Madonna graces the cover of the latest issue of the Roland User Group magazine, featuring a great article about the keyboardists who toured with Madonna's Re - Invention last summer.

Tthe article offers an interesting insight into how the music was put together for this tour, and how Micheal McKnight and Marcus Brown worked with Madonna in evolving the sound for the tour.

You can read the article here - included in the page is also a link to view a short clip of the Nothing Fails soundcheck at Slane Castle.

The moral of Madonna's new children's book is simple and positive: "Everything that happens is for the best." Now the singer who is constantly embroiled in controversy is trying to practice what she preaches to kids.
In an interview with ABC Radio, Madonna said she's doing her best to get over her disappointment at the outcome of the presidential election and focusing on her new book, 'The Adventures of Abdi,' the story of a little boy who must deliver the world's most precious necklace to the queen.
'In terms of the elections, I don't agree with so many things and the decisions that George Bush has made and I'm not happy with the situation in Iraq," she told ABC Radio's Andrea Dresdale. "I do believe that the American public has been manipulated to a great degree."
Nevertheless, Madonna - who had urged fans at her concerts to see Michael Moore's controversial, anti-Bush documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" - says she's not going to sit around "moaning and groaning."
'In the end, we have to say, "OK, we didn't win, but There's other ways to fix the problems, so now what else can I do to help?"

Madonna also says There's no need to bury the hatchet with Elton John, who recently accused her of charging concertgoers outrageous prices to see her lip-synch, an allegation she's denied. Madonna says there was never a rift between the two performers. "There was never a hatchet for me in the first place," she said. "I always thought of him as a friend. I think he was just having a bad day when he said those things and I never really took it personally."
She said the media blew the whole thing out of proportion. "The press made a bigger deal out of it than I did," she said. "I don't really care. I don't read the press."
Madonna, who's married to British director Guy Ritchie and lives in England these days, says she invited John to induct her into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame on Thursday, but he had a previous commitment.
'I thought, that would be cool if Elton John gave me the award and then we could kiss and make up in front of everybody because everybody seems attached to the idea we're having this feud in the first place," she said.

Now the 46-year-old performer is focusing on her latest book, "The Adventures of Abdi," the story of a little boy who must deliver the world's most precious necklace to the queen.
In the story, Abdi is robbed in the desert, thrown in a dungeon, and has a surprising encounter with a snake. The book, aimed at readers ages 6 and older, aims to teach kids about the power of positive energy, Madonna says.
Her first children's book, "The English Roses," was an international best seller and made publishing history with a simultaneous release in 30 languages, becoming the fastest-selling book ever by a first-time children's author. It was followed by "Mr. Peabody's Apples," and Madonna says she plans to write a sequel to "Roses."
The singer, famous for reinventing her look and sound so many times, is thrilled by the latest turn in her career. The children's books are bringing her new fans, and even winning over some people who weren't too crazy about her music.
'Oh, I got tons of letters like, "I never liked her records but I like her books." I'm like, "Thanks a lot," she said, laughing.
Her two children - Lourdes, 8, and Rocco, 4 - give her a lot of feedback on her writing, Madonna says. Lourdes is especially involved.
'she comes in when I'm writing and says, "That's a good idea, that's a stupid idea, that's boring, Mom, Oh, I like that. I want more of that." And my son likes "Yakov and the Seven Thieves" because he likes bad guys."
Lourdes has written a short story for a Christmas book that is being published for charity in Britain. "I'm incredibly proud," Madonna said. "she has an active imagination and she always writes in her journal."

Tomorrow night Madonna will be inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame as one of the five founding members. The other founding members are Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Bob Marley and U2. Priscilla Presley will accept on behalf of Elvis, and Rita Marley for Bob Marley. Members of U2 will be present to accept their induction.

Madonna will attend the ceremony at the Hackney Empire in London after her personal appearance at Selfridges. The event will be filmed and shown on Channel 4 on Sunday 14 November at 9.00pm.

As Madonna mentioned in her syndicated ABC Radio Network interview today, she had hoped that Elton John could have presented her award to her to show that there are no hard feelings after his lip - synching outburst last month - however Elton is taping an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show that night.

UK fans can catch a recording of Madonna being inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame on Sunday 14 November at 9.00pm on Channel 4.

Madonna joins such greats as Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Bob Marley and U2 as one of the five inaugural members of the hall.

Madonna is due to attend the award ceremony which actually takes place at London's Hackney Empire on Thursday 11 November.

