Music News

Yes bassist Chris Squire has died aged 67.
The musician - who co-founded the prog rock group with singer Jon Anderson in 1968 - lost his battle with a rare form of leukaemia on Saturday (27.06.15) night, the group have confirmed.
A statement on their website read: "It's with the heaviest of hearts and unbearable sadness that we must inform you of the passing of our dear friend and Yes co-founder, Chris Squire.
"For the entirety of Yes' existence, Chris was the band's linchpin and, in so many ways, the glue that held it together over all these years.
"Because of his phenomenal bass-playing prowess, Chris influenced countless bassists around the world, including many of today's well-known artists.
"Chris was also a fantastic songwriter, having written and co-written much of Yes' most endearing music, as well as his solo album, 'Fish Out of Water'.
"Outside of Yes, Chris was a loving husband to Scotty and father to Carmen, Chandrika, Camille, Cameron, and Xilan.
"With his gentle, easy-going nature, Chris was a great friend of many ... including each of us.
"But he wasn't merely our friend: he was also part of our family and we shall forever love and miss him."
Chris' former bandmate Jon - who quit the group three times, most recently in 2008 - penned a touching message to his "brother" and admitted he was relieved they had recently "reconnected".
He wrote: "Chris was a very special part of my life; we were musical brothers. He was an amazingly unique bass player - very poetic - and had a wonderful knowledge of harmony. We met at a certain time when music was very open, and I feel blessed to have created some wonderful, adventurous, music with him.
"Chris had such a great sense of humor... he always said he was Darth Vader to my Obiwan. I always thought of him as Christopher Robin to my Winnie the Pooh.
"We travelled a road less travelled and I'm so thankful that he climbed the musical mountains with me. Throughout everything, he was still my brother, and I'm so glad we were able to reconnect recently.
"I saw him in my meditation last night, and he was radiant. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.(sic)"
Current Yes keyboardist Geoffrey Downes also paid tribute to the rocker and admitted he is "utterly devastated" by the news.
He tweeted: "Utterly devastated beyond words to have to report the sad news of the passing of my dear friend, bandmate and inspiration Chris Squire."
Elsewhere, other musicians used social media to pay their respects to Chris, who revealed in May he had been diagnosed with acute erythroid leukemia and would miss the group's upcoming tour with Toto.
Spandau Ballet star Gary Kemp wrote: "Close to the Edge was one of my most played records as a youth. So much good music was played and made by Chris Squire. Absolute bass legend."
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler added: "Shocked to hear of the passing of Chris Squire, one of the great bass players." Megadeth's Dave Mustaine wrote: "A tremendous talent and a terribly sad loss. Prayers to Chris Squire's family and band."

The Chemical Brothers think current electronic dance music "all sounds the same".
The 'Galvanize' hitmakers - made up of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons - have insisted they wouldn't ever play a DJ residency in Las Vegas - like DJs including Calvin Harris and Alesso - as it would be "soul-destroying".
Tom, 44, said: "If we really wanted to we probably still could but I think it would be soul-destroying. It's a mad old world, that world. I does feel alien."
Ed, 45, added: "We played in America recently and every record sounded like (Italian DJ/producer) Benny Benassi. I know that sounds like your dad wandering into 'Top of the Pops' and saying it all sounds the same, but it did all sound the same...The one-dimensional sound is quite effective but it doesn't seem to have that magical, transporting quality."
The 'Hey Boy Hey Girl' producers are releasing their eighth studio album 'Born In The Echoes' in July - their first since 'Further' in 2010 - but admitted this may be their last.
Speaking to The Observer's The New Review, Tom said: "('Further') could have been a good point to exit, but it felt like, actually, no, there's another good Chemical Brothers record in us, and to not try to find it would be sad."
Ed added: "I'm glad that this record is so good, because, yeah, maybe it would have had a neatness...It's quite difficult to see how it can keep being rewarding and exciting."

