Music News

The Black Keys put their success down to The Beatles and Led Zeppelin.
The two-piece garage band made up of Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach - who released their eighth studio album 'True Blue' on Monday (12.05.14) - credit the bands for inspiring them to make great music.
Patrick, 34 told the Daily Star newspaper: "I've always been fascinated by making a record that you want to live inside of. 'Led Zeppelin II' is a record like that, that I can really get lost in, because they're almost not songs, they're just riffs and beats and space and vocal parts. The way they utilised the form of a song always fascinated me."
The Grammy-award winning duo's progression from the blues rock sound of their first album 'The Big Come Up' to psychedelic rock in 'True Blue' was also inspired by the variation in The Beatles' eleventh studio album 'Abbey Road' and the pair are hoping to emulate their success in the future.
Patrick said: "We are huge fans of The Beatles, they're our favourite band. You go listen to the first record, 'I Want To Hold Your Hand', and then you hear the B-Side of Abbey Road, you can hear it's the same voices but everything's changed. That's the benchmark of success to me, and one day, hopefully, Dan and I can make a record that is somewhere on that scale.
"We haven't yet, and I don't think we ever will, but just knowing that exists, that you can go see this band in eight years go from point A to point Z is a reminder of why I want to make music."

Morrissey has started using Twitter.
The 'First Of The Gang To Die' singer joined the social media site in June 2009 but only posted his first message last night (14.05.14), writing: "Hello. Testing, 1, 2, 3. Planet Earth, are you there? One can only hope... (sic)"
The post has already been re-tweeted more than 14,000 times and he followed the tweet by: "Follow, follow, follow. Twitter is the perfect metaphor for...something. Dunno what. (sic)"
The 54-year-old star has revealed the title track from his new album, 'World Peace Is None of Your Business', along with the artwork for the record.
He has also unveiled a video for a spoken word version of the single featuring Nancy Sinatra.
The album will be released on July 14 and includes songs including 'Neal Cassady Drops Dead', 'Earth Is The Loneliest Planet' and 'Kick The Bride Down The Aisle'.
Morrissey, who released his autobiography in October last year, has signed a worldwide record deal with Universal Music's American-based Harvest Records for the release of his 10th studio album.
Meanwhile, the star was recently mobbed during a concert in San Jose, California, and was knocked over after security struggled to keep members of the audience from clambering onto the stage.

Rita Ora wants to tour with Calvin Harris.
The 'I Will Never Let You Down' singer would love to go on the road with her DJ boyfriend but admits it would be tough getting their schedules clear enough at the same time to be able to do it.
She told The Sun newspaper: "I've never been happier. He's cool though, you know. I'd love to tour with him. It would be cool to have him there but he has his own shows to do."
Calvin has worked on four tracks for Rita's new album but she insists their collaboration came "naturally" and she didn't have to ask him to be a part of the record.
She said: "It all happened naturally, nothing was ever asked.
"We play each other music the whole time.
"I appreciate his ears, because he's one of the best songwriters and I like to know his opinion."
One of the tracks is her new single, 'I Will Never Let u Down' - which is expected to top the UK singles chart this weekend - and Rita says it was so good, it set the standard for the rest of her record.
She told the Daily Star newspaper: "It touched me in a way like nothing I've ever recorded before touched me, so that set the boundary for everything else."

Lorde thinks it's important for artists to use social media because it helps them get closer to their fans.
The 17-year-old singer, who has grown up with Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, like to keep her followers up to date with her career and voice her opinion on the sites and thinks others should do the same.
She told Britain's Stylist magazine: "I was ten [when Twitter first appeared], so I've grown up with it. It's much more normal to me than it would be for a lot of people. I understand the importance of things like Twitter and people feeling like they know you and are emotionally invested in you as an artist and as a person. It's cool. I like being able to share things with people."
Meanwhile, the 'Royals' singer, who has a bumper schedule this summer with festival appearances and gigs, thinks press invasion is a small price to pay for the opportunities she is handed as a singer.
She said: "It still completely bugs me out that I get to play venues that are sold out in the craziest corners of the world. I couldn't point to that place on a map but these people know the lyrics to a song I wrote a long way away. I can't make that normal in my head.
"But I figure in terms of, you know, living with privacy, it's kind of a small sacrifice."

Neil Innes was surprised by how many fans The Rutles have in America.
The Monty Python music man has reformed The Beatles parody group, which was originally formed as a spoof by Neil and comedian Eric Idle, and admits he was shocked by how popular the group is overseas during a recent visit.
He told BANG Showbiz: "They don't hold back [in America], what I didn't know, from all the years, from first doing The Rutles, I spent all the whole weekend [on a recent trip] signing Rutles albums.
"I had no idea that so many Beatles fans were also fans of The Rutles."
The band, often referred to as the Pre-Fab Four, were originally formed for a sketch in Eric's 'Rutland Weekend Television' show.
They later went on to star in the film 'All You Need Is Cash', which features a cameo from George Harrison, and had a number of successful albums.
Neil, 69, is also pleased Oasis are fan of the band after they lifted a melody from their song, How Sweet to Be an Idiot', for their song 'Whatever'.
Neil said: "I enjoy a certain amount of peer support [and] I think The Rutles has got to be in the top ten of tour bus films, because everyone has been there.
"There was a camaraderie, everyone knows what it's like to be in a band. The Rutles, now, are very good virtuoso musicians, craftsman, who know their stuff and have a sense of humour."
Neil has revealed that his alter-ego Ron Nasty and drummer John Halsey, known Barrington Womble, will be the only original members of the group taking part in 19 shows.
They will kick off the tour at Exeter Phoenix on May 7 and finish at the Liverpool O2 Academy 2 on May 31.

