Music News

AC/DC's Brian Johnson has given his support to a dementia charity.
The 'Back in Black' hitmaker - whose bandmate Malcolm Young was recently diagnosed with the disease - contacted the Sporting Memories Network in Yorkshire, North England, "out of the blue" to engage with their work.
The charity uses sporting tales to engage older people, in particular men, who suffer from depression and dementia by involving them in groups that improve their physical and mental wellbeing and Brian shared a number of tales about his upbringing in Gateshead, including a story about being unable to afford to attend Newcastle United soccer matches so walking miles with his father to watch Gateshead instead.
He recalled: "I never forget me Dad would take us to the place where Hughie Gallacher threw himself in front of a train. 'He was the greatest footballer that ever lived, son.'
"He was very reverential about that. Hughie played in the Newcastle side that won the title in 1927 and he was God-like to my father. But Gateshead was the place we went to because it was cheap. I got it for a ha'penny."
The small charity, which focuses on treatment of the disease, was thrilled to get the boost from Brian because some of its work is in jeopardy due to a lack of funding.
Director Tony Jameson-Allen told the Northern Echo newspaper: "It's an absolutely amazing boost for a charity run by two people to receive a phone call from the singer of a group that has sold more than 200 million records worldwide.
"The cost of dementia nationally is estimated at being £26bn a year and that figure will double by 2030, so I'm urging healthcare commissioners to give cost-effective Sporting Memories a real crack at making this work."

Jimmy Page "seriously intends" to be playing live in 2015.
The former Led Zeppelin guitarist has confirmed rumours he is going to perform next year and says he is looking forward to getting back on stage after spending months re-mastering his former band's albums for special edition releases.
Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, he said: "I seriously intend to be seen playing, to have a document of what I'm doing. I've been doing a lot of stuff, archiving everything on my behalf, on Led Zeppelin's behalf. That needed to be done. I enjoy playing live. I like sending people surprises as well."
However, Page is not revealing any details of the set list he intends to play because he wants fans to be surprised at the concerts.
He explained: "I've got a game plan. I'm not going to tell anybody anything. I don't want to give people ideas, where they end up going later, 'Oh, I thought he was going to do this.' I prefer to just get people by the jugular - when I'm ready."
The 70-year-old musician has admitted in the past he'd like to reform Led Zeppelin again but singer Robert Plant doesn't want to do any more reunion shows, instead choosing to concentrate on his solo career.
Page is tired of answering questions about the possibility the rock group could play again, admitting: "It's painful, isn't it?"
Speaking about his public sparring with Plant, 66, about their former band, he added: "It's all right for sound bites. But I can't be bothered any more. I'm not interested in all that silliness. I don't think it's fun."

Eric Clapton has shared a musical tribute to Jack Bruce.
The 'Wonderful Tonight' hitmaker was left devastated when his friend and former Cream bandmate passed away on Saturday (25.10.14) and has now posted a touching musical piece on his Facebook page alongside a black and white photograph of the bassist.
The two-and-a-half minute-long instrumental ballad, entitled 'For Jack', features the 69-year-old musician strumming an acoustic guitar and harmonising in places.
The posting comes after Eric hailed Jack a "great inspiration".
He wrote on his Facebook page: "He was a great musician and composer, and a tremendous inspiration to me."
The guitarist's website also shared a lengthy history of the bassist's musical career.
And Cream's drummer Ginger Baker described Jack, 71, as a "fine man".
He said via his fan club: "I am very sad to learn of the loss of a fine man, Jack Bruce... My thoughts & wishes are with his family at this difficult time."
Jack passed away at his home in Suffolk, East Anglia, surrounded by his close friends and family.
His relatives announced the devastating news on his official Facebook page, by writing: "It is with great sadness that we, Jack's family, announce the passing of our beloved Jack: husband, father, grandad, and all-round legend.
"The world of music will be a poorer place without him, but he lives on in his music and forever in our hearts."

Roger Taylor is keen to record a Queen album with Adam Lambert.
The group - whose singer Freddie Mercury died in 1991 - are preparing for another tour with the former 'American Idol' singer and after finishing the run of gigs in Europe, the 65-year-old drummer is keen to make new music with the star because he works so well with them.
He said: "I think it would be a very interesting experiment. It would be nice to just go in and see what came out. I don't know if it would be an album or anything, but I think it's too good a marriage to just let it go at touring. I'm sure we'll do something. His voice is so extraordinary, and it's a beautiful instrument. I think it would be nice.
"I guess we better come up with some material. We've sort of mentioned it, yeah, but not in a serious way. I think we'll probably get this tour over with and maybe come up while we're touring, 'Do you want to go in and try to write something?' "
Before they can bring out any new material, the band will release 'Queen Forever', a new compilation which includes three unreleased tracks, including 'There Must Be More to Life Than This', Freddie's duet with the late Michael Jackson but Roger has revealed the pair worked on another track that they were unable to include for legal reasons.
He told Billboard: "It was really something the record company wanted and we did have these three tracks that have never been heard, so we tried to put together an interesting collection.
"Obviously with different companies involved, it's quite complicated.
"We seemed to resolve something and we have permission to release this one track, but it was not the easiest [negotiations]. And I think, what a shame - Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson, two great talents, neither of them is with us anymore."

