Music News
Music News
Adam Levine thinks Maroon 5 are stronger than ever.
The 35-year-old singer admitted the band have had trouble defining their sound in the past but have grown closer again as a group after realising their love of pop music.
He told The Sun newspaper: "Maroon 5 are a lot stronger than we have been in the past.
"We know what we are good at and that's pop music. There isn't one member of Maroon 5 that doesn't love pop music.
"We are comfortable with who we are and know what we are good at.
"When people say they hate pop music and cite bands of the Sixties and Seventies as their inspiration, well The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin were all pop stars as their music was popular. They just wore different clothes than we do today.
"So Maroon 5 embrace that and are successful and we don't think it's uncool, we just go for it."
However, the 'Harder to Breathe' hitmakers - who released their fifth studio album 'V' earlier this month - insist the record is a nod to the "darker side of pop" and a stark contrast to their "sweet sugary" fourth offering 'Overexposed'.
Adam said: "I would say V is on the darker side of pop.
"It's not as sugary as the last album, which was very deliberately sweet pop and fun.
"This one is not as carefree and has an edge that we'd lost on the way."
He added: "It is hard to survive as a band in the culture for that many years and not try different things."
The Grammy Award-winner - who appears as a coach on the US version of 'The Voice' with country singer Blake Shelton and new judges Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani - also admitted he worried about the effect his role on the reality TV singing competition would have on his credibility as an artist and described the decision to star on the show in 2011 as a "huge risk".
He explained: "I have been very fortunate to be able to do this show as well as my music.
"It was a huge risk when I first started and I didn't expect the show to give me credibility.
"In fact, my biggest concern was that it would take any I had away. But it was never premeditated."
Maroon 5 are stronger than ever
Adam Levine thinks Maroon 5 are stronger than ever.
The 35-year-old singer admitted the band have had trouble defining their sound in the past but have grown closer again as a group after realising their love of pop music.
He told The Sun newspaper: "Maroon 5 are a lot stronger than we have been in the past.
"We know what we are good at and that's pop music. There isn't one member of Maroon 5 that doesn't love pop music.
"We are comfortable with who we are and know what we are good at.
"When people say they hate pop music and cite bands of the Sixties and Seventies as their inspiration, well The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin were all pop stars as their music was popular. They just wore different clothes than we do today.
"So Maroon 5 embrace that and are successful and we don't think it's uncool, we just go for it."
However, the 'Harder to Breathe' hitmakers - who released their fifth studio album 'V' earlier this month - insist the record is a nod to the "darker side of pop" and a stark contrast to their "sweet sugary" fourth offering 'Overexposed'.
Adam said: "I would say V is on the darker side of pop.
"It's not as sugary as the last album, which was very deliberately sweet pop and fun.
"This one is not as carefree and has an edge that we'd lost on the way."
He added: "It is hard to survive as a band in the culture for that many years and not try different things."
The Grammy Award-winner - who appears as a coach on the US version of 'The Voice' with country singer Blake Shelton and new judges Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani - also admitted he worried about the effect his role on the reality TV singing competition would have on his credibility as an artist and described the decision to star on the show in 2011 as a "huge risk".
He explained: "I have been very fortunate to be able to do this show as well as my music.
"It was a huge risk when I first started and I didn't expect the show to give me credibility.
"In fact, my biggest concern was that it would take any I had away. But it was never premeditated."
Music News
Lady Gaga almost quit music earlier this year.
The 'Applause' hitmaker admits she almost gave up her career for good six months ago after her third album 'ArtPop' received mixed reviews from critics.
Speaking in Parade magazine, she said: "Six months ago I didn't even want to sing any more. I was so sad. I couldn't sleep. I felt dead.
"I'm not going to say any names, but people get irrational when it comes to money. If you help an artist, it doesn't give you the right, once the artist is big, to take advantage of them."
However, the 28-year-old star then teamed up with Tony Bennett to create their forthcoming album 'Cheek to Cheek' and believes the 88-year-old legend saved her "life" and her career.
She said: "I tell Tony every day that he saved my life. He wanted nothing but my friendship and my voice."