Nicki Minaj invited her mother Carol Maraj onstage as she led the winners at the 2015 BET Awards last night (28.06.15).
The 32-year-old rapper showed she hadn't forgotten her roots, as she personally thanked her mum while winning the award for Best Female Hip Hop Artist at the award show held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles to celebrate the achievements of African Americans and other minorities in music and entertainment as well as sports.
Nicki said: "I always talk about my mommy and this is the first time the world is going to see her. I love you so much."
The 'Starships' hitmaker - who, along with Chris Brown, was the most nominated artist of the night with six nominations each - later also took home the Coca-Cola Viewers Choice Award, but had to ask Zendaya, who presented the award, what the actual category was as she went to collect it.
The night also saw P Diddy fall into a hole during his performance of 'It's All About The Benjamins (Remix)', in which he was joined by several artists, including Lil Kim, Faith Evans and French Montana for a medley of his greatest hits to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Bad Boy Records. However, he made a quick recovery and got up immediately.
Janet Jackson also had one of the most memorable appearances during the award show - hosted by Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Rossas - as she received the inaugural Ultimate Icon: Music Dance Visual award.
A video montage of her greatest moments was shown, followed by live re-creations of her iconic dance routines from Ciara, Jason Derulo and Tinashe, and then Janet thanked fans in a speech.
The 49-year-old singer said: "I've missed you so much and I love you so much. Thank you. Thank you BET."

Full list of winners at the BET Awards:

BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST
BEYONCÉ

BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST
CHRIS BROWN

BEST GROUP
RAE SREMMURD

BEST COLLABORATION
COMMON & JOHN LEGEND - 'GLORY' (FROM THE MOTION PICTURE 'SELMA')

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST
KENDRICK LAMAR

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST
NICKI MINAJ

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
BEYONCÉ - '7/11'

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
BEYONCÉ, ED BURKE & TODD TOURSO

BEST NEW ARTIST
SAM SMITH

BEST GOSPEL ARTIST
LECRAE

BEST ACTRESS
TARAJI P. HENSON

BEST ACTOR
TERRENCE HOWARD

YOUNGSTARS AWARD
MO'NE DAVIS

BEST MOVIE
'SELMA'

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
SERENA WILLIAMS

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
STEPHEN CURRY

COCA-COLA VIEWERS' CHOICE AWARD
NICKI MINAJ F/ DRAKE, LIL WAYNE & CHRIS BROWN - 'ONLY'

CENTRIC AWARD
THE WEEKND - 'EARNED IT' (FROM THE 'FIFTY SHADES OF GREY' SOUNDTRACK)

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT: UK
STORMZY

Lionel Richie was bombarded with calls about performing at Glastonbury Festival.
The 'All Night Long' hitmaker took to the stage at Worthy Farm, Somerset today (28.06.15) - his first appearance at the festival - where he excited the crowd with a string of his biggest hits.
Addressing the hyped up revellers, he said: "It has been a long time coming but finally I'm here doing Glastonbury. People kept calling me saying have you done Glastonbury yet.
"They said it's gonna be a lot of rain and mud but I've brought the California sun with me. I'm going to try and play you as many songs as I can remember so let's party with some Commodores."
Belting out some of his most iconic tracks including 'Three Times A Lady', 'Easy' and 'Dancing On The Ceiling' at the festival, which is partnered by EE, the 66-year-old star was clearly thrilled by the audience's reaction to his set.
Paying tribute to his biggest fans in the front row, he said: "There's some people here on the front row who know the lyrics better than I do so when I get it wrong they look at each other like, 'That's not how it goes.'
Before adding: "I'm believing most of you came out today not to hear me sing but to hear yourselves sing. You guys are so loud I can't even hear myself!"

Mike Posner doesn't regret giving away his hit singles.
The 27-year-old singer/songwriter has penned chart-topping hits including 'Sugar' by Maroon 5 and 'Boyfriend' by Justin Bieber, but isn't bothered about not keeping them for himself because they wouldn't have fit in with his sound.
Asked if he ever wished he'd kept them for himself, he exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "Um, no. Basically I always write songs for myself and then at some point I base it on whether they fit with the project I'm working on or not, and if the answer is no, I think about who else could possibly sing it."
The 'Cooler Than Me' hitmaker continued to say he actually prefers Maroon 5's rendition of 'Sugar', because he believes it is much more suited to frontman Adam Levine's voice than his own.
He explained: "So in the case of 'Sugar' like, I think that that song is much better sung by Maroon 5 than me."
And while Mike - whose new music can be heard on his 'The Truth EP' - has written for other acts including Nick Jonas and Nelly, he isn't bothered about losing his songs to other acts because he doesn't find it tough whipping up a new track.
He added: "I think the music that I'm releasing now is the stuff I'm supposed to be singing. And the other thing is I write all the time. You only put 12 or 15 songs on an album, but we're making 50 or 100 each year."