If nothing else, Madonna is never at a loss for opinions, many of which she shared in an exclusive interview with Pat O'Brien of The Insider. He filled in viewers of The Early Show.
Among the topics they discussed: Iraq, her supposed feud with Elton John, Elton's charges she's lip-synched, and the Cameron Diaz flap with photographers.
Madonna has recently embraced her spirituality, authored a successful collection of children's books, and moved her family to London.
She told O'Brien one advantage to celebrity life in Great Britain is a polite paparazzi. O'Brien joked that she may want to pass that information on to Cameron Diaz, who recently had a flap with photographers in the United States.
'All that training in "Charlie's Angels" finally paid off," Madonna said with a chuckle.
One of the shutterbugs claims Diaz hit him twice, something her lawyer denies.
Would Madonna ever do such a thing? "No. No way. No. As if it's gonna change anything. They're just going to demonize her now."
As for her supposed battle with Elton John: "That was a fictional feud."
What about his charges that she regularly lip-synchs during live shows? Is she angry about them? "Not at all. Please, if I start getting mad at people who criticize or poke at me, I'd be permanently mad."
Madonna told O'Brien There's another subject she does take very seriously, and that's the war in Iraq.
"My point of view is that this war is not founded in anything truthful. (But) we're in it so deep. How do we pull out now? How do we go backwards and right the wrongs? And, you know, I think it's gonna get worse before it gets better."
"I voted for Kerry, and I think everybody assumed that. And I'm sad that he lost, but I'm not paralyzed by it. In a way, it's a blessing in disguise. We need to come together, to unite. it's a call to action."
Madonna says she's philosophical about Iraq and President Bush - something she relates to life in general in her latest children's book, "The Adventures of Abdi."
She notes, "This is my way of trying to effect change in the world, by giving children some kind of tools to deal with adversity in their life in a peaceful way, and they grow up one day and become adults and, hopefully, they've held onto those tools."
O'Brien says Madonna is "a very smart woman, and more of a mother now than an entertainer. These children's books, she loves writing them."

Hundreds of Madonna fans spent the best part of 24 hours queuing outside a central London store in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Queen of Pop as she made a rare public appearance to promote her new children's book.
But only 250 of them who were first in line were lucky enough to bag tickets for the reading and signing of her fourth book The Adventures of Abdi.
Crowds gathered on the streets outside the Selfridges store on London's Oxford Street to see the former Material Girl but she snuck in through an underground car park entrance.
The new tale - like her previous books - is said to be based on the ancient Jewish faith Kabbalah which the millionaire pop star and her film director husband Guy Ritchie both follow.
Madonna, who is regularly photographed by the paparazzi in the red string bracelet worn by Kabbalah devotees, has reportedly come under fire for highlighting the religion in her children's books.
Part of the sales from her book reportedly go to fund Kabbalah centres she attends.
The singer was today giving a 10 - minute reading from the book, which was officially released in the UK at the start of this week, to a group of 30 schoolchildren aged eight to 10 from St Winifred's Catholic Junior School in south London.
She has already penned her fifth book Lotsa de Casha, which will be released next summer and is about how wealth is overrated.
The illustrated yarn features the Italian greyhound Lotsa de Casha who is the richest creature in the world but is desperately unhappy.

Madonna has been inducted into the first UK Music Hall Of Fame - and received a hilarious message from close pals Stella McCartney and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Hollywood actress Gwyneth and designer Stella put together a video tribute to the Material Girl by wearing some of her outlandish outfits.
Madge gasped as they appeared on a big screen at London's Hackney Empire - Stella dressing in a 'Material Girl' dress and Gwyneth donning a conical bra and basque.
Madonna, 46, received her honorary award from artists Tracey Emin and Radio One DJ Jo Whiley.
Wearing a Remembrance Day poppy, Madge gushed: 'If someone had told me while I was a little girl growing up in mid - west America that one day I'd be married to a Brit, living in England and inducted into the UK Hall Of Fame, I would have said: 'b******s to that'.'

Madonna appeared on the BBC Radio 2 program The Jeremy Vine Show this lunchtime to promote her new children's book The Adventures of Abdi.

You can listen to the interview again by visiting
www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/vine/

Publishers Callaway have published this press release to celebrate the launch of Madonna's fourth children's book The Adventures of Abdi today:

Callaway Arts & Entertainment is pleased to announce today's release of The Adventures of Abdi, the fourth in a series of five books for children by Madonna.
Madonna's first children's book, The English Roses, made publishing history with its simultaneous release in 30 languages and over 100 countries on September 15, 2003. It became the biggest and fastest - selling book ever by a first - time children's author, and is now available in 40 languages and more than 110 countries as diverse as England, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, China, Brazil, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands.
The English Roses was followed in quick succession by Mr. Peabody's Apples, released on November 10, 2003, and Yakov and the Seven Thieves on June 21, 2004.
Not only were Madonna's first three children's books launched within one year, but they also all debuted on The New York Times' best - seller list, and have sold in excess of 1.5 million copies worldwide.
To celebrate Madonna's unprecedented achievement, Callaway is releasing a boxed - set of her first three children's titles, The English Roses, Mr. Peabody's Apples, and Yakov and the Seven Thieves. A .85 value for only .95, this gift item comes just in time for the holiday season!
Madonna will launch her fourth children's title, The Adventures of Abdi, with a series of print, radio, and television interviews in London, followed by a book signing on November 11 at Selfridges.
Madonna's fifth children's book Lotsa De Casha, will be released worldwide in June 2005.

In promotion for her new childrens book The Adventures Of Abdi Madonna is due to make a couple of UK TV appearances.

One interview will be aired on Channel 4's The Richard And Judy show which is broadcast weekdays at 5.00pm - this show is well know for helping to promote new books so will be ideal for promoting The Adventures Of Abdi. The other appearance is scheduled for a children's TV show to be confirmed later.

At the moment we do not have scheduled air dates yet for these interviews (of which some will be pre - recorded) but as soon as the confirmed dates are known we will publish them here.