Meanwhile, Tony recently said he was keen to team up with the blonde beauty again in the future because they get along so well and he admires her talent.
He said previously: "There were no moments of craziness or eccentricity when I was with her. She said that when she was 13 and singing jazz, 'Nobody ever paid any attention to me.'
"We get along great and she's just such a good improvised jazz singer. I think the public are going to say, 'I knew she could sing well but I didn't know she could sing THAT well'.
"I just love her and want to work with her as many times as possible in the future."
Lady Gaga almost quit music
Lady Gaga almost quit music earlier this year.
The 'Applause' hitmaker admits she almost gave up her career for good six months ago after her third album 'ArtPop' received mixed reviews from critics.
Speaking in Parade magazine, she said: "Six months ago I didn't even want to sing any more. I was so sad. I couldn't sleep. I felt dead.
"I'm not going to say any names, but people get irrational when it comes to money. If you help an artist, it doesn't give you the right, once the artist is big, to take advantage of them."
However, the 28-year-old star then teamed up with Tony Bennett to create their forthcoming album 'Cheek to Cheek' and believes the 88-year-old legend saved her "life" and her career.
She said: "I tell Tony every day that he saved my life. He wanted nothing but my friendship and my voice."
Meanwhile, Tony recently said he was keen to team up with the blonde beauty again in the future because they get along so well and he admires her talent.
He said previously: "There were no moments of craziness or eccentricity when I was with her. She said that when she was 13 and singing jazz, 'Nobody ever paid any attention to me.'
"We get along great and she's just such a good improvised jazz singer. I think the public are going to say, 'I knew she could sing well but I didn't know she could sing THAT well'.
"I just love her and want to work with her as many times as possible in the future."
Music News
Bono struggled to write U2's 'personal' new album.
The Irish rocker and his band mates, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr - who released their new record 'Songs of Innocence' for free to all iTunes Store customers and U2's website subscribers yesterday(10.09.14) - found composing the tracks hard as it required them to revisit past memories.
Bono told Rolling Stone: "We wanted to make a very personal album.
"Let's try to figure out why we wanted to be in a band, the relationships around the band, our friendships, our lovers, our family.
"The whole album is first journeys -- first journeys geographically, spiritually, sexually. And that's hard. But we went there."
In one particularly painful track entitled 'Iris', Bono opens up about his late mother, Iris Hewson, who died when he was just 14-years-old.
He explained: "Forty years ago, my mother fell at her own father's funeral, and I never spoke with her again.
"Rage always follows grief, and I had a lot of it, and I still have, but I channeled it into music and I still do. I have very few memories of my mother, and I put a few of them in a song called 'Iris.'"
The autobiographical album also features collaborations with Ryan Tedder, Lykke Li, Danger Mouse and Paul Epworth - who the 54-year-old singer credits for the success of their latest offering.
He said: "I think having them around really helped.
"Some of the music out there now that people call pop, it's not pop - it's just truly great. And we wanted to have the discipline of the Beatles or the Stones in the Sixties, when you had real songs. There's nowhere to hide in them: clear thoughts, clear melodies."
Bono struggled to write U2’s ‘personal’ new album
Bono struggled to write U2's 'personal' new album.
The Irish rocker and his band mates, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr - who released their new record 'Songs of Innocence' for free to all iTunes Store customers and U2's website subscribers yesterday(10.09.14) - found composing the tracks hard as it required them to revisit past memories.
Bono told Rolling Stone: "We wanted to make a very personal album.
"Let's try to figure out why we wanted to be in a band, the relationships around the band, our friendships, our lovers, our family.
"The whole album is first journeys -- first journeys geographically, spiritually, sexually. And that's hard. But we went there."
In one particularly painful track entitled 'Iris', Bono opens up about his late mother, Iris Hewson, who died when he was just 14-years-old.
He explained: "Forty years ago, my mother fell at her own father's funeral, and I never spoke with her again.
"Rage always follows grief, and I had a lot of it, and I still have, but I channeled it into music and I still do. I have very few memories of my mother, and I put a few of them in a song called 'Iris.'"
