Guy Ritchie starts up record label

LONDON, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- British filmmaker Guy Ritchie has started up a record label and signed his bar's house group The Punchbowl Band, as his first act, the BBC said.

Ritchie, who was married to U.S. pop star Madonna for almost eight years, most recently directed the hit film "Sherlock Holmes," which featured The Punchbowl Band on its soundtrack. The group's debut album "Journey" is set to drop March 1 on the Universal label Punchbowl Recordings, which Ritchie named after his London pub, Punchbowl, the BBC said.

"It's exciting to venture into the world of the music industry. It's a tough place, but I've witnessed this band connect with people first-hand," the British broadcaster quoted Ritchie as saying.