Niall Horan insists One Direction are just "normal people".
The 'Little Things' hitmaker has had an "incredible" time since finding fame with the boy band - who were put together on 'The X Factor' in 2010 - but hasn't changed with success.
He said: "What's happened over the last few years has been incredible.
"But I just stay the same person I was and grow up with it.
"We're just normal people doing this abnormal job."
The 21-year-old singer also thinks he is the "worst celebrity on Earth" because he rarely gets photographed when he isn't working.
He said: "To be honest, I don't get that much paparazzi because you can stay away from it if you want to.
"I'm probably the worst celebrity on Earth, cos I don't go to any of those parties.
"I'll just go somewhere where the paps won't look for me. I don't particularly put myself out there."
Though he loves being a member of One Direction, Niall does miss his home comforts.
He told Top of the Pops magazine: "At the moment, if we're not in a hotel room, we're travelling overnight.
"We have bunks on the bus - but it's a bunk, not your own bed. When I go home, I just chill and watch TV. IT's good."

Kanye West brushed off a stage invasion to thrill Glastonbury with a headline set that saw him rap in a crane over the top of the crowd.
During the 'Bound 2' hitmaker's fourth song, an unidentified man - now known to be British comedian Lee Nelson - ran on stage with a microphone, pretending to rap along before being escorted off the Pyramid Stage by security.
Alongside a photograph of him wearing a t-shirt with the word 'Lee-zus' written on it, Lee tweeted: "Some people were saying Kanye shouldn't headline Glastonbury so I thought I'd give him a hand."
The 38-year-old singer attempted to continue the track, 'Black Skinhead', before stopping and asking to start again.
Kanye briefly left the stage at the end of his set before returning and telling fans: "They told me I've got seven minutes left."
As he started the performance of his hit 'Gold Digger', he said: "I'm gonna say this now because in 20 years or 30 years I might not get another chance, I'm gonna say it, you are watching the greatest living rock star on the planet."
Whilst on stage, Kanye also paid tribute to his pregnant wife Kim Kardashian West, revealing she was the inspiration behind one of his love songs.
The star performed mostly on his own as he rattled off some of his recent hits including 'Only One' and 'FourFiveSeconds' on a stripped back stage, complete with a ceiling of hundreds of lights.
The light show provided the perfect atmosphere for Kanye's electric set, ensuring Saturday night (27.06.15) at Glastonbury was a night to remember.

Bradley Cooper and Chris Martin watched Pharrell Williams perform at Glastonbury Festival.
The 'Happy' hitmaker took to the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm, Somerset as celebrity guests watched on from the side of the stage.
Also in attendance with the 'American Sniper' star was a mystery woman whilst Stella McCartney and her daughter were spotted having a good time.
Yesterday's headliner Florence Welch, from Florence and the Machine, also partied with the 42-year-old record producer as well as Formula One star Lewis Hamilton.
In true gentleman fashion, Coldplay frontman Chris let Stella's young daughter sit on his shoulders as they watched Pharrell reel off hit track after hit track.
He told the excited crowd: "You guys are awesome - thanks so much.
"England thank you for making it such a special night."
And before performing his track 'Marilyn Monroe', he paid tribute to the "beautiful women" in attendance.
He added: "One thing about when you go to England, you definitely meet the world's most beautiful women."
Earlier in the day, fashion designer Stella shared a snap of her and the 'Get Lucky' hitmaker.
She wrote: "We know he is going to hit Glasto hard... Be happy! X Stella @Pharrell (sic)"

George Ezra was joined by his father on stage at Glastonbury Festival.
The 'Budapest' hitmaker opened his set on the Pyramid Stage with a performance of his catchy track 'Cassy O''.
Addressing the crowd of revellers, he said: "Hello everybody, my names George Ezra and this is my band.
"We're going to play some lovely songs for you."
Later in his set, George called on the services of his father to help him with a quick guitar change, telling the crowd: "Now he can say he performed on the Pyramid Stage."
The 22-year-old singer went on to perform some of his biggest hits including 'Blame It On Me' and 'Budapest' as well as a cover of Macy Gray's 'I Try'.
George ended his set at the festival - which is sponsored by EE - with an amazing performance of 'Did You Hear The Rain'.
Meanwhile, the singer-songwriter recently admitted it was his dad's music collection which sparked his musical inspiration.
He said: "It's a blessing having the internet, 'cause you Google those names and it points you to Woody Guthrie, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGee, Leadbelly, Howling Wolf, Robert Johnson.
"I was into Kings of Leon and saw a behind the scenes video where they were talking about their influences, and it goes back to the same source, and you realise it's all connected."