The autobiographical album also features collaborations with Ryan Tedder, Lykke Li, Danger Mouse and Paul Epworth - who the 54-year-old singer credits for the success of their latest offering.
He said: "I think having them around really helped.
"Some of the music out there now that people call pop, it's not pop - it's just truly great. And we wanted to have the discipline of the Beatles or the Stones in the Sixties, when you had real songs. There's nowhere to hide in them: clear thoughts, clear melodies."
Music News
Pharrell Williams was joined on stage by N.E.R.D bandmate Shay Haley at his iTunes Festival concert on Wednesday night (10.09.14).
The singer-and-producer thrilled the packed Roundhouse venue in Camden, London, when he announced during his show that he was "taking it back to the beginning" but he couldn't do it "by myself" prompting Shay to step on stage to massive cheers.
The pair then performed 'Rockstar', 'Lapdance' and 'She Wants To Move' and afterwards Shay hinted there is going to be a new N.E.R.D album, saying: "It feels good to be back in London. When we released our first album back in 2001 and first crossed the Atlantic, this was the first place to embrace us. You're going to like this s**t we're going to release."
Pharrell then added: "There will always be an N.E.R.D, I'm happy to be a nerd; the bullies lost, the nerds win."
Before the N.E.R.D section of the show, Pharrell had opened his hits-laden set with 'Lose Yourself To Dance' - one of the tracks he recorded with Daft Punk for their 'Random Access Memories' album - and was joined by six backing dancers wearing white dressing robes and sunglasses for 'Hunter', from his most recent solo LP.
Before his rendition of 'Marilyn Monroe', he told the women in the audience: "Marilyn Monroe was a very beautiful woman both on the inside and outside but there's only one Marilyn and only one you so if you think your beautiful I want to hear you."
Pharrell also performed several tracks that he co-wrote or produced for other artists, including a medley of Justin Timberlake's 'Like I Love You' and Ed Sheeran's 'Sing', Snoop Dogg songs 'Beautiful' and 'Drop it Like It's Hot', Major Lazer's 'Aerosol Can' and Gwen Stefani single 'Hollaback Girl'.
The 41-year-old musician also thanked Apple for putting on the concert - which was free for fans who won tickets in an online lottery - saying: "Apple brought us together, they have you guys and they let us come to the party and the whole world is watching. Let's talk about devices. There's been a lot of things going across your screens that have caused you to be fearful, so let's party for love not for fear."
He closed his concert with 'Blurred Lines' - his hit single with Robin Thicke and T.I - his worldwide smash 'Get Lucky' with Daft Punk and his solo song 'Happy', during which confetti exploded from the ceiling showering his adoring fans.
Pharrell Williams reunited with N.E.R.D bandmate on stage
Pharrell Williams was joined on stage by N.E.R.D bandmate Shay Haley at his iTunes Festival concert on Wednesday night (10.09.14).
The singer-and-producer thrilled the packed Roundhouse venue in Camden, London, when he announced during his show that he was "taking it back to the beginning" but he couldn't do it "by myself" prompting Shay to step on stage to massive cheers.
The pair then performed 'Rockstar', 'Lapdance' and 'She Wants To Move' and afterwards Shay hinted there is going to be a new N.E.R.D album, saying: "It feels good to be back in London. When we released our first album back in 2001 and first crossed the Atlantic, this was the first place to embrace us. You're going to like this s**t we're going to release."
Pharrell then added: "There will always be an N.E.R.D, I'm happy to be a nerd; the bullies lost, the nerds win."
Before the N.E.R.D section of the show, Pharrell had opened his hits-laden set with 'Lose Yourself To Dance' - one of the tracks he recorded with Daft Punk for their 'Random Access Memories' album - and was joined by six backing dancers wearing white dressing robes and sunglasses for 'Hunter', from his most recent solo LP.
Before his rendition of 'Marilyn Monroe', he told the women in the audience: "Marilyn Monroe was a very beautiful woman both on the inside and outside but there's only one Marilyn and only one you so if you think your beautiful I want to hear you."