Bob Dylan is working on a new album.
The 72-year-old singer has treated fans on his website bobdylan.com by posting a cover of Frank Sinatra's 'Full Moon & Empty Hearts', which will reportedly be featured on his 36th studio album.
A spokesperson for the singer told Rolling Stone magazine: "This track is definitely from a forthcoming album due later on this year", which will be the follow-up to 'Tempest', which was released in 2012.
The song was written by Ted Mossmann and Buddy Kaye and was based around Sergei Rachmaninoff's 1901 composition 'Piano Concert No. 2 in C Minor'.
However, Sinatra made the song famous and Dylan's version can now be streamed on his site.
The 'Blowin' in the Wind' hitmaker also posted a photograph of himself in what appears to be a vintage album cover entitled 'Shadows In The Night', referencing Sinatra's song 'Strangers in the Night'.
Meanwhile, Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons and Jim James of My Morning Jacket are working with producer T Bone Burnett on a record based on long-lost lyrics written by Dylan.
The stars have been recording at Los Angeles' Capitol Studios to work on more than 20 unfinished songs for the record, 'Lost On The River: The New Basement Tapes', which will be released later this year, alongside a documentary, directed by Sam Jones.
The lyrics come from Dylan's famous 1967 'Basement Tapes' sessions.

The Black Keys have slammed Michael Jackson's posthumous album 'Xscape', calling it "bullsh*t".
The 'Fever' hitmakers, who released their new album 'Turn Blue' on Monday (12.05.14), the same day Michael's record came out, aren't impressed by the decision to release the album after his death in 2009.
In the new issue of Rolling Stone magazine, drummer Patrick Carney said: "[It's] some f**king bulls**t that sucks so bad that it took them three years after he died to make it listenable.
"Like he had to be dead for three years for it to be released."
Patrick hit out at executive producer LA Reid, claiming he only decided to release the album, which was also worked on by Timbaland and Justin Timberlake, because he "needed a new boat".
Meanwhile, Patrick also voiced his opinion on pop star Justin Bieber earlier this week, describing him as an "irresponsible a**hole after a throw away comment to TMZ resulted in Justin telling his fans on Twitter the musician should be "slapped around".
He said: "Justin Bieber, like a f***ing irresponsible a**hole, sicced 40 million Twitter followers on me because I paid him a compliment he didn't understand.
"He shouldn't be f***ing telling his followers to slap me, and then also be doing anti-bullying bullsh*t. It's so irresponsible.
"Honestly, I feel bad for him. Every single person who works with him should f***ing be embarrassed that they don't. . . No one is doing him any favours, you know?
"And honestly, I don't dislike his music. I don't listen to his music, but he needs to not conduct himself that way. Like, really, you make millions of dollars playing music, you should feel f***ing lucky."

Shakira is a fan of Coldplay.
The 'Can't Remember To Forget You' singer, who has been inspired by stars of the past, including Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, also loves listening to Coldplay, in particular their hit 'In My Place'.
Talking about the band's frontman, she said: "Chris Martin has one of my favorite male voices of all time - so emotive and incredibly honest."
Discussing her love of Billie, she also said: "Billie Holiday has one of the most timeless voices out there and is always something that puts me in a tranquil mood.
"I think although the lyrics are probably meant in a romantic context, for me there are some that make sense coming from a mother to her child as well - the idea of surrendering all of oneself to a love bigger than the individual.
"Ella Fitzgerald is another classic voice that has a soothing quality. Perfect to listen to at the end of a long day."
Meanwhile, when she's not downloading music old and new, she is on her mobile phone recording voice memos and playing around with ideas for future records.
She said: "This is one [app] I use in the studio a lot, to help me capture melodies, create references for arrangements, and work remotely with producers or musicians so they can hear the same thing I'm hearing."
To download Shakira's music visit itunes.com/shakira.

Calvin Harris is at the centre of a Las Vegas bidding war.
The Scottish DJ has been offered £7 million by the MGM Resort and Hakkasan nightclub to extend his two-year residency, despite only being midway through his current contract, as they fear he will be offered more money by another venue.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Calvin has been a real hit at Hakkasan. His nights are complete sell-outs and there is so much demand we could book him out twice over and still have a waiting list. We are a year into the deal and we want to make sure that we don't lose him.
"He has said he is happy here, so we are keen to get an extension deal done.
"Other venues have been trying to tap him up to get him on board there, but we are hopeful to secure a deal."
Partygoers splash out £70 a ticket for Calvin's nights and there is a waiting list for tables - which cost a staggering £5,000 each - for his popular Friday night gigs and the venue are keen to reflect his popularity with a huge pay offer.
The source added: "We are looking at around £7 million on the table, and it is worth every penny in our eyes."