. A‑M-A-Z-I-N‑G.
In the time since then they've taken what was essentially quite a shambolic proposition — Cliff covers were never really going to make sense in 2007 — and turned it around to such a degree that SonyBMG were offering a deal. At this point it appears one of the members decided that she wasn't keen on the whole thing after all, which in turn means that the band have decided to split up. It all seems a bit odd but now is not a time to question, it is a time to mourn and reflect. Beyond weren't perfect but everything was in full working order and it's frustrating that a pop group with a lot of potential, having finally been given an opportunity to tap into a company (and pile of cash) capable of helping them realise that potential, will instead simply disappear off the face of the planet.
A track which was in the running for their first single will be a free MP3 download tomorrow in Song Of The Day…