Pharrell also performed several tracks that he co-wrote or produced for other artists, including a medley of Justin Timberlake's 'Like I Love You' and Ed Sheeran's 'Sing', Snoop Dogg songs 'Beautiful' and 'Drop it Like It's Hot', Major Lazer's 'Aerosol Can' and Gwen Stefani single 'Hollaback Girl'.
The 41-year-old musician also thanked Apple for putting on the concert - which was free for fans who won tickets in an online lottery - saying: "Apple brought us together, they have you guys and they let us come to the party and the whole world is watching. Let's talk about devices. There's been a lot of things going across your screens that have caused you to be fearful, so let's party for love not for fear."
He closed his concert with 'Blurred Lines' - his hit single with Robin Thicke and T.I - his worldwide smash 'Get Lucky' with Daft Punk and his solo song 'Happy', during which confetti exploded from the ceiling showering his adoring fans.
Music News
Liam Gallagher has led tributes to former Primal Scream guitarist Robert 'Throb' Young who has died.
A publicist for the band has confirmed news the musician has passed away but there is no further information about the cause of death or any other details at the time of writing.
Young formed the band with his secondary school friend, singer Bobby Gillespie, in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1984.
He was an integral part of the rock group throughout their rise to success which culminated with their iconic 1991 album 'Screamadelica' which was the winner of the inaugural Mercury Prize.
Young left the band in 2006 to deal with "problems in his personal life", according to Gillespie.
Former Oasis frontman Liam took to his Twitter page in the wake of the sad news, posting: "RIP Robert Young AKA 'Throb'. Live Forever LG x (sic)"
Liam's former bandmate Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs tweeted: "RIP Throb. A true Rock n Roller. X (sic)"
Fellow former Oasis member and Beady Eye guitarist Andy Bell posted on the social networking site: "Rest In Peace Robert Young of @ScreamOfficial. That big power chord in Loaded is ringing out on the other side now. (sic)"
Charlatans singer Tim Burgess tweeted: "So sad to hear of the death of Rob 'Throb' Young ... A real good un. (sic)"
'Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh posted a moving tribute to Young, which read: "RIP Robert Young. One of the best, the most beautiful, who WAS rock n roll. Big love bro, give them it big time over the other side. #Throb (sic)"
Liam Gallagher pays tribute to late Primal Scream guitarist
Liam Gallagher has led tributes to former Primal Scream guitarist Robert 'Throb' Young who has died.
A publicist for the band has confirmed news the musician has passed away but there is no further information about the cause of death or any other details at the time of writing.
Young formed the band with his secondary school friend, singer Bobby Gillespie, in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1984.
He was an integral part of the rock group throughout their rise to success which culminated with their iconic 1991 album 'Screamadelica' which was the winner of the inaugural Mercury Prize.
Young left the band in 2006 to deal with "problems in his personal life", according to Gillespie.
Former Oasis frontman Liam took to his Twitter page in the wake of the sad news, posting: "RIP Robert Young AKA 'Throb'. Live Forever LG x (sic)"
Liam's former bandmate Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs tweeted: "RIP Throb. A true Rock n Roller. X (sic)"
Fellow former Oasis member and Beady Eye guitarist Andy Bell posted on the social networking site: "Rest In Peace Robert Young of @ScreamOfficial. That big power chord in Loaded is ringing out on the other side now. (sic)"
Charlatans singer Tim Burgess tweeted: "So sad to hear of the death of Rob 'Throb' Young ... A real good un. (sic)"
'Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh posted a moving tribute to Young, which read: "RIP Robert Young. One of the best, the most beautiful, who WAS rock n roll. Big love bro, give them it big time over the other side. #Throb (sic)"
Music News
FKA twigs couldn't wait to tell her friends and family she had been nominated for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize.
The 26-year-old singer - who is rumoured to be dating Robert Pattinson - described her nomination as an "amazing" thing and the first people she wanted to share the news with are the people who have supported her musical ambitions.
Speaking at The Hospital Club - where the nominations were announced on Monday night (10.09.14) - she told BANG Showbiz: "I've told all of my close friends and family about it and everyone's happy for me and it's just great to have the support of my friends and my family."