Liam Gallagher will perform with The Who Band next month.
The 'Live Forever' hitmaker will make his first appearance since he announced his group Beady Eye had split at the special Teenage Cancer Trust charity gig at London's Shepherds Bush Empire on November 11.
A string of stars including Manic Street Preachers' James Dean Bradfield, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Wilko Johnson, Tom Odell, Rizzle Kicks, Amy Macdonald, Geddy Lee of Rush, Brody Dalle, The Strypes, Andy Burrows and Ricky Wilson will join forces with the band to perform their favourite track from The Who's extensive back catalogue.
The Who Band includes Simon Townshend, Pino Palladino, Billy Nicholls, Frank Simes, Loren Gold, John Coury and Zak Starkey, who played with Liam in Oasis.
Tickets for An Evening Of Who Music In Aid Of Teenage Cancer Trust go on sale on Friday (31.10.14).
Liam announced on Saturday (25.10.14) that Beady Eye were going their separate ways.
He tweeted: "Beady Eye are no longer. Thanks for all your support. LGx (sic)."
Beady Eye formed in 2009 after Liam, Gem Archer, Andy Bell and Chris Sharrock decided they still wanted to make music together following the split of Oasis earlier that year when the singer's brother Noel acrimoniously quit the group in August 2009. .

Pet Shop Boys' 'Always On My Mind' has been named the best-ever cover version.
The duo's 1987 version of the Elvis Presley 1972 hit single has topped a BBC Music Vote to be named the top cover version of all time, beating Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' 'Hurt' and The Stranglers' take on Dionne Warwick's 'Walk On By' into second and third place respectively.
BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music's head of music Jeff Smith said: "The Pet Shop Boys have an enviable catalogue of hits and there have been lots of great versions of this classic song.
"Whittling down the long list for the vote was tough but it's great to see that this track still resonates with people today."
The top five was rounded out by Jimi Hendrix's version of Bob Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower' and Jeff Buckley's cover of 'Hallelujah', which was originally recorded by Leonard Cohen.
The public voted for their favourite track from a top 50 compiled by BBC producers and DJs including Simon Mayo, Steve Lamacq, Fearne Cotton and Trevor Nelson.

BBC Music's Top 10 Cover Versions of All Time:
1. Pet Shop Boys - 'Always On My Mind'
2. Johnny Cash - 'Hurt'
3. The Stranglers - 'Walk On By'
4. Jimi Hendrix - 'All Along The Watchtower'
5. Jeff Buckley - 'Hallelujah'
6. Soft Cell - 'Tainted Love'
7. Joe Cocker - 'With A Little Help From My Friends'
8. Sinead O'Connor - 'Nothing Compares 2 U'
9. Muse - 'Feeling Good'
10. Whitney Houston - 'I Will Always Love You'

Mumford & Sons are working with a dance producer on new music.
The 'I Will Wait' crooners are known for their passionate folk-inspired sound, but that could all change now that the four-piece are working with producer James Ford, who has produced the last four Arctic Monkeys albums and is also known as half of dance duo Simian Mobile Disco.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "His work with Arctic Monkeys is much more rock-sounding than anything Mumfords have done."
The band - fronted by Marcus Mumford, who is married to 'The Great Gatsby' actress Carey Mulligan - released their second studio album 'Babel' in 2012 to rave reviews, but the quartet are now rumoured to be changing their trademark sound in a bid to shock their fans.
Speaking about James' production style, the source added: "But he also has his dance music and pop records on his CV so the music they make together could be very surprising."
Back in July, it was reported that the group had started work on their new album, with a source suggesting that it would be out in 2015.
The source said previously: "Very early work and sessions have begun quietly on album number three. They haven't announced anything officially because they don't want to be under lots of pressure.
"At this point, it's still more likely the album will be released at some point next year - unless things move very quickly."

A new Rolling Stones book will sell for a staggering $5,000.
The boxed, collector's edition of 'The Rolling Stones' - a coffee table book featuring hundreds of photographs - will be signed by band members Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Robbie Wood and goes on sale in December, but fans will have to shell out a huge sum for one of the 1,150 copies of the tome.
Those less willing to dig deep will be able to purchase an unsigned smaller edition for $150.
In a statement issued through publishers Taschen, 'Brown Sugar' singer Mick promised the book captures "many magical moments," while guitarist Keith described it as a "roller coaster" through the band's 50 year history.
Fans who buy the book may get to see a glimpse of the group's life backstage, though Ronnie recently admitted the veteran rockers shun wild parties for more leisurely pursuits on the road these days, including backgammon, jigsaw puzzles, and binge-watching television shows.
Ronnie said: "Being on tour jetlags you. You wake up every night about 9pm, just at the time when you would be going on stage. So now, instead, we watch 19 murder mysteries in a row. We're on 'Above Suspicion' at the moment. Last one tonight.
"We watch loads of box sets on the road, too. Even with [Sir Mick] Jagger I go, 'Let's go and watch 'House of Cards'.' And he told us about 'Game of Thrones'. We had to send someone out at four in the morning when we were in Shanghai to get us the next series."

Dave Grohl was "afraid of music" after Kurt Cobain's death.
The Foo Fighters frontman has admitted his former Nirvana bandmate's suicide in 1994 shook him so much he found it difficult to listen to songs which provoked any kind of emotion..
Speaking to Anderson Cooper on CBS' '60 Minutes' on Sunday night (26.10.14), he said: "Losing Kurt was earth-shattering, and I was afraid of music after he died.
"If I heard a song that even touched on an emotion in me, I would turn it off.
"I was so terrified because to me, that's what music always was. It was a direct connection to my heart."
Earlier this year, Dave reconciled with Courtney Love, Kurt's widow, after putting their feud behind them at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in April.
He explained: "It was the Hall of Fame ceremony, but it meant so much to all of us personally that sometimes you forgot about the other stuff - like the arena and the trophy - and focused on real, personal things.
"I saw Courtney walking past [earlier in the night], and I just tapped her on the shoulder and we looked at each other in the eyes and that was it - we're just family.
"We've had a rocky road. We've had a bumpy past, but at the end of the day we're a big family and when we hugged each other it was a real hug."