In faintly scandalous news, Modular recording artist Muscles - aka Chris Copulos - has been bumped from the label's own Nevereverland series of shows. As well as perhaps the label itself.

According to a snippy missive posted today on his website (via Mess+Noise) under the title "Muscles Nevereverland 2008 - CANCELLED", the outspoken artist hits out at both his record label and its two current torchbearers, Cut Copy and The Presets. He also reports that the festival is not selling well and compares it to the poorly attended Global Gathering Festival held last week at the same Melbourne venue:

Muscles Nevereverland 2008 - CANCELLED!

For all you Muscles fans out there, I will make it up to you.

People who know me personally know that I'm honest and keep my promises.

My record label calls my mobile phone last week and says,

"We're downsizing and can't afford to have 'Muscles' on our Nevereverland 2008 lineup anymore".

For everyone who bought tickets to come and see MUSCLES, Call up Ticketmaster/Ticketek to receive a refund.

They apparently are not selling many tickets, I feel sorry for them. Like I feel sorry for a blind three-legged conjoined-twin kitten.

There will be lots of room to dance, and probably be less attendance than Global Gathering last week (with Mark Ronson and Kraftwerk).

And two of my favourite artists are playing, Hercules and Love Affair and The Whitest Boy Alive.

So if you're not sick of seeing Cut Copy and The Presets play every festival the past 2 years, just go, It's only $99!"

It appears this might be a death knell for the relationship between Muscles and Modular records, the label that brought him to prominence. Though perhaps there were signs: in a full page Nevereverland street press ad last week (in the same issue that has Muscles smashing a computer on the cover) "Muscles" is nowhere to be seen.

But if things have soured, they've soured quickly. In the same magazine, Muscles is quoted as saying:

"I previewed my album to my record label last Friday" he beams excitedly, "and they were like, 'If this doesn't go gold within the first week...' and that just took a whole load off my brain."

Perhaps that load is back on. A new entry on the Muscles Wikipedia page under the timeline heading "Parting ways with Modular plus Second Album" states:

Muscles cancelled his 2008 UK/Europe tour and festival dates to workon a follow up album in Melbourne. Currently there is a worldwide major label bidding war on who will be releasing the follow-up, after Modular amicably parted ways with Muscles in November 2008.

Yikes. No report yet on to whom might be involved in this "major label bidding war" but it does sounds sexy. Modular is yet to comment on the predicament. (UPDATE: Modular has a news announcement on it's website saying that Muscles is still in fact expected to show up at the festival. It reads:

Muscles is signed to Modular Recordings and his services are still required under that agreement. He was offered a spot at NEVEREVERLAND which still stands and whether he chooses to play or not is his decision. Obviously we would like him to be part of our 10 year celebrations and hope he turns up to perform.)

In the meantime, Nevereverland soldiers on without him (maybe), for the following dates:

NEVEREVERLAND 2009 - MODULAR RECORDS 10th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Saturday, December 13 - Hordern and surrounds, Sydney, NSW
Sunday, December 14 - Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday, December 20 - Brisbane Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD
Sunday, December 21 - Members Equity Stadium, Perth, WA

(Main Pic: Kristy Lee)