The songwriter insists the nomination - which is for her critically acclaimed debut album 'LP1' - is for her and for all the people who work so hard for her.
She said: "The really cool thing is I work with a lot of my close friends, so my best friend is my stylist and my other best friend is my choreographer.
"It's very exciting to be able to include all these wonderful, creative people who I've met in the past seven or eight years living in London to be able to include them in my work and everyone's really happy for me."
Preferring to talk about her music, the enigmatic songstress refused to open up about her rumoured romance with 'Twilight' actor Pattinson, who she was spotted having lunch with in New York last week.
When asked about her relationship with the Hollywood star, she said: "I think that I like to keep my personal life personal, but I'm really excited to be here today and to be talking about my music and my album."
The Barclaycard Mercury Prize is awarded annually to the album which a panel of judges deem to be the best album from the UK and Ireland in the previous 12 months. Among the 12 nominees this year is Bombay Bicycle Club's 'So Long, See You Tomorrow' and Kate Tempest' 'Everybody Down'.
FKA twigs couldn’t wait to share Mercury Prize news
FKA twigs couldn't wait to tell her friends and family she had been nominated for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize.
The 26-year-old singer - who is rumoured to be dating Robert Pattinson - described her nomination as an "amazing" thing and the first people she wanted to share the news with are the people who have supported her musical ambitions.
Speaking at The Hospital Club - where the nominations were announced on Monday night (10.09.14) - she told BANG Showbiz: "I've told all of my close friends and family about it and everyone's happy for me and it's just great to have the support of my friends and my family."
The songwriter insists the nomination - which is for her critically acclaimed debut album 'LP1' - is for her and for all the people who work so hard for her.
She said: "The really cool thing is I work with a lot of my close friends, so my best friend is my stylist and my other best friend is my choreographer.
"It's very exciting to be able to include all these wonderful, creative people who I've met in the past seven or eight years living in London to be able to include them in my work and everyone's really happy for me."
Preferring to talk about her music, the enigmatic songstress refused to open up about her rumoured romance with 'Twilight' actor Pattinson, who she was spotted having lunch with in New York last week.
When asked about her relationship with the Hollywood star, she said: "I think that I like to keep my personal life personal, but I'm really excited to be here today and to be talking about my music and my album."
The Barclaycard Mercury Prize is awarded annually to the album which a panel of judges deem to be the best album from the UK and Ireland in the previous 12 months. Among the 12 nominees this year is Bombay Bicycle Club's 'So Long, See You Tomorrow' and Kate Tempest' 'Everybody Down'.
Music News
Bombay Bicycle Club frontman Jack Steadman drove his first car in Turkey while he was writing the band's latest album.
The group's LP 'So Long, See You Tomorrow' has been nominated for the prestigious Barclaycard Mercury Prize and Jack has revealed while he was writing the songs for the record in Turkey he was made to have an impromptu driving lesson by his friend who was shocked he couldn't drive a car.
Speaking at the nominations announcement at The Hospital Club in London on Wednesday night (10.09.14), he told BANG Showbiz: "I had so many first experiences making the record, it was the first time I ever drove a car.
"The guy that I was staying with in Turkey - I was writing it [the album] in his house - he was so angry that I didn't know how to drive that he screeched the car to a halt, got out, insisted that I switch places with him, and demanded that I drove him home, and I'd never driven a car in my life."
Although the strange circumstances related to Jack's first driving experience were not typical of most people's driving lessons, he joked that it was a fun, if not slightly scary, experience.
He added: "It was exhilarating. It was manual so it was fine, but it was a steep hill with lots of bends! I think there was a lot of adrenaline in my body, and I was terrified of him, he wasn't taking no for an answer so I had to drive him home."
Despite the experience, Jack admitted that it hasn't inspired him to learn to drive legally back home in England.
When asked if he has driven since, he confessed: "No, it's still the only time I've ever driven a car!"
Other nominees for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize - which recognises the best album from the UK or Ireland of the last 12 months - include Royal Blood's self-titled debut, Damon Albarn's 'Everyday Robots' and East India Youth for 'Total Strife Forever'.
Bombay Bicycle Club’s Jack got driving thrill in Turkey
Bombay Bicycle Club frontman Jack Steadman drove his first car in Turkey while he was writing the band's latest album.
The group's LP 'So Long, See You Tomorrow' has been nominated for the prestigious Barclaycard Mercury Prize and Jack has revealed while he was writing the songs for the record in Turkey he was made to have an impromptu driving lesson by his friend who was shocked he couldn't drive a car.
Speaking at the nominations announcement at The Hospital Club in London on Wednesday night (10.09.14), he told BANG Showbiz: "I had so many first experiences making the record, it was the first time I ever drove a car.
"The guy that I was staying with in Turkey - I was writing it [the album] in his house - he was so angry that I didn't know how to drive that he screeched the car to a halt, got out, insisted that I switch places with him, and demanded that I drove him home, and I'd never driven a car in my life."
Although the strange circumstances related to Jack's first driving experience were not typical of most people's driving lessons, he joked that it was a fun, if not slightly scary, experience.
He added: "It was exhilarating. It was manual so it was fine, but it was a steep hill with lots of bends! I think there was a lot of adrenaline in my body, and I was terrified of him, he wasn't taking no for an answer so I had to drive him home."
Despite the experience, Jack admitted that it hasn't inspired him to learn to drive legally back home in England.
When asked if he has driven since, he confessed: "No, it's still the only time I've ever driven a car!"
Other nominees for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize - which recognises the best album from the UK or Ireland of the last 12 months - include Royal Blood's self-titled debut, Damon Albarn's 'Everyday Robots' and East India Youth for 'Total Strife Forever'.
Music News
Gwen Stefani has started work on a new album.
The 44-year-old singer is penning songs for the follow-up to 2006's 'The Sweet Escape' and admits she's been in-and-out of the studio with Pharrell Williams.
She told MTV News US: "I'm going into the studio tonight with Pharrell, I'm going to be writing and also just seeing what comes along my way. I've been recording a few things..."
Pharrell, who teamed up with Gwen on her 2004 hit 'Hollaback Girl', believes the work the blonde beauty has done so far on her new LP is "on another level."
He explained: "You'll never believe that she does not look her age, she doesn't look like she's had three children -- but that's the cool part, she is her age and she's had three children and she's killing it.
"When I tell you she's killing it, it's another level. Gwen is somewhere else."
The 41-year-old producer insists people should believe him when he spots something good in another artist because he said the same thing about Miley Cyrus - who shot to fame as the title character in Disney's 'Hannah Montana' - before her stormed into the charts with hits 'We Can't Stop' and 'Wrecking Ball' last year.
He said: "The last time I said this about Miley everyone was like, 'What? That's Hannah Montana,' and I'm like, 'What? I'm trying to tell you.'
"I mean, only because I've heard it not because I have those ears or I know -- I don't know anything."
Gwen Stefani writing new album
Gwen Stefani has started work on a new album.
The 44-year-old singer is penning songs for the follow-up to 2006's 'The Sweet Escape' and admits she's been in-and-out of the studio with Pharrell Williams.
She told MTV News US: "I'm going into the studio tonight with Pharrell, I'm going to be writing and also just seeing what comes along my way. I've been recording a few things..."
Pharrell, who teamed up with Gwen on her 2004 hit 'Hollaback Girl', believes the work the blonde beauty has done so far on her new LP is "on another level."
He explained: "You'll never believe that she does not look her age, she doesn't look like she's had three children -- but that's the cool part, she is her age and she's had three children and she's killing it.
"When I tell you she's killing it, it's another level. Gwen is somewhere else."
The 41-year-old producer insists people should believe him when he spots something good in another artist because he said the same thing about Miley Cyrus - who shot to fame as the title character in Disney's 'Hannah Montana' - before her stormed into the charts with hits 'We Can't Stop' and 'Wrecking Ball' last year.
He said: "The last time I said this about Miley everyone was like, 'What? That's Hannah Montana,' and I'm like, 'What? I'm trying to tell you.'
"I mean, only because I've heard it not because I have those ears or I know -- I don't know anything."